The Journey Begins

A vibrant sea of green spread for miles, its blades ruffled in waves by the tender breath of the gods, the cooling breeze was a delight to feel as it swept across the lands.

Wildflowers danced and swayed, their colourful petals would often be seen sweeping through the captivating meadows, enlightening the world with such love and care that only nature could bring.

It was a perfect scene, one that Fayebelle often came out here to witness as she sat upon one of the many hills, her hands supporting her as she sits, her fingers frolicking through the grassy tufts, allowing nature’s essence to soak into her skin, to fill her with a warmth she could only describe as home.

Her eyes lifted to the darkening skies above, a smile creeping along her delicate lips as the moon began to share its light, another wave of joy spread throughout her body as she lay back, the grass consuming her figure as she gave a tender chuckle to how it teased her form before accepting her into an embrace.

A sense of power, of love and care, filled her heart as it spread up from the earth below, her eyes closed as she allowed a deep breath to invade her lungs, releasing the negativity of the city with a slow exhale, again, she let her lungs expand with the night’s cold air before releasing.

“Thank you, Kyrah”

Her words trailed to the skies above, idle fingers faintly tugging at the grass before lifting to her beautiful head of hair, fondly twirling several strands of the white hair that stood out from her luscious red locks.

Another gift from her goddess.

Fayebelle remained like this for some time, soaking in the essence of nature and finding comfort away from the city she often spent her days.

A scene of peace and euphoria that was often sought by many but found by few in these times.

That was, until she heard the faint sound of footsteps approaching, a light chime of metal as it swayed in movement.

There was no delay, her hands pushed from the ground, her hoofs finding their steady footing as she snatched up a small piece of parchment from the ground.

A flash of white and the parchment crumpled into a shimmering white orb before stretching and enveloping every fibre of Faye’s body, it stretched across her palms, along her arms and over her alluring figure.

Her eyes sought out the intruder as they approached, their arms filled with fabric, a glimmering metal and what she knew to be her travel bag.

“I’m sorry Miss, I didn’t mean to startle you” There was a nervousness to the young male's voice, his eyes trying hard to avert themselves from Fayebelle’s exposed body

“Startle? No!” She snapped back, “Fool, do you not know who..” her words trailed off as the sentence formed in her mind, no, they didn’t know who she was, that was what she was working against. “Do you not know how rude it is to interrupt a prayer?” she barked, covering her momentary stutter with anger.

“I’m sorry Miss, I had no intention of …”

“Fool! Drop my belongings and leave me” She demanded, her eyes aglow with anger as the young man placed her belongings to the ground before her hoofs, his eyes unable to turn from her fur-covered legs as he did so, inviting a threatening stomp from Fayebelle. “And now you go” she once more demanded, breaking the awkward silence.

She felt no shame in her body, from the dark hoofs that teased a slither of gold along the inside of one, to the radiant red fur that covered her lower body, its reach teasing up her abdomen and alongside the lower half of her breast, yet, with the moons light touching her figure, white marks danced alongside her left leg, glowing slightly in the darkness.

With the man’s back to her now, she began to dress, pulling the loose, thin cloth dress on as to offer her some coverage, not that it left much to the imagination still.

Fayebelle didn’t take the time to secure herself with the scale mail armour she often would adorn, but instead lifted her heavy mace, holding it defensively as the man still had yet to leave.

“To what foolishness, do you remain in my presence?” She asked in a commanding tone.

“I’m truly sorry Miss, I was sent to find you” He answers, his voice shaking as he straightened up some.

Fayebelle however, had barely listened to his words as she inspected him from behind, her hoofs began on the floor in slow, tender steps as she encircled him, her mace ready to swing if she felt the need.

Her keen eyes moved fleetingly, taking in his every feature, he was young for a human, no more than his early twenties no doubt, and he could even be seen as handsome if it wasn’t for his persistent shaking and nervousness.

“Find me for what?”

“Miss Fayebelle, Lady Kyrah request your presence at…”

Again, his words were cut off as Fayebelle’s eyes narrowed, her mace taking a swing, his yelp cutting through the night’s air as he ducked in time for her attack to miss, not that she had aimed to hit regardless.

“You dare mock my goddess?!” She snapped, aiming her mace for a second swing.

“No, Miss, no, You misunderstand. Lady Kyrah, The Poet of Mytros! I was sent to escort you to her” He pleaded, his hands covering his head in fear.

