Eury, Florian & Toothy - Found Forest Friends
Oct 30, 2024 18:59:58 GMT
Toothy and Florian Abeia like this
Post by eurydice on Oct 30, 2024 18:59:58 GMT
Free Forest Facilities for Found Forest Friends
or: Eurydice moves in with a druid, barbarian, and the menagerie of animals in their grove
The sleepy calm of New Hillborrow is tempting as night falls - the promise of warm fires and soft quilts, of fresh brewed tea and bread hot from the oven is hard to resist as autumn grabs hold of the lands more and more firmly - but there is something at the edge of the village calling Eurydice on. They call it the Feythorn. It's not quite the size of the Angelbark to the north, but large and beautiful, and just as dangerous nonetheless.
The evening fog covers the grass in dew that glitters on the grass and pine needles on the floor like earth-bound stars. In the distance a fox screams and a wolf begins announcing the local evening news. Then she sees it; a faint flicker of a single, jade green flame.
"'Bout a mile that way, a little more maybe," a homely yet very handsome halfling had told her, "A friend of ours founded his own druid circle out there. He's real big on animals. And gods."
"Which ones?" she'd asked, vaguely.
"All of them," he'd answered, just as vaguely, but with a wink.
She begins walking.
Once, she makes the mistake of taking her eyes off the little pinprick of green, and she loses track of it amongst the trees. She has to retrace her steps until she catches sight of it again and can keep walking, now with her eyes fixed on it.
Twilight gives way to proper darkness as she walks, but the light leads her on. When she finally reaches it, she sees that it's a small glass jar holding a handful of flame, burning merrily despite the lack of any fuel. The jar is hung from a low branch of young cedar, illuminating the collection of small symbols carefully carved into the bark just below it.
The symbols are all simple and stylised, and entirely unfamiliar to her, except for the delicate carving of a dragon.
"Can you read it?" a Sylvan voice asks her from quite far down, somewhere in the bushes. A pair of feline eyes, glowing yellow, blink open and peer at her from the inside of a shrub. A pair of ears poke up through the top of it, the tufts on the tips of them twitching gently.
Eurydice leans closer to the gentle glow of the jar. She traces the symbols with her finger, and hums gently as she ponders. "It is beautiful, my lovely watcher, but I can't quite figure it out." She taps on the dragon carving - the only one she recognises even a little bit - before turning towards the feline eyes in the bushes. Her smile widens, and her tone is light and inviting.
"My, such adorable eyes you have. Yellow as the radiant light of Sune herself." She holds a hand out gracefully, inviting the creature to come closer. "What story do these symbols tell you? I would be honoured to hear it."
The shrub rustles, and a stout Feywild lynx steps out onto the path. Its paws are large, its tail short, its eyes mischievous and the tufts on the tips of its ears downright cheeky. a creature like this is a rare sight on the Prime Material, but then again, she thinks, this is the Feythorn. It sits down beside her importantly, and recites the symbols for her. "Sanctuary. Magic. Tree-large-sacred. Dragon-druid. And the carving beneath is a likeness of the Jade Dragon herself - the Life Bringer. Meldrosa."
Eury's eyes widen in a mixture of awe and delight at the sight of the Feywild lynx. She kneels slightly to be closer to its level, and gently strokes the back of one of its ears with her hand. "You are the most precious, regal guide I could hope for, aren't you," she murmurs. Her gaze flickers back to the carvings. "Sanctuary, magic, druids, Meldrosa the Life Bringer." She repeats, tone reverent, and smiles brightly at her temporary companion. It must be the druid grove. "How fitting for such a beautiful place. Thank you for sharing that with me - your knowledge is a gift."
Eury stands and bows gracefully to the lynx. "I would like to find the Dragon Druid and honour the Life Bringer while I am here. Do you have any suggestions, my friend?"
It had started purring loudly under her ministrations and looks decidedly bereft when she stops. With some effort it composes itself, remembering the grandeur of its office. "I am indeed, precious and regal, yes, yes. And it is also within my power to guide you there safely, should I deem you worthy." The ear tufts twitch in her direction. "What do you want with the Dragon Druid? Why do you seek the Jade Grove? Simply to honour Meldrosa?" It looks at her shrewdly. Definitely Feywild, she thinks. "That is a symbol of Sune you wear."
