[Pilgrimage] The Journey to Munerith

Things had been strange lately.

He placed the last of the food in his pack, giving it one final check. Food, water, camping supplies... Reaching for his cloak, he wrapped it around his shoulders before slinging the pack and his shortbow onto his back. There were Razorquill and other dangerous animals along the path to the Guardian… couldn’t be too careful.

Nikolai and Cecilia were staying with Nahele for the next few days- something he apologized to Nahele for because Nikolai could be a lot. Luckily Nahele was willing to help.

A small sapling sat in a sack by the door. He scooped it up gently before leaving.

Stepping out onto the streets, the warm summer sun greeted him. A kit and a starlit played across the street from him, shouting something about Suiryns, and as he made his way towards Remy’s, many kids were running and chattering energetically. The sky was bright blue, a warm summer sun shone down on the town, and only small puffs of clouds drifted by. 

It stood in stark contrast to the mood amongst many of the townsfolk.

There were rumors throughout the adults, hushed whispers of the Council hiding something. The mandatory headcount, the lack of Vortea’s presence, the meetings. 

Something had gone wrong and everyone was on edge.

Trying to shake off the nerves, Ori pushed the door to the stables open. Catching Remy feeding the toadstools, he informed the farmer of when he’d be back before making his way to the Varkery stalls. A pale blue Varkery snorted softly as he approached it, standing patiently as he secured its tack and placed the sapling in a pouch hanging off the back. Ori led his Varkery outside, waving goodbye to Remy before mounting. His gaze met the single white puff cloud drifting across the summer sky.

At least the world around them was cheerful.

The path leading from town quickly turned from a cleanly worn dirt road to overgrown trail. The plains were gradually swallowed by trunks and leaves as he rode into the treeline. Branches creaked quietly overhead, thick leaves only allowing small dots of sunlight to light the path ahead. Leka stepped over a fallen log, eyes on the road ahead. He was calm, happy at getting the chance to go on a longer walk this time. 

Ori pat the Knight lightly. “Sorry Leka. Now that it’s warm out again I’ll take you further than the field.”

Leka snorted, a clear ‘You better’, although his tone was light. Ori smiled, eyes returning to the forest ahead.

Aside from the bright birdsong rounding through the foliage, and the occasional breeze beetle zipping past, the forest was rather calm. He would have to stop and make camp at the end of the day to make the dawn hour that Munerith appeared. He had spent time in the library the past week, doing all the research he could on the Guardians of the surrounding wilderness. With Hyllis’ sudden appearance, he felt the need to continue his Spiritualist training.

A pair of floral Fae poked their heads out of a flower bush, staring at him as he passed. Despite the lack of expressions on their faces, their eyes reflected the same tug of anxiety that pulled at his gut.

He could feel the same thing they did.

Something was off.

The guardians had been agitated according to the Council. They had encouraged all who were able to journey to the spirits and commune with them in the hopes of either learning what was agitating them or calming them down. Ori had all but leapt at the opportunity. He… had wanted to commune with the Guardians for a time anyway. Perhaps they would have some insight into what was going on.

Their journey passed in relative quiet, the only sounds being the birds in the trees and the smaller creatures in the bushes. At a point in time, he steered Leka around the territorial marks of a Pieshu Major, and watched the beast lumber in the distance, but otherwise encountered very few dangerous creatures. The closer they drew to the shrine, the greater the number of Fae peeking out from the trees and bushes. Tens of watchful eyes.

He needed a place to plant the tree…

Two miles away from the shrine, he saw a spot.

Tucked within a dense patch of trees was a small clearing, a spotlight of sun peeking through to the forest floor. A good spot for a sapling. 

Ori urged Leka to stop, dismounting and carefully unpacking the delicate tree. Stepping between the bushes, he pulled his bag off his back and withdrew the small trowel he’d packed. Making quick work of the earth, Ori dug out a small hole for the sapling, placing it within the spot before scooping the dirt and a healthy covering of leaves overtop. Then, he poured a small amount of water onto the sapling before placing a palm on the plant. An orange glow surrounded his paw, and the feeling of gratitude emanated from the newborn tree.

It would grow strong here.

Looking to the Earth aligned Fae watching him, he gave them a small nod before slinging his bag back over his shoulders and mounting Leka. Ori looked at the little sapling one last time, before turning his eyes back on the dense forest ahead.

He hoped his offering was acceptable, and he hoped Munerith had some insight.

Urging Leka forward, Ori continued on to the forest’s Guardian.