Cordelia was ever so excited to travel to a newly discovered place across the barrens. It would be her first big adventure and she was excited the Claystone decided to travel with her after all. Basalt and Tempest stayed behind, Tempest was planning on a journey through the barrens that had no particular destination and Basalt was going to stay til she left. But Cordelia had a destination with plans on returning so she could tell Wanderlust all about it. The red roan ascended was wanting tales woven by others who venture to this Mistfruit forest.
The journey through the barrens was arduous but not impossible. Being an aqua gifted noul, Cordy was able to find water for them. They had plenty of rations and of course her maps. Clay spent the trip by foot or from her back, the ground being hot. But as they got closer to the their destination, dead trees rose up among their fallen brethren and surrounded by yellowed grasses. The air grew cooler and the ground rose up in hills as both Cordy and Clay worked their way into the forest.
The sounds of a river drew Cordelia’s attention first. Being one of water, any sources of it intrigued her. “I hear water over this way, shall we check it out?” she said in a low voice to Clay.
Clay’s ears perked up and she glanced at Cordy, “Why not but make sure to be careful. One could break a leg in here. The logs will be slippery close to water.” Clay was a reserved jack hop but also cautious. She did grow up in the bog after all.
Cordelia nodded her head and made sure to watch her steps. Claystone took lead on this, being mindful of slick spots to point out to Cordy. Last thing they needed was a broken leg or worse.
“Watch out at this spot,” Clay motioned to a spot and Cordy moved around it.
Cordelia let out a gasp that started Clay, “What is it?!”
“I can see the river. I’ve never seen anything like it...but what is that?” Cordelia passed Clay and moved closer to the bank. Higher up was a large grey wall across the river, strange spots in it let the water out from the other side. Clay glanced over at it but then turned her head and hopped farther down the way to a large rock. She hopped up on it and looked out.
“Hey, check this out Cordy. There’s a really big lake over there.”
Cordelia’s ears flicked back and she tore her gaze from the impressive wall that was clearly built by the Others. She’d inspect that later, but first, this lake. She carefully made her way over to where Claystone sat and look over at the large pool of water.
“That is a big lake. I wonder what lays beneath its surface….” she murmured so only Clay could hear.
“Let’s go check it out then.” Clay bounded off the stone and headed down the side of the river towards the lake. Cordelia followed close behind the jack hop. At the edge of the lake, Cordelia wadded in a bit, carefully testing the floor as she went. Taking a deep breath she plunged her head below the surface and tried to see if anything was underwater. She couldn’t hold her breath long, although she’d been working on it, and nothing seemed to stand out at first. One would probably have to dive in but she wasn’t strong enough physically and magically to tempt that. Instead she pulled her head up and breathed in air once again, then turned back and headed for shore.
“Didn’t see much of anything but I’m not quite ready for diving in strange waters. I’m curious but cautious, you taught me that,” Cordelia recanted to Clay.
“Smart kid. You’re getting better. Why don’t we go look for this mysterious fruit for the time being.”
“Not yet, I wanna try something before we go,” Cordelia replied. She turned back towards the lake and focused inwards, feeling for her magic. It was so new and young but she could feel it’s potential. So she encouraged it forward and focused it towards the lake, with help from her magic she used the ability, Irrigate. Pulling the water away from the lake and away from the shore. Clay hopped over and set out a jar, uncapping it. Using irrigate, she guided the water towards the jar and filled it with water from the lake. The water continued to flow along the path it found in a small stream.
Clay capped the jar and Cordy walked over and kneeled down so Clay could put the jar in a pouch. Something to study at a later time. “Now we can go look for the fruit.”
Moving away from the lake, they headed back up river once more and up into the more hilly part of the forest. The mist grew more dense the higher they climbed which made downed logs slicker. Clay made sure to warn Cordy about this once more as they continued their ascend of the hill. A crunch of wood underfoot had them both pausing, ears craned forwards towards the sound. The dense mist made it difficult to see anything beyond it but they kept eyes and ears forward.
Something moved within the gloom and a low moan sent the hair on Cordelia’s back going up. Both hunched down lower as they watched the dark figure move by with lowered head. Cordelia’s mind began to race, wondering what kind of animal it was. It kinda gave noulicorn vibes but something about it’s silhouette didn’t fit with that idea. She was curious about what it could be and began to slink up towards where it had been. Clay didn’t think it was a good idea but there was no stopping Cordy now.
The path it had traveled down was damp and took foot prints well. It was easy to see the direction it went in but also that it had hooves, just like a noulicorn. Was it possible? Why did it look so weird and sound so ...sad? Cordelia carefully followed the tracks left behind, rounding a pile of logs. The creature stood by the river but on the opposite side of the dam, it looked to be gazing into the water at its reflection. Having gotten closer to it, it was clear that the creature was a noulicorn, but with crystals growing out of it’s back. How intriguing.
“It is a noulicorn. I’ve never seen one like that before though,” Cordelia said in hushed tones to Clay.
“Is it hurt? Sounds mournful,” Clay remarked.
“I dunno, but I’m not sure about approaching them,” Cordelia replied.
“Who’s there?” a deep voice called out suddenly. Cordy and Clay froze and then looked around the pile of logs that they hid behind. The noul had turned around and was peering into the gloom. It had a skull face with red eyes, that sent a chill up both their spines. It or rather he, sniffed before going down, the muck making a squelching sound as he laid down.
“I’m going to talk to him,” Cordy finally said after a moment.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. You have no idea who that is and it’s clear that he’s not from Homewood. What if he’s dangerous?”
Cordy glanced over at the downed noul and then back at Clay, “He isn’t a black horn, just looks different.”
