Wanderings Teaser
#1 of Wanderings
Hello peoples! I've actually gotten something written and wanted to share it with you to get some feedback. This is the intro to a story I'm writing tentatively called 'Wanderings'. It's based in a world of my own creation named Tasirith. I know that there isn't much going on in the story as so far, that's solved when the first chapter really starts.
Constructive criticism would be helpful as I'm not sure how good this is. Any feedback at all will motivate me to write more. Let me know what what you think, even a Good/Bad would be helpful. Without further ado, here's the intro to Wanderings.
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I woke with the sun in my face, yawning as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. I looked up at the branches of the tree I had fallen asleep against.
I have a feeling that today will be a good day.
I stood up; brushing off my loose pants and straightening my short vest and the loose shirt underneath it. I picked up the pack I had been using as a pillow, checking through its contents before slinging it on. I grabbed the staff that was leaning against the tree, tapped it on the ground a few times to dislodge the leaves that stuck to it, and set off on the path that would take me to town.
Man it will be nice to sleep in a real bed when I get to town. Not that I mind sleeping outdoors, it's just nice to relax on a soft mattress. I should get there tomorrow. Maybe I'll spend a few days this time?
I walked in silence for a few hours, enjoying the scenery of the forest. Around midday I stumbled across a small pond that had formed in a stream.
How nice, I can get cleaned up before I get to town. I always get a better reception if I'm bathed.
I stripped out of my clothes, setting them with my gear, then jumped in the water and scrubbed myself clean. I spent about a half-hour swimming, then I grabbed my clothes, giving them a good wash before getting out of the water.
Now let's see if I remember how to do this.
I frowned, holding my clothes out at arm's length. As I concentrated, a breeze swept through the clearing and swirled around me. Within a few minutes I was dry. I sighed as I released my spell.
I knew there would be benefits to getting opened to magic.
Before I put my clothes back on, I studied my reflection in the water. I'm middling height for a skunk, around five foot six or so, with a thin feminine build. I have the markings of a normal skunk in front, but the space between the white stripes on my back is a bright purple, bordered with deep violet. My hair is bright purple as well, changing into violet then white at the tips. My eyes are that same bright purple; and I have a tuft of pale lavender fur on my chest.
Not the most masculine guy ever, but that's not a problem. I like looking like this, even if people sometimes assume I'm a girl. Wouldn't mind looking like I'm actually 24 rather than 15 though...
I shook my head, chuckling to myself as I put my clothes back on. I grabbed my gear, pulling out some bread to snack on as I continued on my way. I had barely been walking five minutes when there was a sudden crashing sound not too far off the path to my right. I spun towards it, holding my staff across my body. I was perfectly still for a few seconds, listening to the noises.
Ok, something has managed to sneak up on me. First time that has happened in a while. Stay still; be ready for whatever it is. Wait, that almost sounds like someone talking to themselves. If they were going to attack me they wouldn't be talking, right?
I made my way towards whomever it was that was out here with me. Her voice filtered out of the trees as I approached.
"Let's see, maybe if I pull on this branch? No, apparently not. And I can't reach my knife, so I can't cut it. Maybe I can just snap it by hand? Ugh! No? Well, I'm stuck. It's times like these I wonder why I took up Fogwalking. I guess I just have to wait for someone to notice me... I'm going to die here aren't I?"
"I don't believe so miss." I walked up, surveying the scene. There was a young red panda hanging from a tree branch by the strap on her pack.
A firefox! They're rare! Never met one before.
From the look of the broken branches above her, she had fallen from the top of the tree and gotten snagged. "I could help you."
"Oh! A person! Already! How'd you know I was here?"
"I heard you crash." I put down my staff and started climbing the tree. The strap to her pack had a quick release, "Get ready to drop, I'm gonna pop the release." I fiddled with it for a second.
"Whoa!" The firefox fell the last few feet to the ground. "Ow. Thanks. I'd hate to think what would've happened if you hadn't come along." She stood up, brushing the dirt off her clothes as I jumped down next to her. "I'm Ashlyn Kedri, call me Ash." She held out a hand.
"I'm Amethyst." I shook her hand and took a minute to look her over. She was tall, by firefox standards, at around five foot ten. She had reddish brown hair and dark blue eyes, and was wearing dark colored pants, a white shirt, and a dark cloak.
"Amethyst? I can't imagine why." She picked up her pack and reattached the strap, slinging it on under the cloak this time.
"Yeah, my parents weren't the most creative. But what else do you name a kid with my coloring?"
"I guess you have a point."
"Now that introductions are out of the way, how'd you get stuck in that tree?"
"I'm a Fogwalker. Or Fogwalker-in-training. I lost control of the spell and tumbled out here."
Fogwalkers are even rarer! She has to be almost one of a kind!
"Wait, Why didn't you teleport yourself out of the tree?"
"Not how 'Walking works. You don't just pop into the Fog, you have to open a portal and walk through."
"Oh, got it."
"Speaking of which, where are we?" Ash looked around, "I need to get back home. People will be worried."
"About a day's walk outside of Delth."
"Delth? Don't know it."
"Delth is a small village about a week south of the Capital."
"We're that far from Salir? Damn, I really lost control of that one. I don't want to Walk blind, that could get me even more lost." She looked through her bag, "Of course I didn't think to bring any traveling gear."
"I'm not going to Salir, but you're welcome to travel with me until Delth. You can resupply there or hitch a ride with a raccoon caravan." It'll be nice to have some company for a while.
Ash looked relieved, "That's very nice of you. I'll find some way to repay you when we get there."
I grabbed my staff, "We should start walking now; I'd like to get to this cave I know before nightfall."
"Ok. You think you could teach me a few things about surviving out here while we walk? I've never traveled except on raccoon caravans."
"Sure thing." We started off down the path, "The first thing to remember is that you aren't the only thing out here..." Ash listened intently as we walked.
***