Welcome to Gaia! ::

The days had begun to start getting warmer. Spring was near after such a long and drawn out winter.

Faith was glad for this. She had spent a lot of the winter taking care of some critters that were not of the hibernating sort. On top of spending most of her other time with Mercutio.

She loved her mate so much the mare always wanted to be with him.

But there were some days in which she needed time to herself. Where she could just take a breath, relax and just enjoy being. Today was one of those days. After nearly smothering her mate with love and affection Faith had wandered off for a little while. Unsure of just when she might return later in the day but that was the exciting part of just picking a direction and going. Something she often did before she had choosen to settle down with a mate.

It was hard to keep her mind off of him though. He was so calm and patient with her even when she felt a bit frazzled. And he made the best cuddle Buddy anyone could ask for.

But as she walked, Faith’s thoughts went to her mother as well. It had been a long time since she had seen Dawn and she wondered how her mother was fairing. The older mare was always independent and while Faith would never say her mother pretty much kicked her out of the preverbial nest when she was old enough to take care of herself. It was essentially just that.

She didn’t hold a grudge for it though. It left her with the independence to care for herself and learn how to care for others. Which she enjoyed greatly. To mend a broken bone of mix a salve for whatever ailment brought Faith great joy to do.

As she moved through the forest and out into a small clearing the twittering of birds caught her attention. Some were sunning themselves in the warm sunshine. Happy for the warmth instead of the cold winter sun. She noted that it looked like a few were building nests. How exciting that they were preparing for babies so soon! There were all manner of birds flirting about. Blue jays. Cardinals. Even little finches hopping around in the ground looking for tasty things to eat.

Faith stopped to watch them when all of a sudden a commotion broke out. Her head swiveled around to spot a group of wrens flapping about a rather large bush wildly. Chirping and trilling loudly in what only Faith could guess was excitement. With a quirked eyebrow she approached the bush, making sure to tread slowly and lightly so as not to disturb the birds.

“What on earth has you guys all riled up, hmm?” Blue eyes looked on curiously until she spotted what it was that had them fluttering about.

There on the bush was a whole feast of black berries. Faith was unsure if she had Eve seen a bush so full! And at this time of year. Her stomach rumbled quite loudly and her cheeks flushed with emberassment. She had forgotten to eat breakfast that morning which was a bit easy to do when everything was frozen. She eyes the berries hungrily before rushing forward to nibble on the tender, juicy bettors.

Oh! They were so good. She was surprised not only that they were here this early in Spring but by how good they were too. She had expected them to maybe be a bit sour but nope! They were sweet and delectable.

After she had filled her belly Faith glanced around before she spotted what she was looking for. A large leaf laying on the clearing floor. Quickly she snatched it up and began to gently pick the berries. Placing them one by one on the leaf until she had a decent amount. “Mercutio will loves these I just know it!”

Faith was often bringing him things when she went wandering. It made her feel good to see his face light up upon her return. Even more so when she gives him the little surprises. And he would probably be pretty surprised that she found these berries this time of year

Spring was just so amazing! At least it never ceases to amaze her. She supposed that that could not be said for others. But she hoped that it kinda was. Because then life would just be so much better for everyone. It was a silly thought and she had to laugh at herself to expect such positivity.

As she worked to pick just a few more berries something caught her eye. A tiny mouse came limping out from underneath a bush before collapsing on the ground. It’s little chest heaving and it’s body quivering. Faith’s healer instincts when to full attention as she rushed over to the little creature and nudged it with her nose. It didn’t respond so she turned it onto it’s back and pressed her ear lightly to its chest. It still had a heartbeat but it’s breathing was shallow.

Lifting her head up, she looked around as if she were to call for help. But she knew there probably wasn’t anyone within earshot of her. Furrowing her brow she looked back to her berries in the leaf. The mare didn’t want to leave them behind. So she nudged the mouse back over and grasped it’s scruff gently with her teeth and carried it over to the pile of berries. The leaf would just have to be strong enough to carry them and the mouse.

In fact she willed it to be.

Gently laying the mouse on top of the berries she gingerly folded the end of the leaf up and grasped them carefully, she didn’t want them to snap when she lifted it up. Faith literally held her breath as she lifted the lead pack up. Her heart racing as she hoped it would hold. If not the berries would go everywhere and the mouse might get hurt more and she just could not live with herself if that happened.

Luckily for her the leaf held.

Faith let out a slow sigh of relief as she turned towards the path that led back to where Mercutio and her were living. He would probably shake his head at her for bringing home another sick animal. But she just could not help it. Seeing anything, especially small critters sick or injured just tore at her heart and she just had to do whatever it took within her power to made them feel better again. And if he complained about a mouse touching the berries she would just wash them off to make him feel better. Yes. That is exactly what she would do. She had the conversation planned out in her head already.

He probably would not give her any grief but Faith always felt like she had to explain herself of justify why she needed to help. It was something she had had to always do with Dawn when she was a foal. There always had to be justifications.

She tried not to think of that.

It was a nice, warm, early Spring day and she was going to surprise her love with berries. And another mouse she planned to care for. Maybe the berries would be a good way to distract him from the mouse. If he wasn’t around when she got home maybe she could sneak the mouse in with the other animals, wash the berries then surprise him with them.

Either way she couldn’t wait to see the look on his face when she gave them to him.

As she grew closer to their home her pace slowed. The sweet scent of honeysuckle hung heavily in the air. Faith loves that smell and she tended these flowers all year long to make sure they could enjoy it all the time. But they always just seemed so much more fragrant in Spring. Understandable really.

As she took tentative steps into their home Faith glanced around. Not seeing Mercutio she felt a wave of relief wash over her. Good. She would hopefully have time to assess the mouse and situate him in with the others she was currently caring for. Oh! And wash the berries. Just incase.

Many pairs of small eyes turned to watch Faith as she gently laid her parcel down. Grabbing the mouse once again to lay it in a small pile of soft feathers. A hedgehog with a limp came waddling over holding a small acorn cap full of water. Faith nodded to it and it gently lifted the Moises’s head and tried to get it to drink. After a moment it shook its head and released the mouse from it’s grasp. Faith frowned heavily.

A small crow with a crooked wing came hopping up next carrying a few kernels of corn. Faith shook her head. “No my friend. You are so kind but it won’t eat if it’s unconscious.” The crow hopped away but only after it had swallowed the corn.

Faith was worried. She had never seen a mouse this sick before.

All of a sudden it let out a loud, for a mouse, gasp then twitched. Faith’s ears perked forward with concern as she leaned down to press an ear against it’s chest.

No heartbeat.

Her head snapped up quickly. “Oh no…” A heavy frown came to her lips as her eyes started to most just a little with tears. She had been too late. It was just too sick and she did not know why. Faith’s gaze traveled over to the berries before quickly snatching up the mouse’s body and laying it on top again. Grabbing the parcel she hurried out of her home. Traveling a good distance away before she stopped in a small field. It was blooming with sunflowers and daisies. She loved this first.

Setting the bundle down she began to dig a small hole in the ground. Which wasn’t too hard but not easy either as the ground was still pretty cold. Once satisfied with the depth she placed the bundle of mouse, berries and leaf into the hole before covering it up.

Spring was suppose to be for lovers or so they said. Not for death. But death always happened anytime of the year. She just had to accept that and hope to do better next time.

Faith could not save them all.

Nipping off a few daisies she laid them down on top of the hole. Giving the disturbed bit of soil one last forlorn look before she trotted away. Not for home but in the direction of the blackberry bush. At least swimming Mercutio’s delighted face would help lift her spirits.

Spring really would be for lovers. For her and her love.