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[indent][indent]Winds carried her raft along the docks that sprawled out of Byhimel City, a city with intricate stone buildings that reached dizzying heights. Byhimel City was a place Natazume had traveled to once before and she was hoping this second visit would prove to be more adventurous and less leisurely. In truth, her first visit had been more of her passing through on her wooden raft. Still, she liked to consider that counted as her visiting the stoic prestigious city that was embellished with rigid but detailed architecture. Using one of her wooden paddles, the pink haired woman managed to navigate herself toward one of the many docks outstretched across the coast.

Dim candles dotted the darkness, giving her a better idea of the distance between her and the large city itself. The full moon was providing her with plenty of light as she tied her raft to the unattended dock and leaped onto dry land. While Natazume does not often set foot on land, she has been known to make exceptions for places that entice her. Sometimes she would talk with an old fisherman who was weave tales of a wonderful forest only found inland and she'd set her mind to tracking it down, hoping a shy river might guide her way. Other times she would cross paths with children who had the most fascinating places to leave Natazume in awe. Even if they were mere fanciful stories of no real merit, they still managed to capture Natazume's fluttering curiosity.

Once she tied her raft to the dock itself, Natazume walked carefully down towards the city, where most of its inhabitants were sleeping, minds drifting far into dreamland. Natazume found nightfall the perfect time to sail, as the afternoon was usually hot and made for a miserable time. Her upper arms were bare but a cloth clung to her elbows which provided her lower arms cover. She wore a red tank top dress that ended along her lower thighs. She then had on long red leggings and kept her long flowing hair back with a red ribbon. Red was dye was one of the exports from her home, Shimmer Shores. While they were known for fishing, they also harvested scales from the local fish. Those scales would be ground into fine powder and mixed with some water to create a dye for coloring clothes.

It was one way she wished to remind herself of where she came from, even if she didn't feel quite so welcomed back.

Natazume began to wander Byhimel City, its cobblestones feeling very awkward under her brown leather boots. She could hear the faint sounds of metal hitting steel and had to imagine what sort of things one might be crafting at such an hour. Natazume continued to aimlessly look around, peering through the windows which held the alluring flicker of candlelight. Most were indeed dead to the quiet of the night. The cool breeze was lovely but the stony streets and buildings still radiated a gentle glow captured from the bright sun of the afternoon. Natazume let out a long yawn as she felt both her stomach and mind tug her towards an inn. She swung her leather pouch around from around her back where it had been slung, and fished out a few silver coins, hoping the rate would be fair.

As she began to actively search for an inn, she looked up and saw a flurry of shooting stars. The fleeting twinkle made her heart stop for a moment. She saw one descend not too far and decided to pursue its path. Hurrying along, she felt herself being blessed with renewed energy. Sleep and food could surely wait a bit longer. Natazume reached the outer limits of the city and reached an ocean of green grass swaying in the cool night breeze. She saw something curved, poking above the shoulder high emerald meadow. Without missing a beat, the woman continued further, putting more and more distance between herself and her faithful raft.

When she reached what she thought fell from the sky, she found herself puzzled and a little crestfallen.

It was not a star, at least not one she had ever seen before.

[i]'What is this thing?'[/i] An egg shaped rock was hovering six inches off the ground. Natazume bent down and cautiously waved her bare hand between the surface and the object itself. Something was very wrong. She stepped back and rubbed her eyes, wondering if she was seeing things. No, she wasn't. She looked around as the moonlight from above made the object almost glow, beckoning the girl to get closer. Natazume shifted her weight from one foot, then the other, not sure what she should do. Her gut was telling her to just leave. But her mind kept nagging at her to investigate.

She stepped in front and placed her hand on the object. It was smooth and cool. It felt like perfection. Natazume knew such a thing hadn't been crafted before, it had to have fallen from the sky. Was this a gift from Aquis? Sure, Natazume liked to think she shared a kinship with their goddess, Aquis but this didn't feel holy. It felt...strange. Suddenly a hatch snapped and slid upwards to reveal a seat made of light blue fabric. She ran her fingertips along and felt that it was porous, spongy and soft. She ducked her head inside the pod and saw a dozen blinking lights, some were blue, some were green and others were golden yellow. Natazume felt her chest tighten, suddenly faced with some kind of invention no one had ever dreamed of.

[i]'What should I do?'[/i] She wondered.

Natazume stood there for roughly twenty minutes as she begged the sun to arrive and give her some peace of mind. Eventually the sun began to rise and Natazume felt the chill of isolation, begin to finally thaw. As the sun began to tickle the long blades of grass surrounding Natazume and the pod, she finally knew what to do. Natazume climbed into the pod and tucked her legs to her chest as the hatch zoomed shut. She looked around as the lights all changed colors and began to blink frantically. She saw nothing to really touch or react to and before she could voice her uncertainty, the pod began to fill up with a light blue liquid.

The last thing she thought of before she fell asleep, was how comforting the sunlight had been.[/indent][/indent]

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[center][h2][color=skyblue][ 15 years later ][/color][/h2][/center]

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[indent][indent]There was a raspy gasp for air as the light blue liquid began to drain downwards out of the bottom of the egg shaped pod. Natazume's eyes fiery eyes snapped open as stale air began to fill her lungs. The pod which she had been entombed in, cracked open and allowed the woman to see her new surroundings. Natazume climbed out and finally felt free, able to stretch her arms and legs. She raised her arms above her head and let out cry of delight. "Gods...what happened?" Her arms twisted slightly as the woman tried to retrace her steps. She remembered wandering around Byhimel City and then seeing a shooting star. Dawn came and she entered some weird thing and now she was...where exactly?

Natazume finally looked around her and saw black objects snaked along the curved low ceiling. She saw other pods beginning to drain their own stasis fluid as well. Natazume turned and grabbed her leather bag from her own pod and slowly made her way down the long metal walkway,her boots tapping timidly against the grate under her feet. She came to a large round window that offered its occupants a view of space. She peered outside and felt the light leave her eyes. All she could see was a world of darkness and a small sphere which looked long forgotten.

Something tugged at her heart.

Nausea hit as she turned and covered her mouth with her hands, swallowing most of the bile that threatened to come up. She coughed and wiped her mouth with the backs of her hands, the taste of bitterness still lingering. She took several deep breaths and quickly made her way back down the narrow walkway, past the others pods and came to a rounded door. She saw no handle and knew not how to get past or open it. She turned around and saw a few others coming around. [b]"Hey..."[/b] She didn't know if she should speak up or not but since she was the first to awaken, she decided why not?

[i]'I hope they're friendly.'[/i] She thought briefly before continuing. [b]"My name is Natazume. I have no idea where we are or why we are here...the last I remember, I was standing in front of this..."[/b] She pointed to her open and now empty pod. [b]"That. Now I'm here."[/b] She swallowed, her mind finally drifting back to her family. [i]'I wonder where my family is...how can I get back to them?'[/i] She wondered. Natazume shook her head slightly, hopeful they could figure out this conundrum together. [b]"I guess I should start by saying I'm from Shimmer Shores, but I kind of go wherever the current takes me. What about you guys?"[/b] She tilted her head to the side, her heart rate finally beginning to even out.[/indent][/indent]