Prologue – Astarte
Astarte was a quiet girl, unremarkable in most ways. She was
neither freckled nor ginger. She did not excel in her studies nor
was she considered dull. Her manner suggested a normal child, with
the same desires to play and roam and be loved just like any other
of her young age. She was not especially handsome nor could one
call her a crone; indeed, her fair complexion and sandy brown hair
of substantial frizz simply suggested a girl who was less concerned
with appearance than most. But there was something…
It was the eyes, which could appear at once green or brown or
blue, depending on the light, and it was this oddity, this strange
aberration, that made her an outcast. People would remark, her
eldest siblings in particular, that her eyes seemed to follow you,
even when you left her presence. It was as if Astarte could see
through you to what you real felt. This was not reassuring
to her parents, who at first sought only good things for their
youngest. But even father felt those eyes gnaw at his
consciousness, as if they were trying to penetrate into his deepest
feelings and thoughts. Mother too developed a growing detachment
from the poor girl, which eventually grew into a feeling of near
dread in her presence.
Of course, none of this was a mystery to Astarte, who knew from
a very early age that her strange power over people was unsettling
to them. And so, on the morning of her 13th birthday, Astarte left
her home and her family, sure that she would never cross this way
again…
The Event
During this event, we will follow Astarte on her journey as she
seeks to find her calling and in the process experience the magic
and wonder of the landscapes of our area. The event will start at
8AM at La Iguana
Restaurant in the Downtown Mall of Las Cruces for a no host
breakfast. Please post Will Attend as soon as possible so we
can let the facility know. At breakfast, all attendees will receive
their storybooks so they can follow throughout the day our young
heroine on her journeys.
This is a an all day event and will go into the evening as well.
We will reconvene at Andele's
Dog House for dinner at 6 pm for a no host dinner. Again,
please let us know in your posting whether you plan on attending
this. After dinner, we shall send you out to follow Astarte on her
final quest, a nighttime journey into the unknown.
If you have any questions about this event, please contact
either one of the COs. We will be happy to fill you in on some of
the details. But if you want to be surprised, rest assured you will
be rewarded with an epic geocaching adventure. See you in
March!