Username: ruberiot
Name: Pancake
Prompt: (230 words)
Pancake often finds himself in not-so-subtle reverie at the sheer beauty of nature. The vastness, the uniqueness, the true, real magic that exists on planet Earth. His entire life revolves around long, meandering hikes dedicated to exploring the flora and fauna of different biomes and landscapes. Tears prick his eyes almost constantly on these treks.
The mere sight of trees especially is enough to move him to tears. Finding the fine, delicate footprints of an animal as tiny as a kangaroo rat always overwhelms him. Overall, though, he is the most enthralled by a good sunrise or sunset-- on evenings where it seems like the horizon is on fire, and the clouds take the form of whisps of smoke, painted deep, brilliant pink and gold, he will stand and watch with tears pouring down his face.
For Pancake, it is equal parts genuine delight at the physical beauty of the world, and gratitude to be alive, to be lucky enough to witness the amazing sights he sees on his adventures. This notion, too, often has him pondering weepy-eyed. Pancake understands that growing older beneath the sun and the stars is a privilege that not everyone will receive, and sometimes he feels unworthy to be as traveled as he is. He tries his best to demonstrate his bone-deep appreciation for this life, because he is so, so fortunate to have it.