Chrysalis — The Dawn of Mooland Tales

UPDATED: 2024-11-21 5920 WORDS

6

WORK IN PROGRESS! — v0.8/15

6. Grasslands: Grounding Pastures ¶

It was one of the most peaceful mornings ever. At ease and all preparations done, Izzy and Manny set out from their Highlands homebase. A long enough road loomed ahead of them before the first station of their journey. Starting right at the Riverlands would've been easy enough, just a short stroll down the hill from their village. However, Ammoolia had been very clear about the choice of Grasslands for the first realm to visit and survey. They trusted her insights and guidance. There was surely a sense and strategy to all of this.

Grasslands lies at the very other side of Riverlands, a vast band of lush pastures before the Deeplands and the Central Ocean. But Riverlands was a pleasant enough realm to wander in at any length, even over and over again. Playful streams of many flavors were a perfect companion for the first leg of their journey. Familiar sights on the way soothed their somewhat nervous spirits on this epic journey into the unknown.

Settle Down: Foundation of Grasslands ¶

Landing at the boundary where the last of the rivers dives underground to join the aquifers feeding the pastures, it was clear they had arrived exactly at where the Grasslands starts. At Mooland, there are no borders drawn or signs planted between the different realms. Nature herself has been quite clear about what is what, where it starts, and where it ends. When you're there, you know you're there, and that is where you are. Nature is not very complicated — and the Moolanders didn't have much of an interest in complicating it. Life is complex enough as it is — even in a place like Mooland.

At the outer band close to the Riverlands we have the nether pastures, a lowland area where water-hungry grasses prosper, with pools of water emerging whenever the underground aquifers are saturated. At the inner band, the very other side of Grasslands bordering the Deeplands, we have some highland pastures bordering the outer rim of the caldera that separates the two realms. It reminds you of both the Peaklands and the Highlands but the vibes are more broody and contemplative. It's a good place to ruminate. The broad middle band between the two extremes, called the "Middle Grounds", hosts the greatest diversity and abundance of grasses.

"Alright, Manny! Settle down! Orientation time! What do we know about the Grasslands?"

"Well you'd know more than I do, Izzy. Grasslands is the native turf of the Moocows. Mantisians like me are more in touch with the mountains. What all do you know?"

"Right. Well I always hear that the pastures here are the place you should visit to reconnect with your roots. When we were kids, mom would always say, 'Back to the pastures, Izzy, at once!', when I and Billy were too frolicky and restless. Mom actually came down here to the Birthing Pastures when she was ready to calve. This is where I was born."

"Oh is that so! For all the things I know about you, I didn't know you were born here. Grasslands is also obviously the place where lots of grass grows. They say the pasture grass is much more tasty and nutritious than the Highlands grasses. I have no idea, we don't really cook grass at my family. Okay, should we mooditate now, like Ammoolia taught us?"

Mooditation is a type of meditation practiced by the Moocows. It's quite common with the folks at the Highlands and the Deeplands. Different from the adamantition technique taught in the Mantisian Cultural Tradition, it's not about having sharp focus and trying to burrow into a particular thing. It's more about feeling and understanding yourself and the flavors and flows of the world in and around you. Mooditation is a very reflective and intuitive sort of practice. Your heart grows calm and turns into a sensitive mirror of intuition. Just ideal for immersing yourself in the landscape all around you. You can do it even if you're walking — though you need to walk quite slowly to stay properly tuned. It's a beautiful method.

At times sitting down, at times peacefully pacing about. At times standing still, at times lying down. That's how Izzy and Manny spent about an hour of that peaceful morning. Immersed in the fertile lowlands, there was a sense of tranquil nourishment. Immersed in the endless middle ground pastures, the whole of the concrete world felt like a plane of hushed fullness. Immersed in the uniformly lush terrain of the Grasslands, tunes of peace, stability, and support grew vivid in their hearts and minds. They didn't zone into the pastures bordering Deeplands yet — they seemed a bit too haunting and distant. All in all, a calm and beautiful hour of contemplations.

