• PM To Join • APB In Desnind - Pt 2

[Zephy']

Desnind City, West side

Just after Noon, 13th Ymiden 720

Creatures rustled in the jungle of undergrowth and birds flapped by over head from branch to nest. The density of the forest overruled the world outside and forbade entry, save for that of the dabbling of sunlight glinting through the swaying leaves on the forest floor. It felt oddly safe. It felt oddly comfortable. Relishing in the cool cover of the thick towering trees, Zephy winced slightly as she sipped slowly at her water bottle, her throat burning from the amount of shouting she did at the pier of Desnind and her palms stinging as they gripped the bottle loosely.

Trudging casually upon the cracked mud road to Desnind, Zephy mentally encouraged herself that the docks was not a failure. If her father was in fact still here, there's no reason that the dock workers would or wouldn't know him. In the city though, there was bound to be someone to have at least seem him about. Onwards with her mission was the only path to take. Her mother depended on her succeeding.

As the cool air refreshed Zephy's sweating limbs, she closed her eyes softly a few steps and breathed the earthy air deeply. There was something serene about the forest leading to Desnind. Though she did not traverse the road alone, people and carts passing by often, it was a great reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the pier. It was also a relief to have a road point her in the right direction and lead the way.

As she began to encroach on the outskirts of the city, Zephy spun round in awe as she passed swooping bridges high within the tree branches over head. It was by fluke that she even noticed them, their wood camouflaging with the browns of the thick trunks that supported them. She had half expected to see the city unfold before her, ahead of the road. It was to her astonishment that she began to see houses within the tree canopies!

Tree houses! A tree city! Desnind was not like any other place Zephy had visited in her travels. The craftsmanship needed to build epic buildings half in the sky was insurmountable to Zephy, alas they were there above her pastel coloured head.

Zephy faltered in her confident stride along the path leading into the city of trees, when more and more buildings and walkways appeared to frequent the forest around her. She must be within the city itself now surely, but her mind struggled to grasp just how big the place must be with the "streets" spanning from oak to evergreen and winding around elders throughout the dense land.

Stumbling to a stop, Zephy suddenly realised that the streets of the city were above her head, where dozens of people trampled along the broad wooden walkways. If she was to find, a library or council house, she needed to get up there. Searching the road and undergrowth around her, Zephy grabbed onto a passer-by gently, "Please, um where?"

Zephy scrunched her face and frowned as she racked her brain for the words in Xanthean, but her knowledge of their language was vague. In an attempt to communicate her needs via body language to break the barrier, she pointed up to the city above, "Um, how? Where?"

Her attempt at communication however was enough for the native Sev'ryn to grasp her meaning, who spoke in Xanthean but also aided her communication with her hands, pointing to a winding staircase that encircled the trunk of a broad oak. Elated, Zephy grinned, "Thank you!" Before racing off and charging up the stairwell as quick as she could.

[Zephy']

Clutching the vague sketch of her father close to her chest, Zephy uneasily inched across the bobbing board way that stretched from one large oak to another. A small rung in the lager web of Desnind. She shakily gazed down over the edge of the rope handrail and almost wished she hadn't. Jerking back Zephy swallowed the fast collection of saliva forming in her mouth hard. The view was in no doubt gorgeous, but it was also higher than Zephy had ever walked. She was walking in the air! Between the trees! It was insane and it was also amazing and somehow freeing.

Desnind had such comforting vibes, yet it was unlike anything she had ever seen before. Shaking herself and reaffirming why she was here in the first place, Zephy scanned her bright cerulean eyes over the dotted collection of huts and the odd larger tree house with several floors. How was she to even navigate her way through the branches of the city? Peering up to the thick overlay of leaves and branches that only let the sun filter through in small glinting strands, she couldn't even tell which was was east or west.

Hesitantly inching forward Zephy's eyes flitted to and froe soaking in as much as she could, picking out landmarks in which to remember her way by if she happened to get turned around. As she walked almost aimlessly from one swinging walkway to another, Zephy stopped and asked passer-by's if they had seen the man in her picture, using her body language like before on the pier. The people in the city weren't in such a rush and seemed more obliging if not more courteous. Most shook their heads and simply walked on without even peeping at her drawing, others were kind enough to oblige her but the results were the same.

Still Zephy marched on. Her wattle bottle began to feel lighter and her stomach began to gurgle and grumble unhappily. Suddenly after what must be breaks later, Zephy noticed she came upon a large building that spanned a good distance, but she could have sworn she saw this building near the start of her journey in the city. Collapsing in front of the spacious building, Zephy exclaimed to herself and slumped in hopelessness.

Tears began to form, pitter pattering onto the sketch of her missing father. How could she be so stupid? How could she think she would be able to find a single man that was here in Desnind arcs ago and expect him to still be here? How could she think she could do this without even being able to speak Xanthea properly? How could she think she could save her mother?

Hopelessness enveloped the youngling as she scrunched her face, hugging her knees tightly to her chest, her salty tears bitter in her mouth. Suddenly a soft hand brushed her shoulder lightly. Zephy cried out and fell sideways, scrambling to get away from whoever was near.

[Zephy']

The sight of an elderly woman clad in rags over her head and robes of a humble nature settled Zephy's thundering heart and she breathed deeply to recover from her fright. The elderly Sev'ryn laughed croakily and spoke to her softly in Xanthea. Zephy furrowed her brow as she attempted to pick out a word or two, but alas her knowledge of the language was too rudimentary.