"Indeed. I am a cleric of Sune. It is my duty to experience the beauty your world has to offer." Eury flicks her tail, bringing the gilded mirror she holds closer to the lynx, allowing it to examine its own reflection.
She leans down again to stroke the lynx's ears. "I am from the Feywild, as I imagine you or your ancestors are, too. I am enjoying my time here, but I have missed the joy of spending time with companions in a forest clearing. That is how I spent most of my time at home. It seems to me that a druid grove is the perfect place to try and replicate those formative experiences." She smiles as she speaks, reminiscing on the past.
"And I am more than happy to honour your Life Bringer, Meldrosa. I may be a cleric of Sune, but I am blessed to have two Goddesses following me on my journeys. I am always thrilled to learn of others and see if maybe I can serve them, too."
It looks at itself in the mirror and preens in a way only the Fey can. Then it nods, looking satisfied. "Good. Then you will find what you seek in the Jade, and the Jade will find you. Follow me." It stands up and leads the way off from the tree with the markings, its large paws completely silent on the forest floor. "I shan't look back," it murmurs softly, the Sylvan vowels sinking into the moss around them. "I shall simply trust that you're following."
"I wouldn't dream of losing your guidance, my regal watcher," Eurydice follows the lynx with a strangely instinctive trust, moving gracefully through the forest, eager to see what awaits her at the Jade.
They don't walk very far, at least not by proper forest standards. The Feythorn is vast, and sometimes exists in more than one plane of existence, but the founder of the circle had clearly been reluctant to be far away from New Hillborrow and the Dawnlands. Less than a mile later she sees a green glow again, but this time it's bigger. Much bigger.
Rising up from between the various conifers is an enormous oak tree, wreathed in and perpetually burning with jade green flames. It shines like a beacon almost, but with the air of something that can only be found if you know the place to look for it.
As the two travelers approach, more animals gather around them, joining their trek. Owls hoot from branches above them, weasels and ferrets scurry around their feet, and larger shadows keep pace with them, looming but not threatening.
"There is no hunt here," the lynx says. "The Hunt is holy, yes, and part of life. But in the circle, all can speak, and all can be helped. Sanctuary."
Finally, after a small squirrel sneaked onto Eurydice's shoulder and refused to be unseated, they arrive at the oak. The circle around it - the literal one, the clearing - is made up of six tall stone pillars covered in a multitude of carvings. Four of them have statues at the very top; a hawk, a unicorn, a bear, and a dragon. The ground is covered in moss softer than the average bed in the average Dawnlands inn.
The lynx stops, kneading the moss with its large paws for a second. Then it opens its mouth and calls out, loudly.
"Herald! You have a visitor!"
A head pops out from in between the branches of the oak tree - from the window of a treehouse, she realises, hidden in the large crown.
"Thanks, man! I'll be right down. Just gimmie- ah, shit-"
There's a clunk of something heavy.
"The Herald shall be with you momentarily," the lynx says, seeming slightly put out that he's the only one holding on to decorum.
There's a muffled sound of "Man, fuck this," from inside the treehouse, and then the quiet whompf of someone changing shape. At the sound of further cursing the lynx rolls its eyes, abandons the situation entirely and sulks off into the shadows. Out of the branches comes another cat, brown and green and sleek, leaping gracefully down until it reaches the mossy floor. It walks over to Eurydice and stands up, human again.
"Hi, hey, what's up," he says, a warm smile on his face, even if his eyes are somewhat distracted. "I'm him. I'm the Herald of Forests. You can just call me Florian, that saves time."
He would look like an average human from this plane - sandy blond hair, green eyes, arms and legs in the usual places - were it not for the bare chest and arms in defiance of the autumn chill, the jade laurel wreath glowing on his head, and the massive tattoo of an oak on his back stretching its branches out across his shoulders and arms, and up his neck and face. His face is smudged with dark soot, and his hands discoloured from pigment almost up to his elbows. Around one slim wrist are a number of finely made leather bands and braids, and around his neck hangs a number of necklaces with small symbols of a number of gods.
