CarpeNoctem1213
The Immortal Law
Nissinah gazed at the approaching city as it grew larger on the horizon, her usual serene calm gradually giving way to nervous apprehension. She had never even seen a settlement larger than that of the elves whom she had watched over the last two centuries and she was becoming increasingly disquieted at the unknown prospect of thousands of humanoid beings fighting for space and resources in such a small, enclosed area. It seemed so wrong to her. She had known only the open space of the forest, the only restricting things being the trees, which sometimes grew so thick even she had trouble navigating them.
She wasn't the only one getting nervous, either. Della, the sparrow who had taken up residence in her tree-like body two springs ago twittered nervously and the large wolf that she had conscripted the service of to bring her to the city was growling low in his throat as they drew near the gates. Nissinah stroked the fur between his ears soothingly, putting a tiny bit of her beast magic into her words to give them more influence over the creature of the wilds. "Hush," she soothed, her voice light like the breeze through the boughs of a willow. "No harm will come of you here. I will not allow it." The wolf let out a small whine, but growled no more as he slowed to a stop at the behest of the guards outside the city gates.
The men--in metal armor, how interesting, she must ask someone about that later--had their hands on their weapons and looked up at her deceptively serene form with suspicion. "Halt!" the shorter of the two commanded. "State your business...tree."
Nissinah gazed down at him, resisting the urge to scoff. Trees did not walk and they certainly did not ride wolves, but far be it from her to tell what a city human should or should not know about the forest. Instead, she pulled the letter from a small satchel the villagers had given her before she left and produced the letter bearing the seal of what she had been told were known as the 'Guides.' She held the letter out for one of the humans to take. "I am here at the call of one known at Guide Morgrim. He requested my aid for which I am unsure myself. That is all I know," she stated matter-of-factly while the guards looked over the Guide's smooth handwriting, their eyebrows knitted together like the seams in her satchel.
"Very well," huffed the other guard grudgingly. "But tell that Guide that we want no trouble from you or any of his circus." He handed her the letter and motioned for the guards at the gate to open it. Nissinah slid gracefully from the wolf's back and scratched him behind the ears gratefully.
"I shall return soon. Keep our forest safe until then," she encouraged before the wolf grunted,turned tail, and galloped off in the direction from which they came. Nissinah gave the guards a warning look, making them avert their accusatory gaze from the wolf hastily. Satisfied that they likely would bring no harm to her friend, she glided gracefully through the half-open gate, making no sound despite her stature.
Once inside the gates, Nissinah let her curiosity roam a bit. She was here, after all, she deserved a bit of time to look around! The people milling in the streets unnerved her, however. Why were they all staring? Did she have something in her flowers? She ran her twig-like fingers through the purple cherry blossoms that made up her hair and earned an indignant squawk from Della when she accidentally poked her with the sharp end of her finger.
"Be careful!" the sparrow chirped in her ear, emerging from her hair and settling on her shoulder. Nissinah gave the small bird a sheepish look, almost walking into a cart loaded with--ooh, those fruits are different. She picked one up gingerly with the ends of her fingers, her green eyes examining the oddly lumpy surface of the orange fruit, but dropped it quickly when the human man behind the cart shooed her away.
She let out a sigh like rustling leaves and hurried on. She was sure with how many distractions had caught her eye she was likely late to meet the Guide, but this city was as amazing as it was terrifying. She supposed she'd have time to explore later. She turned down path toward the building that Guide Morgrim had referred to as Ravenscrye Tavern. When she reached she opened the door and almost hit her head on the frame before ducking down to enter the dimly lit building. How odd. The elves of the village had huge windows to let in the sun. City dwellers must get very sick without access to the sun.
She looked around, unsure of where to go, but Della let out a small chirp and flitted off her shoulder and over to sit on the metal-domed hat of a young apparently human boy sitting on the table surrounded by a host of various species. Nissinah approached nervously, only slightly comforted by Della's lack of nervousness among the group. A few among their ranks gave off an air of the forest, however, which is what even allowed her to speak.
