A Walk in Nature Walks the Soul Back Home

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About the Images

After a three-week vacation visiting family on the U.S. East Coast, I’m finally back—and apparently Serena decided to celebrate my return by heading straight into the wilderness! I’m a little late featuring some of these event releases, but there should still be time to pick them up before the events close. Afterward, you’ll likely find them in their respective mainstores.

Serena is wearing the Endless Summer Set, a new release from Sorumin for the current round of Anthem. The set is available in five color packs, with T-shirt shades ranging from rich jewel tones and versatile neutrals to soft pastels. Each pack also includes an optional graphic design, while the fatpack adds two exclusive T-shirt prints. The coordinating shorts come in eight colors.

One important fit note: the T-shirt is rigged for smaller bust sizes, so you’ll definitely need to alpha out your bustline… or risk a rather unexpected wardrobe malfunction on the trail! Stop by Anthem during its final days to pick up a demo.

Also featured is Serena’s ridiculously adorable Yorkie Backpack Pup, a new release from Aardvark for Kustom9. As with all of Aardvark’s creations, this sweet little companion offers plenty of customization. Choose from seven fur colors and four eye colors, then dress your pup up with optional glasses or sunglasses, a hair bow, and a sweater. The backpack comes in men’s, women’s, and children’s sizes, with resizeable straps and color-change options. The pup even barks occasionally, just in case you forget you have a tiny passenger riding along behind you! Stop by Kustom9 to adopt a Yorkie Backpack Pup of your own.

A few other new releases featured in this post deserve a closer look:

Serena is wearing Lybra, a beautiful new skin from Glam Affair for the current round of Collabor88.
Her long, softly tousled hairstyle is Flaunt, a new release from TRUTH Collective.
Finally, the spilled jar of glowing fireflies—which turned out to be very useful for Serena’s abrupt departure from the lake—is the latest group gift from LOVE Superstore.

Complete credits are below the story. Store and event SLurls are available on the Store & Event Links page.

The Story

Serena had been feeling pulled in too many directions lately. Between wedding plans, work deadlines, unanswered messages, and an ever-growing list of things she was supposed to remember, even quiet moments seemed to come with obligations attached.

What she needed, she decided, was a day outdoors with Fiona.

She packed water, snacks, a first-aid kit, and an empty jar she hoped to fill with fireflies before dusk. With Fiona settled happily into the little carrier on her back, Serena set out along a wooded trail far enough from town that the only sounds were birdsong, rustling leaves, and gravel crunching beneath her shoes.

She had once read that a walk in nature walks the soul back home. As sunlight filtered through the trees and the cool forest air filled her lungs, Serena began to understand what that meant. With every step, the noise in her mind grew quieter.

“This is exactly what we needed,” she told Fiona. “Fresh air, no schedules, and absolutely no surprises.”

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Naturally, that was when she saw the moose.

It stood beside a shallow pool just off the trail, lowering its enormous head to drink. Serena froze.

The moose looked much larger in person than it did in photographs—less like a gentle woodland creature and more like a horse designed by someone who had gotten carried away.

Fiona gave a tiny, curious whine from the carrier.

“Not a word,” Serena whispered. “We are going to admire him quietly from a very respectful distance.”

She took one cautious step backward, then another. Her heel caught on a root hidden beneath the leaves, and Serena tumbled onto the trail with a startled cry.

The moose lifted its head.

Serena held perfectly still, her heart pounding, while Fiona peered over her shoulder as though this were the most exciting part of the outing. After a long moment, the moose returned to drinking.

Only then did Serena look down and discover that both of her knees were scraped and bleeding.

“Well,” she muttered, carefully pushing herself to her feet, “so much for inner peace.”

She waited until she was safely farther down the trail before stopping to pull the first-aid kit from her pack. After cleaning the cuts and covering them with bandages, she continued toward the lake, walking more carefully and paying much closer attention to every root and stone in her path.

By late afternoon, the forest had softened into shades of gold and lavender. Serena found a quiet place beside the water and settled onto a broad, flat rock. Her knees stung, but the lake was peaceful, and Fiona had grown contentedly drowsy after a long day of being carried through the wilderness.

As dusk gathered, fireflies began blinking among the trees. Serena caught a few in her empty jar, planning to release them after enjoying their glow for a moment.

“See?” she said, holding up the softly shining jar. “The day wasn’t a complete disaster.”

Then she noticed movement on the opposite shore.

A bear stepped out from between the trees.

Serena stared at it.

The bear appeared to stare back.

Her hand jerked, and the jar slipped from her fingers. It landed beside her with a soft thud, sending the lid rolling across the ground. The fireflies rose into the evening air, scattering like tiny sparks above the grass.

Serena watched them disappear, then slowly reached for her pack.

“All right,” she told Fiona. “We’ve seen a moose, donated some skin to the trail, and interrupted a bear’s evening stroll.”

She stood, wincing as her bandaged knees protested.

“I think nature has made its point.”

With Fiona tucked safely against her back, Serena started down the trail toward home, moving quickly, watching for roots, and reflecting that perhaps a walk in nature really did walk the soul back home.

Sometimes, it simply made sure the rest of you hurried home along with it.

CREDITS

Serena

TRUTH Collective Flaunt (NEW @ mainstore)
Angel Eyes Messy 7 Hairbase
CAZIMI Basic Stud Earrings
Glam Affair Lybra (NEW @ Collabor88)
IKON Bliss Eyes
Sorumin Endless Summer T-Shirt (NEW @ Anthem)
Sorumin Endless Summer Shorts (NEW @ Anthem)
Ysoral Engagement Ring
Izzie’s Knee Wounds
Semller & Hiemal Basic Collections Socks (free gift)
Friday Esme Sneakers Graffiti
Aardvark Yorkie Backpack Pup (NEW @ Kustom9)