Kah'lii: A Tale of a Girl and her Dragon

Chapter 1

Weeks passed, and Kah'lii continued her daily routine: hunt animal, catch animal, eat animal, bleach bones, make jewelry, sell jewelry, repeat. She found it neither redundant nor mundane, as she was able to live life on her own terms. But as spring turned into summer and her twentieth birthday approached, the elven hermit began thinking about leaving the forest, and seeing more of the land that the humans called Talbetha. So, one morning as she arose to begin her daily routine, she instead packed up her limited belongings and headed toward the small human village where she usually sold her jewelry.

With no festival taking place, the crowd in the marketplace was sparse. Kah'lii found Maloth's stand, which sold jewelry, clothing, boots and various other apparel.

"Well, hello Ears!" The old man commented. "I hope you brought me some necklaces!"

The diminutive elf smiled with all of the happiness that she was known for. "I did, but it may be the last time... at least for a while."

Maloth frowned. "Is something wrong?"

"No, I have decided to travel. I have spent my entire life in the forest, and I want to see what's out there!"

The old merchant offered a half-smile as he slowly shook his head. "From what I understand, most elves are perfectly content with living their entire lives in the same village where they were born."

Kah'lii's smile faded to a smirk. "And as I have been reminded throughout my life: I am not most elves."

The old man chuckled softly. "No, that you are not. I have never had a problem with elves, and where some people find you odd or strange, I just think of you as another being who is trying to find her place in life." He then leaned forward. "So, what can I do for you?"

Kah'lii placed five necklaces and three bracelets on his table. "I need a cloak, and some boots. And some traveling supplies, like salt and bandages and such."

Maloth considered the hand-made jewelry for several moments. "I'll give you sixty gold for your jewelry, and I have cloaks and boots in children's sizes for around twelve. As for the supplies, I bet I might find some stuff to give 'ya."

Kah'lii was giddy with anticipation. "That is more than generous, my old friend."

Minutes later, the usually barefoot elf was adorned in stylish leather boots and a gray hooded cloak that fell to her calves; enough to completely envelope herself if she so chose. She walked around on the cobblestone street for several moments as she tried to get used to having something on her feet. "I may change my mind about the boots... they clop when I walk, and I don't know if I could climb a tree if I had to escape a bear or something."

"Maybe you're part Halfling," Maloth chuckled.

Kah'lii shrugged. Her feet were abnormally large, although they weren't covered in hair like the Halflings Maloth had mentioned. "I think I'm part everything."

"Being barefoot won't be a problem unless you find yourself in a nobleman's house. Some humans are... uncomfortable about bare feet. They believe it to be a sign of poverty."

She sat and unlaced the boots. "I doubt that I'd ever find myself in that situation."

He handed her a pair of sandals. "Here. These will be easy to carry, and if you have to enter any place that requires footwear, you'll be prepared."

She looked at the sandal's flat sole and leather straps. "These don't cover the tops of my feet at all, but they will be considered adequate to wear upon a rich man's floor?" She scrunched her face in confusion. "Humans are weird."