Feral Forest

"Felix."

The softest voice, both angelic in its innocence and yet hindered and held back in what best could be described as a plea for help. She was calling to him, he could feel it inside. That lingering feeling in his mark, it tingled and irritated his neck where it was planted. Reaching to it, he somehow felt her presence waiting for him, hoping his fingers would brush against the soft fur of her paw or the flexibility of her tails.

But he felt nothing despite his inner wish to feel. In his dreams, he would see her often. They began with her smiling the way she did, those cute dimples on her cheeks, the way her eyes sparkle and her cheery attitude would brighten up the darkest depths of an underground cave. In his dreams, he could hear her voice and see her waiting for him, wanting him to find her. No matter how these dreams began filled with hope, he feared the next step he took to her as they ended in a similar way.

The first step he would take, he would see her three feet away. The next step, she would be five feet away, and each time he approached her she would appear to be more and more distant from his reach until suddenly there would be a flock of hands appearing out of view, pulling him back. Their grip was relentless, the touch was chilling to his bones and no matter how hard he struggled and fought, they would pull him away from her always.

Until he would see an eerie face of false beauty, her fanged smile containing her lust and hunger at the sight of her favorite pet begging to live another day.

Until he would hear a chorus of men chanting from afar, their flags waving with pride, showing the image of the golden flower, his sign.

This time he refrained from jolting as he awoke, feeling restless and cold as he rubbed his hands over his tired face. Even his hair was beginning to sag as it began to reach enough length for the ends to curve and drop. Not quite medium length, but it was getting there.

"You were shaking again." Janette mentioned, sitting beside him with a look of concern. "It's those dreams again, I can tell."

"Am I that easy to read?" Felix asked, feeling his throat rather dry in the early daylight. The skies were a bright orange today, the first rays of the sun welcoming the now purple skies with its warmth. The early birds sang in their ways to welcome a new day, a somewhat soothing rhythm of whistles and chirps all over the forest.

Janette brushed her own hair back, sighing as she lifted to her feet. "A little, but honestly I've been having those dreams too. They're unpleasant."

"You can say that again." Felix groaned, feeling his stiff muscles bend as he rose up.

"Rise and shine!" Felix flinched, looking up as Janette held her breath. Above them on a high branch was the younger, shorter elf waving back with a sly smile. He shifted into a look of recognition, twisting slightly when he took notice of the shadows under their eyes. "Oh, bad dreams huh? You two may want to leave the place if that's a recurring issue."

"As if I would sleep better in a brothel." Felix muttered, shielding his eyes as the morning sun peeked over the high trees. Spi'Reto jumped down, landing between them and holding onto the quiver slung around his back.

"Possibly. That kind of stuff is amplified in the Feral Forest."

"Feral?" Questioned Janette. "What, because of wildlife?"

"Untamed magic, actually." He corrected her, leaning against the crates they slept next to. "Ma said it's what keeps the forest alive and self-contained. Think of it like this veil or blanket covering a plethora of acres of land, like a sort of magical mist we can't see."

Janette raised a finger in the air. "So, this magic mist is around us right now? What does it do?"

The young elf shrugged. "Acts like an enhancer, that's what I thought from how Ma explains it. This entity flows freely around here, it welcomes us into it and claims us its home. That it surrounds us and binds us, or something like that. It's pretty vague but some of its effects on mammals like us are magic induced dreams or nightmares, depending on your mental state."

"Any other side effects, no curses or spells?" Felix asked.

"Curses are tricky with magic, and spells would need to match its strength if it's meant to counter the effect. Any other spell would just fade away quick. There is a reason why we don't let inhabitants stay here after all."

"This really feels like a plunderers paradise, just so much potential for any magic user." Janette commented, to which Spi'Reto pointed back at her with a slight jump.

"That's why we don't let inhabitants stay here." He nodded before jumping away as the crate shook and its top lifted up on its own. A familiar dwarf balanced the lid perfectly on her head, peeking from her little sanctum to join the brief discussion.

"Why ya think they be tree hugg'rz?" Nyitzcha looked over at the startled elf. "Wah?"

He was quick to compose himself, clearing his throat and adjusting his quiver. Nothing strange seeing a small child tucked inside a wooden crate, he thought. "I take it you're enjoying the gifts we have presented?"

She beamed. "Sure do! Felix, they be keep'n a nice lot o' powder n' the mix! N' ye made mention of a tower? I see magic 'n de works!"

Taking in account the curious look on their faces, she pushed the lid off her head and leaned in. "I waz takin' a gann'r 'n seein' what we had, s'all. The bear went out so I thought to me-self why not?"

"I think that's fine." Janette looked over to Felix, noting the worry in his face. "Hey, we're going after her now okay? Try to stay up."

"Always do." He replied, combing his messy hair with his hand. "Jay, you have your book?"

"Yea. Why?"

He turned to her and whispered, "I think I know a way we can ask Alma a few things without asking her."

As she looked up at his eyes he winked, leaving a feeling of satisfaction to her. She smiled as she nodded with him. That's more like the Felix I got to know.