Well today’s on top of the list of days that suck. First a get cast out from the hive for false reasons and then I get mugged by highwaymen and now I’m stuck in the very town our enemies live?
Great. Just great.
So, where to begin my new life as a very loyal, non-changeling, citizen in this wonderous land. Find a home? Don’t have any bits. Get a job? I need a house for that. Get someone to help for a few bits? Might work as start.
Well, I do remember someone in the forest nearby that likes to make potions. Maybe I could go there and get some ingredients for her. I can’t get any tools and whatnot so I suppose I have no choice but to go without anything. Now… how to find that zebra?
I decided flying would work out the easiest and quickest, and it did! I went down to the door, but hesitates for some reason. Will she know I’m a changeling in some way? What if she--
The door opened as the head of the occupant of the home peeked out and straight at me. “Well, well. How may I help you? Hopefully not a tattoo.”
“Uhhh, no thanks. I don’t need a… tattoo?” I shook my head. ”Anyway, I was hoping you’d have something for me to do for a few bits. Like collect ingredients and such.”
“Ahh, how lovely. I’m also working on a new discovery.” She went back in with me standing outside patiently. After a while she stepped out and gave me a list of ingredients with a sketch of how they look next to the names. “There you go. I tried finding them long ago.”
“I’ll find ‘em for you. But do you have any extra saddlebag for me to put them in?”
“Of course.” She went back in again and came back with a slightly worn saddlebag. Seemed fine enough.
“Thanks, I’ll be back in a while.” I greeted her and went out into the forest to start looking for the strange ingredients.
This small assignment was easy, and quite relaxing to say the least. I already got half of it within a few minutes and I’ve had to go deep into the forest to get the more rare ingredients like this one called Fenoria, a blood red flower with thorns on the edges of the flower’s petals. Very interesting.
I also had to keep track of landmarks, this forest is huge! I don’t know. It seems to create the illusion that it’s smaller. Almost like it’s trying to protect a secret. A very supernatural or magical secret...
Oh, sorry. I tend to get off topic. Especially when I’m alone in the-AAHH!
A ground underneath me gave in and I went tumbling into darkness. I hit every possible root, twig and rock on the way down and landed after what seemed like an eternity with a loud thud on my back. I lost my breath from the fall and started gasping for air. My gasps for air and coughs echoed through the deep, underground tunnel.
When I calmed my nerves, I slowly took a look around me with the only lighting coming from the hole I fell through. It made me feel uneasy and exposed. I got up with shaky legs and blinked, making my vision turn bright blue, like a kind of night vision to see in the dark.
There were four ancient doorways into different tunnels with two statues on either side of each door that looked like a soldier clad in very steel armour with a spear on either side of the soldier. The spears had a four blades at the end, almost like a mace from the old days. A strange design if you ask me.
I picked a door and walked through it. The hallway was made of the same stone used in the doorways. There were no benches, flower pots or any decor for that matter. However there were torch holders on the side of the wall. Probably burned out. I mean this place seems like it was made before the town was even a thought.
When I reached the end of the hall it split in two with a symbol above each doorway. I hate these choices. Left or right?
I went right. There was a slight breeze, so that meant there was probably an exit at the end! Without thinking I started to jog toward it, the breeze getting more intense… and cold? Before I could process the thought, something bright and dark blue came dashing toward me. I instantly turned around and run the way back came, trying to stifle a scream from the thing chasing me.
I noticed a hole above the floor in the wall and I quickly jumped into it, curling up tightly to hide my tail. Keeping my panting calm was a struggle, especially when I could literally feel it coming closer. It dashed past without checking the hole and I let out a breath I didn’t realise I held. When I peeked out, I saw the trail of frost leading to the way I came in. Welcoming party?
Probably not. I’ll just stay here for a while, I need to get my breath back.
So after crawling out of my hiding place and following the trail back from where it came, I walked into a sort of throne room with the throne on top of a small set of chairs. The trail of frost coming from the throne.
There were two chests on either sides of the staircase. I sneaked up to one and very slowly opened it, revealing it's ancient treasures that seemed as old as the land's elements. And yet before I could do anything with it, I felt something burn against my skin from behind and soon I was just a frozen statue. Not dead thanks to my hard skin, but being moved by the thing that past me a few moments ago.
I need to get out of here, although I can't do that while frozen, never mind being moved by the very thing that did it.
Author's Note
Remember, if I get enough feedback on coming the story, I will. Thanks!