Submission (#1686) Approved

Yes. Today’s going to be the day. It has to be! Misha scampered around Sulapei in a hurry. News reached his ears about a potential unknown magical creature or monster sighting nearby. That means the trail is still fresh enough to interrogate and ask for leads. He hoisted his bag back onto his back. Time to gather clues while they’re still fresh! 

His bag full of his supplies and notes rustled as he walked around Sulapei, his ears on high alert as Misha tried to pick up clues of the new creature. 

“Did you hear about the creature that spooked Zyvan, the gruff Elnin shopkeep?” 

Bingo. He’s got his first lead. Misha confidently walked up to the elnin who was talking to their friend about said shopkeep. 

“Hello hello! I am Misha, your local friendly cryptozoologist, and my sharp ears just picked up something about an unknown creature? And how the super gruff Zyvan ” He greeted them in an overtly familiar way. 

The elnin pair glance at each other before looking back at Misha. 

“Uhh yeah… You… Should talk to Zyvan… About it…” The elnin said hesitantly, glancing at their companion. 

Misha took no notice of their discomfort. “Alrighty! Where can I find this Zyvan fellow?” he pushed, glancing at both of the Elnin eagerly as he could barely contain his excitement. 

“His shop is down the street. He runs a general store of sorts.” The other elnin commented, gesturing down the road. 

“OKAY THANKS FOR THE HELP!!! I’LL FIND THAT CREATURE AND DOCUMENT IT FOR ALL!” Misha yells back to the two, already running down the street. 

His adventure sense is tingling, and he can’t wait to ask the shopkeeper all about this new creature. In his excitement, Misha had passed the general store and needed to stop to ask other locals where Zyvan’s store is. He slowly trotted back in slight shame. He peeked his head into the door, spotting a rather grumpy looking Elnin sitting behind the counter.

“HELLO HELLO!! You must be Zyvan right? I heard some elnin near the city central talk about how you got really scared because of some creature that you’ve never seen before!” Misha yelled excitedly, almost tripping over his words as he bounced into the shop, knocking over some of the small trinkets in his wake. 

“Hey, OI! WhaDDYA DOIN’!” The gruff Elnin barked out, disgruntled that this excited stranger was ruining his store displays. 

“Eep! Sorry, I’ll put it back in place before I go, I promise!” Misha squeaked out, somewhat regretting his actions. Regardless, he fearlessly walked up to the counter, ready to ask his questions. 

The shopkeeper sighed, “Yes, am Zyvan, before ya ask again, I was near the jungle ruins yonder and jus’ as I was ‘bout to enter, this loomin’ shadow unlike anything i’ve ever seen before in all my years was approaching me from the thickets, and it was menacingly growling at me. The jungle is real scary lad. I wouldn’t advise going there to find out yourself.” He explained before Misha could even open his mouth. 

“That’s perfect! I must know more. Like what time of day, and in what direction are these specific runes. I must go and document this unknown species!” Misha chirped eagerly, his pen and notebook out at the ready, furiously jotting down what Zyvan had to say.

 Zyvan sighed, shaking his head as he pointed in the direction of the ruins with his tail. “It’s that way son. I was out in the ruins in about late afternoon, and it was turnin’ dark, almost dusk. It’ll be about a half days trip on foot if ya wanna get there in time today.” Misha’s eyes glinted when the shopkeeper told him of the location. 

“YES PERFECT THANK YOU SO MUCH I GOTTA GO NOW!!” rushing the words out without a pause, while Misha was scampering out of the storefront, waving goodbye to the shopkeep. In his wake, he knocked over a few more things while the shopkeeper shook his head in disappointment. Muttering “youngin’s.” under his breath as he leaves the counter to put back the knocked goods. 

Misha could feel the thrill in his bones as his feet try to carry him out of town as quickly as possible. It’s still early in the day so he should be able to make it to the runes before night falls, and he could make his observations. Today’s going to be the best day ever!