#barren grounds

[wild-pathways]

The spring wildflowers of Barren Grounds.

(Shout out to the Southern Highlands Bushwalkers Club who hosted the walk.)

[steventureau]

Barren Grounds - Kangaroo Ridge and Griffiths Loop Track

Adventure, travel and hiking blog

[steventureau]

Barren Grounds - Cooks Nose and Flying Fox Pass

Adventure, travel and hiking blog

"After all the time in hospital I just appreciated being where I was, and I was so acutely aware of everything. Every little bird call, the changing temperature on my skin as I felt the sun as I walked through the shaded branches of the trees, every little time the wind increased and it's cool gentle blowing on my body. Just the look of every little bit of nature around me out in the sun. It was like life felt more real. There was a time, when I had first been told about my cancer diagnosis where my thoughts were just of my death. I thought hat was it, I'd never be out here experiencing this, seeing the beauty of all around me. I had flashbacks to being a kid and just running around outside, swimming, just being a greater part of the world around me. You don't feel that laying in a hospital bed, staring at your phone, wondering what the future holds, thinking about your own death and the things you'll never experience. Feeling so lonely... But I was outside and I felt great, and I knew I had my upcoming stem cell treatment but I didn't want to think about it. I was just happy to be alive here and now."

Steventure

Steventure. 1,070 likes · 8 talking about this. This is a blog dedicated to my travels/adventures and escapades as well as local hiking trai

[entertainmentnerdly]

Barren Grounds, NSW, Australia [OC] via /r/natureporn https://ift.tt/2Pw3FrZ

[yoonji-ia]

[Portae Event] Chapter 3; "Barren Grounds"

Cracking the door open, Yoonji felt the doors fade away behind her and her vision suddenly change. It certainly wasn't the same. The Academy she knew wasn't standing before her. In fact, her body felt slimmer and taller, but she didn't seem to think that at all. Other unrecognizable beings stood around a space, conversing with themselves about the creation of a building. The now-unknown vision the angel was experiencing was soon coming to life, it had to be the creation of Insolitus or something close to it. The figures were gathered together, mentioning something inaudible as she cautiously stepped forward. That's when she noticed it.

In the reflection of the water under her, her body was slimmer and toned, wrapped around in tight, black leather. White fur trim lined the fitted jacket on her shoulders, matching her porcelain skin perfectly. Yoonji was slightly shocked to see the figure in front of her eyes, but then again, she had the feeling as if the person was her. As if the memories of travelling from the dark realms were her own memories. The dream didn't seem fake at all. The girl's memories were now her own. Running through the newly processed thoughts, she could know more about the girl she was portraying.

The girl was known as Elena, a demon known as a Yuki-Onna. In the snow storms of Earth, she would lead men to their death, her stunning face being the visual attraction for overwhelming testosterone. The fur around her shoulders was that of a Japanese Macaque, a warm shroud created by her as she wondered the mountains. She was cold blooded and used to the cold temperatures but it was still a comfort, and a visual benefit for her murderous tactics. However, as time passed, she grew to suit the times. Her animalism form was now changed to a slim, human figure. Her hair was still long and ashen and her lips were full and red, stained after a long time of drinking male blood. Her body was now a rounded figure, curves in all the right places from constant foot travel and her wild diet.

Elena was situated on Earth, wondering the Japanese mountains and luring human forms in with every passing snow storm. It was inevitable with every doomed demon that something would stand in her way. And that's when Yoonji's dream brought her to Elena's darkest corner but happiest memory. She was furiously in an attempt to kill again, to feed but as soon as she saw the face of that victim, her heart stopped. The rest was a blur but now she had a young half-demon daughter. She was ashamed to know she had a doomed child but when the opportunity came by to build the institute, she took it up. The moment when her heartless acts ceased. Her only focus was to protect her daughter. She lived much longer than others and her love faded away from her life. There wasn't much to lose anymore. All she had to do was protect the half-blood, Yura.

“We have our Darkness being... Elena, over here...” An angel called her over, walking her in. She stayed silent, listening to everything they said. She always thought angels were annoying but she really did have nothing to say. All in her mind was those bright eyes of Yura, her darling daughter. She only requested that she could be in control of her death. As a snow demon, she had to die through warmth, blood and the bond of her children. Before she left, she asked Yura for a drop of her blood, knowing with her blood inside her, her body would react. “Elena... you do know what you have to do for this to work...” The male angel spoke behind her as she walked into the stone room.

“I'm doing this for the safety of our kind, and many others...” She wanted to speak her name but she couldn't. She had to protect her child through this. All she asked for in her death wish is that she would be in the institution when it was finally created. A safe haven of hope for a doomed child. That was all that seemed to matter. “Now please... Help me do this... Your heavenly presence will help me pass...”

As the angel complained, Elena turned on the flames, causing an instant discomfort. You know what to do, you don't need a pleading angel behind you... Lying back on the plush couch, she snapped, asking him to finally leave. Her last moments shouldn't be stressful. Reaching into the bag, she picked up the silver knife, knowing it would cut through her demonic skin. Beside it was the vial which held Yura's blood, the item which would end it all. With the knife pressed into the pale skin, the first and last tears fell from Elena's cheek, knowing her death would bring something and her life meant something. The dark blood seeped down her arm, letting the heat warm it up. Her life was slowly seeping away but there was one thing left.

“My sweet child...” A whisper escaped her lips, tipping the vial back. Blood poured down her throat, the thought of Yura warming her heart. It was now the beginning of the end, her body lying back onto the leather as she began to melt away. Her last thought was the first moment she held her child in her arms. Her dark eyes matched her mothers and her smile was the same as her human father. A symbol of her first heartfelt action, and the last act of her long, cold life. “Yura...” The broken whisper was the last thing leaving the blood red lips as her demonic heart stopped. The fire burned out, plunging the room into darkness. In her event of her death, she brought on the protective wall of the Academy, the darkness that combated the dangerous around them and would keep her child safe for all Eternity.

~ ~ ~

“AHH!” Yoonji screamed herself away, the memories of the demon giving her some sort of insight of her own situation. Luckily, everyone around her was too deep in sleep to even notice or care. The angel, herself didn't want to think of it for the time being and lay back, trying to compose herself in the end of the moment. Sweat was dripping from her forehead, and her heart was racing, something she never felt before. It was such an out of body experience and one she didn't want to feel for a very long time after.