"I can see why you Moocows say that Grasslands is where your true self settles down. This is so settling. The endless fractals in my head are still there, but they are sitting still like snapshots. It feels like they are in my body, and my body is restful and at peace."

"Definitely take note of that, Manny! What you just said is close to the 'essential character' Ammoolia said we should pin down at the end of our homework from the Earth. How do we write it down? You're better with exact words."

"How about, 'Restful stillness and stable presence in your body'?"

"That's compact, that works! Thanks Manny! We can always tinker these later on."

Tune In: Flow of Life at Grasslands ¶

Seasons at the Grasslands are not particularly distinct. We have the season of grass growing normally, the season of grass growing more, the season of grass growing like a lot, and the season of grass growing just a little bit less. The unremarkable seasons of the Grasslands are mostly influenced by the climate at the Riverlands and the Highlands, except for the very southern part close to the Strangelands. There are some truly strange grasses growing there. Some of them are medicinal, others are possibly poisonous, and many of them are just weird. Healer cows from the Riverlands often venture there to stock up their herbal cabinets for more exotic ailments. The Deeplands Caldera is a buffer between the Central Ocean and the Grasslands.

Forever fertile and rich with the building blocks of life, the soil supporting the lush pastures was nourished by aquifers fed from the hundreds, if not thousands, of streams coursing in from the Riverlands. There are many different flavors of grasses growing in the various sectors of the Grasslands, tapping their roots into the undergrounds and matching the flavors of the streams absorbed into that sector. Aromatic mists from the Highlands periodically drift down to the plains and coat a particular slice of the pastures, giving birth to exceptionally multiflavored batches of grass stored at the Great Fodderstock for special occasions.

Grasslands is host to a number of creatures living in harmony with the native ecosystem. Importantly, there are the Wobblyburds wobbling about with their stout legs and plumpy bodies. These terrestial birds nest by the mounds and burrows toward the inner band and come out in flocks to feast on the bolting seeds of grass. In a favor to the pastures in return for food and shelter, the wobblies carry seeds to different corners of the realm and contribute to its biodiversity. There are also the Mooles, subterranean critters constructing vast networks of burrows underneath the pastures. They cultivate and rotate the soil, preserving the balance of nutrients that nourish the fertile fields. The humble Mumblebees, sluggishly floating around and pollinating plants, must also be mentioned here.

❇︎ ❇︎ ❇︎ ❇︎ ❇︎

It was early noon, or late morning. However you may prefer to look at it. It was the time that it was — the present hour in the flow of time. It was the time to flow. Izzy and Manny set sail into the sea of grass to marvel the nature of Grasslands and the various folks living there. At this point, following Ammoolia's instructions, it was to be strictly observing only, not hands-on yet — except for a casual conversation just to be polite, or to get directions in case they were lost. Questions and interviews were left for later as the homework of Fire. Right now was about tuning in and going with the flow, into the homework of Water to explore the reflections of the realm.

In the northern parts, they browsed the pastures around the Great Fodderstock, the famous grand granary of grasses, really a grassary to be precise. Every sort of grass one may imagine was stocked there, both fresh harvest and vintage, all stored in their sheds in neat order, kept diligently at the ideal humidity to preserve their tastes and nutrients. Sure, one could freely wander and munch at leisure anywhere at the Grasslands — grass was free for all after all. But in all the bustle of modern Mooland, most folks found it convenient to visit the Great Fodderstock for easy access to a variety of basic and special groceries. That too was free for all in mooderation.

Steady at work in and about the Great Fodderstock, the Pasture Keepers were tending to the endless fields, harvesting as necessary to keep the supplies full. Not that there was much to tend to, it was more about ensuring everything is fine as usual, and sometimes scattering new seeds for more variety. While the Kinder Gardeners at the Highlands were more about aesthetics and exotic plants that may or may not be fit for food, the Pasture Keepers were hard-working farmers bringing the staples to every household of Mooland.

