10 Minute Tales

Apr 21 - Polluted Spring

He was used to the forest being quiet, a mumbled reverence for the spirits that populated the place, but to have it this silent was unnerving. He frowned slightly as he came to the spring, a pond of water that rippled gently. It was still crystal clear, at least, so he knelt and muttered.

"I have come, oh spirit, as you have requested. Come to me, that I may understand your will." he waited for the spirit's response.
Nothing.
His frown deepened, all the more concerned now. She was usually so responsive... had he offended her somehow? Or was there something deeper amiss? His concerns were soon silenced, however; the gentle rippling of the spring grew more violent as a figure emerged from it. Slender and short, this spirit usually guarded the spring and the immediately surrounding forest. However, it had grown more dangerous as of late, so he had been sent to query why.

"Ugh, what?" she frowned, staring at him with folded arms. Not a good start.

"M-my lady, I have been sent here to see if you are well."

"Do I look well?!" she frowned, spraying a splash of water at him. "Nothing's right any more! You humans are going beyond your bounds, the boars are being stupid, even the fox tried to bite me earlier!"

"Beyond our bounds? My lady, none from the village have trespassed on your property in decades..."

"Did I say from the village, you idiot? Something's polluting the waters around here, and if it gets much worse I'm gonna be affected even more! Do something about it!"

"A-as you wish, ma'am. Where should I-"

"I don't know! If I did, I'd have probably flooded them already! Just... do something!"

"I, uh... y-yes, ma'am, of course." he bowed again, standing up as he did.

"Quickly, now! You don't have much time!" the spirit pouted, sinking into the ground again. The traveller blinked, a little confused. What could be polluting the spring? He turned to walk away, thinking about it. The spring drew water from underground, that much he knew, but nobody had dug in the spirit's grounds for years, not since the first time. He walked down the road as he considered the dwarves. They had a reputation for being headstrong, heeding little but their own lust for treasures - even going as far as to fight against dragons for it. There was rumoured to be a settlement not too far from the village, over to the northwest, but the mountain they liked to use for such settlements was much, much further away from the village than the spring's territory. Unless they had tunnelled, it seemed doubtful... but it was his only lead. He had to go and find out. He nodded, new determination driving him forward. He would need supplies first.