Change

Chapter 4

Visis idly kicked a rock back and forth as she sat on the moulding old branch, finding the oscillation oddly comforting. She didn't need those fascists; she could survive on her own, of course she could. It was her job in the tribe to hunt trine, and she'd never really attempted to hunt anything else - but how hard could it be? She looked carefully through the branches for sign of movement, and sure enough she soon saw a rustling in the trees above her. She grabbed her knives with a with a smirk, and only after attempting (and failing) to throw them in the air and catch them dramatically did she jump through the trees to catch the creature.

"Luas-" she started, but stopped halfway through. Images came to her mind of Ceridwen's beaten body, limp and helpless in her coffin. The mere thought of it, along with the notion that it was her fault that caused her death, made her feel sick. She opted not to use the charm and instead tracked the creature quietly. Every so often she would lose track of the whatever-it-was, but a loud rustle in the trees would show her the way.

Now was one of those times. Visis crouched stealthily on a firm branch, awaiting the no familiar sound that would alert her of the creature's position. And, a few seconds later, it did: right in front of her. She bent her knees down to jump but some kind of force shoved her crashing through the branches downwards. All the force of the ground hit Visis as she crashed through the floor of the forest. Through all of the pain she managed to open her eyes. Hovering above her was a dark grey blob, in the vague shape of an elfguard but smaller, with sharp red "eyes" (they were really just slits) and a malicious black grin. It stared at the injured, collapsed Visis with a smirk. Very slowly, its blood-churning eyes still locked into hers, it raised a handless arm into the air above its head. Visis clenched her eyes shut, awaiting the inevitable blow - but none came. She opened her eyes, but saw nothing but the trees above so she mustered up enough strength to look around. To the left of her was the mutilated body of the creature, its head attached disgustingly to the body by a thin thread of skin.

"Boo!" giggled a voice from behind her. Forgetting the pain that was still surging through her body, she turned around to find the source of the voice. What she saw was a young faerie in her smaller form, with flowing pink hair and a turquoise dress that looked kind of like a flower. She seemed totally innocent and cute - so why was there blood on her hands?

"Er, hello-o? Are you alright?" asked the faerie. Her voice was weirdly high-pitched, but also quite melodic. Visis shook her head to gather her thoughts together.

"Y-yes, I'm fine," said Visis, eyeing the dead creature suspiciously. "Er... did you do this?" she asked. now facing the faerie but pointing at the carcass.

The faerie nodded. "That's a Pykus - rotten things, enough power to knock off a Chintegygr's head in one blow. Height approximately 6 conkers, weight equivalent to roughly 4,000," she smiled brightly. "As for me, I'm Joy. I'm a faerie, as you can probably see, and I like you."

Visis was taken aback by her last statement. "Excuse me? Y-You like me? What do you mean?"

Joy smiled patiently. "I looked through your memories. I like the way you think of things!"

"You can do that? Can all faeries?"

Joy shrugged. "I don't know, I've never seen another. I woke up one night in s library with no idea who I was. I eventually got tired of reading the same scrolls over and over, so I went outside to find my companion!" she explained, backflipping at random times during. She looked at Visis' face and could tell she was confused. "All faeries find a member of a different species to help them in life. Looks like I have my work cut out for me!" she laughed.

Visis didn't find it very funny. "Excuse me," she growled, standing up and getting closer to the faerie. "I don't need your help. I don't need anyone's help! I'm fine, just the way I am!"

Joy flew back a few conkers back, but her face didn't change at Visis' anger as she hoped it would.

"If it weren't for me, you'd be dead," said Joy simply and cheerfully. Visis' facial expression and posture relaxed in surprise. It was true. If Joy hadn't stepped in and slain that Pie Crust creature or whatever, Visis wouldn't be alive. She took a second to think about it, then bowed her head in apology.

"I'm sorry I lashed out like that, it was wrong of me," she said quietly. Joy simply laughed and batted playfully at her arm.

"Don't sweat it! I knew what I was getting into, I was hoping for this feistiness!" she grinned. Visis blinked, confused. Did she really forgive her that easily? Back in her tribe, you had to grovel for forgiveness from anyone. Was she really that unperturbed by her rudeness?

"Anyway," continued Joy without a blink. "We should probably get going." She closed her eyes for a second and morphed into her larger form. She was now the same height as an elfguard child, just a bit smaller than Visis.

"What? Get going where?"

Jot rolled her eyes. "Do you know anything? To prove your worth to your tribe so you can get back in." Visis still looked confused. "In the name of the kings!" grinned Joy. "For an elfguard to get back into a tribe they've been banished from, they have to get the charm from every ruler of every region. Each region has a signature badge, as you know (I hope), and each region's ruler owns a collection of golden talismans, which connect to this chain..."she began, and tossed a silver wrist chain to Visis, "...magically. For an elfguard to get back in, they need to collect the talismans from every ruler; to do that, you have to complete a quest they give you. Got it, orcbrain?" she grinned. Visis nodded. Yeah, she got it.

"So, where shall we go first?" asked Visis. "The land of magic, Erra? The land of princes, Elysium? Arland, home of the brave? Zâyné, a region shrouded in mystery?