In the eastern parts, Izzy and Manny visited the Birthing Pastures. That's where Izzy was born. Birthing Pastures are a grouping of serene and nurturing fields covered in budding shoots of soft grass and broad-leafed plants. If at all possible, Moocows will come here to give birth to their calves, with hopes that their newborn will be a true Moolandian cow in tune with nature's supporting spirit.

This is where you find the Calving Sitters, the caring midwives of Mooland, and their many thatched huts made of straw and clay, all set for welcoming newborn Moocows into the world. The sisters often assist with the First Milk ceremony if the family wishes to have it at the pastures. It's a traditional bonding between the mother and the newborn calf. They also provide maternal guidance and counseling to provide a stable foundation for life. Some Calving Sitters even specialize as dedicated mooternal counselors, providing extended support for Moocow families who struggle with the hardships of caring for their younglings.

In the western parts, Izzy and Manny landed at the most still Plateau of Presence. It was a place like no other, acclaimed as the most peaceful place in all of Mooland. The grass growing in there wasn't fascinating by any measure. It was just a very big batch of straight-up standard Grasslands staple grass without any particular special flavor. There were no mounds or slumps and such. Really there were no unique features at all, except for a couple of rather boring slabs of rock to sit on. It may be that the extraordinary plainness of this place was the very secret to its tranquil aura and its unusually peaceful presence.

If there wasn't anything to get particularly excited about at the Plateau of Presence, you also wouldn't feel the urge to get excited about anything in particular when you're actually here and now and tuned in. It was all perfect just the way it was, in all of its ordinary tranquility. Izzy and Manny watched the Keepers of Peace, the ever-present guardians of this sanctuary of silence, and found themselves wondering what exactly is it that they do here. Perhaps in fact they don't do anything in particular at all, and so they keep its peace and presence. In the carousel of our busy and distracted lives, sometimes just stopping in our tracks and being patiently at peace — and not trying to do or to be anything in particular — is the very thing we need to restore ourselves.

❇︎ ❇︎ ❇︎ ❇︎ ❇︎

"So Izzy, it's summary time. We should pin down the 'feelings and expectations' we find flowing here. Any thoughts?"

"There's a very strong feeling of nurturing and peace at the Grasslands. The pastures under my hooves are like the foundations of a well-built housing. I feel safe and at ease. I feel relaxed and stable. I feel supported and free of worries. I don't know about expectations though. Honestly I don't really expect anything in particular here. I guess I just expect to be at peace with what I am. How does a newborn calf feel with her first nap in the mother's lap? I wish I would remember. It must be a beautiful feeling."

Gear Up: Meeting the Grasslands Natives ¶

Get set ready. Mooyah! All geared up and ready to rock and roll. It's early afternoon and the hour of interaction is finally at hand. Time to get serious and engage the natives of the realm. While your average Moolandian might be shy about striking up conversations with the various folks in every-which-realm, Izzy and Manny had already clocked plenty of practice with all of their encounters at the Riverlands during their afternoon hang-out sessions. They had also marked down a number of interesting characters while roaming about the Grasslands earlier, some potential contributors who might help them in their mission.

❇︎ ❇︎ ❇︎ ❇︎ ❇︎

First Destination: The Great Fodderstock. Izzy and Manny were hoping for an interview with the Master Keeper himself, the steady overseer of the entire Fodderstock operation. Seemed like a character with lots of experience and useful insights. Quite a few mooters were covered with all of these loops up and down the realm, but there was a necessary process to be followed through in good order and they didn't mind the exercise. (Mooter is the measure spanning from the front hoof to the back hoof of an average cow. It was originally modeled after Mootron, the famous Heatlands experimental researcher who used himself as the measure of all things for the early steps of his alchemical science.)

