Chapter Text
The leaves rustled as the autumn breeze slipped by, coating the forest with its chilly but familiarly cozy presence. The stream that split the large towering forest in two quietly babbled and bubbled, carefully carrying fallen autumn leaves with the current. It was a peaceful scene, the looming Yellow Meranti trees’ large leaves and tall trunks providing protection from harsh weather and comfortable places to sit and enjoy nature, which was exactly what Lumos was doing as he flipped the faded page of the book he was reading. It was tattered and torn, the spine barely held together by a piece of twine that had been used one too many times. Lumos had worn a comfortable knitted cardigan, appropriate for the ever looming fall season that had just begun. He let out a sigh, one of his caramel colored hands nervously flittering with the edge of the next page in his book, gently brushing a strand of blue hair behind his fin-like teal ears. He quietly hummed to himself as he read, the only sound breaking the ambiance that was the Wethersine forest.
That, and someone’s yells which shook through the branches.
“Lumos De Lynx, this is the 5th time you’ve been late to your post this week! You can’t just depend on Ms. Serthentine to watch the Starlings.” A figure scolded the man as they walked through the dense woodlands, the faint rays of the setting sun illuminating their coffee colored skin and reflecting off of the many sheets of metal sprinkled on their armor. The figure had long purple hair that was tied up in a ponytail, alien-like antennas sprouting from the top of their head and pitch black corneas that made their white pupils pop out.
“Oh please, we both know Nira would do anything for the starlings.” Lumos sighed, fidgeting with the book’s pages before placing it into the brown satchel he wore around his neck, scratching gill-like markings on the sides of his neck. “Besides, it gets boring sometimes.”
“…Why don’t you just join the searcher’s guild?” The figure asked.
“Fernly-“ The man snapped. They both knew it wasn’t that simple.
“What?” Fernly asked, adjusting the leather armor they wore. “It’s true! You’ve always been fascinated with human relics, and you're the strongest one of our group. Why settle with Starsitting?”
“Mx. Rune, I did not need to hear your scolding for the 7th time about my position, ok?” Lumos scoffed. “Besides, the Starlings… They deserve the best.”
The two fell silent as they walked, the faint sounds of the mid-summer’s wind breaking the tension.
“.... How’s Dare?” Fernly finally spoke up after a few minutes.
Lumos let out a sad sigh, looking off in the distance. “.... It’s bad, Fern. You should have seen it. They had to amputate his whole upper arm… He hasn’t taken it well. His boyfriend has been trying to help him settle in, they even took up one of the Starlings, but…. He’s taking it really hard.”
“.... We’re going to need a new Searcher then.” Fernly mumbled under their breath.
Lumos shuddered at the thought. Searchers were the chosen vessels of the First Souls, ancestors lost in time that protect the forest Wethersine from those beyond its woods. No one left the safety of Wethersine except for the Searchers. It was a dangerous place for their kind to exist in the human world. They were lucky to even be alive.
__________________________________
“Refugees hid in fear, but the safety and sanctitude of the woods became clear. A spell was cast, one that would forever last. A home for the ones disowned, despised, and disgraced, now safe from the human race. We look to our guardians- the elders, the first, the ones who gave us meaning after birth.”
A woman, wearing a tight lilac purple dress and sash, tattooed stars sprinkled all over her legs, and green snakes calmly resting in her head of long lime green hair, closed the book she had been reading, setting it on her lap. She looked around the room with her bold red eyes, studying the faces of the small group of children she had been watching over. It wasn’t abnormal in the Village of Wethersine for buildings and homes to only have two walls, in fact, It was quite the conventional building standard. They were built with solid wood floors, the roof being held up with a singular pole in one corner, and two walls intersecting on the opposite side. This allowed plants and moss to grow into the spaces, which were tended to and managed by other villagers to keep them a sustainable size while giving the buildings more life. Several pieces of decor and furniture littered the room, such as paintings on tree trunk slabs, a woven colorful rug sprawled out on the floor, and soft furniture such as pillows, bean bags, and a couch for visitors to sit in. Residential houses were also accompanied with beds and living spaces, as well as curtained leaves that created a sense of privacy.
“Any questions?” The woman asked as the children looked up at the woman in awe. They sat there for a few minutes in silence before a little girl piped up excitedly.
“Mr. Lumos!!”
“Mr- What?” The woman asked, confused, turning around towards one of the paths that passed through the village, her face brightening with excitement as she saw the two figures walking towards them. “Oh, Lumos! You just missed story time.” She flushed slightly, intently watching as the man joined the group.
“It’s ok Nira, I’ve heard that story too many times anyway.” Lumos grinned, kneeling down on the floor. “Now where’s my hug from my favorite Starlings?”
The faint sound of pitter patter grew as children jumped onto the man, giggling and babbling over one another, nearly knocking Lumos over. The man just laughed in response, hugging the Starlings back with a smile.
“...So, what’s the news about the whole Dare situation…?” Nira asked quietly a few minutes later, having worked up enough courage to ask the question.
Lumos looked up from the group of kids that surrounded him, his smile falling. “....Well- I haven’t heard anything lately, but I do know that the Elders are looking for a replacement and that it will be announced at dinner this evening.”
“Well… If the Elders are working on it, then there’s really no reason for you to worry so much.” Nira gave the man a reassuring smile as she picked up one of the baby Starlings. “Alright Starlings, it’s time to go home.” She announced, watching as kids rushed to grab their small bags and belongings. Lumos just watched silently, nervously running a hand through his blue tinged brown hair. He usually kept it short, allowing it to curl up and bounce just the way he liked it.
Nira stared at him for a few seconds, studying his mannerisms. They had grown up together, and the woman basically knew the other inside and out. She placed a hand on his shoulder, a comforting gesture that was followed by a warm smile.
“Hey, it’s going to be ok.”
Lumos flinched slightly, his eyes searching Nira’s face before relaxing, letting out a breath of air he had been holding in his chest.
“You’re right- You’re right. Ok little ones, your families are waiting.” He nervously smiled, picking up one of the starlings as well as the two adults led the children out of the room they Starsat in, walking deeper into the woodland forest.