[1] WEEPING MONK // you're not what I was looking for

4| A little Kindness

═ 𝘼 𝙇𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙆𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 ═

[TW// mild injury and referenced religious based conflict]

Squirrel gets himself into some trouble and Ari grows a little closer to the Monk.

Before the dawn of mankind, a drop of sunlight fell to the earth, and from its energy there grew a tree. The tree was strong and sturdy with leaves of shining gold, rooted atop a rolling hill. The wind swirled between its branches and rustled its glorious foliage. The tree spoke to the wind, and gave it life with each touch as the air brushed its leaves. This life one day became known to many as The Hidden.

The Hidden danced through the forests and the rolling hills, into the valleys and across the green meadow fields. Within their joy, The Hidden grew fearful of the rains and fires which damaged their lands. Tried as they might, they could not stop the floods and murderous embers that swallowed the land. In one last attempt to save their home, The Hidden went to the tree atop the hill and asked what they should do. The tree said nothing, and remained silent for each day after that they came to it.

The Hidden went to the tree for many months and began to lose hope when one day, they saw another drop of sunlight come down from the sky. The Hidden watched and waited, but nothing came of the light. It sat above the ground and twirled on its axis. The tree after many months finally spoke to them, "For your home, I give you the energy that flows through me. Use it to save your lands."

The Hidden were in shock and confused as they gathered around the tree, each one reaching out to its roots and branches. And as it said would happen, the energy from the tree flowed into The Hidden. They turned to the drop of sunlight, wondering what to do. They could not ask the tree for the tree was no more, the earth now flat where its roots had once been. The Hidden knew that they could not protect the lands by themselves, and so they needed something, someone to be their hands. They joined together, swirling into one raging whirl of wind that circled the light. They covered the sun drop and pressed down, down, down until it burst and they were blown away to the furthest corners of the land. When they returned, they were not alone. From the sundrop came three people. The Hidden spoke to the people and told them what to do. Under their instruction, the three controlled the rain and the fires and the very ground that they walked on. One governed the earth, another the flames, and the last, water. The Hidden named them the Sunborn, and in return for saving the land, The Hidden granted the sun's creations their freedom. The first Sunborns controlled only one realm each, yet their descendants were gifted powers over any of the three realms, earth, fire and water.

The Sunborns were alone on earth for many years until one day, humans appeared. They got on well with each other and lived in harmony. Centuries later a new clan of Fey evolved from a Sunborn daughter. She named them the Ash folk, for they lived amongst the ash trees of the woodlands, and blessed them with new gifts as well as some of her own powers of the realms. New clans evolved every few hundred years until there were seven; the Sunborn, the Ash, the Sky folk, Tusks, Snake clansmen, Moon Wings, and the Fauns. The Sunborns and Ash were fewer in number, and were quickly outnumbered by the younger Fey clans. The Hidden were quiet yet remained present throughout the land, whispering into the ears of those who they willed to hear them. The Fey changed and evolved and the humans remained the same. The humans grew jealous of the Fey's powers, and very quickly their peaceful harmony became disarray. The Fey retreated to forests and trees whilst the humans governed the cities and fields. Years later, an accord was formed to end their battles and join the Fey and humans together for peace. This lasted for around two hundred years before the new, young, and foolish human King Uther allowed the Red Paladins to rise up against the Fey.