Citizen 1338 Hedyosmos

The way the world breathes and cycles around one’s self is truly a marvelous thing. With a crisp morning air, and an oncoming spring rain on the horizon, today’s excursion reminded Hedyosmos of a very similar spring year once upon a time… When she was much younger and perhaps a little too confident in her navigational skills.

 She had been tasked with a scouting mission to search for some pottery shards at a very specific site up atop a mountain. Athena had mentioned oncoming rainfall, and Hedy hadn’t really thought much on it. Thinking that it would be another light spring shower as expected for this time of year. She was on her way down from the top when the rain had caught her. What started out as a tame drizzle soon became a heavy downpour that quickly forced the road down to be hazardous. It had become slick with sediment, and it didn’t take much to send her tumbling through the slope along with the rocks & branches she took down with her. She had landed in a rapidly running river. It wasn’t particularly raging down the stream, but Hedy didn’t dare try to defy the fast paced water as she let it carry her down,

 down,

 down,

 and away.

Letting it carry her until it’s haste had calmed, then did she clamber up and out of the stream. It had continued to drizzle for most of the day. She took up shelter under a nearby conifer. As she rested she admired the pottery shard that she had collected, thankful that she had not lost her basket. The good thing about collecting pottery shards is that they can’t really become more broken. Returning them to her carry-on, she cozied up underneath the tree and let the rain pass her by.

Night had fallen by the time she woke, and the sky was brilliantly clear thanks to the winds & rain. Hedyosmos ears perked in delight as she found the opportunity to use the stars to navigate back home! She had no idea where she was, what better time to put all that star map reading to good use? Sure this was probably the fourth time she had gotten lost and was using the stars, and the previous three times she misread the sky and ended up on the opposite end of landmarks. But perhaps this time! She will get it right! Staring up at the beautiful shimmering sky (although just a replica of the real sky up above the Dome) she spotted the star Polaris.  If she goes in it’s opposite direction, it would take her south and surely she would arrive to a settlement. Her tail wagged in excitement to follow the stars.

Three days later she had arrived at the edge of the Dome. Not where she expected to find herself. She did find it odd that the more she travelled the more mountainous the area became. But she figured she’d run into signs of civilization much quicker and that she’d make her way to Pallanes, the town situated between the mountains. Gazing upon the reflective and magical barrier of the Dome, she pondered what her next move should be…  Pallanes is relatively close to the edge. So in theory if she kept Polaris behind her as she followed the barrier southward, she should find her way to town. Throughout her journey she had been travelling at night and resting by day, she planned on keeping this strategy for whatever was left of her journey.

Despite the mountains, and somewhat cloudy sky, Polaris is a bright star that almost always sat overhead above the peaks. It was really more a challenge of spotting it through the clouds. Challenges aside, Hedy walked her way along the barrier. Two more days passed until she spotted the warm glow of oil lamps over the hills. Exhilarated to see firelight for the first time in a long time, she ran on all fours towards the light. Only to be greeted by a small cluster of buildings. A rex sitting outside weaving reeds looked up at her in surprise.

“Can I help you with something?” He said getting up from his place.

As surprised as he was,

“Um. Yes. I think so yes,” she replied.

Explaining her situation, the homely rex commended her on having come this far just by following the one star. He then pointed out to her the right way to Pallanes,

“It’s just about a three day walk north-easternly. Just follow the carriage paths, and keep an eye out for cobblestone and old ruins if you lose track of them. They’ll lead you to the city.”

“Thank you!” She said waving goodbye, and making her way back to civilization.

Reminiscing on the memory Hedyosmos chuckled at how long it took her to find her way back. If she hadn’t run into anybody, she would have probably continued following the edge of the barrier until it had taken her to the end of Cor river in the very deep south. Athena had been worried sick about her. It wasn’t uncommon for her to disappear for a day or two, but a whole week had passed and her friend had already begun searching for her. If she had known the celestial sky a little better, she would have been able to navigate herself accurately out of that first valley and back the way she had come. It had been a very good learning experience about perhaps not relying on a singular star to guide you. 

Artist: Ezzybel