Izzy and Manny marched straight into the central office shed and knocked on the Master Keeper's door. It had a sign saying "FODDER-KEEPER MUKRAMAT", sketched on an unpretentious rough plank in clear capital letters with no attempt at sophistication. "Enter."

"Good afternoon! We are Izzy and Manny from the Highlands. We understand you are the Fodder-Keeper here. Would you have a bit of time to spare for our questions?"

"Sure. Here at the Great Fodderstock, we are always busy. But we are never busy. We are at ease when we choose to be at peace. Take a seat."

"Could you please introduce yourself briefly?"

"I am Mukramat. The Fodder-Keeper at Grasslands. I keep the fodder safe and the stocks in good order."

He didn't seem particularly talkative or keen to be elaborate. Grasslanders rarely are. They prefer to keep their thoughts, words, and deeds most simple and down to earth. He got to the point though.

"We are always learning and wish to hear about your skills and expertise. What do you do here — and how and why do you do it?"

"Many questions you have. I make sure there is enough grass of every kind. Also I make sure it is kept well and fresh. If we do not keep a stable stock of good quality basic food, people will be hungry and life will be difficult. It is my skill and duty to maintain the Fodderstock in good order. To make sure the pastures are healthy. This is the foundation of our life. We support all of Mooland."

"Thank you! Those are valuable skills and duties. One day we may return to the Great Fodderstock to study all of this in more depth."

"If you do, be patient and steady with your every basic duty. Done now — or have you more questions?"

"We are also collecting stories from all the realms of Mooland. You have unique skills and insights. Not to bother you with all the details of our project, but is there something particularly important to keep in mind?"

"Make sure you have basic story of every kind. Moocows in different realms have different tastes. Need different nutritions. Serve all equally. Keep your stories fresh and well. Old stories and new stories. Many will be nourished."

"All of that we will keep in mind! Thank you so much for your time."

❇︎ ❇︎ ❇︎ ❇︎ ❇︎

Second Destination: Birthing Pastures. Izzy and Manny had spotted an elderly lady who directed the Calving Sitters and was shuttling up and down between the huts there, most devoted to looking after everyone present and making preparations for those yet to come.

"Good afternoon! We are Izzy and Manny from the Highlands. We understand you are the caretaker of this place. Would you have a bit of time to spare for our questions?"

"That I am and all children are always welcome to our peaceful huts. Please have a seat and make yourselves comfortable."

"Could you please introduce yourself briefly?"

"I am Sister Muumama, the senior caretaker at Birthing Pastures. And you are indeed Izabella of Highlands, aren't you? How you have grown since our last meeting! I remember you and your mother from many many moons ago!"

She was clearly more talkative than the Fodder-Keeper and her advanced years bore little impact on her memory. Izzy didn't mind that Muumama pinched her cheek a bit harder than necessary. She had quite the grip but also an abundance of affection for youngsters.

"We are always learning and wish to hear about your skills and expertise. What do you do here — and how and why do you do it?"

"Here at the Birthing Pastures we are dedicated, body and soul and all, to the care of all the newborns of Mooland. Every little calf must be nurtured in a stable and peaceful environment. We support the mothers and their growing families. We provide a safe environment with many seasoned sisters calmly settled into their various duties. Just as the so many organs support the life in your body, here we support the foundations of life itself. We sisters rock the cradle of a well-rooted life at the Birthing Pastures. This is our commitment."

She even had a flair for the poetic. Most unusual for a Grasslander. Supporting countless sprouts of new life must contribute to her inspired character and the warmth of her grounded heart. It is true that much poetry may be found at the base and cradle of our being. Simply tune in and listen to the stillness and its whispers of life. Muumama did.

"Thank you! Those are valuable skills and duties. One day we may return to the Birthing Pastures to study all of this in more depth."

