"So, are you really planning to leave for the Swamps? It is dangerous, it might be a trap," Ferhia scowled at Kilfer's decision.
"That's the only way," Kilfer strode ahead of her as they passed by thickets and trees. A distance away, the gushing of fast-moving waters of the river echoed like a soothing lullaby in Ferhia's consciences as they continued downstream. "Just follow the river," Ferhia remembered Kilfer say. It led from the Lair, and leading so far downstream it now seemed endless, even though she walked down the same pathways every day.
Finally, after both her feet felt like lead and the weight of their supplies heavy on her shoulders they paused. The sounds of the water had subsided, and they had come to a cliff, so steep only the birds and bees could build their homes on them. Ferhia had never imagined she would feast her eyes on such a majestic beauty, of the light green pastures rolling on the fields, men, women, and children were wandering amongst them, villages and towns with towering towers and huge structures rising high above the ground, that Kilfer had called buildings. Near to them, the river flowed down the cliff, and beneath them it landed onto the lake, the waters silent and clean.
Meanwhile, Kilfer's eyes were focused on the distance, his face solemn and calm. "Ferhia, we have to leave now," Kilfer turned towards her, then rested his gaze upon the fast-flowing rivers.
"But...how? I mean, it's the cliff from here," Ferhia took a quick glance at the cliff, "We can't just climb down."
"No we're not, Ferhia," Kilfer walked past her to the riverbanks, and placed his fingers into the water, letting it rush between them, "Look."
Ferhia stared into the water, and moments later a wave of water rose out of the fast-moving river, circling him, raising him into the air. "Come; Ferhia, let's ride the waves!" Kilfer yelled above the noise of the waves and extended his hand out. Ferhia grabbed his hand tightly and hauled her up onto the gathering wave he had created from the force of nature.
The water felt cold as they descended down the waterfall, Ferhia crouched behind Kilfer above the water he had created, and for a moment she felt so light and the wind kissed her cheeks so gently -- until she landed into the lake below. It hit her and Kilfer hard, her eyes stung so much she had to keep them closed and even in that state she had to prevent herself from drowning until a pair of hands hauled her into the air and onto solid ground.
"K...Kilfer, what happened?" Ferhia sat, shivering on the ground and dabbing her eyes. Even though she had herself submerged in the water, that was the first time she had felt the cold dragging her down.
"That was a tiny error, mistakes do happen," Ferhia could see that Kilfer tried not to meet her gaze and was suppressing his laughter, and it was then did Ferhia realize how unkempt she appeared. Ferhia gave him a murderous stare and Kilfer stopped laughing. "Fine, ill stop," Kilfer raised a hand and warm gust of wind was carried towards them, and finally Ferhia stopped shaking.
When they reached the village nothing was left but smoke and the ruins of buildings. The walls were covered with leaves, and there was no sign of life there, it seemed like a living hell.
Ferhia walked with caution, and with every step she took the leaves cracked beneath their feet, burnt white bones were strewn all over.
"So, how do you know that it is my birth village?" Ferhia whispered to Kilfer as the avoided stepping onto the bones.
"I can feel it, you are so connected to this place, even though you have lived in the Lair for almost your entire life you still are inseparable from your birthplace," Kilfer said, then frowned, "Don't you feel it too?"
Ferhia nodded, but in fact, she felt nothing at all.
***
It was already nearing dusk, the duo had not found anything related to the death of the Pack, or who was her parents. One thing was clear: The village's fire and the death of the Pack was a single curse, and to find out who did it they had to venture into the Swamps. Yet it was already too dark for them to continue.
"Come, Kilfer that village is the closest place for us to go," Ferhia jabbed at the dim lights ahead, treading through the thick weeds, "Let's see if they allow us to stay there for a night."
As soon as Kilfer and Ferhia found their way out of the weeds they heard an old man call out, "Hey, who are you?"
Ferhia turned, and that was the first human besides Kilfer that she ever saw in her entire life. He was not very tall, barely the height of Kilfer and his hair was the color of salt. The tunic he wore was very odd-looking and bore totally no resemblance to what Kilfer wore, and with his outlandish accent, he seemed totally alien to Ferhia.
Yet, Kilfer never seemed to bother about his appearance and conversed with him in the same accent that Ferhia could barely understand. Finally after quite a long conversation that Ferhia could simply understand a few words, the old man nodded and entered the village gates. Kilfer beckoned towards her and they entered the village.
That was the first time Ferhia saw so many people, men, women, children all streaming across the huge, wide streets, buildings of all shapes and sizes piled high up like magic. But when they entered all of the people stopped what they were doing and stared at them for a moment, then continued what they were doing, with some turning to glance at them.
"They're just not accustomed to strangers, Ferhia," Kilfer whispered into her ears as they followed the old man down the bustling lane, "It's alright, you will see that they are quite welcoming later, don't be afraid."
Ferhia could only manage a tiny nod, but said nothing as they walked on, partially aware that they were heading on to a huge building, on the walls outside were pieces of glass attached to the walls fitting perfectly, some wide opened and some tightly shut.
As they entered the building a whiff of cold air stung all over her, but this was not the cold wind she had experienced that made her huddle up every night, but a gentle touch of a cool wind that revitalized her, and she had never felt that kind of feeling in her entire life.
The entire building was filled with the cool wind, and Ferhia was still staring intently around the granite walls and pillars when the old man halted in front if them. "Here comes a visitor," Ferhia heard the old man say, and turned. He was speaking to a young man barely twenty as Ferhia judged, and after a moment the old man turned towards them, "Young travelers, you must be tired. We don't have many travelers who usually pop up at our gates, so we have the best rooms for you to rest. Come, follow Sir Baurette, he will lead you to your rooms."
***
The stairs extended so high up, and with every step, the stairs extended up she could find no blunt edges or uneven surfaces on the stairs and walls. Finally, they reached a door, and it swung in, revealing a room within.
"Here's your rooms, if you have anything to request, just find me just the floor below," The man who was called Sir Baurette showed them their rooms, and left.
Then, Ferhia realized that she was at a loss for words. Everything seemed so unique, almost magical, how in her wildest dreams could there be walls carved out perfectly, and how was there cold air within the buildings? Even the buildings' structures and water flowing out from a hole in the wall seemed so magnificent to her in the first place.
Ferhia was just wanting to turn to ask Kilfer what this is all about, but Kilfer seemed so calm when he spoke, as if he knew about everything here, "I know you have doubts on almost everything here, I came to such a place before for a month when I was nine, you were barely four then. You see, many of these are the creations of humankind, our kind, those that are created by thousands -- even millions of minds over the millennium and beyond."
Kilfer paused, but Ferhia did not speak, so he had to continue, "We would only live here for a night, so try to get comfy, I'm sure you would. Oh, and I am informed just now that they would be having a village celebration later at night, looks like we're lucky."
"What... celebration?" Ferhia frowned at the pronunciation of the word.
"It just a sort of... huge feasts, singing, dancing, and having a great whale of a time there," Kilfer struggled to explain.
"What... singing, dancing... what is that even?" Ferhia's frown deepened even further, and Kilfer shrugged, "Never mind that, you'll see for yourself later."
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Wolf Child
Adventure●A cursed infant ◆ A wolf pack ◆ An ancient prophecy ◆ An unforgettable adventure● Ferhia knew nothing about her past, nor did she know about her parentage. For nearly fourteen years she lived with the Pack, but she knew the wolves were keeping s...