on a lark

[alicornucopia]

She combs and combs the world aside and there is another world, just ahead, and she steps in.

The combed-away hole closes behind her. She puts her comb in her pocket.

Thanjen (Unbitwise)

Blueberry (kappa)

Hivers (Rockeye)

Comments

[unbitwise]

So far, this world appears to be made of plants, and dirt and fallen leaves and tall trees and other things which are found in forests.

[alicornucopia]

Okay. Those are all reasonable things. She moves like a cautious deer, touching a tree, then going to touch a different tree, peering around in all directions.

[unbitwise]

The trees prove to have bark. They also have branches, but none low enough to be touched.

Some directions are uphill, and some are downhill.

[alicornucopia]

She goes down.

[unbitwise]

If one acts as water does, one might find water.

This is a small stream gently flowing along a moderately twisty path. Here the ground proves to have rocks as well as dirt and plants.

[alicornucopia]

She follows the stream. She's not thirsty right now.

[unbitwise]

Streams become rivers. Forests become beaches. All becomes ocean.

It's a nice day to be at the beach. Clear skies, some birds high above, clean sand underfoot, no signs of civilization.

Other than beach, there's a tall outcropping of rock off to the right that could make a good lookout above the trees, if the hike to the top is as feasible as it looks.

[alicornucopia]

Well, she doesn't have anything else to do. Up she goes.

[unbitwise]

Assuming there isn't more landmass hiding neatly behind that other peak, she is on an island. The island is made of forests, more-or-less rocky hills, and birds.

Well, the birds are not really part of the island, are they.

And that flock of three birds over there looks funny.

[or_coincidence]

Here is a small round library that looks like it might be made out of a very large tree indeed, with shelves full of books lining its round walls.

There is a tiny blue unicorn flumphed on the floor reading a book nearly larger than she is - it's a pretty big book, but it is also a very small unicorn - and a few seconds after the traveler arrives, she looks up and blinks with surprise.

"Goodness me," she says. "I wasn't expecting that at all."

[alicornucopia]

"You're a unicorn," observes the visitor intelligently.

[or_coincidence]

"I am!" she agrees. "I'm not at all sure what you are. I don't think I've ever heard of a sort of person who looked like you."

[alicornucopia]

"I'm, um, I'm a human."

[or_coincidence]

"Oh," says the tiny blue unicorn. "...Are you okay? Can I help you?"

[alicornucopia]

"I'm fine," she says, smiling. "Sorry, I've just never met a unicorn before! And I didn't think they came in blue!"

[or_coincidence]

"We come in all the usual colours," she says. "Of which blue is one. But I guess if I've never heard of humans it makes sense that you, reciprocally, have never heard of blue unicorns. In fact, you're a step ahead of me in having heard of unicorns at all. Where are you from, and how did you get here from there?"

[alicornucopia]

"I came from my friend's house, but if I'm not supposed to be here I can go."

[allforthehive]

This is a desert. It's very hot and sandy. There might be an orchard over there. There's some weird-looking trees in neat rows, at least, but no animals or people are currently visible from here.

[alicornucopia]

Well, time to take off the hoodie and tie it around her waist, then, it's too warm for layers. She goes to the trees for shade.

[allforthehive]

The trees are only moderately shady, but they're certainly better than nothing. They're growing little black nut-like things that aren't like anything she's seen. A bettle scurries up one tree.

There is a door set into a little hill, a few dozen rows of trees in. From the shape of the little hill it might be covering a staircase leading down.

[alicornucopia]

She picks a black nut-thing and puts it in her jean pocket, then heads for the door.

[allforthehive]

The door: Is a door.

It doesn't have a lock or latch, just a little handle. It's pretty heavy for a door, though.

[alicornucopia]

Well, can she haul it open with all her ten-year-old strength?

[allforthehive]

It sticks on little piles of sand at first, but opens easily enough once these are moved out of the way.

[alicornucopia]

She can scoot sand out of the way and go look around in the tunnel, then.