Welcome to Gaia! ::

(I hope I understood correctly that its okay to post in here...)
Kai hadn't realized what amazment was before, but now that this sanctuary had been revealed to him, he was willing to admit he was highly impressed. The air seemed to hum with the thriving life that took shelter in these woods. Not even Kai could bring himself to shunt the sense of peace nor did he believe himself able to disrespect the sense of vitality around them. His silver eyes, wide with wonderment, reflected the glancing rays of sunlight that filtered through the high branches.
"This place is amazing..." Kai said in a soft voice.

*Enjoying the stillness as the light dappled green and golden through the leaves of the canopy, Liana shifted the reins leading the palomino mare so she could remove her gloves. Winter might hold it's death grip on the land outside the Stedding, but here among the sheltering trees, it was near enough to spring to make the Aes Sedai shake off her thick cloak and throw it over the saddle.

As peaceful as the surrounding forestry was, Liana felt mildly uncomfortable, and her eyes cast about furtively as though expecting an attack. Logicaly she knew it was only because she could not feel the Source any longer, and it was only that that made her vulnerable, but it wasn't a feeling one adapted to easily.

Still, it was beautiful, with the miriad of colors and shades among the foliage...who knew there were so many colors of green? Perhaps some of the Ogier women would know how to make dyes in the same colors...she could make some wonderful dresses from them. Turning to offer a smile to her Warder, she reached out to link her fingers with his gently*

"Isn't it lovely? I haven't been in a Stedding since...well, since last we were in a Stedding together."

*With a soft laugh, the Green looked around her, fascinated by the surprises hidden everywhere. Almost like paradise, she thought with wistful romanticism. A perfect escape for anyone...*

*Liana smiled to herself, pleased that there was indeed heart enough in him to be touched by this place. In this place, where the One Power has no effect and Aes Sedai are reduced to mere mortals, perhaps we can learn to be friends, she thought to herself with a touch of sadness. But sadness had no place here any more than Saidar did, and so her voice was warm when she spoke*

"The stedding are the homelands of the Ogier, Kai. No doubt we will run into them a some point...they are a peace loving people, and abhor violence of any kind. The stedding have many curious qualities...they are shielded somehow that no one understands so that no Aes Sedai within it's boundries may channel, or even sense the True Source."

*Her lips twisted slighty, something like loss in her expression before she continued*

"Anyone outside a stedding attempting to direct the One Power at a stedding find that the weaves disintegrate inside the stedding boundaries. No Trolloc will enter a stedding unless driven. Myrddraal will not do so unless the need is great, and only then with significant reluctance. Truly dedicated Darkfriends also feel uncomfortable here. So you see..."

*Here her smile bloomed again as she shifted from lecturing to a woman taking true pleasure from her surroundings*

"It truly is a sanctuary."

*Knowing he was even more uneasy than she, Liana gave her Warder's hand a squeeze and offered a bolstering smile, deciding he needed something ridiculously care-free to take his mind off his anxieties. Seeing the water gleaming like a silver snake in the sunlight gave her all the excuse she needed. A sly smile quirked at her lips before she turned on her Bonded, schooling her emotions and her expression into calm*

"Why don't we set camp near the water, Fakali? I'll see to the horses, if you'd kindly pitch the tent."

*Loosening the cinches, Liana hauled the saddle off the pretty palomino's back, the mare swishing her tail patiently. At Kai's question, the Aes Sedai looked back at him, arching an eyebrow as she rolled up her sleeves to the elbows*

"We'll hunt; forage. There should be some decent fishing, too. There's enough grass for grazing the horses, and we've enough grain if they need it. The Ogier might be willing to trade for anything else we need. But I'd prefer not to drain their supplies when we can do well enough for ourselves."

*Shaking her head at the question, she grabbed a fistful of dried grass and began rubbing her mount down. The boy's opinions amused her sometimes. He probably thought that because they could not Touch the Source that they were completely useless. That idea prompted her next statement, but she laughed as she spoke*

"Aes Sedai are not all pampered sissies, Kai. I'm as capable as you are at roughing it. Light, compared to sweltering in the sun at the fish markets, running between the harbor and the stalls with arms full of heavy stinking fish, sitting by the stream in the shade with a baited line sounds rather pleasant..."

*It was rare that Liana acknowledged her life before the White Tower; rarer still when she spoke of it. Light, she'd come such a long way from the little countrified girl who raced her brother home from the village at night...

Because the memory was bitter-sweet, she smiled and loosed Moonshine, moving to her Bonded's mount to repeat the process of removing the tack. When she began to groom him, the spirited animal danced away a step. Mildly annoyed, she tapped him between the ears in reproach*

"Hold still, damn you."

*Disliking her tone, the beast laid his ears back, eyes looking at her consideringly. Recognizing the expression all to well, Liana took a hold of his muzzle, brought his face to hers firmly*

"Don't even think about biting me, champ. I bite back. Don't think I don't know that look...it's the same one your master gets before he starts telling me what a damned fool I am. If I can go a few rounds with him, don't think I couldn't take you down."

*When the horse snorted, Liana returned to rubbing the hay over his coat with a tiny smile of satisfaction. Things were so much easier once you reached an understanding of just who was in charge...*

Kurai listened to the conversation and chuckled lightly. Not that she could chase down anything in a dress but still some dignity could be kept. Not that she couldn't either...Her father had taught her well.

"I think we should set up camp, but maybe a bit closer to the stream."

Having watched Tarma go, he mounted to Tallas again. He looked to the Stedding with a mild anticipation, and then looked at Nikoru. "I'm going to see how the others are," he said. Leading Tallas to the invisible line, he felt his body pass it, that sense of indescribable peace flooding him.

As he worked deeper into the Stedding, he saw Kai first, stopping to talk with the young man he knew little about.

"Greetings, Kai. I trust things are well?"