A wary traveler crosses your path. A hood raised above her head as she keeps her gaze to the ground. She fiddles with a bracelet in her hand. It’s almost as if you could tell she was thinking.
Thinking of what? You have no clue.
Lennox stood behind a tree, peeking out just enough to watch the figure deep in thought. A little wisp appeared next to Lennox, and she looked at it, as if to communicate with it telepathically. Suddenly, the wisp disappears and reappears next to the hooded person with a playful demeanor.
The hooded figure extended their hand towards the wisp. A soft chuckle leaves their lips as she turns to it. The woman’s face is slightly realized as she looks at the creature. A peak of her baby blue hair fell against her face as she continued to interact with creature. Though, she couldn’t help but keep her distance.
The wisp flew around her and squeaked playfully, apparently trying to play with her.
As the wisp, Ilko, distracted her, Lennox slowly came out from behind the tree, taking cautious and quiet steps towards the woman to inspect her.
The woman didn’t take notice to Lennox. Not at first. Ilko’s amusing behavior distracted her from her thoughts. Something, that she had been unable to do in the last few days. When times are dire, sometimes taking a moment to appreciate the small things goes along way.
Even if it means you could end up in danger…
Lennox slowly got closer and closer to the woman. She wanted to know if she posed any threat or not. Ilko continued to squeak happily and bounce around in the air.
The woman leaned down, resting her knees to the ground. With a flick of her wrist, she gently petted Ilko on the head. Though, it wasn’t before long that she heard footsteps nearing her. She whipped her head to see Lennox.
“Hello Madame,” She whispered. “Can I help you?”
Lennox kept her hand at her side over her knife as she made eye contact with the woman, just to be safe.
“Who’re you?” She asked. “No one lives in this area.”
“Aurora,” The woman answered, rising to her feet. “I was just… passing through.”
She kept her distance as well, her other hand clutching her cloak. “Why you here then? If no one lives here?”
“…Scouting,” Lennox answered with a slight shrug. She glanced down at where she was clutching her cloak.
Ilko poofs away into thin air.
“Where’re you heading?” Lennox asked.
“Not sure yet,” she responses, honestly. “I’m… looking for someone.”
She didn’t want to give much away. Not yet. This stranger didn’t seem to be a threat.
Yet.
“I’m sure I can take you to them. I know this area well.”
Lennox wanted to know more about Aurora and what she was doing, she had a feeling there was something… strange about her. She wanted to know what that was.
“Not who I’m looking for. He hasn’t been seen in years.” It was her duty to seek out the one who could kill the reincarnation. It has been a difficult task thus far. The man has hidden himself well from the world. She wondered if he wanted to sought out at all.
“Hm… no one like that around here, everyone knows each other in the towns in this area…”
“From what I hear he lives somewhere in these woods, all by himself.” She remembered something she had read about from the society archives. News clippings of a feral man living in the woods. Though, his personal file told a story…
She wasn’t quite sure what to believe with such drastic accounts. Aurora’s only hope is that he’d help her end this monster.
“I’ve heard that rumor before, but it’s just a legend. As many times as I’ve been through here I’ve never seen anyone.”
Lennox doubted a lot, including this so-called hermit. To her it was better than staying hopeful, about anything.
“He’s real.” She put blatantly. Reaching into her cloak, she pulled out a file. Filled to the brim were papers beyond papers. Though, she wasn’t ready to hand any of it over. Not yet. “We do not know why he’s been out here alone for so long, but we have an idea.”
Lennox stiffened as she watched Aurora reach into her cloak, but relaxed when she saw the file. She stared at the overflowing papers, wondering what information it all held.
Aurora stared at the files for a moment. Remembering what she had read. It was horrible, truthfully. This man had never had any rest. She wondered if disturbing him will only make it worse.
Yet, she had to. Matthias couldn’t rain again. Not after all he’s done.
“I don’t know this forest as much as you do,” She said, truthfully. “You’re scout, yes?”
“I am,” Lennox nods. Scouting was actually only part of Lennox’s job, which she was good at.
With a swallow, she straightens her head. “I may not know exactly where the man I’m looking for is, but I have a general idea where he could be. Could you lead me to the brook?”
That was not entirely true. Purely, it was just a hunch. Yet, there was no much to work off of asides from a guess. It’s the least she can do. Besides, it’d be good to get a power up. After all, every stream has its story.
“Yeah, I know where the brook is. Follow me but… stay close. Sometimes there’s weird shit out here.”
Lennox began leading the way. She knew what things lived around here, and they definitely weren’t hermits.
Aurora chuckled, following Lennox as she was told. “Trust me, I’ve seen it all.”
And she has. A Demi-god’s life wasn’t a particularly normal one, she had to say.
Lennox led Aurora through the woods. It was quiet, apart from the reoccurring sounds of animals and twigs bending underneath their feet. Lennox seemed to know exactly where she was going without having to check her surroundings much. Every so often wisps appeared, ones that looked just like the one that was playing with Aurora. They seemed to be helping Lennox somehow.
Aurora lended her hands towards the wisps whenever they appeared, gently caressing their gentle flame. She did not know much of Ireland’s mythology but she was willing to learn. Hopefully she can before Matthias….
She shakes her head. She’s on a mission, remember? She can’t be distracted, not for one moment.
When the sun goes down, the wisps become valuable in lighting the ground of the forest for Lennox and Aurora, as they squeak with a hum mystically.
Suddenly, the moonlight that was breaking through the trees is blocked. Lennox looks up and sees something swarming.
“Oh no…”
Aurora squinted her eyes, returning to Lennox’s side. She pressed a hand on her forearm, looking into the woods.
“What is it?” She whispered, noticing the wisps had disappeared. That was never a good sign.
"Run!" Lennox immediately grabbed Aurora's arm to lead her away from whatever was swarming towards them, which was now clearly hostile.
Aurora’s eyes widened as she run as quickly as she could. She followed Lennox closely behind her, reaching to grab for her dagger. She should’ve expected like this would come their way. No journey like this is ever easy.
“Get under that tree!” Lennox instructs Aurora, pushing her towards safety. As she does, she opens one of her pockets and gets a handful of salt from it, throwing it at the Slaugh flying towards them.
Aurora didn’t need to be told twice. She dashed for under the tree, throwing her hood over her head. With dagger in her hand, she waited for Lennox to take action.
Salt, of course.
Why hadn’t she thought of that? She should’ve known to bring that.
AUGH, this wasn’t the time to mourn her mistakes. She needed to take action.
