Entering Willow's Humble Abode....

[Willow]

Willow galloped through the prairie full of glee but slowed down occasionally so that jewel could keep up. Stopping at her front door willow nudged the door open wide and jumped in, slightly bowing to let jewel in. Her place was a cozy little abode with a fireplace made of river rock and clay, a bed of buffalo hide, and on the ceiling there were clusters of dried wildflowers hanging upside down. Various baskets, cauldrons, calicos, and books were neatly organized around the Kleepa, along with a shelf stacked with a wide array of colorful glass bottles. some were empty and others were full. The windows were open and a cool breeze blew throughout the wooden-dome structure.
" Welcome to my Kleepa! Kleepa, is the name of the odd wooden dome stuctures that the prairie ponies live in. I am the last pony from the prairie pony tribe in this area. " Willow sang as she twirled about her kleepa to fetch some more dry timbers to stoke the fire with. As soon as the fire started up again willow turned to look at Jewel to see her reaction to her Kleepa.

[Jewel]

To keep up with the high-spirited prairie pony, Jewel glided a few feet higher in the air. Pegasi weren't exactly known for having strong legs.

As they neared Willow's house, Jewel descended gracefully and landed a few feet behind Willow with only the whisper-like sound of her feet touching the prairie grass. Willow motioned her in, and Jewel stepped into the dome-shaped house. The coziness and homey feeling were instantly welcoming.

"A "kleepa"? That's an interesting name.." Jewel said thoughtfully as she took in the new surroundings. "The last of the prairie ponies?" She asked casually, not wishing to implore, but not without curiosity.

[Willow]

"Yeah the last of the prairie pony tribe, they all died off from some plaugue and well now its just me." Willow sighed as she rolled out a large cauldron and flipped it over as a makeshift table. Willow usually didn't have visitors so she usually ate on the floor. Willow also rolled out two dry driftwood logs wide enough to be seats and placed them at either end of the table.

[Jewel]

"Hmm.." Jewel said contemplatively, and sat down at one end of the table. It doesn't seem to bother her much.. regardless, I'm not going to push her to tell me more.

"So how long have you been living in the Outer Edges? Do you know many other ponies around here?"

[Willow]

"I've lived out here my whole life. I was born out here on the prairie to the tribe and have stayed here ever since. As for other ponies well, once in a while a pony would come live in the outer edges but they'd get sick of being so far away from the hussle and bustle of town and leave for the city. I have'nt had a neighbor- who was a pony- in years. I'm so glad to see you move here." Willow said as she plucked a few wildflowers off her ceiling and pulled out a knife and cut off there stems. She then laid the flower ends in a smaller and shallower cauldron and started to grind them up with a stone. when willow thought they were just the right size she fished around in another cauldron and pulled out 2 metal tea orbs. She filled both orbs untill over flowing, snapped them shut and set them on the table-cauldron. She pulled her tea pot off from the ground where it was sitting.
"ok now i need water and the stream is'nt too far away so you sit tight and i'll be right back." Willow said as she left the kleepa.

[Willow]

Willow entered the kleepa again carrying the teapot which was now full of water. Willow ran to her pile of cauldrons again and pulled out a flat pan and a metal tripod. the cream mare stuck the tripod in the fire and put the pan atop it. on the pan she put the teapot. the pan and tripod seemed to work brilliantly, just like a stove in any ordinary house. Willow smiled as she looked at jewel and brushed off her hooves at the same time. " now we need some cups" willow said out loud dashing again into a giant cauldron. Willow pulled out 2 tan, gorgeously potted tea cups. the cups had an overall glazed smooth finish, and running up the sides of them were painted green grasses. " these should do nicely", admitted willow, gazing at the magnificently made cups.

[Jewel]

Jewel sat calmly admiring the kleepa as Willow scurried about making tea in what Jewel considered to be a very resourceful manner. She offered to be of some help numerous times, but each time was instructed to sit tight, and told that the tea would soon be ready.

As Willow set the tea cups on the makeshift table, Jewel turned hers in her hooves, taking note of the craftsmanship, "These are beautiful.. did you make them?" She asked curiously, "Is the clay from the stream useable to make pottery?" if so, that makes my life a LOT easier..

