At last, Phoebe felt she was on to something! It was strange how quickly the feeling had come about, once she'd finally executed a little self-control and stopped letting every creature, every plant, every unique landmark and feature distract her and lead her easily astray. True, she hadn't the slightest idea where she was going to begin with, but after she had stopped listening it became near impossible to regain her earlier sense of direction.
But it was back now, guiding her to the south, to the west, past the lovely creek that had been her first true place of interest when she'd initially arrived a year ago. Her purple-pink eyes stared off in the direction of the lovely place, wondering how much it had changed since her last visit, but ultimately she couldn't allow herself to go off course and continued to walk with purpose into this new region. There was something here--or perhaps someone?--and it called to her.
Of course, she hadn't the slightest idea what it was saying, or whether it was actually safe to listen to, but considering it was a gut instinct the sunset-colored mare couldn't rightly ignore it--even when the snowy world became slowly muddy and damp on top of it. Phoebe felt the soft earth clinging to her hooves as she strode along and adopted a lazy high-step as she moved about, doing her best to keep her tail from becoming dirtied. A small huff issued from her muzzle, only for the next breath she inhaled to stop her in her tracks.
The girl smelled others. Not simply wanderers, but...something stronger, something organized. Her head lifted and her bright eyes panned the eerie swampland around her, searching for any trace, any sign, that another equine being was laying in hiding. She couldn't tell if her heart was beating rapidly in excitement or nervousness--maybe both?--but it added its own undeniable demand. Find them. Watchful, anxious, the young mare resumed a slow, careful walk, enticed by the possibility of conversation and company to the point that she called out in with tentative optimism, "Hello?"
There is a kind of therapy to cleaning that Corr can't exactly explain. Perhaps she's getting ahead of herself with it still being winter, but surely it couldn't hurt to get things done early. She's spent the last half hour putting things in piles and then boxes. There will always be clutter (or an organized mess, as she puts it) in her house, but she tries to part with things when she can. Here and there she'll find books she no longer reads that could use a new home. Dirt accumulates quick too, so she'll dust and sweep.
The mare decides to take a short break outside, mostly because all the dust in the air is making both her and Hāsta sneeze. The crow makes a disgruntled sound from her perch on one of Corr's garden decorations.
"Are you ever happy?" she asks the bird and laughs.
"You should know the answer to that question by now," is her companion's reply through their telepathy. All sarcastic and grumpy. Pretty much Hāsta in a nutshell.
"Try it sometime, I think you'd learn to enjoy it!" she says, playfully nudging the crow's side.
"I'm all set," she replies, fluffing her feathers in annoyance. Then ignores Corr and begins to preen. The crow witch shakes her head.
Suddenly her attention is brought to the swamp nearby as she starts to hear the sound of footsteps. They get louder and more mucky sounding with each step until finally the form of another can be seen. They aren't anyone Corr's met before, but their coat is striking and like that of a brilliant sunset. Out of their mouth is an uncertain hello and the medic is quick to respond.
"Hello there!" she greets with a warm smile as she walks over to the stranger. "My name is Corrdelia Maude and you've stumbled upon my humble abode in the swamps." Corr bows and laughs at herself, thinking that her home isn't quite that humble with all that makes it up. Either way, it's a lovely home and surely a better place for the stranger to be than the cold swamp.
"Come, come I can get a fresh pot of tea going so you can warm up!" she says, gesturing for them to hurry up and follow her into her house. Already the fire is going in the fireplace and the warmth can be felt as soon as one steps through the doorway. Hopefully, she can make the stranger feel right at home (and maybe, they might even stay for a reading).
Not even a full moment passed before Phoebe heard a voice answer her: a lady's voice, full of warmth and welcome. Her ears perked high over her dark mane and she stopped with full alertness, feeling her heart give a small excited skip within her chest. There was someone here! That gut instinct she'd been following had been right all along!
Wide eyes of a vibrant purple-pink scanned the mucky world around her, seeking out whoever it was that had spoken, as a slow smile began to creep upon her eager face. It didn't take long for her to spot the other equine; it helped that she was so quick to approach her. Phoebe's smile swept full and wide as she got her first look at the amiable lady, covered in a lovely pattern of dapples, adorned with a set of beautifully feathered wings, and decorated with an intriguing necklace. She didn't know what she was expecting, but she wasn't disappointed in the least.
The unexpected offer of tea--had she ever had tea?--piqued her interest, and despite having just met the woman she reacted with a fearless curiosity. "I'd really love to warm up," Phoebe admitted wistfully, stepping slowly toward the inviting woman, "it's so cold out here!" She wasn't exactly used to it, the chilly weather, but maybe her days of wandering through it dismally alone were behind her.
There was a subtle prance to her step, evidence of her newfound joy, as she sidled closer to the swamp witch, only to become distracted by the structure--Corrdelia's home--that she'd failed to notice before. Her expressive face slackened in a look of awe as her bright eyes traveled over the rough wooden walls, the colorful windows, the chimes and feathers that hung before the door. It was lovely."Is that your home?" she asked incredulously as she turned her shocked face back around to Corrdelia.
That look of wonder is one she never gets tired of seeing in others' faces as they approach her house. It is certainly one of a kind and has evolved over the seasons she's spent here. What was once a disheveled shack has become a beautiful witch hut. The windows have different stained glass images that illuminate in just the right lighting. She has quite the collection of windchimes in her front yard and in the spring, her garden is alive with wildflowers and plants.
"It is! Come in, come in, I've got the fire going. You can sit anywhere you feel comfortable," she tells the girl and leaves the door open so she can follow Corr in. When the other mare enters, she'll likely be bombarded by smells. There is the scent of old books, musky incense, woodsmoke and just a hint of patchouli. Phoebe will find that everything is cluttered (or Corr's organized mess, as she calls it). Books are scattered in small piles, there are dried herbs and roses hanging from the ceiling, stones arranged on an altar and then her table by the fire with a single stack of tarot cards. It's what Corr truly calls home.
She starts to set things up to get a pot of tea ready and hums to herself as she goes through the motions. Tea is such a routine for her, she could make it in her sleep. After filling the pot with water, she takes it to her fire to boil, then turns back to the woman.
"What kind of tea do you like? I usually go for cinnamon or apple in winter - or both," she says, making her way back to her cupboard that has her tea stash. Even she's overwhelmed by scents when she opens the door as all the herbs, flowers and fruits begin to mix together in the air.
"Oh, and what shall I call you, dear?" she asks with a laugh, realizing the sunset girl never said her name. "Do you live in Terrastella too?" Corr can never keep herself from chatting up a storm even if the other might not be the same way.
