Birds. It always had to be birds that woke him at the crack of dawn, didnât it? And why did they always sound so damned cheerful? Itâs as though they knew just how much they irritated Erik and wanted him to be miserable in the mornings. Groaning, he inhales, nose scrunching up in disgust when the smell of mouldly, damp leaves reaches him. Wonderful. Clearly it had pissed it down last night, bringing in the scent of the nearby forest with it.
Actually, if he listens out he can still hear the steady fall of rain outside.
 He rolls over when more birds start to join in with the screeching, brain now slowly registering the dewy feeling of wet grass against warm skin. Whilst cold and rainy weather may bring the aroma of the forest with it, this wasnât normal. Not unless someone had snuck into Erikâs room last night and replaced his bed with one made of greenery. Eyes opening, he sits up and freezes as the area surrounding him greets his vision. This isnât his room. Erik is in the middle of a wood. In nothing but his boxers.
 Panic rises, breathing growing frantic as he glances around trying to discern the area. Heâs in a clearing, river flowing not far from where he lies; Clearly the sound heâd mistaken for rainfall earlier. But this isnât a place he recognises, no familiarity to be found anywhere, even the air around him feeling different.
How did he end up here? Magic? Those around him werenât exactly well versed in it, Erik himself not gifted with it, and to transport someone all the way out into the middle of a forest would take considerable power. However these were matters he needed to concern himself with later. Right now the most important thing was to find an exit.
Trying to calm and steady himself, Erik rises onto his feet, picking off the dead leaves stuck to his body, brow furrowing when he sees the dirt leaving a trail up the left side of his body. Alright, maybe taking a dip in the river and finding some clothes could be first priority.
Suddenly a crack rings out and grabs his attention, head snapping in the direction in came from.
        looking for herbs is always troublesome at this time of the year. thereâs more rains than usual so some of the medicinal herbs required for treating sickness are nowhere to be found, for they drown in the muddy ground. but the keeper still tries to find them, still bends down and touches the plants tentatively to see if theyâre the ones heâs looking for, still takes his time into doing his job.Â
        of course, with a sharp ear and nose as him, he rises abruptly when strange sounds reach him. he can feel a calling, someone of his own, but itâs not one he recognises so he curiously begins to walk towards the source of the energy. of course, he watches from behind bushes and trees, bright eyes being the only indication that he is there as they glow in the darkness provided by the forest.
        that elf, poor thing, seemed to be panicked about something. he is completely dirty, leading the keeper to believe that perhaps he had gotten into an altercation with the wrong group and got left there. it was a good thing then that charles had medicinal herbs on him so he could help the young one if he was harmed. so once he realises that heâs been spotted, he calmly walks out from hiding, arrow and bow on his back and the bucket in his arms.
      â are you okay? do you need help?âÂ