There is no doubt in her mind that he is the druid she seeks, and there is nothing on his face but a warm welcome.
“Florian,” she repeats. She holds her arms out in the offer of an embrace.
"Shit yeah," he replies with an even wider smile. "Hug on first sight, love that. Come here."
It's a good hug. She holds him tightly - a bit tighter than is perhaps the norm for an introduction on the Material Plane. She rubs his back gently and smiles into his shoulder.
“It is a joy to meet you, Florian.”
She pulls back after what is likely a moment too long, and again, bows gracefully. “I am Eurydice, and I have been looking for this,” she states, gesturing at the forest around them.
He bows back, the grace and gravity put into the motion at odds with the rest of his general...vibe. "I bet the joy is all mine," he says, "no one ever hugs the first time. Oh, here, lemme get him for you-"
He reaches out and scoops the squirrel off of her shoulder, speaking to it before setting it down on the ground. "Perry, we've discussed this. Your leg is fine. No. No, it really is. Off you go."
When he straightens up again, his eyes land on the symbol around her neck.
"Sune!" he says excitedly. "She's a really good one. Got her carved on... that one." He points to one of the stone pillars.
“I find that the people of this plane are inexplicably afraid of skin contact, when it is one of the things that makes us happiest,” Eury begins, winking at the squirrel as it begins to scamper off. “I am a cleric of Sune. Your brave guardian - “ she turns to smile widely at the lynx again “ - has already vetted me on my faith and my respect for the Life Bringer. Isn’t that right, o wise one?”
"My brave- oh, Sunbean! Good old beano."
There's a scoff from among the trees.
"You did a great job, buddy!" Florian calls. "He thinks I should 'behave in a way that befits my station' but, honestly, I'm so fucking bad at that."
“I am certain you can guess what I would like to ask you for. A Satyr, on the material plane, in a forest. I am looking for somewhere to sleep when I am not adventuring.”
He nods in a way that is both sage, and a little like he'd really like some buttered toast. "Dude. Of course. Staying in a house? In the city? It's just so..."
He makes a vague gesture. It's mostly a flail and a grimace. Eury nods knowingly and gently rubs his shoulder. The sheer discomfort the concept of housing brings him is clear on his face.
“I do not mean to impose, of course. If there are duties, I will partake.” She gestures to her legs. “I am a Satyr. There will be things I can do that you cannot, and vice versa. I hope it to be an egalitarian trade.”
She walks away from him slightly to stare up at the pillar. It must be close to 15 feet tall. At the very top of this one is the statue of the unicorn. Carved further down, closer to eye height of most humanoids, are numerous symbols of gods and goddesses. She spots Eldath, Lliira, Mielikki, Milil, Corellon, and many more, and amongst them, the carved symbol of a long haired woman, her hair carefully painted red.
“And if you are accepting of the Lady of Love… all the better. A beautiful proposition, I hope you will agree.”
"Hey, Eurydice?" Florian says, the smile very evident in his voice. "I think you're gonna fit in here very well."
She gets the impression that he's about to launch into some form of speech at the mention of "egalitarian trade", but he's interrupted by a sharp, continuous screech from among the branches of the large oak.
"Yeah. Yeah, that's a good idea," he calls back. "Okay," he says. "Gigi's right, first thing's first. I'm being a bad host. Oríanna is so much better at this than me. I'm gonna get us some tea, and I'm gonna bring Gigi down or she'll just scream endlessly at us. I'll be right back - feel free to poke around!"
He walks over to the massive tree trunk and grabs a rope ladder, climbing up it nimbly. The screeching from above stops.
Eurydice stands beside the tall pillar, her eyes tracing the intricate carvings. With a flick of her tail, she raises the ornate mirror to her face and adjusts a stray curl of her hair. Satisfied, she reaches into her bag and pulls out a small tube of shimmering lip gloss, applying it carefully until her reflection pleases her. With a soft sigh of contentment, she begins a prayer to the Lady of Love to keep the beauty of the Jade and its residents protected.
The prayer blends into the peaceful hum of the grove around her. The residents, busy with their foraging and quiet chatter, barely glances her way. Eurydice feels their ease, their acceptance, which only deepens her sense of belonging.
