Far to the east of Averine City, at the outer edge of the farmlands, a small cottage butted up against the rim of the forest. Facing west, the tips of the tallest buildings of the city were just visible near the horizon, if she stood on the porch and strained her eyes. She'd not done so for years, but as a child, she would shimmy up one of the posts holding up the porch roof and cry out, "Look, Papa! I can see the city!" The thrill of glimpsing the distant town was almost as fun as the inevitable boom of laughter that would erupt from her father, as he hoisted her back down in his large, gentle hands. 

Out here, life moved at a vastly different pace, compared to the bustle and hum of the city streets. Here, she was awakened by the barking of dogs rather than the cries of merchants and dockworkers. Here, the view from the front stoop was pleasantly rolling fields and hollows, dotted with other farmsteads, though none were too close, and the sensation of freedom and space was everything.

A wire-furred head nudged against her hand, as she stood now on the porch, musing absently, while her cornflower-blue eyes gazed off into the morning mists. She glanced down with an easy grin, running her fingers over the grey ears. "Ready for breakfast, aren't you?" Turning to wander back into the humble little house, she chuckled gently. "I believe I am, too!"

(Location: Eastern farmlands)