Frowning Zephy shook her head, "I'm sorry, I, I don't understand." Upon hearing the youngling talk in common the elder smiled warmly and repeated her words, this time in the common tongue, "I'm sorry to have frightened you child. What would have such a young spirit shed tears on such a glorious Ymiden trial?"

Zephy sniffed her tears and heartache away and shuffled her bum more comfortably on the board way. She was wary of strangers, especially now she was on her own without her brave and confident mother. Though, exactly, she was on her own. Eyeing the old woman up Zephy chewed her lip a moment while she considered. She was lost, she had nowhere to stay and she knew no one.

"I'm, I'm looking for my father." Zephy relinquished the defensive grip on the sketch of her father and allowed the old woman to take it for a closer look.

The old Sev'ryn suddenly threw back the rags that had covered her face in shadow and Zephy almost gasped aloud! Fear of causing offense caught the clump of breath tightly in her throat before it could escape and she had to quickly swallow the air bubble painfully. The woman's right eye was clouded in mist. Scarred and snowy it gave the Sev'ryn a frightening mythical look. Curiosity itched alarmingly close to the surface but Zephy knew it would be rude to ask how she had been scarred. It might resurface painful memories the woman would otherwise wish to bury. Better to leave the thoughts unanswered.

The wrinkled Sevryn took a long hard look at Zephy's sketch and furrowed her brow as if in deep thought. Zephy was just happy someone was genuinely attempting to remember if they had seen her father or not. Her hopeful gaze burrowed intently upon the hunched figure, before the woman smiled compassionately, "I am sorry my child, the sketch like my memory is too vague for me to place a name."

As she handed back the drawing of her father Zephy smiled politely, attempting to mask her severe disappointment, hopelessness seeping back into her heart. Sniffing away the drying tears, Zephy hung her head as she fingered the sketch in a daze, wondering what she should do. The Sev'ryn remained and looked upon the youngling in silence a moment, "Where is your mother little one?"

Zephy peeped back up at the woman, eyeing her suspiciously. Could she trust this woman? If so, with how much information. She was vulnerable and alone, but she knew she needed help.

"In trouble. I need to find my father to help her." She sighed in resignation at last.

The hints of a frown tugged at the woman's soft features, yet she gave nothing else away, shifting her weight a little as she bent down and offered her wrinkled hand, "Well then, let me take you to someone who might be able to help you find him?"

Confusion scrunched Zephy's nose and lined her sweaty forehead, but the rush of hope flooding her being overran any doubts of caution. Taking the woman's hand and slowly rising to her feet, Zephy nodded earnestly, "Please!"

[Zephy']

Uncomfortably brushing herself off Zephy fell in step with the old Sev'ryn as she linked an arm through Zephy's and lead her across the platform to a board way spanning at least 20 feet to another enormous oak. The woman remained silent, humming a tune Zephy didn't recognise. Sweet tones often broke with the hoarseness of age, but seemed to meld and compliment the sounds of the forest around them.

Zephy eyed the woman nervously from the side, chewing the inside of her lip as she clutched her coat and belongings tightly. The woman simply smiled, breaking the tension that was so obvious between them, "You may call me Tey'droa little one. What is your name?"

Swallowing harshly against her raspy throat Zephy rushed, "Zephy," sharply, before directing her gaze about them. She wanted to remember which way the woman was taking her, picking out marks in tress to the sides to identify her way. Just in case.

The Sev'ryn could sense Zephy's uncertainty, but kept silent and continued to hum softly for a spell, before finally pointing to a hut across the way to their right. A series of overlaying board ways spanned between them and their apparent destination."That is Karshe's. It's the only inn in the city, but Nae’ila, the innkeeper, knows practically every soul in Desnind." A small chuckle escaped Tey'droa as she thought about hidden thoughts and patted Zephy's arm reassuringly, "If anyone knows where your father is, it will be her dear."

Nervously, Zephy nodded her understanding. Her stomach fluttered faster with each step as the anticipation of leaping forward in her mission to save her mother drew closer. As they approached the doorway to the inn, Tey'droa paused and relinquished Zephy's arm, which brushed the woman's elbow questioningly a moment as the youngling drew her concerned gaze upon the woman. Hunched over with years of worry and wear, Tey'droa glanced up warmly to the taller youth, "This is where I leave you child. I believe finding your way is something you need to do on your own."

Zephy almost cried out in defiance as her heart begun to race. The thought of being swallowed hole by the enormity of the city and of the trial ahead almost threatening to break her resolve again. The sweet smile and flash of a knowing wink from the old Sev'ryn though, gave Zephy some sense of confidence. There was something in the warm chuckle from the woman as she turned to leave that left Zephy with a feeling that she would see her again. That thought settled Zephy's fear and made her feel less alone in the wide world.

Silently thanking the kindness of the old woman, Zephy turned to face the weathered, wooden doorway to Karshe's inn. Steeling her shaking nerves and sucking in a deep breath, Zephy fingered the sketch in her hands nervously. What if she did find her father? What if he was nothing like she had imagined? What if he wouldn't help? She felt sick in the deepest recesses of her stomach.

Clenching her teeth against the flurry of fretfulness, she nodded to herself and steeled her body and spirit for what was to come. "In we go."