The Winter Market had been enlightening in more ways than one for Hang the Moon. She'd gone into it with a sense of dread and worry, her actions during the eternal darkness making her feel responsible - at least partly - for the strange light that plagued the Swamp during the festivities. Yet by the end of it she'd gained so much confidence in herself, both because she'd put herself out there meeting new kin while she played games at their booths and in the strange meeting she'd had by the glowing tree that she couldn't quite remember but that had left her feeling like a whole new doe. It had prompted her to find one of the does she'd met during the Market, a bubbly acha by the name of Chasing Your Starlight who had told her a bit about her tribe. Hang the Moon had been intrigued listening to Chase explain Children of the Night, how they lived primarily in darkness, living under the light of the stars and moon. Hang the Moon moved mostly during the day but there were times when she'd stay up late to watch the stars and the moon up above, gazing at them with curiosity and wonder. Where did they go when the sun was out? Why did the moon change shape? How did the stars move across the sky like that, and why did some of them disappear all together certain times of the year?
Chase had said something that had really caught Hang the Moon's attention, however: that there were plants that had healing properties that only bloomed at night, or that were more potent when harvested under a certain phase of the moon or time of night. She knew she had to visit the tribe then, to learn from the herbalists and others that lived under the steady gaze of the moon. She had always been interested in healing and she would happily accept any knowledge that others were willing to give.
The trek to the tribe took a few days but the time passed quickly. Chase was easy to talk to and Hang the Moon found herself chatting more than she ever had to someone outside of her father's tribe. The boost to her confidence she'd gained made socializing much easier and far less anxiety-inducing, though there was that lingering worry that she'd say something silly or strange and make her new acquaintance rescind her offer of showing her where she came from. Only time would help that go away completely, as well as little adventures like these where she could prove to herself that she was capable of doing scary things.