A moment of silence, before Fayebelle allowed her arm to lower. “Oh, well why didn’t you say?”

The vast difference in her tone now cut the air like a knife.

She had heard of the Poet of Mytros, the one who had been gifted the looks of the gods, though to take a god’s name too?

“I shall allow you to escort me” Faye announced as she lifted the rest of her belongings, pulling her armour on loosely before securing the mace to her side.

“I... I... Yes, Miss, It would be my honour” the man stuttered, still shaken as he stood straight once more, his nerves showing too well on the anguish that filled his features.

“If you would like to follow me,” He said, before beginning his descent down the hill.

With a little space between the two, Fayebelle found her heart racing, her hands reached up to the horns that adorned her head, gripping them at their bases as she tried to calm the racing heart, was this excitement or fear?

When the male looked behind him in her direction, she forced her heart to calm, nodded in his direction and began her descent.

~~~

There was an awkward silence for the first hour’s stretch, Fayebelle demanded silence whenever the male tried to talk, warned that she was focusing on finishing her prayers as they travelled, when in truth, she was trying hard to get a handle on the anxiousness that filled her.

Was this truly a good idea?

To follow this male blindly under the pretence that he wished to lead her to the Poet of Mytros.

So far, he seemed to be leading her in the right direction, they were just a few hours from the city itself, she had visited it frequently but would always wish to return to nature for several days when possible, to be called back so quick seemed unfair though.

Her mind raced with all of this until settling on one thing that hadn’t even occurred to her, she hastened her steps a little to catch up with her escort, taking a brief moment to follow his steps, her eyes on him from behind.

A sudden want to dominate this grovelling fool, the thought of throwing a leash around his throat as they walked had her suppress a small giggle, catching his attention which in turn, snapped her out of the playful demeanour.

“For what reason, am I to be brought back to The Poet?” Faye demanded, forcing a harshness to her voice to cover the gentleness she might share with a friend.

“Yourself and a few others have been requested” He answered, a little confused.

“Yes, wait, others? Why have we been requested and, what do you know of the others?”

He stopped in his tracks, a slight fear took over his features.

“I… I don’t know for what reason you have been summoned to join” He seemed scared that Faye would not take kindly to this news and with some sadness, he was right.

A frustrated grunt escaped Fayebelle as she stepped closer, causing him to flinch back a little.

The flinch broke her tough exterior, bringing a little joy to Fayebelle which, she immediately tried to dismiss,

“So, you just do as your told?” She sneered, “And the others, what do you know of them?”

“I only know what I’ve heard from those sent for them”

“And, do I have to ask again?”

“No Miss, I’m sorry.” His whole form seemed to shrink a few sizes as he cowered to her demanding tones. “There are four others” He began, watching for a reaction and yet, greeted only by Fayebelle’s impatience.

“They, they said one’s looks are deceiving, that they erm,” He stopped to think, “that they may look young but they were on the shores, greeting the first humans to arrive in Thylea?”

Her mind wandered on this momentarily before she chuckled, “And the rest? Are they just as old as this one is rumoured to be?”

“No Miss, though, one is said to be born from a bargain with a devil, as for the other two, I don’t know much more. Maybe we’ll find out more when we get there?”

Fayebelle’s eyes were alight with wonder at this point, one who had been around since such times long past, another a gift from a devil?

For what reasons could she have been asked to join such strange people?

“And, myself? What have you heard of me?” Faye asked, trying to hide the urgency in her tone as his shoulders seemed to slump at the question.

“Nothing Miss”

“Don’t test me fool” She growled, her hand reaching for the mace handle once more.

“I’m sorry, it’s just that, well, they said you were sent from the goddess Kyrah herself, that, that you have her blood flowing through your Satyr veins” He turned, his eyes a little wide as he looked to Fayebelle, “Is it true?”

Faye stood silent, shocked even before bursting out in a peal of uncontrollable laughter, her legs buckling slightly as she knelt on the ground, clutching her stomach.

“Miss?” The hope seemed to be fading from the man’s features as Fayebelle caught herself finally, returning to her hoofs as she smirked, placing a gentle, tender kiss on the man’s cheek.

His cheeks burned bright as she walked past him now.

“I guess, we’ll just have to find out if that is true or not” she teased, walking ahead as he took a turn to stand in shock.

She looked back, a playful glint to her eyes as a smirk danced along her lips.

“Well Fool, are you coming?”