[Willow]

"Oh no my mother made those" willow admitted, " My pottery work is, well, useful but not as beautiful. My mother loved to make pottery- she was really good at it. that was her job in our tribe community, supply the whole tribe with useful and gorgeous pottery." Willow beamed knowing her mother would have been proud to see her put her pottery to useful work. " yeah the stream is wonderful for finding durable clay. As you can see my fireplace its constucted mostly of the stuff. It has never cracked." Willow was sitting opposite Jewel when the teapot began to whistle.
"oh yes, the tea!" willow claimed as she lifted the pot off the tripod and set it on the cauldron. She poured the hot water into the cups, and droppped the orbs in the cups also. Both orbs had small chains on them so you could pull the tea balls up and down so the flavor would spread throughout.
" Would you like some sugar?" Willow asked Jewel as she watched the tea balls bob up and down.

[Jewel]

"They ARE lovely," Jewel agreed, mentally reminding herself that asking any more about Willow's mother may not be a good choice of conversation. Jewel dipped the little tea orb around in her cup, as usual, fascinated with the little things in life.

"Yes.. I'd love some sugar," She responded. "You know, I think I'm going to make my plates and cups from the stream clay, as well as some artwork. Do you think I could sell them in the city?" Jewel asked curiously. "And what are the other ponies around here like? I haven't seen any besides you thus far. What are your friends like?"

[ITS WILLOW I CANT GET ON HELP]

Willows ears perked up when jewel mentioned maybe doing some potting of her own and willow beamed at jewel. " Thats a wonderful idea jewel!" willow exclaimed, "have you got a potter's wheel? If not, i'm sure my mom's old one is around here somewhere... I think the other ponies would love a pottery shoppe! Uh.. friends" willow blushed as she went to the corner of her kleepa and pulled out a long cane of sugar. " I have to admitt i haven't met A lot of ponies, but the ones i have met were really nice!" Willow wasn't sure her aquaintences would be considered "friends" because they never really got together on a regular basis. Willow enjoyed being with silverfall and Razz that one stormy day but she never did contact her after that. And same thing with Rootsie, and Tristan and dash.... But willow understood that ponies get busy sometimes and cant always be visiting, willow was very hopeful she would see them all again.. sometime...Willow split the sugar cane down the middle and with the empty husk of another cane willow scraped the sugar off from the inside into a little hand potted dish that had little metal tongs inside to scoop the sugar out with. when willow finished scraping the cane she set the husks aside and put the sugar dish on the table for jewel to use. "do you like to do art?" Willow asked inquisitively. "I love to draw and sketch, but i'm not such a good painter" willow admitted.

[Jewel]

(ooc: I dont know, Willow! The MLPTP does that to me from time to time.. it usually involves me closing all my windows and/or restarting my computer. Would you like me to delete that last ooc post? I'm trying not to go power-tripping with my moderatorly powers )

Jewel smiled at Willow, "All I came here with is whatever fit in my leather bag," She laughed softly, "There wasn't too much room for a pottery wheel."

When Willow explained about the ponies she'd met, Jewel tried to keep the names she mentioned in the back of her mind. Sooner or later, she was bound to run into at least one of them.

"Yes! I love painting and drawing--that's how I made my living.... ..where I came from," She smiled, and put some sugar into her tea. "It's a good thing there are so many plants around here.. lots of good resources in terms of materials to make pigments for paint. I did bring my brushes.. as soon as I stretch some canvas I should be all set. Is art one of your passions?"

[Willow]

(ooc: Sure you can delete that if you wanna!)
"oh yes i love art!" Willow exclaimed happily." I'd like to see your work sometime!" Willow stirred some sugar into her tea. " the plants around here are useful for everything. exceptwhen you need metal things.. I used buy my metal cauldrons at a local blacksmith that used to be downtown, but sadly he left to make metal tools for dream valley. He left me with what i have on hand right now. but I'm sure if you need metal things the surplus store downtown will have them... they have everything. I'm partial to the black smithed metal over those new fangled machine made things though." Willow sighed. "Would you like to give my mom's old potting wheel a whirl?" The cream mare said as she finished her tea.

