In the Valley of a Thousand Footprints

[vi] The Unnamed Town

Doyle was the first to see the town. Flying overhead, the bird caught sight of huts and roofs nestled between trees and shrubs about two leagues away from Efa. He descended slowly to relay what he saw. 

Their company had been travelling for about two hours since morning come. Efa had gotten a good nights rest. Energized by the fact, she had broken camp at double speed and set off within thirty minutes of waking up. Mounted atop Raven, the girl and her horse were going at a steady canter, with Doyle flying up ahead. The sun was bright in the sky, it cast Efa's shadow on the grass below. Grass that was lush and healthy. All around life bloomed. occasional trees sprouted out of the ground, creating a hotspot for flowers of all kinds. Primroses dominated the scene as Raven's hooves crashed through a patch of them. 

The blowing breeze which seemed to be a common presence in the prairie they were racing through. Efa's short hair was swept to the back as the wind blew into her face and her cloak, which swirled around behind her. 

They had passed herds of deer and rabbits that had collected around a small den created by a large collapsed boulder. Some way from there they had seen a herd of wild horses at a watering hole. Two foals were playing together aside from the main herd. They had left all that behind and were nearing another treeline. Which, if Efa's cartography skills meant anything, should be the only thing separating her from the town. As she burst into the underbrush of the forest, Doyle articulated between a group of trees and flew low to Efa. 

"Two leagues more, Efa." The bird cawed and soared high above them and into the trees. 

"You hear that," Efa reassured, patting Raven on the neck, "A little bit more and you can have an apple.

Raven neighed in exasperation and increased her pace, leaping clean over a collapsed tree trunk and dodging between two trees. Efa was getting somewhat used to the rhythmic motion of a moving horse. She had never rode on a horse for longer than an hour. The saddle and riding pants made it more bearable, though her thighs and back were still throbbing to an extent. Longing patiently to dismount and lie down in a bed, Efa pushed on. 

Halfway through the forest, Efa finally found a path. It was at a junction in the forest and there was a sign stuck into the ground near a tree. The girl slowed Raven down to read the sign, extracting that the town was due north, down the path in front of them. some distance passed and the trees gradually faded away behind them revealing a small town in the distance.

The cabins and buildings were made of wood as too were the roofs. It was a small town, slightly smaller than Cayrnr but far more spacious. On horseback Efa could see that there were about four main roads and many byroads, snaking off God knows where. She slowed to a walk and guided Raven in through an arched entryway into the town.

There were people milling about outside certain establishments from the looks of it. She went on through the main road and ended up at the town square. 

At the center was a large vined tree of the kind Efa didn't know. It was by far taller than all the architecture of the town. Its branches reached across the entire square, casting shadows and dropping down more vines. Sunlight barely broke through the top layer of leaves. It had the added effect of being very calming and tranquil. More people milled around the square and as Efa came closer, she noticed a small wooden structure that was built flush with the tree on a circular platform of stone around the base of the tree.  

It appeared to be a shrine of some sort. Wooden poles acting as makeshift pillars and a roof, along with walls and even miniature steps. People had left flowers and other trinkets near the shrine. Efa was intrigued. She had seen shrines before, but this one didn't seem to be for any God.