Submission (#309) Approved

Moonlight pooled into a small clearing in the woods where a small fire crackled between two elnin. One rested against a tree while the other slept deeply beneath their cloak. The cloaked elnin stirred ever so slightly but it was enough to draw the attention of the other. They had only been here a few hours but time seemed to creep as though it had been days.

“Listen…our problem…furry things…the not treats…die!” The words seemed to fade in and out, nothing more than a memory from a few days prior to the elnin who slept. It was the last word that struck him though. In an instant the slumbering elnin was on his feet but his thoughts were muddled. Long locks of hair were tangled with worry and the elnin’s racing heart slowed as he realized where he was. This was but one of many sleepless nights for the elnin since word had spread of the Breglin’s actions. “Oh, you’re up again? Another bad dream, herald?” The words seeped into his thoughts. Sapphire eyes fell upon the elnin leaning against the tree that had conveyed them.

“It’s Ouska.” The disheveled elnin said flatly. To most the tone would have been unusual for the often mellow herald. To Asherion though the response was abrasive but familiar. At least it was a sign Ouska was doing better than the day before. The herald had grown quite despondent on their journey that the cloudy spotted elnin was even a bit worried. Granted, Ashe would never let the other know.

“We’re close enough now. If neither of us is sleeping shall we continue?” Asherion asked. He was a little surprised when Ouska merely nodded. He had expected maybe a bit more resistance but an exchange of tired looks must have said more. The herald may have not been very fond of Ashe but he wasn’t blind. The spotted elnin had not been sleeping well either and as they got closer to the faerie ring Ashe just grew more restless. The noble elnin did not stray as far as Ouska did off the marked path without some sort of map but the faerie ring the Herald had found was deeper in the thicket of the forest.

Some places Ouska seemed naturally drawn to, perhaps subconsciously aware of something most were not. It did not surprise Ashe to hear the elnin had found a faerie ring or two earlier in his travels but at the time Ouska was still thinking of what would make good offering. It had taken him some time and later a great distance before he could find it. Now that they had their gifts they were heading to the closest faerie ring Ouska could recall. Both felt a sense of urgency that carried their paw steps a bit quicker than they usually traveled but it was difficult to move where the shadows grew darker and the moonlight was locked out.

For a few hours they traveled through the brush with only a lantern before them until they broke through the woods edge to find a small meadow. There was something enchanting about it. Delicate small flowers littered it sparsely and the openness allowed for enough light to see without a need for their lanterns. One glance at Ouska was a glimpse at why the herald had earned his title. He seemed comfortable in this bizarre outlet. At the center of the meadow was a ring of mushrooms and flowers aglow. Ouska approached it with an air of experience while Ashe found the space hard to stand. Not even traps he had encountered from pirates were as unnerving as the ambient mana that seemed to have settled in this place.

Coming up beside the other elnin a glance at Ouska’s face made Ashe feel guilty for believing the other to be calm. Ouska’s expression was severe and grief stricken. Few nin could be calm with the idea of kittoms disappearing and Ashe was no exception. While he could not see eye to eye with how passive the herald was at times in hard times like these even they would cast aside their feuds.

Ouska sat to dig through his belongings, searching for what he had brought so far to offer. A soft complaint from a sleepy Temu was heard as he rummaged before pulling out a jar engraved with old Eyre script. Inside were what looked like bugs with a delicate glow around them, floating in water. Closer inspection revealed their small bodies to be made of plantlife enchanted by something, though Ouska could not say what.

Locals of a small village at the edge of the Paupao Islands had shared rumors of a pool of enlightenment of sorts. There it was said to propagate these small guiding lights, however, the pool was also said to move frequently. Even Ouska had to admit alone he might not be able to find what he sought in time. Begrudgingly he had to admit there were few elnin more connected to the business at the coast than Ashe and so he had sought the noble out despite their rivalries and an agreement was made. Ouska thought the other elnin might have asked for money or something in exchange but Ashe agreed to help, granted that he could map their path for any other materials that might be of use later. The slyph said they were keeping the kittoms safe...but for how long?

Thoughts of the travel were brought back to the task at hand. Picking up the jar carefully he placed it in the center of the faerie ring. “May these lights aid you in guiding the Breglin to sense.” Ouska thought softly his words conveyed to Ashe as well, but there was a sharpness to his gaze as he looked at the faerie ring. His eyebrows furrowed with frustration that he could not do more.

Beside the jar Ashe set down a small pouch that shimmered in the light depending on which angle you looked at it from. Granules of something that looked like a crystalline sand dusted its edges. “Should they not see sense...perhaps you might blind them so they can see nothing at all.” Ouska’s head turned to look at Ashe but it was hard to say what crossed between the two. For Ouska it was hard to wish ill upon others but he wished for nothing more than the kittoms being safely returned. Perhaps just this once he could agree just a little with Ashe’s actions.

Casting his gaze down to his bags he slowly gathered them up. “We should go or else they might not come.” He warned Ashe who blinked for a moment before nodding in agreement. They turned to leave and as they reached the end of the clearing Ashe felt an itch to glance over his shoulder but sharp words from Ouska made him pause. “Don’t.” The herald said sharply. “Don’t look back. It’s better to keep looking forward for these sort of communications unless you aim to catch sight of something. Somethings are best left unseen though.” He explained. Ashe nodded a bit stifly and oddly the itch that bothered him before had faded. Following closely behind Ouska they disappeared back into the thicket of the woods, heading back towards the comforts of home and hopefully word of good news in the weeks to come.