Garden of the Gods:Interlude 1

Where the sun came up there was no grass, just rock, bare and plain as rock can be.  The light that filtered down into the valley, or perhaps a more accurate term for the place would be basin, touched upon enough verdant life that a bit of missing grass and moss up at the top didn't trouble it at all in the grand scheme of things.  It did however trouble the robed figure that bent over, whisking at the ground with rich, tanned fingers, turning a duller shade of brown as they scratched.  Nothing but dirt and rock remained up at the top, though years and years ago there had been flora practically overflowing out of the basin, threatening to spill forth in leafy waves upon the outside world wherever it touched it.  Now a barren, brown rim separated one set of trees and plants from the other, the hot ground dissuading the climbing vines and the floating grass seeds from finding purchase on the steep rocky walls.

The cloaked figure sank down further, leaning to peer far below to the green canopy of trees that stretched out across the expanse of the basin, pushing up against the walls in some places even.  A glint of a river pulled the robed figure's eyes sideways following its path as it lazily wound towards the very center of the forest where a small stream of smoke rose, tickling the sky like a long thin feather.  It was too far away to resolve details, but the robed figure knew it must be from a campfire, set up early with the intent of cooking what supplies had been left in the campground.

Humans were hungry creatures, the figure had found in her life.  Give them food and they tended to behave a bit better.  Not to say that she or her kind were any different, really, it just so happened that food was less of an issue of nutrients and more of delicacy.  Perhaps she would get to try some exotic foods on her trip even.  Staying to watch and maybe poke around a bit in the upcoming fun would have delighted her, but it wasn't her place to interfere or spectate.

That was for them to keep as secrets or tell as enchanting tales afterwards, as she had done when she set up camp in the basin so long ago.  It wasn't until the sun crested the sky, lighting up all the bare, stone walls that the robed figure turned and walked off into the woods on the top of the cliff, humming to herself.  She would be back when the basin called to her, but for now there were things to do, some of which might even qualify as important.