Once Sunite prayers are finished, she discreetly scans the clearing, ensuring no one is watching too closely. Satisfied, she again enters into her bag again and pulls out a sigil - a delicate design of three stars arranged in a triangle - and a ring inlaid with sapphire and ruby. She slips the ring onto her finger with a quiet, reverent breath.
Turning her attention to the base of the pillar, she utters a softer, more private, prayer. The words are almost inaudible, whispered under her breath. She holds up the gold she had earned from her first adventure - 100 pieces - and raises them towards the pillar, invoking the name of a deity, though not Sune this time. Carefully, she then buries the coins beneath the pillar in a quiet offering.
Finishing her ritual, she gazes out at the grove, her eyes settling on Sunbean. The lynx bashfully turns its head, and Eurydice let out a soft chuckle, giving a friendly wave.
An unshakable smile plays on her lips as she waits for Florian to return, feeling more at ease than she has since arriving in Kantas. This grove, its beauty and soft glow, is the first place that she feels like she understands since she left the Feywild.
For a long moment there is nothing but the sound of soft crackling from the jade flames and the forest at night. The silence is broken by a couple of muffled curses from the treehouse again, and a thump as something soft lands on the mossy floor at the foot of the tree.
"That's the blankets and bedrolls for the lean-to," Florian calls down to her. "I figured they'd be safer to throw down than the teapot."
Then his feet reappear as he, a bit more clumsily than before, navigates the rope ladder while holding a steaming teapot in one hand. He's got two wooden cups and what looks like a couple of biscuits rolled in linen tucked under his arm as well. There is also an opossum on his head.
"I may have overestimated my abilities here," he says, stuck halfway down with his foot tangled.
"Yes - try not to throw the teapot, please," Eury rushes over to try and help, leaping up from her position on the ground to meet Florian halfway up the ladder. She takes the cups and biscuits from Florian and jumps back down.
Florian makes it down the ladder with very little grace, but he gets down with minimal tea spillage. With both feet firmly on the ground, he flicks his eyes upward.
"Eury, this is Gigi. She's my familiar - also from the Feywild! Gigi, this is Eurydice. She's gonna be stayi- yes, I know you know this, I'm being polite. Say hi."
The opossum waves a small paw. It's generally hard to read the expressions on opossum faces, but this one seems to be even cheekier than Sunbeam. Eury smiles softly and bows her head, once again almost reverentially, towards it. She holds her hand out and gently takes its paw, leaning down to place a kiss across its tiny knuckles.
"A pleasure to meet you, Gigi. I am a cleric of Sune, from the Court of Joy. Perhaps you know of it, or of my Lady."
She turns to Florian. "Thank you for the tea. Shall we three get to know each other a little better?"
Gigi lets out a soft screech in approval, and in want of biscuits. Florian leads the way to the little lean-to on the side of the circle, by the foot of the pillar with the statue of a bear at the top. The symbols of gods carved here have a very different theme to them, she notices. Selûne, Talos, Kelemvor, yes, but also Shar, Myrkul, and Malar.
They lay out the blankets and sit down, and Florian pours them both a mug of tea each before he nods towards it.
"This is where I lose most people, not gonna lie. The Circle of Jade is a circle of nature. All of nature. I was raised to believe that all gods have a place in the wheel, even if we don't agree with the domains they rule. Not many people get behind that."
She looks up at the pillar. "They all do, yes. Sune has no fight with other Gods. Even if she may not agree with the decisions of one such as Talos... there is still beauty in him. Perhaps we may not agree with the way he encourages the destruction of our beautiful sites, but, Sune teaches us that even the harsh sides of beauty such as passion, obsession, and so on, have their place."
She pauses, leaning over to pick up her cup.
"But I am not here to preach. Florian, I am a cleric of Sune, but as I told your Sunbeam, I am lucky to have two deities on my side. I understand more than most your respect for polytheism. We have different reasons for it, but we still hold the same opinion, I believe."
He looks genuinely taken aback for a moment. Then he reaches a hand out for one of hers and squeezes it gently before taking another sip of tea.
