Submission (#3608) Approved

Word count: 1,491
AP: Faerindell
Elnin AP is for: Aisling - https://worldofeyre.com/character/ELN706
Elseworld creature: Alisande (aka Snowflake) - https://toyhou.se/14116232.-snowflake
Mini requirement: Depict your Elnin interacting with a human or elseworld creature.

Aisling is called to the Shrine of the Fairy Shrouds, one of the highest shrines overlooking Faerindell's Eldertree for a mysterious delivery request...

     Aisling huffed a little out of breath as she got to the secluded, flower filled shrine of the Faerindell Eldertree. Her shoulders brushed up against the long bundles of flowers as she passed through the fairy shrouds that surrounded the small offering alter. It had been built on a tall hill that overlooked the large, majestic, form of the sakura tree and the purple elnin let herself pause for a moment, admiring the view. Foxglove had become a very useful member of the caravan and she had gotten accustomed to the little sprite helping out with the other kittoms, even if she did have a tendency to get in the way sometimes. Even Gwyn, the one who had found her initially, had a soft spot for the small purple kittom. Not that he would ever admit it, the gruff guardian preferring to keep his grim exterior. As she thought of Shepard's Crook and the services they provided for Elnin kind, she found herself thinking of the future. She had not thought of becoming a mother, traveling around so much and never having a permanent regional home was not something she thought a kittom would be suited for. Her job essentially was to bring kittoms to their permanent new home, not pull them from place to place, however Foxglove seemed to thrive with each new location. This brought new ideas into the forefront and she let herself consider them for a moment while she was here at the Faerindell shrine.

     The locals had stories around the Shrine of the Fairy Shrouds. Some said this was a place where one could get into contact with the fay; where the walls between the world of Eyre and the Fairy realm was thinnest. Others would travel here when they hoped to leave an offering as a wish for children, a bountiful harvest, or other hopes for growth in nature be it within the hearth or out in the fields. Still others claimed the shrine was a way to connect with nature and would visit on a pilgrimage to meditate and resonance with the world around them. Aisling had not come here for any of those reasons, her quest was simpler; she had been asked to come here by a mysterious letter. Gwyn thought it a little odd that she was requested to come alone but complied when she asked him to stay with the other kittoms to keep them safe.

     The letter had told her to arrive when the sun was highest and for a moment Aisling wished she had though to bring a sunhat, the heat being a little intense upon her ears and shoulders. The thick fairy shrouds that enclosed this small shrine did little to shade from the sun but much to block what wind there was. Thankfully there was a small ledge on one edge of the hill that opened out to the vista below, showing the immense size of the Sakura-covered Eldertree that shadowed the main city of Elenion. A short bench had been set up there for visitors and by the swaying of the flowers and drifting petals she could tell there was a nice breeze. Aisling sat down on the weather-speckled wood and waited, listening to the droning bees and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.

     After almost nodding off a few times, a pause of silence caused her to suddenly prick her ears up. Aisling turned away from the view and looked towards the alter that was covered with offerings of flowers, fruit, and trinkets. There was a figure before it, slowly bowing down in reverence. The creature looked like a deer but they stood upright like the elves and elseworlders she saw in the cities. Long white hair fell over dark blue shoulders and the figure wore very little on their furred body that ended in cloven hooves. She could spot the slight sparkle of lights within their fur as if they were covered in crystalline snowflakes and their tail, and horns, reminded her of the icy branches she saw when visiting Strynhalde. As the creature stood back up she could see they were holding something that was wrapped carefully in a white linen. She waited for them to notice her standing there.

     The creature turned and bowed again. Their soft golden eyes observing Aisling for a long solemn moment before they gestured towards the bundle in their arms. "I am Alisande, of the Snowy Reaches. I hear you provide save travel for those who are young and I wish to enroll this child into your care. I have the place they are to be delivered to and can pay handsomely." They spoke in a low, majestic voice that seemed to flow smoothly around her, reminding Aisling of a deep river whos surface betrayed the current below.

    She was taken aback for a moment; this was not something she had expected when coming up to this shrine but her instincts kicked in and she nodded a respectful bow in return. "I would be honored to care for such a child though no payment is needed. We trade for the items we require to keep the caravan going and currently we have more than enough." She added as an afterthought. "We do appreciate the offer though." Aisling was curious about the baby. Where had this elseworlder seen an unguarded kittom? Where was this kittom's caretakers now? How had they known to contact Sheppard's Crook? Actually the latter question she had the answer for due to the expanded range and the fact that they were busy enough to need a third wagon now. It was more the first two she was worried about... if kittoms were vanishing off again... she let the thought hang loosely in her mind and decided to focus more on the now. "You said you had an address?"

     "Yes, it is within the forests of Silveil. I trust that is not too far out of your way?" Alisande tilted their read to the side quizzically before adjusting the hold on the baby into one arm as they deftly unwrapped a small pouch from around the belt on their waist. "At the very least, if you will not accept payment, please accept this. There is also food and supplies for the little one in there too." The satyr handed it over before nuzzling the baby gently with their nose and handing the little one to Aisling after she had secured the strap of the pouch over her shoulders.

     Aisling carefully took the baby and gasped as she realized two things in quick succession. One: the baby was much heavier than she anticipated, much heavier than any kittom. Two: The baby was not a kittom, but another deer. She looked up questioningly at the satyr before noticing they now held up another letter. It matched the same style as the first, down to the seal and ribbon. Aisling nodded towards it, "I presume that is the recipient?" Other than the species of the child, this was very similar to her normal deliveries so she fell back into her familiar banter and put Alisande at ease, even if they didn't really need it. "I promise we will get them to their new home safely. Do you wish for a letter sent to you afterwards? Where would we find you?" She trailed off as she realized she wasn't sure if they were a permanent resident of Eyre; this was the place that people said the walls between realms was the thinnest... Aisling stowed that thought with the others to ruminate upon later.

      The satyr gave another low bow and shook their head. "Do not worry, I shall know when the babe will arrive. I greatly thank you and appreciate your service to the world around you and the people who live within it." With that Alisande turned and started to walk away as if their time was done and they were being called to a new journey. They raised a hand just before disappearing over the rise in good bye and then seemed to just vanish into the wall of fairy shrouds that surrounded the small hidden shrine.. Aisling stood there a while longer still a little stunned from the encounter before the little bundle started to shift around.

    "I guess we need to get you home soon. My goodness! Gwyn is going to have a surprise when he sees you!" She shook her head after cooing at the babe a few times and then shifted the bundle so she could carry the precious cargo back to the caravan safely. As she walked down the path shaded by the dense sakura trees and fairy shrouds she had to marvel at the occasion. This was an interesting encounter indeed! Thankfully their next destination was Silveil anyways so it would be a short diversion but still... having a deer, even a baby one, within Sheppard's Crook was going to be quite interesting.