Heart Of The Feywilds

Chapter 1

Valory Ventus, who has always preferred to go by Val, is an eladrin humanoid and was raised by a single mother ( Sylvanna Ventus ) in the most distant and secluded parts of the Feywilds. The Feywilds are full of mystique, magic, and wonder, with towering landscapes and diverse and colorful flora. It also inhabits every and any being you could imagine. It's truly the epicenter of beauty and the cosmopolitan center of the world. Those looking for peace and good living looked no further than the Feywilds.
      A long-time family-owned aviary/bird sanctuary is where Valory grew up. It was once an abandoned silo left behind by farmers in the area. Sylvanna renovated it into a luxurious yet subtle Victorian-style home. Many people, far and wide, who might have ended up in situations too dire for them to keep their beloved flying companions would travel there to leave their faithful flying beasts in the safe, nurturing hands of the Ventus family. Sometimes, they'd even put some of their winged friends up for adoption if they felt they needed a brand-new home and a fresh start.
      They lived in harmony with their dedicated and diverse flock of birds or any winged creature that might have found their way there. The variety could range from common fowl to mythical greats.
    Val found these creatures captivating. She grew a particular liking to a Raven that mysteriously showed up by her bedside one stormy, rainy night. It startled her at first. On further inspection, she noticed it was carrying a crystal. A bright, almost magical-looking aura surrounded it. She didn't think much of it other than it looked pretty. She also saw how calm and collected the bird looked perched on her nightstand. It acted as though it belonged there.
     From that point on, they were inseparable. She named him Rav. Val couldn't go anywhere on the property without Rav chilling on her shoulder. While they proved much entertainment for each other, Val couldn't help but grow restless. She would hear the stories of afar from their many visitors over the years and spent many nights imagining how it felt to experience everything the outside world had to offer.
       By her 99th birthday, that feeling had gotten too big. "When will I get my fresh start, my sense of adventure, the freedom of all our feathered friends?" Val asked her mother after being gifted a hand-sewn hat made and decorated with materials only found in the Feywilds. "Honestly, Mom, do you really think I can't handle myself out there?" Val ran to her room and set her new hat on the dresser before running outside for a quick breather.
      Val sat down under her favorite tree: the one she planted with her mother in honor of their bond. It was a void willow. A rare and unique tree only found on the outskirts of the Feywilds. Where the light and magic of the region are not nearly as present, it has a darker void-like aura with black bark and purple leaves. Val began to calm down. "Just one more year, and then you'll have your freedom." She began to walk back inside to apologize to her mother and thank her for the gift.
      As she neared the front door, Rav suddenly flew into the sun-setting sky, propelling off her shoulder with great speed and prowess. "Rav, come back!" Val screamed. Then, she began to see and hear the view of grand mountain ranges and the cascading rush of waterfalls crescendoing in the distance. Val went to take a couple of steps back in shock and disbelief. That's when she realized. Val hadn't moved an inch. The only movement she could control was Rav's.
      The ability lasted a couple of minutes, long enough for her to get a good look at everything around her she had yet to see. As Rav returned to her, Val became very tired, as if this newfound power had taken quite a bit out of her. She went up to her room to lie down. Before she closed her eyes and called it a night, she looked over at Rav. "Well, that was fun!"
      She and Rav spent the next year honing their abilities and powers, working to get stronger, smarter, and more well-versed in their talents as the year went on. When Val's 100th birthday came around, she had impressed everyone, including her mom, enough to get the go-ahead on her dreams. So begins the story of Val and Rav.