Community [Isekai Hell] Short story — River Downward

[Giftvi]

The follow is a canon Isekai Hell short story relating to the character Watching of Reflection depicting some part of its life before the start of its story.​

 

[Giftvi]

It was the middle of the night, most of the noise within the forest here to the southern western end of the Republic had quieted down, whilst a chill had begun to settle in this far northward. The forest itself was a wellspring of life, as one of the major rivers continental lake passed through the land here, its lifeblood splitting off into many little creeks to feed the animals and plants. As Alfira slunk forward, as quiet as she could, the only sounds still audible being the rustling orange, brown and red leaves of this early autumn as the wind passed overhead, going in a southern direction. As well as the sound of soft footsteps coming from behind her. She curiously turned her head as she went to look backward towards the little critter.

Remembering the first time they met, it really had been a curious encounter now going back more than a few months ago already. She hadn't really expected any such intelligent life in the forest, or well, at least one which was neither a monster of ill intent to slaughter. Or a strange fae which had made its home here within these woods, those popped up here and there, and it sometimes it was a bit of an uncomfortable encounter. Such as that dryad. Lesser so, had she not expected for a budding friendship, and basically mentorship. As besides the Bestial language which it had already begun to get grips on, it seemed ever curious to be attentively studying her movements, trying to copy her footsteps.

Being together with it was, honestly, kind of sweet. Though she found it hard to admit to her family back home. Her wife wasn't really the kind to be as adventurous, and too sickly at times to so frequently multiple nights out and so many miles travelled. Nor did she feel comfortable with some older men of her village, even if she respected their skill. So after some years it got lonely to be out here for so long, awaiting the moment she could be back home.

It was hard to distinguish colours so late as night. All simply turned into a mesh of greys and blacks, if not for the beautiful moonlight, which was often obscured due to the thick canopy above. So, though it was difficult to get complicated messages across in written form, nor had it begun to understand Bestial good enough yet to do so. She had thought it was perhaps smart to use the basic gestures found in Bestial to get across emotions. A form of rudimentary communication to get its bearings, and use as a platform to better understand the writing found in Bestial. She was honestly curious where the critter would go from here, because every time she 'spoke' with it, it had such an enthusiasm to it. Like it had found some release for something it had held close to its chest.

Coming across a set of tracks, and whittled bark on a tree of rub marks, she now fully turned towards Watching of Reflection. Beginning to move her hands to form a short message, <”What is seen?”> The head of the small critter, its head churning slightly, not yet responding in kind yet. Beginning to slowly come up to and survey the scene in front of her, and turning to face her, “<Hooves. Tree bark smoothened.>” Alfira nodded, before asking a following question, <"What caused it?"> It seemed to give pause to itself, mayhaps it was scared to say something wrong, or something else? “<Beast of tusk and brown. Hair.>” It said lastly as it pointed towards hair which had muddled with the fallen leaves and soft dirt from the rain earlier today. She had missed that fact. <”Good job, partner, that is called a Hog. Or a boar. I did not tell yet, but we breed their kin.”> The critter looked as quizzically as she thought it probably could look without a mouth, as it narrowed eyes and brow whilst its expressive ears shifted downward. “<Breed? What is breed?>” Alfira withheld herself from laughing out loud as it so innocently asked such a forthright question towards her. <”Breed is making children. But with context, it is to safe keep them. Give shelter. Give food. And in turn, they eat what we cannot any more. Or are eaten when fattened.”> The critter continued its quizzical look as it responded. “<I see... Hog accept? They accept loss of kin in trade for shelter and food? Strange, but intriguing. Is that society?>” Alfira felt her brow narrow as she processed what this critter had just asked her from the few times she had spoken to it... Trying to think of how she felt about that analogy, and how she honestly wanted to respond. <”...It can be. Depends on where, sadly enough.”> A brief moment of silence fell upon her after that passed out of her lips, it felt disingenuous not to say the truth, and it hurt to understand that in the bigger cities some of the rich certainly almost treated its citizens like cattle. <”Forget for now. Stomach to feed.”> Alfira said as she patted the critter on the back and began to follow the trail, to hunt for a meal and the means of survival for her family.