You are exploring the stream when you see a woman who seems to appear out of the foliage surrounding the water. She looks as startled as you, and at first says nothing. Then she silently bows to you.

"Who are you?" you ask.

She stares vacantly for a long moment, then answers, "I am Sophrosyne."

"And what are you doing out here?"

There is a long pause before she replies. "I am on a journey, as are you."

She is a very strange young lady, you think, but seemingly harmless. "How do you know I am on a journey?"

She smiles. "All are on a journey." She points to your Yeesha shirt, "but not all wear a shirt for it." You make a mental note to change shirts. "On the journey, it only matters where you're going. Where you have already been is in the past."

Very true," you reply. "Do you live around here?"

She points in the direction of the house you just past. "There -- at La Casa."

"I was thinking about staying the night."

"I stayed the night there once," Sophrosyne says. "When morning came, I was still there. And so it has been."

"You look like you enjoy the outdoors -- gardening and plants."

She nods. "Plants have always been my passion,"

"Do you talk to them?" you asked facetiously, only to see the strange young woman share a knowing smile.

Sophrosyne says. "Others can not hear them, but I do. They speak to me."

"And what do they say? you asked, now curious.

Sophrosyne gazes off into the distance. "Be careful what you inhale out here." You stare at her in confusion. "Not everything is native to New Mexico anymore."

A hawk screeches overhead and you turn to watch its circling flight over the red rocky cliffs. When you turn back you see Sophrosyne walking slowly along a narrow path along the stream. You consider going after her, but decide to explore some more on the way back to La Casa.