Arcana has always called the Badlands home, and she always will. She has lived through times of abandonment in the Badlands, after the death of its previous leader and the passing of her beloved mother, but the land has always been loyal to her. Arcana's hearts aches, rend in two by the decision she is forced to make. As much as the coltish face of her school-girl crush entices her onwards, to bigger and better things, there is a part of her that wants her feet to remain firmly-planted on the familiar, cracked earth of the badlands. She want to press her rump to her mother's favorite tree, graze the places she's learned to love, and drink from her secret pools. She wants to wake up to those alien rock formations that are not alien at all to Arcana, who's played amongst them since she was very small.

There is a mass exodus, as the other mares move on, as Bayard has undoubtedly moved on. Arcana never knew the other mares, save for Af, but even Af is not a close friend. Arcana is moved only by her loneliness. For such a young filly, she has a surprisingly great independent streak. She is skilled enough to take care of herself. She took care of her ailing mother before most foals give up the teat, but despite these facts, Arcana is a herd animal, and she craves the company of others. Spotting the retreating form of a mare she's never met, Arcana makes the bold decision to pull up the roots that anchor her here.

The black and white filly follows a distant, golden target over the borders and into the Desert. Her legs work to keep up. Her broad hooves and light build are well-adapted to this sandy terrain but her muscles are not conditioned for it. Arcana too, breaks into a sweat. As the other mare slows, Arcana draws up beside her and offers her a faltering expression. Suddenly Arcana's stomach drops into he knees and she is having doubts about leaving the Badlands. What does she say to this mare? How does she introduce herself? How does she express her desperate need for a friend right now, someone to reassure her that she's done the right thing?