Submission (#7203) Approved

ELN2991
Regional Affinity: Enmir
Claiming Regional affinity for (1AP) Kiriko https://worldofeyre.com/character/ELN2991
Word count: 985
2EC bonus for 900+ words

Note: Kiriko nickname given by Hazel is Sprout.

The Marshes were dark and gloomy and not amongst Hazel's favorite places. She would have rather brought Kiriko to a different place but the little one had gotten her way. While most were probably out in Ealei which was a much brighter and sunnier place to visit,Kiri was thriving in this marshy environment. She loved the smell of the dampness and mossy air. Unlike every other kittom the little Sproutling was probably more attuned with nature. Any place she found with trees and flora made her feel at home. Even if the place was as murky as Enmir and full of humidity that sometimes made you regret being there in the first place. 

 

“ Can’t you taste the smell of moss !” Kiriko exclaimed and Hazel simply shrugged. 

It’s almost as if you could image the small kittom licking the moss of the trees, but no sadly she wasn’t that disturbed but in Hazel's mind well she was probably up to it when she had her back turned. Good thing the kittom was Elfin as Hazel often just picked up so she would quit her shenanigans. Every day Hazel wondered why she took the tiny djinn under her wing. She was quite a handful and she even managed to drag her all the way out the swaps. The thing an older sister would do for their little siblings. 

 

The two had found themselves trying to return the glowing fishes to the “boundless”, but there was sure a debate of how they both winded up in Enmir and not Ealei. But to Sprout’s defense she had heard “a calling” to the place” and Hazel well never won any arguments with the little one. Being the Herald of Harmony, the grown elnin wasn’t going to argue with the little Herald of Renewal. She was all about keeping the balance and she frankly had no time to argue with a small spirited child. Which usually meant the kittom got what she wanted, which for this time was moss everywhere. 

 

Kiriko had asked for Hazel's help to be able to craft a small boat they would be able to release as many fishes as they could back to the boundless around the edges of Enmir. In Kiri's mind no one would dare venture that deep into the marshes of Enmir to do the task. Never mind the locals who lived and thrived into the environment with their houses built in the giant trees. 

 

The locals questioned this little spirited kittom when she arrived and asked for certain supplies to build her floating craft. They weren’t used to seeing such a small driven kittom who was full of orders and energy. One even questioned Hazel if Kiri was the type of kittom to swing from the vines of the trees. But herald replied “ Sadly she has no need as she can fly to where she wants but please don’t give any ideas” The local looked a bit strangely at the older Herald wondering if maybe the little Djinnin really was that much of a handful that suggesting an activity that most local kittoms enjoyed could have a bad ending. 

 

Once they had both gathered all their materials Kirko and Hazel found themselves at the edge of Enmir ready to begin their task.They had brought over a whole cart full of as many glass containers as the cart could hold. Since Kiri was much smaller, Hazel had been to one to bring the cart all the way to the end of their journey. Luckily Kiriko had the idea to use the materials around the bog to be able to craft a floating surface for all of her glass containers. Of course with the help of Hazel although the little one tried to take credit for the whole idea. They both went on their way to gather wood and vines to be able to create a raft. Hazel went to find on the path the biggest branches she could, while Sprout gathered the vines as she could fly in the trees and retrieve them. Together they began to attach the branches and managed to create a proper enough floating raft. 

 

Unfortunately that was only half the task. Using a net they had purchased in town they began to gather the glowing fishes from pools of swampy water around and depositing the fishes in a glass container. It took them most of the afternoon to gather as many as they could. Kiriko felt really proud of what they were doing. She felt really strongly about the ritual ever since Hazel told her the story and she wanted to accomplish and send back as many fishes as they could. 

Once they had filled the raft with as many glass jars as they could it was time to release the luminous fishes back to the “boundless” and hope the way to where they belonged. 

 

Kiri hugged one of Hazel's legs as she held on watching the raft slowly drifting back to the “boundless”. A tear began to stroll down the small kittom eye as she felt relieved of what they accomplished and joyful that the little luminous fishes would find their way home. 

 

“It’s time to go back to the inn now little one” Hazel whispered to Kiriko as she wiped the tear away. “But we have to say goodbye to the little fishes,” Kiri replied as she waved at the fishes until they were out of sight. At that point the kittom had begun falling asleep as her eyes started to close watching where the raft used to be drifting. There weren't any luminous lights to see anymore but the kittom kept looking out into the horizon. Hazel picked up the little one with her eyes barely open and put her into the cart as she brought her back to town. The elnin hoped the little one was having beautiful dreams of her fishy friends.