Left Hollow Shades early, already out of the forest. Skydale’s route was very fast indeed. Lots of grasslands and some farms; was a bit hard to find an open area to camp in without knocking over somepony’s crops, but we found a flat area near a pond.
Skydale’s very talkative. As we traveled, she told me a lot about Hollow Shades. For instance, it takes pride in being completely self-sufficient; if all the rest of Equestria were to just vanish, Hollow Shades could still survive for a while, so long as the sun and moon kept moving. Her family moved to Hollow Shades when she was getting into adolecense adole teenager-dom, and she quickly took to it. She says it’s the best place she’s lived. When I asked her how many OTHER places she’s lived in, she admitted only one, but added Hollow Shades was much better than the other, to the point of it being no contest; Hollow Shades is where she “clicked”, so to speak. I know the feeling, so I gave her that.
Was worried Skydale wouldn’t know the things about traveling I’ve learned. Now I think she knows more than me. She set up her own tent very quickly, stoked the fire better than I can, and knows how to use the sun to gauge which direction we’re going. I have a compass (I’ve been checking it a lot on my journey), but she looks up for a few seconds and says which direction we’re going, down to about 10 degrees of error. That’s VERY accurate, considering there are 360 degrees on a compass. Wonder where she learned it.
Trying to convince Skydale to take a short detour to Neighagara Falls, but she just wants to get to the Crystal Empire ASAP. Must try harder.
Out of the forest,And With a new friend at my side,
I set off again.
Comes w
But limitationsAre imposed by her.Come with her; I cannoCome with her; no longer can
Come with her; no more can I
Go where I please wish to.
But I welcome her;
Still, I welcome her;
She provides another voice
On this lonely road.