[Jewel]

"I'd love to show you my art, but I've had to sell it all as I made it, to get by in my travels," Jewel said with slight remorse, but more so satisfied that she could provide for herself.

Town.. I don't know that I'm ready to go there yet. I'd rather settle in first, then I can go see what social and commercial opportunities this place has to offer..

"If it weren't getting so late, I'd like to try my hooves at the pottery wheel, but I'm afraid it's going to get dark soon." Jewel said, looking out the window at the sun slowly making its way toward the horizon. Time had flown by while they were talking, and it was now late afternoon.

[Willow]

"Oh yes i understand, its getting a little dark now and well, i've kept you here so long. I'm sorry i'm sure you have other things to do, having just moved in and all.." Willow said seeing it was getting darker out now. Willow scampered over to the remaining ground tea leaves. "but before you leave i'll give you some food to get you started out with at you new home." Willow pulled out a handwoven basket (she just made recently) to put the food in. She then pulled out a small piece of cheese cloth from her calico stack and put the tea leaves on top of the cheese cloth and twisted the cloth around the leaves and tied it in a knot. This made a nice tea bag. Willow then moved over to her fire plce hearth and there sat out a freash loaf of bread. She placed the bread in the basket along with the make shift tea bag. "oh and one more thing!" Willow said out loud as she opened a small hidden door on the floor underneath the shelves and crawled in. The whole seemed to go down deep and a cool breeze wafted up from the hole as Willow popped out with somthing else also wrapped in a cheese cloth. Willow looked at jewels puzzled face and said. "this is where i keep things cold year 'round. i carve out ice chunks from the stream in the winter and it put them down there. Then when its summer and i need things chilled; the ground keeps the ice cool and i have a sort of homemade fridge." , Willow said pointing to the trap door on the floor. Willow unwrapped the thing in the cheese cloth and said " i sure hope you like cheese i made this brick myself. has some garden herbs mixed in it for flavor." She slid the white cheese and its cloth into the basket also. " Here take this " Willow said pushing the basket onto Jewel's hoof " And if you ever need any help with you roof or anything just come and let me know" Willow smiled.

[Jewel]

Jewel stared in amazement as Willow prepared a basket of food for her. She politely kept her mouth from gaping, but was filled with surprise. Not only had this pony invited her into her home, befriended her, and shown perfect hospitality, she was going to give her provisions as well! She continued to watch Willow's food basket preparation, every second debating on whether or not she could accept such a gift. As she took the basket from Willow, she said, "This is incredibly kind of you.. thank you," Thinking better of refusing the kindness, since Willow seemed so happy that she could be of help. "I mean, you've already done so much just offering your friendship--" She was responded to with words of reassurance, and walked outside. With a last thank you and goodbye, Jewel started home.

*****

Jewel took a deep breath of the fresh forest air as she walked along what would eventually be a well-beaten path. Her hooves made only muffled beats against the soft earth as she continued at a leisurely pace. She began to reflect on the day, still absorbing everything that had happened. Apparently she had made a new friend... but she couldn't be sure. She could never be sure.
"Why do I always question everything? Why can't I just accept kindness when it's given to me?" She asked herself with frustration after deciding to balance the basket between her wings instead of carrying it in her mouth.
"It is your nature." A voice responded practically.
"Sometimes I don't like my nature.." Jewel grumbled.
"Your nature and intuition is what has saved you from many perils, not to mention death itself."
"I know, I know.. but you're here to protect me.." Jewel said.
"I am not here to protect you. I am here simply to guide you, to keep you moving and try to help you survive, because--"
"--because I'm 'destined to do great things'. I know."
"Be patient, young one," the voice was comforting, instead of angry, "Do not question the good things that happen. You have the strength in your heart to persevere through whatever happens to you, so do not fret over the things that have yet to come." Jewel felt a smile in the voice, "I am here to help you move forward, and to remind you of the promise of your future."
Jewel smiled gratefully as she neared her new home, "Sometimes it's all I need to be reminded."