Chapter Text
From far into the forest there’s a soft glow. It comes from an old, lone cottage. Its cobblestone walls weathered from the elements. The overgrowth of plants around it look meticulous rather than unruly, like they served a purpose to the home. Inside at an oak table sat a woman who could only be guessed as wise and timeless rather than a distinctive age.
Around her is an assortment of fruits and unlit candles. The glow comes from above her, little balls of light float above her. They sway in place rhythmically, it's a calming motion. In front of the woman is an open book larger than a head when closed. The book’s pages are blank, but the woman stares intently.
In a soft voice, one like when your grandmother kindly tells you to get some rest when you’re sick, she speaks to no one in particular.
“There are many events that happen without our knowledge. It is impossible to be everywhere at once after all. That is why we record our history, to pass on knowledge that others could not be present for.”
She pauses for a breath. Her calloused fingers run over the paper in careful consideration. She never looks up from the book, but there is a visible twinkle in her eye.
“There’s one story I have a particular fondness for, that I would like to tell you. About a little girl lost in the world and the love around her that helped her find a home.”
And as the woman says this, the page starts to fill with neat, black ink handwriting. The woman had not picked up a pen to write. Smiling, the old woman begins to speak and the book begins to write. And so it continues:
There are a lot of places that hold mythology of the feywild, sometimes going by different names. Some things are true, but most are not. Like for instance, it is written in stories that the fae are tiny beings living in the trees, grass and bushes. Usually too small to see. The truth is that in the human realm fae only appear to be so because there is less magic in the human realm than the fae realm. The fae are just as diverse in size as humans.
There are also many stories of “good fairies,” and “bad fairies,” but those are only meant for telling a moral story. There is no defining good or bad when it comes to the feywild. They all work together rather peacefully.
The fae are powerful creatures and beings, they hold influence over the natural order of their own realm and even some of ours. That is why few humans know that the main servant of a fae, is a fox. Now foxes aren’t so overpopulated that every fae has a fox, really only the most high ranked and well respected fae have a fox working under them.
The foxes of the feywild have many tasks they do to keep the balance alongside their masters. Of the most important is guarding the fairy circles; The portals to the Silvan dimension. The fox is one of the few animals that has access to these portals and for centuries they have guarded them with their very lives.
It is through these fairy circles we find ourselves in Silvanus, where everything is entirely made up of magic. It is felt through the air and on the ground beneath one’s feet. No place is more vibrant and full of life than this dimension between realms. Here the flora grows large, fit enough to feed a giant. And it is in this gigantic flora that the fae make their homes. Perhaps that is where the notion that fairies are small and live in flowers came from. They certainly can and do live in flowers, but these ones are far from small.
The town plazas are always bright, always busy and never lacking in energy. Fairies make fast chatter with Pixies. Dryads talk shop with Nymphs. Sprites discuss with Druids and so forth. It is through the passing of goods and coin, heated debates and gossip we see one average sized, orange fox pushing his way through the square. And he is in a hurry.
The other fae pay no mind, foxes pass through all the time, he is probably on an errand for his master. Not entirely wrong.
The fox weaves between legs, past shop stalls and the bustling of the innermost part of town. He goes well beyond the main hub, past the homes and houses made of twisted roots, shaped by magic, upturned flowers and trees carefully carved into that house dozens of families. Well past anywhere normally frequented at the end of the glistening sky clear river is a pond. In the center of the pond is a shapeless statue of Silvanus himself. God of magic and the fae.
And just behind that statue the mouth of a cave dug deep into the rock of the earth. The mouth is in a perfect circle. Surrounding it are carvings carefully placed into the stone. Runes of protection and safety. The fox halts at the entrance and lifts a paw to rest on his collar. With a calming breath he enters the cave, now at a slower pace. Not because he’s reluctant, but to give himself an air of grace and catch his breath.
There is an energy in this cave different than the rest of the realm. Still full of magic, but this magic is fused with something else.
The cave is always well lit. Veins of dark purple magic energy glow in the rock walls as in continues onward. From here on there are two passageways, One right and one left. The fox need not consider where to go, as the one who summoned him stood in the middle of the cross section.
A sprite. A tall woman with long black hair trimmed and brushed neatly behind her pointed ears. In the light of the magic filled veins her hair looked iridescent with purple and pink hues. Her eyes were brown with a golden glow. She wore a long wine red dress, the sleeves sheer and light. The wings folded neatly behind her were that of a swallow. Preened and pristine to perfection.
A patient and kind smile graced her lips as she greeted her fox. “Percival, you’ve arrived just in time. I have something very important for you.”
Percival, the fox bowed his head to her, “You rarely summon me on such short notice Mistress Sarimzi. I came as quickly as I could.”
Sarimzi turned and gestured for Percival to follow, taking the passage to the right. The fox padded to her side. “Always so punctual and responsible, Percival. I am very lucky to have you at my side. It only makes me sadder that I will not have you for a period of time.”
Percival looked up to her in confusion, “What do you mean by that, Mistress?”
Instead of answering Sarimzi veered off to the right of the wall, opening a door imbedded in the stone. Allowing Percival in she followed after and shut the door.
At the center of the room was a square, wooden table with four chairs on each side. Placed on the table was a long gray tablecloth and atop that a bowl full of glowing purple crystals. To the back wall a bookshelf filled with books, scrolls, papers and notebooks. To the left wall a wood bench cushioned by fluffy pillows and a mirror hanging above it. Sarimzi sat herself down on the bench with a sigh.
“I have a very important task for you Percival, but it is a long term one.”
Percival sat on his hind legs, forepaws resting on the bench so he could better talk with her. “You’ve never given me a task I couldn’t accomplish before. What is it that is so important?”
“Just yesterday a fairy took a child from the human realm. She is under our care now. I want you to watch over the child and take care of them.” Sarimzi looked at Percival with an eyebrow raised.
Percival sputtered, “Me? Why not the fairy look after the child? Or a fairy’s fox? Wouldn’t a Dryad or Nymph’s fox be more suited to this? Nurturing is more their job. There is no way the council approved a child being under the care of a sprite fox.”
“Under normal circumstances you would be correct. However the Dryads, Nymphs and their foxes are busy with matters of the human forest. Something about logging and ecosystem harm.” Sarimzi leaned back against the wall, careful of her wings. “And you and I both know fairies and pixies are not to be trusted with a child, let alone their foxes. The poor thing would probably have a breakdown.”
Percival looked down at his paws in consideration. “Why me? There are only eight sprite foxes not including the elder. Wouldn't that upset some sort of balance?”
Sarimzi smiled and scratched the top of his head affectionately, “It’s as I said. You’re responsible. More so than the other sprite foxes. And they’ll be fine without you for a short while. Starting tomorrow I’m giving you a month off your normal duties to get the child acclimated. Then you can go to work as normal and still take care of the child. If you feel you need a bit more time than that let me know.”
Percival nodded when Sarimzi stopped petting his head. “Very well. I am up to the task if you feel I am the right one to do so.”
“You are.”
Percival took his paws off the bench to stand on all fours, “Then I suppose I should head home to prepare it for the child’s arrival.”
Sarimzi smiled and waved him off, “Good luck.”