"Even if you were here to preach, Eury, you'd be preaching to the choir. Like, I'd give shelter to anyone who asked, anyone who was in need, of course I would, but- but I don't think many people would be comfortable staying here for very long. That was my biggest concern. But I'm not very concerned about you."
There's an agreeing little squeak and then Gigi trundles over to climb onto Eurydice's lap, like the punctuation at the end of a sentence. Eurydice gently strokes Gigi as she weighs up what Florian is saying.
"It is very kind of you to have those concerns, Florian," she begins. She considers how to word her thoughts diplomatically. "We cannot control how people react to things, unfortunately. It's clear you put a great deal of effort into welcoming everyone here. If they cannot see beyond a statue, I don't think that's your problem."
"You'd be surprised at what us primes can find it hard to see beyond," he says, smiling a little bittersweetly into his mug. "Can't say it hasn't been lonely sometimes. But I found my people eventually. The Family." The way he says it makes it clear this is something entirely different from what most people mean when they say 'family'. "Toothy." The way he says that makes it entirely clear what he means. The smile and the blush does, anyway.
Ah. In a relationship already - that’s a shame. Still, Eury returns his smile. Nothing is more loveable than love, after all.
"I'm glad to hear it. I'll be honest with you. I have no idea what a Herald is, or what Primes are either. If you would like to share, I would love to understand more. If not, that's totally fine too." She sips her tea, and the warmth filling her just makes her smile even wider. It was turning into a great evening, truly. "I can of course tell you about myself in return."
He nods. “That’s completely understandable. I just meant those of us from the Prime Material plane. You’re from the Feywild, yes? You’ll get a hang of the customs we have here. Eventually. Even though some of them make no sense.” He winks.
Then he glances over at the pillar with the large dragon at the top. It’s made entirely from jade, with eyes glittering with green flame. This close to him, Eurydice can see that his are full of the same flame.
“As for the Heralds and the Family,” he says, “that’s where she comes in. My abuela of long, long ago. The Life Bringer. Meldrosa the Great Jade Dragon.”
His voice is still informal, but filled with a gravity that she’s beginning to realize is quite rare for him.
“I am Florian Abeia, Herald of Forests, descendant of Meldrosa, wielder of her power and her voice, as needed. She is one of nine dragons known as the Archwyrms. They are all related, and so, their Heralds in turn are related to me. They are my Family.”
There’s a small silence that feels like it should be filled with a dramatic instrument, like a violin or a majestic horn of some sort.
“Like all families, it’s a pretty wack situation,” Florian chuckles instead.
"I did think you meant the Prime Material, but I didn't want to assume, lest it was some other high ranking title of yours," she jests. "I hope the customs will come to me. I had some trouble on my first day here." Eury gestures towards the loincloth she is wearing and stifles a laugh. "A kind man gave me this to 'cover myself'. Apparently that is why people kept running away from me at first. Not the horns, or the hooves, just the having a body."
Florian can’t hide his amusement at the man who was so very concerned for her modesty, and chuckles too.
She shakes her head. "Anyway. So, you are a Dragonborn? You do not look like the other one I met, if you don't mind my saying so,"
"No, not really a dragonborn. When I say my abuela from long ago, I really mean, like.. a long fucking time ago. As far as I know I'm just your average human dude who turns into animals sometimes. But her power's been.. dormant? Or whatever? Oríanna would know. It's been sleeping. It does for all of the Heralds. And when the Achwyrms need us, they wake the power up."
He says it very casually, with a little shrug and a bite of biscuit, but then again that seems to be how he reacts to most things.
"It probably sounds real big and complicated, but really, when it comes down to it? I'm just a guy who really likes the forest. And so is she."
He looks at the statue again, and then at her, and smiles.
"You'll get along," he says with absolute certainty. "Like a forest on fire. But enough yammering from me. Everyone's got a story. I'd love to hear yours."
She just nods at him. "I am sure you are underselling it a bit, Florian, but I won't push," and she smiles back.
"My story is not that exciting. I am a Satyr." She pauses to regard him. "Say, how much do you know about Satyrs? Then I'll know what I need to tell you,"
"I've had my fair share of run-ins with the Fey," he says in fluent, flawless Sylvan. "Been over there plenty of times. But," he says, in Common again, "I can't say I'm super familiar with Satyrs."
