AA: Belladonna's CAE - Part 1

    Another flash of green sped past Belladonnas face leaving an echoing swish as she ran past. There was nothing accept her, the forest, and her steady run. A sense of peace overcame her as cool air caressed her face and fell back to ruffle her hair. She closed her eyes for a moment, just to imagine what it would be like to be part of the forest…to be the wind fitting snugly in every corner of the foliage….

                CREAK!

    Belladonna felt herself fly forward as something tangled around her hoof. She shut her eyes and braced herself for impact with the hard ground that would act as her cushion and clenched her jaw together. Seconds passed as she waited for the impact, but when it never came she opened her eyes in shock.
Her head was resting on a pile of white feathers. She flung her head up to see that this "pillow" was actually her sister Prisca.
    "Young Equina are so clumsy, good thing you have me watching you…" Prisca muttered softly, "You okay?".
    "Um yeah, I'm fine. Just a bit dizzy, I am going to sit down for a bit," said Belladonna unsteadily. She wasn't sure which shocked her more, how fast Prisca could run or how quickly she was able to catch her. Belladonna let out a sigh and knelt down so she could sit comfortably.
    "If you ever feel dizzy, just sit down, close your eyes, and breathe deeply", Belladonna recalled her adoptive mom Pix saying. She always trusted her decisions, she was the clear leader of her family and her decisions had never failed to work before. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and imagined the wind once again and wondered what secrets were hidden in its highways. What scents and dark secrets floated around in the same breezes that caress her face?  
    She took another deep breath in, but this one was different. This time mixed into the soft scents of the earth was a sharp, sweet sent cutting through the damp scents she was so used to. She instantly jumped to her feet and took another deep breath in, as if to make sure it was real.
    "Something wrong?" said Prisca in her usual Zen voice, completely unaware of the change in the air.
    "Take a deep breath in, do you smell anything?" spoke Belladonna with urgency. Prisca hesitated for a moment, tilted her head upward, and took a deep breath in. Her face turned into one of concern as she shook her head to say no. Belladonna could still smell it though, it was as if it was beckoning her to come and figure out what secrets surrounded its sharp scent.
    "I....I....I just feel like I need to figure out what this scent is. Follow me", said Belladonna in a disconnected voice. Prisca didn't seem sure what overcame Belladonna to pursue the scent, but she followed without question.

    "We're almost there, I can sense it!", exclaimed Belladonna. She had her eyes shut tight and was following it solely on scent and instinct. The scent was so strong now that it seemed like it was slipping into every crack of her conscious. It pounded in her lungs and it was as if it were the only thing on earth that emitted a scent. Suddenly, the scent was so prominent that it was almost unbearable to smell. Belladonna stopped walking and opened her eyes.
    In front of them was a bright green plant with long, thin branches flowering out of the center. Small, black berries hung limply from the stalks and swayed peacefully in the wind. Belladonna looked over at Prisca and to her surprise saw a smile on her face. Hurt immediately overcame Belladonna, then confusion.
    "What? Why are you smiling?", said Belladonna with hurt and confusion crossing her voice. Again, to her surprise, Prisca gave a serene giggle.
    "You don't know why already? This is a Belladonna plant, your namesake", said Prisca in an even voice with a smile on her face. The hurt she just felt melted away into pure awe. Why, of all the hundreds of plants in the forest, had she come to this one? A new desire came to her and the question was out before she even thought about it.
    "Can I take a few seeds? To show Mom and Teddy?", pleaded Belladonna. Secretly, she wanted a few to keep for herself. She felt a potential for them. What this potential was, however, was still unclear.
   "Sure, just as long as you promise me one thing", said Prisca. Belladonna could see it was urgent by the way her gaze seemed to be permanently fixed on her eyes. Belladonna simply stared back blankly for a moment, contemplating what this could be. Finally, she decided that she should trust Prisca no matter what and agreed blindly.
    "Fine, and what would this promise be?", said Belladonna said with curiosity painting her voice. Prisca's gaze intensified as she ripped her gaze over to the plant and back to Belladonna and let her eyes settle.
    "I don't know what your fascination with this plant is, but be careful. Don't let their soft and feeble exterior fool you. Under those sheen black shells lies enough poison to kill or blind a person. Promise me you wont blindly fool around with them without knowing what your doing."
    As the meaning of the words sank in Belladonna's mind wandered.  What could these little berries do? Why did she see potential in them if they were so lethal? She still couldn't help but feel like they were misunderstood, like a soul that was tormented for all its life and all it needed was a guide to nudge them in the right direction. If she knew what to do, maybe she could help them out of the darkness…
    "I promise", said Belladonna with confidence in her voice. Her newfound goal gave her a sense of meaning, like she had a true purpose. She then extended her arm forward and confidently went to pluck the soft berries from the skeleton of their previous home.