“Well you don’t know if he is an exile or dangerous for other reasons,” Clay argued again.
Cordy let out a huff and sighed, “I wont know from back here.” Cordelia raised her head and looked back around the log pile. Her eyes widened and she looked around as he was suddenly missing. “He’s gone!” Cordelia exclaimed.
“No he’s not,” Clay said in a weird voice. Cordelia turned back towards the jack hop and froze. There stood the strange noulicorn, he’d snuck up behind them.
“You two are rather noisy,” his deep voice stated, “It’s usually best to be quiet if you are sneaking up on others.”
Cordelia’s mouth was hanging open but Clay smacked her leg and she closed it. “Oh, I’m sorry. I’ve just...never seen a noul quite like you.”
The buck tilted his head slightly, “Well I’ve never seen you before and I grew up here. Where are you from?”
Cordelia looked rather surprised that a noul had grown up here, it was only recently discovered. But then again, Tempest did tell her sometimes wanderers went missing, maybe they ended up in places like Mistfruit Forest. She glanced over at the buck, he was waiting quietly.
“I-I was raised close to Homewood,” Cordelia finally managed. “An ascended recently returned from finding this place and encouraged us to come and explore. Even to look for this weird fruit...it always grows here even if nothing else does.”
Cordelia felt very awkward as the skull faced noul simply blinked at her. Although on closer inspection, the skull looked like it was more a mask than part of his face. But the crystals still grew out of his backside. He glanced down at the moonspotted jack hop who was keeping her keen eyes on him. His gaze returned to the brown dun doe before him. He wasn’t really ready to deal with company, not after loosing his family but he was always taught to help others.
“I know where this fruit is,” he finally murmured.
Cordelia perked up, “Oh really?”
Clay squinted and then looked at Cordy, “He could lead us anywhere and we wouldn’t be the wiser.”
The buck sighed, “If you don’t require my help, can I go now?”
Cordy glared at Clay and mouthed her to stop then looked back at the buck. “Oh please, could you help us? Oh, I’m Cordelia and this is Claystone.”
The buck pressed his lips together a moment and then relaxed, “I’m Midir. It’s lovely to meet you Cordelia, Claystone. The fruit is up on top of that hill,” he gestured. “I can show you the least terrible path to it. Why do you need to know where it is?” He inquired as they began the trek up the hillside.
“Ohh, the ascended noul said to find it and to bring back an interesting tale. Though I’m curious about this new fruit and what it may do. Is it safe to pick it?” Cordelia asked.
“I believe so. So you’re returning to Homewood after this?” he responded.
Clay followed behind the two chatty nouls, keeping her eye on the buck, Midir.
“Umm, yes. But I think I’d like to return and explore more of that big wall and the lake. I’m an aqua gifted noul and I’m fascinated by another Other and water. Plus I love the stars and navigation. What about you?”
Midir blinked and looked at the doe. She seemed a bit chatty but it was neat to meet someone with the aqua gift. His family only had the older gifts. Had. His gaze blurred over but Cordelia’s voice shook him free of his mind.
“Are you ok?”
“Oh yes. Umm I’m just back from the Grandfather tree, I’m a vivify gifted noul now.”
“Does your family live around here?”
Midir’s chest clenched. His returned was not met with joyful greetings from his family and him regaling his trip. He returned instead to find their cave home having collapsed and his family gone from this world.
“Uh…” his voice seemed lost and his throat squeezed. “No…” he managed in a hoarse whisper.
“Oh…” Cordelia could tell she hit a raw spot and was about to deviate to a different topic when Midir beat her to it.
“Well we’re here. Those are the trees and fruit and hope you have a safe trip to Homewood.”
He turned and started to walk back the way they had come. Cordelia watched him for a moment and then called out to him, “Hey, Midir...would you like to come see Homewood?”
He paused but didn’t turn around. No one in his family had seen Homewood in a several generations. He’d be the first, but did he want to go? Staying here was painful but it was close to his family. He could always return, Cordelia said she was going to as well. Slowly he turned back around and faced the young doe.
“Sure. I’ve never seen Homewood before.”
“Oh really? How exciting then!”
He hung back while Cordelia and Clay selected a fruit to take back with them. They returned to were Midir was standing, “All done. Let’s head back so I can bring my story to Wanderlust.”
Midir’s ears perked, “What story did you find?”
Cordelia smiled softly, “You.”
Midir blinked a couple times and looked away. He felt a strange feeling come over him, it was light and healing. It warmed him a bit and for a moment the pain was forgotten.
“Quit flirting with him,” Clay muttered to Cordy. “You hardly know him and he’s so strange.”
“Quit that Clay. No need to judge him and he hasn’t done anything to warrant it. Besides, we’ll get to know him on our journey back to Homewood.”
Clay sighed.
Sure enough, they did get to know Midir, the strange noul from Mistfruit Forest. He even agreed to go with Cordelia to meet with Wanderlust as a visual to her story about meeting the strange noul. Cordelia helped keep the pain at bay a bit and as they parted from Wanderlust and from each other, it started to flood back. He was finally here in Homewood and his family wouldn’t get to hear about it or see it for themselves. Cordelia did tell him were he could find her if he wanted a place to stay or needed anything. He started wondering why he separated from her to begin with.
Cordelia was a bit worried about the masked buck, he seemed to be hurting in some way but that was one thing he had kept to himself the whole way back. She did hope that they would meet again, maybe they would return to Mistfruit Forest together. She was left to her thoughts, Clay had hopped off to find Basalt as Tempest had left for her journey by now and was probably missing her. Cordelia was going to find her stash of books and see if any of them had anything about what she found.
WC: 2,415
Ability Used: Irrigate, Cordelia
