Submission (#5050) Approved

She was quite pleased with herself, strutting proudly through the vibrant pink forest, the city no longer in view as she went even deeper. She glances up to make out that the sky was still a bright blue, probably still early morning, she didn’t really check. She had packed well, the bag on her back making jingling noises every so often. It was a huge thanks to the Elnin that had prepared her for such a journey. She felt she might have underpacked otherwise. 

She was honestly so surprised that the forest still had plenty of flowers scattered around, they grew without needing any assistance from any Elnins. Some even towered above her, plenty of the flowers pointing down at her, as if to say hey look at me, I’m vibrant AND flourishing. I don’t need anyone's help. 

She hopes to achieve such a goal someday. She shakes her head, bringing her mind back to the present as she carefully steps on some rocks to cross an extremely small stream. Her paws got a little wet, but it’s a part of the journey and she would gladly accept that.

The forest smelt extremely nice, fresh air mixed with the scent of flowers, not to mention the subtle smell off the tiny stream of water. It had some flowers drifting down with it, getting caught in the rocks at times, some just stuck there for the rest of its days until it slowly wilts away.

Her journey to find herself will make her end up deep within this forest, she could feel it in her veins. She was just following instinct at this point.

It was when she was about halfway across the stream that something came out of her shadow. A tiny creature that had popped their head out, waving their tiny hands, claws that matched her own colors, a nice pinkish red. 

She yelped, quite loudly, stumbling on the mossy rock as she slipped into the water. Landing on her back. Her equipment came loose and spilled all over, tears in her eyes from the pain and well the fright of her life she just had.

She freezes hearing tiny chirps, seeing the tiny creature gently picking some of her things up.

Now that she got a better look at it she could see that whatever color it had outside its white face and black fading to a gray feather coat, was the exact same pinkish red. They were wearing two tiny lilies as hair accessories and not to mention a couple strings.

Oh. 

She recalls a few friends mentioning a pomu, it seems hers is finally here! She rolls over and crawls a bit closer to them, closing her eyes when they place a tiny hand onto her nose. Her ears twitch as a smile takes over, giggling as she nudges it with her face.

“I’m sorry,” she starts off, standing up now to pick the other items up. “You really startled me.”

They nearly gave her a heart attack if anything, she could have hit her head on her way down from her strong reaction. That’s her own fault though.

They didn’t seem to mind, chirping at her as they now too start picking up the equipment. She just didn’t expect them to start putting it all into her shadow. Guess that is kind of more convenient in the long run of her journey.

“Do you have a name?”

The pomu paused, staring up at her with a roll of bandages clutched between their hands. She blinks and she’s sure they blinked too.

“You don’t have any? No ideas?”

They point at her then at themselves.

“Me name you?” She chews on the inside of her cheek as she studies them. 

She sits down, glancing around at the scenery now. The faerie shrouds hanging from the pink trees swaying with the wind, some colorful flower petals drifting through the air as they land all around the two.

No she wasn’t going to name it something off the land here, that’s a bit too cliche. 

“How about Cinnamon?” 

Ah yes, a nudge towards one of her favorite ingredients to put into her baked goods and drinks. She feels it would fit them quite well, but at the end of the day if her little friend didn’t like it they’ll have to think on it more.

Seems that might not even be a thing to worry about, the pomu was chirping as they clapped their hands, moving around quite a bit in the one spot. Puffing their chest out and pointing at themselves, quite proud.

She couldn’t help but laugh. Cinnamon was a breath of fresh air, even more so than the air in Faerindell, hard to beat but Cinnamon did it.

“Cinnamon,” she begins, gently picking them up and putting them on her back. They could finally continue her journey now that everything was sorted and put away. “I’m on a pilgrimage right now.”

They tilt their head and chirp, hands holding her long fur around her neck. 

“I have a need to go deeper within this forest. Something is calling me. I feel it will help me be more in tune with my magic.” She explains, letting the air dry her fur off, some flowers and other flora sticking to her. 

She has a feeling her and Cinnamon are going to get along just fine, especially when they seem just as excited about her journey as she is.