Neledh || ONC 2023

Chapter 9 | Tiffany

Author's note:

So we made it through the second round.
This chapter, the same as the last one with Tiffany, will be rewritten once I'm finished. As they're not completely clear and written the way I wanted to.
So said that, there's an unintroduced character in this chapter, which will be solved in the rewrite.
His name is Doran, he's an exiled fae who lived with Kroan and H in the same way as Wybaldicon and Tiffany.

"Have you seen Jules?"

Doran had slammed the door to Tiffany's room open and was now standing in the doorway, gasping for air.

"Or Cardan for that matter."

Tiffany shook her head. She had seen them a few days ago during dinner with the pack, but after that she had gone back to their house. The pack grounds made her nervous and she didn't fancy spending the night there.

"Doran, what is going on?"

Fear was written all over Doran's face and Tiffany didn't like it one bit. He wasn't one to be afraid of ghosts in the dark.

"I think they're gone."

-

They had searched the woods and though Tiffany had performed a weak tracing spell, they were unable to find Cardan and Jules. The spell led them in circles that ended near an old oak tree, with no one in sight.

Tiffany didn't know what to do.

Wybaldicon was running around in the woods trying to find any clue concerning their whereabouts.

Kroan was sitting in the packhouse with his head between his knees with H rubbing soothing circles on his back.

No one knew what to do in face of what had happened.

-

"I have an idea."

They were all assembled by the training fields of the pack house. Jules and Cardan had been gone for a week and all leads they had tried, had led to a dead end.

"No, we're not doing that. They are a loose canon and it has not gotten better with time."

Kroan apparently knew exactly who H was talking about, and vehemently shook his head.

"We should try at least."

H had a determined look on her face and was standing a little to the side, her eyes looking at something past the horizon.

"And have them laugh at our pain?"

Tiffany was getting increasingly curious to this mystery person her parents apparently knew well, yet she had never met.

"Kroan is right, that's absolutely what I will do. But do entertain me with your plight. For what does the almighty Heron need this lowly servant's help?"

A voice from behind her, made Tiffany swivel around and with her everyone else. A person had appeared out of thin air, as if it was the most mundane thing in the world.

"It's not funny, shifter. And if you're here you already know. You wouldn't show up unannounced for a friendly cup of tea."

Kroan spat out a retort. He had anticipated this person to arrive, as he looked completely unfazed by their appearance.

"But I vividly remember doing just that, a few years ago."

The person was half lying on a big rock, and looking down at the group from their higher ground.

"Two people are missing and we have no idea who took them and where they are now."

It was a poze, Tiffany realised with quite a bit of shock.

"Doesn't look like it's a problem concerning me. Solve it yourself Heron, I'm not responsible for your mistakes. And people under your care who have gone missing absolutely fall under that category."

This person was here to create drama, and not in the least to help H with her request.

"Don't you think I'm busy enough as it is already? I already have sent my people away for another mission. I can't call them back, because your kid decided a walk in an unsafe place was a good idea."

A person who knew H's true name and casually used it.

"But if that was all, have a very good day. And I'll see you next century or so, this time I'll try to keep the dragon corpse away from your back garden."

-

This plan turned out to be as useless as all the other ones they had come up with.

Doran had offered an idea, the day after H had offered one and someone had shown up as if summoned. It wasn't very solid, but everyone had agreed that a vague plan was better than no plan.

They were going to the fae realm.

A warlock was living there, secluded from the outside world. But the occasional fae child that would wander into his part of the woods would be helped, no questions asked. He had been the one, who had helped Doran escape to earth, away from the fae realm.

Maybe he would know a way for them to find Jules and Cardan back.

-

"Can I help you?"

The door had been opened by the warlock, who did not seem to be fazed at all by the group standing on his porch.

"Well, we have a problem and you helped me before. So we were hoping..."

The warlock took a step back to make room for everyone.

"Get inside."

He sounded tired more than anything as they were invited to his living room. A teapot was filled and ready for any unexpected guests.

"What can I do for you, Doran? As far as I can remember you couldn't wait to leave the fae realm as fast as possible. What brought you back to my house, that is so important?"

H took over as Doran was too distracted by all the trinkets littered around the room, to form an answer.

"Someone is missing, and we're at the end of our rope. Doran suggested you might be able to do something."

The warlock took his time to form an answer, but Tiffany had the sinking feeling he would send them away.

"You know better than thinking I can help, or did you forget?"

Tiffany's head snapped to where H was sitting. What was this person talking about?

"I can't help you find someone that is lost and hidden by magic. Someone that might not want to be found."

H looked as confused as Tiffany was feeling. They hadn't expected the warlock to help them, but this reaction was not the thing they had feared to hear.

"And besides that, you're not the first person knocking on my oor with that question. I wouldn't worry too much, everything will be fine."

With that the warlock ushered them outside and had almost closed the door in their face when Doran spoke up.

"Please, Heim. You're our last hope."

The warlock stopped in his tracks and for one small moment, did Tiffany dare to hope he would help.

"Then start believing in others, the gods are a lot closer to you than you think."

The door was closed behind him, the message was clear.

Go home.

-

April 20, 2023