She gets the feeling that much like herself, he isn't aiming to push, isn't looking to spill her deepest, darkest secrets all over the soft blankets. It's an offer - an invitation. She can take it or leave it, and stay here all the same.
"Cool," she replies in very colloquial Sylvan. Her accent in Sylvan doesn't necessarily match the 'grandeur' of her speaking patterns in Common.
"The life of a Satyr is the pursuit of pleasure. Pleasures of the flesh, really. Be it the flesh of the nice grape taken in your wine, the flesh of the meat you take for dinner, or the flesh of the companion you take to your bed."
She stares pointedly at him at this last one - though doesn't push it - before moving on. She shrugs and continues, "it's pretty fun, Florian. I think you'd like it. But that's kind of all there is. Even when I'd speak to the Sibyl - an elder, essentially - their predictions for the future would revolve around what next fun event will happen."
"Sometimes, people from your Plane do come to visit us, and sometimes, they make foolish bargains," she chuckles, "though the benefit of those is typically that they leave something behind for us. I was enraptured by an adventurer's diary. You still have fun, but there is a reason for it. I found that interesting."
She grasps the symbol of Sune on her necklace. "I was contemplating that, washing my face in the mirror one night. And then I found myself surrounded by a beautiful, radiant light. It was a vision from Sune herself. She didn't mind that I followed another God. But thought that being a cleric of Sune would help me find the 'reason' behind all the 'fun' I was having.
I won't bore you with the details of my vision, Florian. I am sure you've met a hundred clerics who have had a hundred visions of their own. I'm here now, anyway, to try and balance the endless fun of being a Satyr with, I guess 'reasons'."
She is struggling a little to explain this, and even bends her fingers in the air when saying 'reasons' to imitate air quotes as she had seen another adventurer do recently.
"For now my reason is Sune. I'm here to find and spread love and beauty. But, my Goodness, I still want to have fun." She gestures to her loincloth again. "Yet some of your people seem averse to the idea. So many rules. 'Clothing.' 'Marriage.' 'Being on time.' 'Renting a room.' " She shudders a little, involuntarily. "We worship through festivities - through joy, parties, festivals of fun, real fun. Parties that aren't bound by what time the sun sets, but are bound by when you've had enough - and the truth is that could take weeks - or when you've found someone to go home with."
She sits back again and shrugs, taking another sip of tea, and stroking Gigi's belly.
"That's me, anyway. I don't know if that's what you wanted to know. Did I miss anything?" She smiles over at Florian, almost bashfully.
His grin has been broadening to an almost dangerous degree as she's been speaking. He shakes his head now, almost in disbelief, laughing a little to himself.
"Eurydice, my pal, my friend, my newest sister in Sune - you have come to the right place. Samhain is just around the corner. We might not party quite like the Fey, but around here, we sure like to revel."
His grin lacks the mellow quality it's possessed so far; now it looks almost sharp. Like a wolf, or a bear.
"Whenever there's an occasion that needs marking there's a... modest version of it in town. Afterwards, those inclined head into the forest. All manner of things can happen when the moon shines over the Feythorn."
She smiles, too. A raucous celebration for Samhain should invite the blessings of both her deities.
"Perhaps I will find you when the moon is full, Florian."
She tilts her head to the side as she takes in his appearance again.
"Was there... anything else you wanted to know?"
He finishes off the last of the tea in his mug and shakes his head, the mellow smile back on his face.
“Nah, man, you’re good. You’re good. I’m sure we’ll get to know each other well enough in due time. Besides…”
He turns his head and squints off into the dim, green light, beyond the mighty oak and into the darkness of the forest.
“I think I’m about to be firmly told it’s bedtime.”
Soon the gentle singing of someone approaching can be heard by them both as an upbeat Dwarvish tune filters into the space, the pronunciation awful at certain points.
Eventually the voice is paired with the appearance of a broad shouldered absolute beef cake of a drow, the orange hawaiian shirt he wears is wide open and clinging on like an afterthought. His long white hair is swept to the side and braided in places with feathers and talismans but on top of it all a small tortoise sits proud, purveying the ground below.
