Private Tales The Egryn Lights

[Cadwyn]

Valthar

The pale shafts of light went filtering through the dense forest canopy to the ground below. Shadows and light would dance across the fluttering leaves as a soft wind sent them scattering across the thickets and trees. The call of birds and the buzzing of insects would break the quiet, with the quick, knocking sounds of a woodpecker echoing off in the distance.

There were no known settlements. No dirt road or trails left behind by any potential inhabitant. By all accounts, this forest seemed to stretch for kilometers, a seemingly uncharted terrain with all manner of potential discoveries therein. To the north, the sound of water would indicate the rustling of a river - precious water for any survivor to parch their thirst. The sun was already past its zenith, and for those who could track its light beyond the thick canopy of trees would determine that there were four hours of sunlight left.

 

[Baise]

Valthar paused in a clearing. He turned his face towards the sky and sniffed the air. There was nothing ill on the breeze. Whilst he had come to realise that he had the magic of his people, could become Svalen, there were more dangerous things than bears in the wilds. More dangerous than he was.

He had been following a road easy for many days, but it had veered north. Valthar had decided to stick with the route as the crow flew. He kept the sun to his right during the middle of the day and kept putting one foot in front of the other.

Wherever Pandemonium had spewed him back into this world, the spine of the world was still to the east, which meant he had a long way to go. A man's step seemed nothing by comparison, yet he kept on going.

He would not be the first to walk it. A bounty hunter named Talon had recognised him as a Nordenfiir. If his people were known this far west then some of them had come this way or traders from the region knew the way to Nordengaard.

Valthar liked the forests anyway. The canopy shielded him from the harsh southern sun. It was actually a cool afternoon but Valthar was used to the ice winds of Eratejva. His sleeveless jerkin just about kept him cool enough as long as he kept to shade through the middle of the day. He suspected the cold would seem biting once he finally made his way home. They always said that a warm sun shaped a soft man.

 

[Cadwyn]

Valthar

There was a light flutter in the air, like the faint beat of hummingbirds wings. A large dragonfly flew past the man’s face, curious and attentive. It’s large green compound eyes would study the burly blonde creature, inquisitively hovering over Valthar’s face. Within the span of a few moments, it made its decision and landed upon the tip of his nose.

Meanwhile, the heavy footsteps of the Nordenfiir were not easily missed. His steps would crush the leaves and loose twigs upon the forest floor, every step guiding him deeper into the forest. The canopy was thicker here, the shafts of overhead light decreasing and darkening the area ahead. The sound of running water grew louder, the river about twenty five meters ahead.

 

[Baise]

Valthar stayed stock still. He had seen these colourful creatures before, but they did not live in the tundras he called home. None of them had approached him before. Little flights of colour darting around the reeds.

Valthar had no idea whether they were poisonous. It had a long tail that curled as if it could contain a stinger. When it seemed as if it wasn't going to move he dared to blow outwards. It fluttered its wings as it was carried away from his face.

The norden breathed a sigh of relief.

 

[Cadwyn]

Valthar

As the Norden's attention drew upon the departing dragonfly, another set of eyes set upon the stranger. There, within the curl of an over cast leaf about ten meters overhead, hidden upon the shafts of overhead light, an indistinguishable face would peer down below. What is that? The thought went racing, its manner curious.

Cautiously and quietly, with a roll onto its stomach as if it were a small flickering light, Cadwyn would observe the large, two-legged beast. It wasn't an elf - there were no points at the tips of its ears. It wasn't a fawn, for there were no hooves upon its feet. It wasn't an orc - while it had the brawn it had no tusks to see. Nor was he of her kind; for his body did not resonate with the hum of energy and magic that had given her life. Here, out in the wilds where man had not set upon before, Valthar was a curiosity.

So much so that it wasn't just Cadwyn whose interest he stirred. Out in the distance, the trees would stir, as if under the pressure of another being. For the forest held other mysteries that were equally as curious, but far more deadly.

