As Opie and Gemma got closer to the pasture, the trees started to thin out so more of the horizon was being seen. Gemma stopped and gazed at the big blue sky.
“It’s so beautiful,” Gemma said.
Opie stopped and looked back at Gemma, “what? What do you see?”
“The sky… I haven’t seen this much of it before,” she said.
“Oh, well wait until we get to the pasture. It will be all around you,” Opie grinned.
“All around me?” Gemma walked and imagined.
“Now, when you first get to the pasture you will see some small flowering plants,” Opie said.
“Is that the good stuff for my Momma?”
“Well, you can eat it but further out you’ll see the crop that deer’s like yourself favor.”
“How will I know?” Gemma looked at Opie.
“Oh, you’ll know because it is endless,” Opie said and grinned again.
Gemma couldn’t wait so she galloped a few feet but stumbled. She tumbled to the ground and giggled. Opie caught up to her quickly and stopped right near her.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes, I’m fine. I just got a little excited,” Gemma giggled again.
“Well, you might want to stick to walking until you grow into your legs a little more,” Opie snickered.
“Yes, you might be right,” Gemma struggled to get back up.
As the two of them entered the pasture, the sun was warming everything up. Gemma looked around and took in the beauty of the open pasture. The small flowering plants were just like what Opie described and the sky did seem to be all around her.
“This is beautiful,” Gemma said.
Opie glanced around, “It is, isn’t it?”
Opie walked among the flowering plants and sniffed for some bugs. Gemma finally decided to catch up to him and asked what he was doing.
“Well, as long as I’m here, I might as well get some grub for myself,” he said.
“Besides mushrooms, what else do you like to eat?” Gemma sniffed around the ground.
“Well, I enjoy some fresh ripe berries, but I also like a nice fat bug or two,” Opie said.
“Bugs? like these annoying little things that fly around me?”
“Well, not so much the flying kind but the crawling kind,” he said.
“I don’t think that I would like bugs, but where are those plants that I need to get for my Momma?”
“Just keep walking and you’ll see them. They’re almost as tall as these but not quite yet.”
“Okay. Are you going to wait for me?” Gemma asked.
“I’ll be there soon and carry a couple for you,” Opie went back to sniffing around the plants.
“Okay.”
Gemma walked further out into the pasture and enjoyed the afternoon. She liked the bold blue sky that held a few puffy white clouds. She also enjoyed how the bright sunshine warmed her body all over. When Gemma got closer to the plants that she was supposed to see, she couldn’t believe her eyes. The field of them seemed to never end.
“Wow, Opie was right,” Gemma glanced from one side to the other, “There’s more than enough to eat here.”
Gemma stepped into the field and started to nibble on one of the leaves. She was delighted by the flavor and thought, I can see why us deer like these. Gemma enjoyed a couple more leaves and then looked all around her. She took in this adventure with the feeling of contentment and joy. She had only wished that her mother to could there with her on this new experience.
Gemma looked off into the distance and listened to the sound of the breeze and the birds flying over. She was in such a delighted trance that she didn’t hear Opie walk up behind her.
“So what do you think?” Opie asked.
Gemma jumped and spun around, “oh my goodness you scared me.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, I thought you heard me coming.”
“No, I didn’t. I guess I was enjoying this place so much that I forgot to be aware,” Gemma said.
“Oh yes, you must always be aware of your surroundings. It’s good to enjoy but always be on alert,” Opie said.
“I will from now on Opie,” she said.
“Good. Now, did you eat?” He asked.
“Yes I did and they are very tasty.”
“Okay, then we must get some for your momma and head back,” Opie said.
“It’s so pretty here though,” Gemma glanced around some more.
“Yes it is but we need to get you back home,” Opie said and then moved his mouth down to the base of a plant.
“Yes, you’re right.”
Opie munched the stalk of the plant so that it released from the ground. Gemma watched him and tried to do the same but she was too tall.
“You pick this one up and I’ll get another one for her,” Opie said.
“Okay Opie, thank you.”
Opie munched on the stalk of the next closest plant and got that one loose. He then saw a smaller one and got that one too.
“Can you hold this one in your mouth too?” Opie asked.
Gemma placed the first plant that she had in her mouth down next to the smaller one, “I think so.”
Opie watched her while she carefully picked the two stalks up. Opie then picked up the thicker plant with his mouth and started walking. Gemma followed Opie as he headed towards the forest. Once they got to the forest line Gemma set the two plants down.
“Just a minute Opie. I want to take one last look,” Gemma said and turned around.
Opie put his plant down and watched her, “you know that you’ll be coming back here right?”
“I know, but it’s just so pretty and peaceful.”
Gemma glanced around and smiled inside. She took in a deep breath and then she was ready to get the food back to her momma. She gently picked up the two plants again and walked up to Opie. She looked at him with content eyes and proudly walked into the woods.
Please join me again for another chapter of: Gemma’s Adventure.
Opie, you are good ! Continue to watch over Gemma.