Work in Progress: The Wood Speaks and I Obey
This is a somewhat short Final Fantasy XII fanfic, wherein a Viera woman is asked to perform a task by Golmore Jungle herself. Also, incomplete.
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Jrna (pronounced Yern-uh), apprentice salve-maker, looked up from her mortar and pestle, her tall rabbit ears twitching as they received the voice of the Wood, the voice of the Golmore Jungle. The Wood often spoke to the Viera as a whole, but this time, the Wood's voice spoke only to Jrna.
‘Delicate daughter Jrna,' whispered the Wood. Not so much a sound as a feeling. As ever, the Wood's voice brought her peace and serenity, yet she could also sense the urgency of Golmore's call.
‘I obey,' responded Jrna.
‘Awful Humes have intruded. They must be driven out.'
‘Shall I call the Warders?'
‘No. I have been in contact with an ancient creature who has offered his aid in driving them out.'
‘Then what is your wish?'
‘Go forth to Feywood. Bring only a single Warder when you go, and tell no one else when you leave. An escort will come to guide you when you reach Feywood.'
‘And once there?'
‘When you arrive, you must broker a deal with him. But be warned, he is not to be trifled with.'
‘I shall obey.' The connection between Jrna and Golmore faded away, Golmore withdrawing with a gentle caress for a favored daughter. The entire conversation had lasted but a second.
She rose to her milk-chocolate colored feet and ran a hand through her unruly white hair. Contrary to popular belief among the Humes, Viera did indeed have to work at being ethereally beautiful. Just like any creature with hair, Viera often woke with cases of ‘bed head' and other maladies of a like sort. She spent a moment coaxing her hair flat, then stepped out of her hut.
The Viera village of Owaya (A/N whisper the name softly to get the full impact: oh-way-uh) was on the far edge of Golmore, in an area known as the Rustling Chapel, near the entrance to Feywood. It was common knowledge among Golmore Viera that the Owayans possessed the strongest magic in Golmore, due to their close proximity to the Mist-laden Feywood. But though they possessed it, they rarely used it, for it was very rare for Owayans to leave their village at all. They did little to thin the numbers of beasts in their area, unless they became a nuisance. And, as is the way of the Viera, their village had very little contact with others, for Viera are secretive, even with their own kind.
The cool predawn breeze blew through Jrna's ears, making a whistling noise, which she smiled at. The sun had not yet risen, but Jrna had woken quite early in the hopes of getting the vision dust prepared today. The process for making it was a closely guarded secret, but what was known was that it took many hours to prepare properly. And there were many things Jrna had planned for this day.
But not anymore. The will of the Wood took precedence over all things.
Jrna, still dressed in her sleeping robe, swiftly made her way along the wooden pathway that circled the village. The path was like a wheel, with the spokes pointing outwards as well as in. In the center was the lodge where the Warders resided. This was where Jrna was headed.
As she made her way to the Warder huts, she planned what she would do and say to convince her chosen Wood-Warder to follow her on such a dangerous mission. For the Feywood was not for the faint of heart. Many exceptionally strong beasts dwelled there, with frightening faces and terrifying powers. Jrna had heard of the monster Rafflesia, a giant, flesh-eating plant that dwelled somewhere within and devoured any who approached.
When she arrived at the huts, she circled them, making nary a sound, before finding the one she wanted. She raised a fist and softly knocked. The sound seemed loud in her ears, yet she knew it was simply her fears making it so.
After a few minutes, the door opened, revealing a Viera dressed all in black. The Wood-Warder blinked owlishly, seeming to have just awakened.
"Jrna?" she asked, stretching her arms and yawning. "What is it, sister?"
"The Wood has spoken to me, Myra," replied the younger Viera.
Myra's eyes widened. "She spoke only to you?" she asked. When her sister nodded, she swallowed audibly. When the Wood speaks to a single Viera, it was taken very seriously. "What is her will?"
"She says I must travel to Feywood, where I am to meet with someone who can help protect her from the Humes. And she said to take but one warder with me when I go, and to keep my journey a secret from the others."
"And when she said to take one warder, you chose me?"
"Of course."
The elder Viera looked down at her sister with a frown, then sighed. "Let me get my bow," she said. She closed the door for a moment, fumbled around a bit, then opened it again, now sporting both her bow, which angled across her chest from shoulder to waist, and a short sword, which was belted at her hip.