 

[Baise]

Valthar came to a sudden halt. He did not fear any kind of magic. He feared the beasts that lurked in dark places, the wolves that hunted in packs, the elves that jealously guarded their forests.

He could transform if it was anything truly threatening, but a pack of wolves could hound down a bear to exhaustion if they were truly starving.

It would be better to avoid the trouble altogether. Very carefully he eased himself down into the long grass. The long fronds had held tight to the morning dew, which was cold on his skin.

As carefully as he could he laid the spear he carried down on the grass beside him. His hands knew the axe better. In truth he knew his fishing nets best. A spear was better against creatures that were not best faced up close.

 

[Cadwyn]

Valthar

As if the very creatures of the forest knew of what was to come, a sudden burst of birds took flight not a few meters from the Norden, their warning caws echoing along with the flaps of quickening wings. Another sharp gust of wind made the trees sway, the sound of cracking branches and a flurry of leaves rushing along a small ridge just to the right of Valthar.

All of a sudden, there was a distinct lull in the surroundings. A pregnant silence. Gestating. Overhead, that tiny, coil of dim light would fight against the intense curiosity to peek at the foreign creature against the crawl of danger that ran up Cadwyn's spine.

For the forest had its own method of protection. Some light, some dark -- with shades in between that could bring either blessings or nightmares in its wake. What would seem like minutes would pass, before the heavy weight of a thickly clawed paw would press down upon wet earth. Twin glowing, green eyes would appear amidst the thick foliage among the ridge. It would be difficult to discern if it was animal or not, for it gave no musky scent that would be familiar to any normal

creature.

 

[Baise]

He watched those eyes carefully, not even pausing to blink. Another foot slowly emerged from the foliage and was set down on the damp earth. Its toes spread as it put weight on that leg, revealing huge claws. It's silhouette started to seperate from the shadows.

Even if he shifted now that thing would have a weight advantage over his Svalen, Valthar realised. A whole collection of folk tales from around a fire came to him. None of them matched was he saw stalking forwards.

A knot of instinctive fear settled in his gut. His fingers wrapped tightly around the haft of his spear. A mere toothpick to the beast stalking his way, but it felt reassuring to have something in his hand. He remained stock still, trying in vain to slow his breathing.

 

[Cadwyn]

Valthar

The creature's head rose, large twin nostrils flaring as they took a deep breath. It took another deep breath before exhaling, the large jowls quivering as the condensation of its breath spread a swirling cloud in front if its broad face. From Cadwyn's perch, she could barely discern the slight cant of the nature beast's head, as if trying to determine what it caught between the scent of wet earth and pine forest.

Cadwyn felt anxious, for the enormous creature was known as Xanias to her kind. He could be equally dangerous as helpful to those who would cross his path. How he would react to Valthar would be a gamble.

As if Xanias knew the train of Cadwyn's thoughts, his nostrils gave another flare, before swinging his attention towards the area where the Norden lay prone. The dark lining of his upper lip went curving upward, revealing a line of sharp teeth. His eyes would flare with a distinct verdant glow as if taking in as much as it could to discern just what it was that lay on the forest floor in front of him.

In the next few seconds, the steady crunch of thickly clawed paws would resonate as Xanias drew closer to Valthar. Although there was no overarching sense of an intent to kill, there was still the lingering pressure fight or flight channeling through the air. What would happen next would be determined by actions taken in the next few seconds...

 

[Baise]

It had his scent. Those motions were familiar to the Svalen within him. An unfamiliar scent on the air. His heart was pounding and it took every ounce of his self control to keep himself from shifting.

If the beast was right on top of him when it laid his eyes upon him then it would be too late. If it decided to strike it would tear him clean in two.

Keeping one hand on the haft of his spear he very slowly pushed himself up onto all fours. The moment he met the creatures eyes he knew that he looked like a predator emerging from the grass. Valthar took a half step away.

He glanced over his shoulder. There was plenty of open ground behind him. In the situation that wasn't a good thing. If it charged all he would be able to do was bring up the spear and hope it was some form of protection.