Once in the circle properly he spots the pair and the singing stops as he puts the tortoise gently on a nice leafy spot before he bounds over and leans down to kiss Florian on the cheek with a goofy smile.
"Hey babe! You're still up? I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"
Florian gives him the absolutely disgusting look of one deeply besotted and smiles back.
"Not at all, babe. Toothy, this is Eurydice, Eurydice, Toothy. She needs a place to crash that isn't a room in a stone house and the good folk of New Hillborrow pointed her here. So far, the vibes are excellent."
There's a squeak of agreement from Gigi.
Eury looks between the two and nods approvingly. A beautiful couple, indeed.
"Hi, Toothy. I am Eurydice, Satyr from the Feywild, and a cleric of Sune. It has been a wonderful pleasure to meet your... Florian."
She realises she has no idea what the arrangement of their relationship is, beyond an obvious love. And as a Sunite, it is her duty to love love, of course. So she is genuinely thrilled to meet the lovers. She offers Toothy an introductory hug as well.
"As I said to your Florian, if you want to know anything about me before I join your beautiful home, please do just ask. Though, I think I have told him everything at this point." She smiles widely over at Florian, thrilled with how her time at the Jade was going so far. "Although, perhaps you are here to tell us to be quiet and go to bed."
Toothy eagerly leans into the hug, gentle despite the size of the man, and huffs a breath of laughter at their last statement.
"Well Eurydice, the no fun hubby-to-be that I am, was gonna remind Florian that we had plans tomorrow morning to help out that flock of magpies nearby. But who am I to stop a new bro meeting?"
He then crouches to give Gigi her deserved hello scritches, "And no questions here Eurydice, if Florian and Gigi here trust you then so do I. So, umm, nice to meet yah." He then cups his hand over his mouth and stage whispers, "But I might steal him away soon, it's been a few days and don't tell him this bit, but I always miss him when I'm away."
Florian grins, a little like a wolf again.
“I’d apologize, Eury, but something tells me you of all people certainly don’t mind.” He winks at her, and then looks back at Toothy.
“C’mon big man. Take me to bed,” he says, not moving an inch from his sprawl across the blankets.
Eury grins too at the sight. She turns to Toothy as innocently as she can. “If you need any help with bedding him tonight, Toothy, I would be… pleased, to assist.”
She bows again. Hoping she hadn’t crossed a line somewhere. The etiquette of this plane was still strange. But there was only one way to learn, she supposed, and waited with excitement in her veins for Toothys response.
Florian laughs, warm, and delighted.
"A direct communicator, gotta love it. He's got me well in hand, Eury. It's not a 'never', but for tonight... Well, he's been gone for a few days. Not to mention the magpies in the morning."
His smile is easy and kind, and leans over to give Eurydice a quick peck on the cheek as a goodnight. Then he holds out his hands to Toothy, expectantly.
"Indeed I do, but hey - you never know unless you ask right?"
With a final wink to Eurydice he takes the offered hand and picks up Florian to sling him over his shoulder with an ease that suggests he's done this many many times before. "Sleep well tonight and I do hope you enjoy this place as much as we do. Now excuse me, I believe I've been ordered around by a certain druid. Who am I to refuse him?"
With an excited smile he turns and carries Florian off to their treehouse and their bed.
Eury smiles at the scene and turns back to the statue of Sune, offering a quick prayer to bless the couple’s union.
With little else to do, and sleep still a while away, she looks around for a nocturnal animal to spend the night talking to. She spends some time trundling through the Jade, introducing herself to any creature still awake. She gets on well with foxes and is glad to encounter some here, helpfully fluent in Sylvan.
It is an interesting place, she thinks, as she listens to minor gossip about Florian and Toothy - “I heard Toothy lived underground like a badger,” a boar tells her, for example. It is a pleasant evening, made even more so by finding a collection of people she feels she understands. Toothy and Florian are free-spirited and welcoming in a way that is familiar to her, and she is grateful to have made their acquaintance.
Eventually, she settles down for the night near Sunbeam, hoping to make him feel useful by letting him keep watch over her. She prays to her two gods and ends the night happier than she has been since arriving in Kantas. And with a place to live, too!
Thanks to Florian Abeia Toothy Gigi and Sunbean.