"It would be lovely if you did. Every good-hearted Moocow is welcome here to help us sisters in building the foundations of a wholesome new life. Here we aspire to support and care for everyone from every realm. We'd be lucky to also have a Mantisian youngster here. Whenever I see one of your people, I see the mountain peaks looming behind, and I think about how we all rise from the ground of our birth into greater and greater heights. Was that all, or did you have other questions?"

"We are also collecting stories from all the realms of Mooland. You have unique skills and insights. Not to bother you with all the details of our project, but is there something particularly important to keep in mind?"

"The stories you will find across all of Mooland are like the spoken cradle of life for our planet. If you can share them in a way that even a newborn calf will follow, you may one day share this gift of the fullness of life with everyone. I have some artist sisters at the Highlands who'd be excited to create illustrated storybooks for shaping and nourishing the youngling minds of our realms. Helpful and meaningful stories for all ages in every realm really. Stories nurturing our simple but important roots."

"All of that we will keep in mind! Thank you so much for your time."

❇︎ ❇︎ ❇︎ ❇︎ ❇︎

Third Destination: Plateau of Presence. All the Keepers of Peace at the plateau looked very similar, save for the colors of their hides and the sizes of their bodies. One of them had actually noticed Izzy and Manny during their wanderings earlier in the day. The rest of them were seated in silence and absolutely blanked out, in a standstill as if frozen into the moment, contributing to a dense atmosphere of present peace. The stillness was so thick it almost made you nervous. It is never ever that serene in any normal place. And when it's suspiciously quiet, we often start worrying something must be wrong. It's usually all just fine.

"Good afternoon! We are Izzy and Manny from the Highlands. We understand you are one of the Keepers of Peace here. Would you have a bit of time to spare for our questions?"

"Okay."

"Could you please introduce yourself briefly?"

"They say Dweller Muksama. Okay Abider. I am here."

If the Fodder-Keeper they met earlier was a bit sparse in his words, this Okay Abider was extreme in his brevity. They did pitch for "introduce yourself briefly", so fair enough. There was a certain charm to his resigned equanimity. His presence seemed to speak more than his mouth. It was an opportunity for listening to all that isn't said in so many words.

"We are always learning and wish to hear about your skills and expertise. What do you do here — and how and why do you do it?"

"Here we keep peace. Peace is in stillness. Is simply you. If you are quiet. Whatever that you are. That's okay. It's enough. We hold to that. No other duty. Peace is for peace. No other reason. Other breaks peace. We let go. We are here. It is what it is. We are okay. Okay is peace. Peace is okay."

It was the most simple reply ever. The highest word count in Muksama's sentences was all of five — and that was a single exception. All the same, every word he let out of his mouth was both necessary and profound. There was no fluff, there was no decor to it. It was beautifully raw. Izzy and Manny wrote it down word-for-word. It was actually a whole lot to digest. They felt awkward about repeating their well-prepped interview stock phrases in face of these extremely simple expressions. Izzy whispered to Manny, "We should really revisit how we speak with all these folks. Somehow tune our language to match the people we meet." Still, they went with the safe standard phrasing for now. It was okay. Maybe a bit much. But it is what it is. Whatever that we are. Okay then.

"Thank you! Those are valuable skills and duties. One day we may return to the Plateau of Presence to study all of this in more depth."

"If you come here. Also be quiet. Calm is good. Okay. More or not?"

"We are also collecting stories from all the realms of Mooland. You have unique skills and insights. Not to bother you with all the details of our project, but is there something particularly important to keep in mind?"

"I know a good story. When I hear it. I am still in myself. I have peace. Too many stories use so many words. Long hard words. Busy stories. Keep it real. Real is enough. Will sink in. Have basic stories. Simple words. No other-other. Other breaks peace. Good luck."

"All of that we will keep in mind! Thank you so much for your time. We would also like to meet an elder in this realm. Someone who knows all the legends and histories of the Grasslands. Could you point us in the right direction?"

"Meet with Muum. That one there. Sits on flat rock. Comes here often. Peace out."

