Submission (#1337) Approved

Pan had been dying to escape the prison of Il'durahn for over a year now. Her relationship with her family was complicated, and she was still haunted by the memory of The Hallow Witch from the Feyhallow incident from over a year ago. She might not be back home with her family but it wasn't like she was going to be gone forever. She was just visiting Silveil, taking a break from the family business back in Bellmoril. Her father assured her that experience was good, and that she'd learn a lot about the hospitality and courier industry through being a customer elsewhere.

She assured her that it would be fine if she left. However, the perpetual darkness of Silveil didn't help her unconscious fears about that night during Feyhallow though, the dark of the region giving way to shadows in every corner. Each step left her restless, and ready to run. Every footstep caused her to jump, and every sound gave her pause. Given the nature of Silveil City, Pan was not having a very good time. Everything struck a chord with her, caused her to fret over the very nature of nothing.

The streets were busy, and the sky was dark. It was hard to appreciate the beautiful stars in the sky when you were too busy looking around at the feet around you. Pan was doing exactly that. She didn't look up to appreciate the galaxy tear in the sky or the stars that sparkled endlessly. She didn't even notice the moon in a sky so clear. In fact, it looked more like she was trying to avoid its gaze. It reminded her of that night in the forest, and everything else had her standing on the edge that she was actively trying to avoid anything else.

The darkness engulfed her, both literally and figuratively. She felt so burdened and alone in the streets of Silveil City. Everything seemed to be spiraling out of control and Pan found herself pressed firmly against the nearest wall to protect herself from things sneaking up from behind her. Her white and blue coat looked stark against the wall, and her meadow tail pressed firmly between her legs. It wasn't a good hiding spot but she felt like she had a good vantage point from here. Of course, there was a mistake in her plan. She didn't realize the wall was a door and soon she found herself falling backward and into a shop.

A bipedal elnin with a light coat and purple-tipped ears stood holding the doorknob. She had a warren tail that matched the tips of her ears, even down to the stamped stars and moons that adorned it. As Pan looked up, she noticed that this elnin had a large star over her eye. Unusual to Pan, the elnin standing over her was wearing a dress, and... bunny socks?

Pan scrambled to get to her feet when a soft voice spoke out.

"Oh no, are you all right? I'm so sorry!" The elnin said, leaning over to help the kittom at her feet.

"You look absolutely dreadful. Would you like to come in for a cup of tea?" She asked, her paw still extended toward the kittom.

Without hesitation, Pan took the paw that was outreached to her. She stood up, but then she pulled her hand away and clutched it to her chest. Why had she done that? She had wanted to run but she felt overcome by a serene, and peaceful effect as she looked up at the adult elnin.

"My name is Hypnos. What's your name, dear?" She said, ushering the kittom inside and softly closing the door behind her.

"Pan..." she said as she followed Hypnos into the shop to a couch, a loveseat by human standards. There was a round table in front of it.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Pan. Please do sit down. I'll get you some of our house special!" Hypnos said as she skipped out back to a room that Pan couldn't see into. Now would be the chance to run but Pan found herself comforted for the first time in a good while since being in Silveil City.

The time Hypnos was gone gave Pan a chance to look around at the shop. There were lots of shelves and things Pan didn't understand. She didn't even know what sort of shop this was! She didn't have to worry about it for very long though as Hypnos came back, a skip in her step, holding a silver tray in both paws. On top was everything needed to enjoy a cup of tea with a steaming pot in the middle. Hypnos carefully brought it over and set it on the table in front of Pan before pouring Pan a cup.

"Do you like sugar in your tea, or perhaps you'd prefer some honey? The honey is a local delicacy from Faerindell. The cherry blossom pollen really goes nicely with this blend of tea."

"I'll try the honey..." Pan said, her paws crossed in her lap as she sat bipedal on the couch, ready to take the plate and cup in her hands as Hypnos finished putting some honey in with a spoon. When she was done, she handed the plate over to Pan carefully.

"It's hot, be careful," Hypnos said with a hint of concern but it was so soft that Pan felt reassured rather than annoyed.

After Pan was settled, Hypnos poured herself a cup and joined the kittom on the couch. They talked about where Pan was from, how she was here without her father, and what the shop was. Pan had been really surprised to hear that this was an apothecary shop, never having been in one before. The Starlight Mortar. Pan didn't know what a mortar was but it made sense when Hypnos had explained it.

"That was good," Pan said, shuffling back and forth after she put the plate onto the tray.

"Thank you, Pan," Hypnos said, smiling back at the kittom. "I was just about to leave," she started.

Pan's face dropped at the idea of being back on the streets alone again.

"So, perhaps you'd like to join me as I go out to pick some mushrooms? I have to harvest as much as I can before the season changes."

Pan's face lit up, and she nodded her head slowly as to not sound so eager. It's too bad her face gave her way.

Hypnos chuckled softly and smiled at Pan as she draped her cape over her shoulders and picked up her basket. Hypnos locked up and then the two of them left the shop together.

The streets weren't nearly as scary with Hypnos there beside her, the reassuring smile on her face as she talked and laughed about all sorts of things that Pan didn't know about. Pan spoke about her father, her brother Sirius and even her sister Angelia until the two elnin made it to the forest. It was here that Pan finally looked up at the sky, admiring the very stars that perpetually flooded the sky. You didn't get stars like THAT in Bellmoril, and it definitely left Pan's mouth a little dropped.

"See these mushrooms? We're going to pick as many as we can fit into this basket!" Hypnos said, pointing her paw at the glowing mushrooms that covered the fields around the forest here.

"Wow! That's so awesome!" Pan shouted. She'd never seen glowing mushrooms before. She eagerly picked them up, laughing to herself as she conquered each one and dropped it into the basket that Hypnos had left on the ground as she too picked mushrooms.

The two of them had easily been at it for a while, continuing to chat about life as they picked up mushrooms. Occasionally Pan would try to toss the mushrooms into the basket and the mushrooms would overshoot, hitting Hypnos. Hypnos didn't get mad, always smiling softly at Pan as she dropped the mushroom into the basket afterward.

It felt like the basket had been filled too fast, and Pan found herself saddened by the thought.

"This was a lot of work! Thank you so much, Pan! It would have taken me twice as long if I'd been alone!" Hypnos said happily, smiling at Pan as she always did.

"Oh... you're welcome..." she replied, kicking her feet into the ground a little.

"It went so fast... that perhaps you'd like to join me again tomorrow? I'd love your help."

Pan's disappointment immediately disappeared, and a smile fell across her face.

"Can I?" Pan asked, her voice bouncing. "I'd love to!"

Hypnos just smiled, picking up the basket. She waited for Pan before she walked with her back into the city.

Pan was practically bouncing with each step, completely forgetting about her fears from earlier. Maybe she could send some of the mushrooms back to Bellmoril for her dad. He'd appreciate her use of couriers for sure!