Cloud Watching
Prologue
Nimbus
The pond was nowhere. At least that is what a map would tell you: stuck between cities, stuck between enchanted forests, stuck in a clearing that's existence could be proved in known text. The average traveler would have ignored it. It was no oasis. Shade was better found by seeking refuge in the forests bordering it and cleaner water could be found as they were littered amongst the nearby streams. This pond was mediocre for a plash. No one would notice it much less name and map out its place in this world.
No one would ever bother to point out the decaying log upon its bank. The domicile of millions who were just as unimportant. Even the growth around this corpse seemed to sense its insignificance and had long ago retreated back into the dry, cracked ground. This in effect invited no wildlife save the grubs content in their wooden casing and even they would never show their small physiognomies to the open air. What reason had they? To shrivel in the sun No. Better to stay distant from such a fate. And this is what others thought. Why remove ones self from the cool shade only to cloud watch as would a fool. How would you explain to friends the blisters formed due to childish dreaming?