awoken at windrise to venti
Touch.
Touch is the first sense humans develop, and it is also the first one that comes to you. Touch, the sensation of soft grass under your body, almost like a mattress, some even tickling your cheeks. The sensation of warmth in certain parts of your body, changing every few seconds, which you soon discovered to be the sun filtering through the leaves of the immense tree you were beneath.
Sight. Still a little blurry with sleep, thus you instinctively rubbed your eyes to try and wake up further. Blinking once more, you sat up, the rest of your senses catching up and allowing you to appreciate the sounds around you as well: birds chirping, the breeze whistling tunes of adoration and longing, a nearby creek, the soft melody of strings being plucked delicately. The scent of wet dirt, fresh mint, a nearby rock that had been under the sun for hours now, apples, ripe and sweet.
Where in the world were you?
As a newborn fawn, you held onto the rough edge of another rock to pick yourself up and stand on your feet, looking around you, but before you got to take a good look, the wind picks up, what was a gentle breath now felt almost like the beginning of a hurricane, having to hold onto your new solid pal to not trip for the few seconds it lasts. Once it is over, you're back to sitting on the grass, huffing to yourself, even crossing your arms in confusion and a bit of frustration, but before you can go ahead and try to get up again, the soft melody nearby comes to a stop and a soft giggle replaces it.
"What's got you so upset, dear one?" you hear someone coo, and… Isn't that voice familiar? You're sent once more into a frenzy to look around you to find the source of the voice, the force of the elements being so gracious as to allow you this freedom this time, and get as a reward the sight of a young man… Floating down? Was he floating?
Soft cheeks are flushed as he smiles, stepping down gracefully on the patch of flowers right in front of you, and you're sure you're gawking at him.
"Oh? Speechless now? It was said you could be shy but I didn't expect their grace to be this quiet."
"What."
Blink blink. Oh this was a dream. That's the only logical explanation.
"Ah… Huh! Am I referring to you in a wrong way? I apologize if that's the case!" he quickly comes down to kneel by your side, giving you the biggest puppy eyes you have seen in your entire life. Cute…
"No, no, that's not it. I… You're Venti. Like. You're Venti and you're right in front of me", you tried to explain, not exactly doing a great job at really making the other understand what you meant, given by the way he tilts his head to the side.
"Well, yes! I'm Venti! Venti the bard, but you may call me however you wish!" he excitedly giggles, seemingly ecstatic that you even knew his name. "Oh, we have waited for your return for so long! We need to let everyone know so we can properly celebrate, there will be feasts and festivals and balls and parties, all of it to welcome you here—!"
"I'm gonna be fully honest with you", you interrupted him, only half guilty when he looks back at you clearly embarrassed with how into it he got. "I have no idea what you're talking about, and all that sounds exhausting…" you admit, leaning back on your hands behind you.
"Mm… Then we can stay a bit longer here and I can explain it all to you! It's not strange for you to not remember it all, even I have my memory problems after a long nap, I'm sure it's the same for you, given how long you were away…" he shrugs, deciding to come closer, pretty much flopping onto the grass by your side, short of snuggling up to you.
Normally it would've been… Weird, this whole thing was extremely weird, but you knew him, in some sort of way, and that familiarity felt safer than anything else right now. Not to mention a strange sense of longing within you, of being lost for so long just to be found yet again, like coming back home after a bad trip that went on for too much time and you finally could forget about unknown pillows as you sank into your very own.
Huh! Weird!
"I guess there's no harm in staying, then. I could use an explanation or two…" with that, you allow your body to rest back as well, turning your head just enough to watch Venti's peaceful expression through the long grass leaves.
"Ehe, I'm glad! I won't keep a single detail from you, after all, we have plenty of time now!"
