Odyssey of Shadows

XXXVII - Life's Purpose Fulfilled

The gentle rustle of the tree leaves filled the forest. Birds sang from their green valed perches, and the soft murmur of the nearby creek added to the tranquility. The canvas of the trees shielded the inhabitants of the forest from the harsh summer sun, but allowed just enough light for the colorful plant life below to grow.

This was Aerysdren's favorite spot in the whole forest. He had spent many nights on this tree, sleeping among one of its broad, loving branches, the stars twinkling down on him from between the leaves. The frogs that lived in the creek close by always sang to him as he drifted off. He had grown quite fond of those frogs, truth be told, despite the fact that he had never seen them. They helped him sleep at night.

On this day, the young Sylvanaar elf sat in his usual spot high up on the tree, his back against the trunk, and one leg dangling down and swinging in the air. A bottle of very, very expensive wine was in his other hand. He smiled when a woman wearing the camouflage clothes of a Sylvanaar Wild Runner climbed up the tree and sat down on a branch next to him.

"Mishka!" Aerysdren grinned. "It took you long enough," he teased. "I've been here for an hour."

"I-" The woman's dark brown eyes gazed upon the wine bottle in Aerysdren's hand. She frowned. "Aerys, where did you get that? What did I tell you about stealing? You do realize that most folks in this side of the forest cut the hands off of thieves, yes?"

"No no, calm down." The boy held a finger up to the Wild Runner. "I bought this with my own money, Mishka. My own money. For the past month, I have been picking flowers and ingredients for a nice old lady in a village by the Thon-Tharkian River." He held the bottle in front of him, pride glinting in his ice blue eyes. "And, since today is the anniversary of my Day of Life, and I am officially an adult, I thought that I would celebrate with this. I spent all of my savings on this single bottle too, by the way. I am officially an honest worker." His eyes gleamed with pride.

Mishka sighed and shook her head, but her lips still twitched into a small smile. "Well, if you say so, kid." She untied her long, curly brown hair and let it cascade down her back. "Did that boy give you anything? I can't remember his name for the life of me. But you know who I'm talking about, right? Real tall, long hair...I think he sings and plays the lute-"

"Uh, Mishka, I-we weren't like that. Ysrendyr is only a-a friend." Aerysdren looked away and rubbed the back of his neck. He blushed. "I've not even seen him today. He went hunting with his father-"

"Ah, forgive me." Mishka chuckled. "I forgot that friends kiss each other in the trees at night."

Aerysdren's blush deepened. His eyes widened. "We-we're very, very close friends," he said with a vigourous nod of his head. He quickly took another drink from the bottle, casting a sideways glare at Mishka. "So you spy on me now?"

"I'm a Wild Runner, Aerys," Mishka returned, her brown eyes smiling. "We know everything that goes on within the borders of Sheeth Alinar. Sometimes I just happen to see things. But don't worry, my lips are sealed," she assured him with a lighthearted eye roll. She leaned back against the tree. "So, is there something you want to tell me?"

"Yes, actually." Aerysdren nodded. "If you are finished embarrassing me with my love life." He turned around in the tree so that he was facing her. He swallowed. "Remember that little thing we were talking about a while back?"

Mishka's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Yeah. What about it?"

"I wanted to tell you that I have made up my mind," said Aerysdren after a slight hesitation.

"Oh for Lyna's sake." Mishka groaned and rolled her eyes for real. "For the last time, Aerysdren Valorian Ravenshard, you are not leaving! I thought that I made that quite clear the last time we discussed this-"