Soar High: Elder Essence of Grasslands ¶

It wasn't a particularly long or exciting quest in search for the Grasslands elder. He was sitting on a rock slab about a hundred mooters out from where most of the Keepers of Peace were camping in all of their stillness. An elderly bull with an almost entirely gray hide, he was gracefully aged with the gentle seasons of the realm. The smooth and round rock pedestal complemented his serene appearance. He too was clearly at peace, but there was a distinct vibrance in his presence. Even as this was the first elder interview, Izzy and Manny found themselves feeling surprisingly at ease.

Our novice surveyors had thoroughly rehearsed their introduction and the specific questions that should be asked. A faithful and well-structured walk-through of their meticulously crafted survey template, just as they intended to do with every other elder in every realm down the long road ahead. It felt a bit awkward to think they'd be repeating almost the exact same words over and over, but it was a formula that seemed to get all the boxes ticked and should result in a job well done.

"Good day, dear elder! We are Izabella and Mandalika from the Highlands. We'd love to ask you a couple of questions. We are on a mission, you see, to tour all the realms of Mooland, collecting the best of insights and stories from the realms. If you could help us out with your wisdom covering the Grasslands, we would be very grateful. We hope to share what we learn on our journey with all of our friends — and with all of Mooland and more."

It was a bit elaborate and grandiose for an opening blurb, with their proper full names and all included. Definitely more eloquent and formal than fits their profile and their typically enthusiastic and untamed mouths. Be that as it may, they thought it was a suitable and respectful way to approach and address an elder who knows the stories and histories and literatures of the entire realm. It was a well-formed intention behind a strategy that'd work in their favor with the elders.

"I am here for you. Welcome to my humble abode. What is it that you wish to ask, Izabella and Mandalika?"

"You can actually just call us Izzy and Manny, please. Could you please first introduce yourself?"

"I am Muum. Pastoral Custodian, one of the elders here. I roam about and oversee the ongoings of the realm. When the folks meet me, sometimes they ask for advice and guidance. I am present for you all, helping you to settle down into your basics. In my younger years, I toiled at the Great Fodderstock to support the realms. Our team would tour the pastures and take notes on the states and types of grass growing around the entire band of the Grasslands."

"Pleased to meet you, elder Muum. First of all, we'd like to ask about the basics. Is there a motto or an aphorism that's well-known in the Grasslands? A short statement to help everyone understand what the Grasslanders are all about?"

"Of course. Every Grasslander would know these words:

"Soil below and grass above. Support life and sustain peace. We are the roots."

"Thank you! Definitely a well-rooted statement. We'll write it down for all to remember. We'd also love to hear a poem or a song. Tunings of feeling and flow of life that resonate with the Grasslands."

"Why certainly. There's a traditional rhyme called 'Cradle of Pastures' in eight-syllable rustic meter.

"Born of our peaceful pasture grass We grow to nurture every class; Our steady-yielding motherland May cradle us with nature's hand."

"It's a simple but touching rhyme. Touches the spirit of the pastures. Thank you elder Muum.

"Then, can you share with us the greatest challenge the folks of the Grasslands have ever met — and how they overcame it?"

"There was the Great Wilting before the days of my great-grandmother. That was the most terrifying and stressful calamity we have ever faced. All the grass on the pastures was wilting. We had no idea why. The streams from the Riverlands were still flowing into the underground aquifers. Engineers from the Heatlands came to help and they dug a system of surface irrigation canals to redirect the streams, but that only made it worse. Water was spilling everywhere — but the pasture soil was still depressed and uninterested in supporting grasslife.

"In the end, in our desperation, we sought for guidance from the celestial Guardian at the Rainbow Spire and collaborated with elemental experts from the capital sphere of Moopetals to get to the bottom of this. It turned out to be a planet-wide catastrophy in the works. Its first symptoms were shown here at the pastures. The realms had fallen out of harmony and Mooland had simply grown tired of supporting life altogether. We had become a burden to her and were not worthy of our grass. It took all of us from all of Mooland, reconnecting with the Rainbow Spire as our center, to restore the balance of nature."

