Unexpected encounter

My feet silently carry me through the dense forest, I can hear the shouts of humans behind me. I may not be able to understand what they are saying but there is one thing I do know.

Nothing good comes from interacting with outsiders.

However, I can’t get too far from the gate or it will be too difficult to return home.

As I run I notice the trees begin to thin. A clearing comes into view, luck smiles down on me as I may be able to get a view from higher up. I change course and that is when I see her. Big golden eyes lock on as we stare at each other. I feel as if I’ve seen those eyes before but not in the waking world. For a moment I am entrance but time stops for no one.

“ah” I kept help but mutter as I realize there is no more ground beneath my feet, and with someone watching I can’t simply use my ability.

She yells something at me, sounding concerned in a language I do not understand as gravity takes over. Not long after hearing her soft voice I hit the edge of the cliff. With the wind knocked out of my the world spins and darkness takes hold. I try to fight it however once I feel her hand on my arm my mind goes blank.

~~~

I do not know how much time has passed. The space is warm, faint crackling from a nearby fireplace adding to the soothing atmosphere. I slowly pry my eyes open and try to sit but my body is sore and refuses to listen.

“You’re awake” the sudden voice made me jump up despite the pain. The man was tall and somewhat thin, he shared the golden eyes of the girl from before. “My daughter told me you took quite the tumble before, you may not want to move so much” he held out a bowl with some kind of soup in it.

I knew better then to trust some human but I couldn’t help but lower my guard a bit. “How… do you know Haven’s language?” I needed to be aware of the threat this human posed.

“Lucian and Laurence taught me when we travelled together” Hearing my father and uncles name shocked me “you share their ears so I assumed you might be related…” for a moment he seemed thoughtful “He ended up calling it haven then… I swear” he gave a sheepish grin and once again tried to show me the soup. “it’s not poisoned” his assurance does not fill me with confidence “I worry that your stomach growing will wake Raichana” he pointed to a nearby couch. The girl from before draped over it much like someone who had tried to stay up past their bedtime. “she tried very hard to get you to safety, I don’t think I’ve ever seen her cry like that before” he had gotten close enough to put the bowl in my hands.

He knew my father and uncle well enough to travel with them, it was probably safe to eat. It smelled divine after all. After a quick prayer to the gods I began to eat. It didn’t take long for a second bowl to be placed in front of me, before I could protest my stomach made the call. It was like the man could read my mind so perhaps I needed to be a little more cautious.

As I ate he would occasionally speak to someone I couldn’t see in the language I did not understand. It was most likely his wife. Based on their daughter's slightly pointed ears she must not have been a human like the man. Still it was odd that she remained hidden. I tried not to dwell on it since I would be leaving soon, If all went well we would never meet again after all.

~~~

Once I had my fill exhaustion began to grip me once more. “I need to get back… father will worry” I muttered as my eyes lids threatened to close.

“you should head back tomorrow, my daughter can show you a way to avoid any pursuers” he pulled the blanket up and began telling me stories of his travels with father. While the man he spoke of seemed much more jovial then the father I knew it was nice to hear about another side of him. His melodic voice made the pull of sleep impossible to ignore.

I don’t remember the dream I had that night, but it was probably a warning that I should have gone home before it was too late.