Submission (#1916) Approved

Quest: Resonance - Act 2
Act Type: Exploration
Word Count: 1168
Adult Elnin Present: Zuri [ELN256]
Regional Affinity: Kyendi
Claiming Regional Affinity for: Zimri [ELN556]
[Adventurer] Rank Unlock Mini-Requirement: Exploration Act and adventurer outfit is in Act 1

Zimri’s actions at Ahza was the last straw for Zuri. He got the scolding of the lifetime from her when he dares to travel up north without her permission. But it was worth it as he is now walking around with a brand new guitar strapped on his back. They are now traveling back home to Silveil after their task is finished and making their way through Kyendi. The dense forest of Kyendi creeped him out a little from the first time they traveled through. It was an eerie sense, making him look over his shoulder as the place made his fur stand on edge.

“Alright, we’re going to take a little break right around here before going to Eiloen.”

“Huh?!” He snapped out of his thoughts when his mom spoke about a break and stares at her as if she’s crazy. Zuri found a little rest spot. It was a wooden pagoda painted red that provided shade with the vines climbing over the roof. She liked the space and when she looks up, she can see the Elder tree that serves the point where they have to go. “But why here? It’s so creepy! Can’t we just keep on going until we reach a village?” The little kittom was pleading so much and whining since he feels like someone will jump out of the forest and get him. “What? Don’t be so silly. This is Kyendi… one of the oldest regions actually. You should take some time, explore here, and learn.” And Zuri was firm with her words, thinking her kittom needs to learn and respect the forest instead of finding it as creepy. “Oh fiiine…” It was pointless to argue with her because it will only end up getting smacked on the head. He made sure that he has everything with him before he starts dragging his paws and tail into nature.

“Just what am I suppose to do here?” It was confusing to him still about learning here in the forest. He looks around and sees all sorts of plants that look nice and pretty with tall palm trees over his head. It was different than Silveil and the Palu’au islands, so it was pleasant to see something new. There was some ancient ruins that caught his attention, or at least the remaining stone pieces that look like it was part of a building that is slowly swallowed by nature. “What are these things?” Zimri walks over to one and tries to push off the dense vines to see the designs on it to understand it more, but he shrugged and thinks how cool it looks. “At least others can see how it looks like.”

Zimri walks across the rope bridge over a small stream as he gets to another new area, but he can't help to try and make the bridge swing a bit as he giggles. He found some more strange-looking plants along his path and saw how the vines are growing wildly without remorse to their surround. He noticed how one vine is growing around a flowering plant and frowns how it seemed like the flower will snap from its grasp. “Oh… that’s not good.” Zimri walks over and tries his best to move the vine around. He pulls on it carefully as he doesn’t want to break the vine and only uses the flower to stabilize the growth. His little tongue was sticking out, a habit of his when he’s focused on a task. Pulling a loop and with a gentle tug, the flower was free from the vine, and he pushed the vine to the tree next to it in hopes it will cling to it instead. “There we go… but it probably needs some water.” The flower seemed to be strangled for so long that it needs some nourishment.

Looking over at his supplies, he grabbed his canteen and opened it up to give it some water to drink. He pours it into the soil and watches the water seeped into the earth. Zimri smiles, feeling proud of the task he accomplished in helping the little flowering plant. “There we go… hopefully, it’ll grow up bigger without that vine.” He couldn’t help but smile at the colorful bloom on how pretty it is and how it could still grow despite the vine wrapping around it.

Rustle rustle

“What was that?” Not too far from him, he heard the sounds of rustling leaves and the sensation that he was being stared at again. Zimri looks around to see where it might be coming from and walks a little away from where he was to find the source. “Hello..?” It made him frown, thinking that maybe it might be an animal somewhere nearby, and probably scared. An idea came to mind as he found a comfy spot on the grass in the sunlight, and he swings his guitar around to have it in front of him. He turned the pegs as he tightens the strings a bit while strumming them, hearing the melody as he tries to get the tuning right. “I hope I can do this…” It was going to be his first performance in front of a crowd, even though the masses are the scared animals in the bushes. But it was his first nonetheless.

He gently plucks on the strings, playing a little melody first, and then he slowly plays the song “twinkle twinkle little star” as he made sure not to mess up in front of his first audience. His little tongue sticks out again, hyper-focus on his playing as he tries to play it a little faster. Zimri looks over to see if the little one will peek out. He soon saw a cute face of a small red panda looking very curious about his music, and he smiles brightly. “Do you like it? I’m trying really hard to become a musician.” His voice was gentle, not wanting to frighten the little animal and only want his guitar's sound to be the dominant sound. It was a great day for him that he feels so proud to play a little song. There was some slip of the strings, but it was still amazing to him to play from beginning to end.

At the end of the song, he smiles over at his new little friend, who then retreated into the bushes and hurried off to be with the family and slips his guitar through on his back again before going. “It wasn’t so bad being out here… I guess mom was right.” Zimri said to himself as he got up and started walking back to see his mom, who must be waiting for him by now. He couldn’t wait to tell her about his adventures into the forests of Kyendi when he saved a flower’s life and play for the animals. It made him happy to see that he could do this for the rest of his life as a musician who helps now and then.