"Oh wow. Thank you for sharing this. It must have been a truly troubling time to live in. All of Mooland depends on the well-being of the pastures. We should all work together to make sure the nature of Mooland remains stable."

"Exactly so, Izabella. And with the stories you collect and share, you must inspire the realms to grow closer together — and never again forget the importance of harmony and shared responsibility. The stability of Mooland as a whole depends on the unity of all the realms."

"That is a big responsibility, elder Muum! We promise to do our very best. I hope many others will join our cause and help with the common good."

"As long as you remain true to yourself and steady in your stance, the pastures will support you on your mission. Have no fear or worries."

"Thank you, we will note down and carry that advice with us always. As our last request to you, we'd like to hear the most meaningful story you can remember from all of the history of Grasslands. What would it be?"

"It would surely be the myth of the ancient Mauha. The myth of Mauha takes place back in the most distant of days, when Mooland was still gaining its shape and cracking every-which-where at random. The terrain beneath our pastures was unstable and hazardous, truly frightening with its restless and never-ending motion and unfit for supporting the ways of life as we know it. Mauha was a grand-daughter of Mū — the one who became the many — and the first daughter of the Earth of Mū, one of the four primal elements guiding and shaping all of our existence.

"Grieving over the chaos that turned and churned aimless and violent, the spirit of Mauha descended from the darkness of space to establish an order that supports growth. Merging with the disc of Mooland, she became the bonds between the moving chunks and the glue of life holding all things together. Mauha, now embodied, is why our world is still firm in its place. We remember the stabilizing spirit of Mauha in all of our thoughts, words, and actions. The pastures holding us in their motherly lap are that ancient Mauha, the grand-daughter of Mū. This is our deepest story."

It was certainly deep enough. Izzy and Manny were stunned and dumbfound. Finally Izzy stuttered, slow in her pace, "We... We did not expect a story quite like that. Thank. You." Surely they expected an engaging legend illustrating the spirit of the Grasslanders, but the story of elder Muum went straight to the ancient core of the Grasslands and beyond. It was a most meaningful addition to their budding collection of stories. With this, they bid farewell to the elder and took leave from the Plateau of Presence.

❇︎ ❇︎ ❇︎ ❇︎ ❇︎

Sister Muumama had promised shelter for Izzy and Manny for the night. "For as long as you need, you may rest and recover your strength, in any one of our vacant huts." They set camp at one such hut, all of them quite similar, and sat down to ponder the harvest of this very long day and the wealth of experiences it carried.

"Well that was quite the finale with elder Muum!", said Manny. Izzy was still adrift in her heart, musing on the story of Mauha. "Now I understand how the true spirit of every Moocow is born. Whatever realm that we may call our today's home. We are born and we come together at the pastures. And there's something deep in there, supporting all of our lives. I feel like this is the home of my home. It's all so calm now..."

"So we still need to wrap up, right Izzy? Don't fall asleep yet! We have this in our checklist, 'understand how this realm relates to everything we have discovered'. What do you think?"

Izzy was tired and groggy from all the walking back and forth and the high-impact story of Mauha that had knocked her heart straight into tranquil silence. She was rolling in slow motion. "Grasslands supports every realm. It's calm and peaceful and safe here. Grasslanders are good simple people. We are all born on the same pastures. Here you can rest and recover. We are no other. Our roots are one. Is that enough. We have lots of notes. We can get back to this."

It was plenty. She sounded like a Keeper of Peace. Manny was also getting tired. There was very long hike ahead with an early dawn departure toward the Peaklands. Sleep well, little seekers. May your dreams be as peaceful as the pastures beneath you.

Dreaming of the Pastures ¶

____? ? ?____