Eril's Story

Day 25

The next day was a sad one. I had made the decision to part ways with Balar and Cyrith. Traveling South, while their path led back to Adura, trophies in hand. I would miss their company the most. Even if we mostly walked in the silence of our own thoughts, there was still a comfort and security of having another person nearby.

I embraced each of them in turn, feeling strong waves of melancholy. Choked up, I gave a half smile and a wave that was returned by warm farewells. I walked out of the village, along the way saying my goodbyes and thanking the few people I had gotten to know during my short stay. With the hunt over, the town was in a state of transition, people leisurely going about packing. Folding up canvas' and awnings, preparing their belongings for transport. Those with tents were packing simple furniture onto carts that would then have the fabric laid over top.

I asked someone where they were headed and was told that now that winter was over, the Northern lands would be more hospitable and pleasant to travel through. It was a common route for the tribe to take during summer, spending the warmest months near the great lakes bordering Calduun.

It seemed like an interesting lifestyle to engage in. Neither fully settling or traveling, a bit too restless for my tastes. But who was I to talk, being out wandering the world simply for the fun of it. Now it felt more serious though as I was setting out into the true unknown, a daunting prospect. Up to this point I had always been following a plan, or at least had a rough idea of where to go next, having the fallbacks that people provided. It was all up in the air now.

I walked away, the village slowly fading into the background as I was confronted with uncertainty and the vastness of the world I inhabited. I never felt smaller than I did during those moments. What lies in uncharted land is both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time.

In addition to what I knew of woodcraft and survival skills, people in the village had been very helpful, showing me things to forage, and explaining the defining characteristics of the land to the South. Imparting the best ways to sense direction and traverse on foot - having traveled it frequently themselves. Armed with this knowledge, I was confident of not starving at least. If anything were to happen it was most likely to be a wild beast. I would not let fear be my master.

The land in front of me was idyllic in the morning light. The path ahead was more open than the days prior. Trees thinned out and the ground sloped gently down, covered by newborn meadows blooming with all the colors of spring. Fresh meltwater streams flowed and gurgled, slicing across the landscape - clean and inviting to drink from. So inviting in fact that I had to stop part way to dip my feet in the water, the smooth river pebbles cradling my feet.. I looked towards the sky, thanking Ulmec for bringing my essence into this world, being given a body with which to experience such things. In response a cool breeze enveloped me.

I followed a larger stream for most of the day, watching small water creatures play with each other in pools that formed along the way. As dusk approached, I was treated with a glorious sunset that I found myself walking into. The golden disk of the sun perched atop a distant peak. Hazy warm light flooded over everything, and my earlier feelings of sadness were replaced by that of thankfulness and gratitude for such beauty.

That night the weather was warm and the grass so soft that I didn't even bother unpacking and making a fire. Opting to sleep on an overhang overlooking a small waterfall. Foraging some berries I spread them over my sweet bread for dinner. And after finishing, I called it a day and went to bed early.