The Catalyst

Celeste Bosk - A First Kindness

 Celeste fled through the woods as quickly as her feet could carry her. Each step took her farther from the ruined temple she'd called home. She didn't know where she was going, just that she needed to move, to run, before the Druid's came after her.

"This is all I can do for you, Child. Your life is now your own. Live it well."

Her ancestors' voice lingered in her mind. What was she meant to do with her life? Everything she'd ever known had been behind her, she had nothing, knew nothing about what was waiting for her in the forest, or beyond it. Her hands still burned from the powerful pulse of magic that had set her free... how long ago had it been? She'd been exhausted after the blast, and had only run for a little while before yielding to her exhaustion. All she could fathom was that the druids hadn't searched too hard for her, or her ancestor had shielded her.

She'd been moving since she woke up almost a full sunrise ago, choosing a direction that went away from the ruins. Her stomach growled in protestation that she was still moving rather than eating and making up for the energy spent.

The shadows were starting to grow long when she spotted an opening in the trees ahead. Her pace slowed, sore and scratched feet glad for the reprieve.

A small one-room cabin had been built with the trees felled in the clearing. Sitting outside the front door, squinting in the dying light was a man. He was reclined back in a wooden chair, a knife in one hand skillfully shaving away pieces of wood from a wooden bird in his other hand.

Celeste ducked behind a tree at the sight, not sure how to react. She'd only ever seen her siblings and the druids, and the druids had just betrayed them. Who could she trust if everyone she'd trusted was dead or betrayed her? But more than that, she was scared. She'd never met anyone outside her former home. What was she supposed to say? What was she supposed to do?

As she went to peek around the tree, a branch snapped under her weight. The man's eyes snapped up, searching for a threat. He found the young woman quickly enough.

"Are you lost, lass?" he asked. His voice was rough, but couldn't hide the kindness he spoke with.

"I-I... I do not... know..." The young woman admitted quietly, clinging to the tree as the man rose, moving closer to her. His green eyes regarded her, starting with her feet. Never having needed shoes, her bare feet were covered in dirt and small scratches. The earthen brown dress hanging to her ankles was torn in places to expose the faded underdress. What was exposed of her pale skin was covered in a layer of dirt, and her thick curled hair had loose leaves and twigs from her time asleep.

"You look like you've been through the hells, lass." He said, finally meeting her gaze. Celeste shrank back at the keen eyes that took in everything about her unkempt appearance. Normally, she'd prestidigitate herself clean, and fix her clothes, but she'd had more on her mind than her appearance the past day.

Her stomach growled before she had a chance to respond to him. A smile cracked across the man's tanned face. "You hungry? Come on, I've got a nice venison stew cooking. Been smelling it all day, it should be good." He said.

"A-Alright..." She murmured, slowly leaving the perceived protection of the tree she'd clung to. His tone was kind, and despite her fear, she found herself following him into the cozy cabin.

Her blue eyes, flecked with silver, looked around as she stepped inside. A large fireplace with a bubbling cooking pot stood against the longest wall. Beside it, stood a large wooden tub. A bed rested against the farthest wall with a chest at the foot, and a small dining table sat in the middle of the room.

Celeste looked everything over with an acute interest, the look of the room different by far than anything she'd ever seen.

"My name's Rhys. Rhys Gladstone." The man said, drawing her attention back to him.