"H-hello," the dryad stammered, looking at the boy on the table. "Are you Guide Morgrim? I received your letter some time ago but only just arrived. I apologize for any inconvenience."
She wasn't the only one getting nervous, either. Della, the sparrow who had taken up residence in her tree-like body two springs ago twittered nervously and the large wolf that she had conscripted the service of to bring her to the city was growling low in his throat as they drew near the gates. Nissinah stroked the fur between his ears soothingly, putting a tiny bit of her beast magic into her words to give them more influence over the creature of the wilds. "Hush," she soothed, her voice light like the breeze through the boughs of a willow. "No harm will come of you here. I will not allow it." The wolf let out a small whine, but growled no more as he slowed to a stop at the behest of the guards outside the city gates.
The men--in metal armor, how interesting, she must ask someone about that later--had their hands on their weapons and looked up at her deceptively serene form with suspicion. "Halt!" the shorter of the two commanded. "State your business...tree."
Nissinah gazed down at him, resisting the urge to scoff. Trees did not walk and they certainly did not ride wolves, but far be it from her to tell what a city human should or should not know about the forest. Instead, she pulled the letter from a small satchel the villagers had given her before she left and produced the letter bearing the seal of what she had been told were known as the 'Guides.' She held the letter out for one of the humans to take. "I am here at the call of one known at Guide Morgrim. He requested my aid for which I am unsure myself. That is all I know," she stated matter-of-factly while the guards looked over the Guide's smooth handwriting, their eyebrows knitted together like the seams in her satchel.
"Very well," huffed the other guard grudgingly. "But tell that Guide that we want no trouble from you or any of his circus." He handed her the letter and motioned for the guards at the gate to open it. Nissinah slid gracefully from the wolf's back and scratched him behind the ears gratefully.
"I shall return soon. Keep our forest safe until then," she encouraged before the wolf grunted,turned tail, and galloped off in the direction from which they came. Nissinah gave the guards a warning look, making them avert their accusatory gaze from the wolf hastily. Satisfied that they likely would bring no harm to her friend, she glided gracefully through the half-open gate, making no sound despite her stature.
Once inside the gates, Nissinah let her curiosity roam a bit. She was here, after all, she deserved a bit of time to look around! The people milling in the streets unnerved her, however. Why were they all staring? Did she have something in her flowers? She ran her twig-like fingers through the purple cherry blossoms that made up her hair and earned an indignant squawk from Della when she accidentally poked her with the sharp end of her finger.
"Be careful!" the sparrow chirped in her ear, emerging from her hair and settling on her shoulder. Nissinah gave the small bird a sheepish look, almost walking into a cart loaded with--ooh, those fruits are different. She picked one up gingerly with the ends of her fingers, her green eyes examining the oddly lumpy surface of the orange fruit, but dropped it quickly when the human man behind the cart shooed her away.
She let out a sigh like rustling leaves and hurried on. She was sure with how many distractions had caught her eye she was likely late to meet the Guide, but this city was as amazing as it was terrifying. She supposed she'd have time to explore later. She turned down path toward the building that Guide Morgrim had referred to as Ravenscrye Tavern. When she reached she opened the door and almost hit her head on the frame before ducking down to enter the dimly lit building. How odd. The elves of the village had huge windows to let in the sun. City dwellers must get very sick without access to the sun.
She looked around, unsure of where to go, but Della let out a small chirp and flitted off her shoulder and over to sit on the metal-domed hat of a young apparently human boy sitting on the table surrounded by a host of various species. Nissinah approached nervously, only slightly comforted by Della's lack of nervousness among the group. A few among their ranks gave off an air of the forest, however, which is what even allowed her to speak.
"H-hello," the dryad stammered, looking at the boy on the table. "Are you Guide Morgrim? I received your letter some time ago but only just arrived. I apologize for any inconvenience."
| Addressed:
Morgrim
Federoff
| Mentioned:
Anaxileah
Alstromeria
| Location: Ravenscrye Tavern| Mood: Anxious | Notes: Dialog key: Nissinah Guards Della |
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