Red Winning Entry

Pandoria very often traveled the world when it was young. She was young, as well, but the urge to adventure seized her early, and without warning. For at that time Mistica was a fresh tablet; flat, open, and waiting for exploration.

She first crossed the Itzair Desert, a choice that she thought she might come to regret. If, went the logic, she were deterred by a trek through the sands, or brought to distress by the sun's severe palm, then she would know that traveling was not for her. And of course there were others living in Mistica at this time, and though their ranks were few, they were an adventurous bunch. The world would, Pandoria reasoned, be explored one way or another.

In the span of this trek she met her sister, Rae. The two were not really sisters, but had shared close society for much of their lives, and so felt connected on some level. But because Pandoria made her home in the Hollow, and Rae in the inhospitable Ravii Sorin, the goddesses had not gotten much of a chance to become more than acquaintances.

The two met one evening at a red-bricked church. The windows glistened with the failing light of day, and heat came up in waves from every inch of sand about them. They exchanged some words, some pleasantries, and were once more amove, for Rae always had somewhere she wished to go. Pandoria, being the inquisitive soul she was, followed.

They came ultimately to a sandy knoll somewhere just beyond a tower of baked grey brick, and sat side by side in its shadow. They discussed small things, for the world was a small place, and it was difficult to culture complex thought with the heat pricking pestersome at their cheeks. And slowly, day lapsed to night, and heat to cold.

Pandoria did not travel elsewhere for some weeks; the desert night had transfixed her, so clear and expressive was the sky. Being with Rae was simply a benefit associated with the sight of nature. But when she did leave it was back to her home in the Hollow. She had resolved at some point in her visit to the sands that it was necessary to set out with a goal in mind, rather than to wander objectlessly.

Afterwards, she recruited the members of her village to help her habitat the world. They were Misticpets, all, and all were fain to take up the offer. Together, the world grew, and aged, year by year, and mile by mile, until Pandoria could observe with certainty that Mistica was a beautiful place.