Graht oaks creaked and branches swayed in the wind as a storm threatened the skies over Valenwood.
When she was sure all in her household were safely asleep, Juniper had slipped out of her home successfully unnoticed with nothing but a pruning knife and a satchel.
She was deep within the forest, a faint ringing sound caught the attention of her ears.
Juniper looked to left and a dim glow illuminated the bank of a nearby stream.
The mer took in a breath of the humid air and scuttled across the green to the lone Nirnroot.
Taking the knife, she crouched down and grasped the plant, tugging it upwards and cut it from it's root.
She stuffed the glowing weed into her satchel and rose up again, eyes scouting for more.
Juniper had forgotten how long she had been walking through the Winter site, or if she had wandered far from it.
The young Bosmer continued forward with panicked breath. The moons gave her no knowledge, she could not tell were they East or West.
She tugged the robe further around her body stopping to lean against a thick trunk and catch her breath.
There was a lump in her throat which she could not swallow and tears stung her eyes.
She was lost.
A loud, resonating howl came from far behind her. Then another from its side. Juniper felt her blood freeze in fear,as she had forgotten what dangers gathered in the murk of the night.
Her breaths deepened and her clutch on the pruning knife tightened. She found her feet clumsily pounding against the ground as she fled from the howls.
Enormous bats screeched in the boughs above. Tears were hot in the creases of the corner of her eyes.
She continued scrambling through the darkness, the trees became thinner and closer together.
Her feet caught upon a fallen branch and she tripped, falling to her hands and knees, the knife flew from her hands into the black.
Her palms stung from the fall and her chest heaved as she began to sob.
Would she be eaten alive? Spun into a thick, sticky web and devoured by giant spiders?
The old tales of creatures and shades that lurked in the dark of night haunted her.
She was defenseless and unarmed, knowing of no magic or where she was.
In her peripheral vision she saw silent movement between the woods. Her lips parted in a gasp as she fumbled around in the forest debris for the pruning knife, to no avail.
The shadow crept from the other side now, a whisper between the trees. She held her breath hoping she had gone unnoticed.
Juniper stared at the ground, frozen, and praying to every divine that this was no malicious forest spirit— or worse.
Behind her, there was a deep chuckle. It was not from a creature, but a person.
Juniper's brow scrunched in terror. She rose to her feet quickly and readied her fists.
"Who's there?"
She called in the direction of the sound.
Nothing.
Her lips quivered. Was she hearing things?
"I said who's there?"
Her pupils dilated as a whisper in Bosmeri tongue came from the darkness beside her.
"It is late, and dark. Too dangerous to be walking alone. Do you know what hunts during the night?"
She turned her head to the voice, but saw nothing. Juniper swallowed. She replied, speaking slowly in her native language.
"Werewolves and spiders. Spirits and hungry Senche."
"Then why do you walk alone?"
"Because… I am foolish."
Her eyes narrowed and she let her arms drop to her sides. The voice was familiar.
"I know your voice, but I cannot put a face to it, nor a name."
"I know your voice. Your face and your name"
They replied, with another taunting chuckle. The voice sighed.
A shadowed hand reached from between the branches and laid upon Juniper's shoulder.
Her body shook violently, she thought her soul would jump right from her body. A short scream escaped her.
Bats or birds flapped with unrest between the leaves.
The owner of voice unveiled themselves and stood behind her.
"Don't be afraid. I'm not here to harm you"
The little Bosmer turned her head to see a tall figure, his face lit somewhat from the scattered moonlight between the branches
"You… I've seen you before. You're a friend of my brother's"
Juniper's shoulders relaxed. There was a bow and full quiver upon his back.
"Though I cannot recall your name. Why are you out at this time?"
"Hunting"
He crossed his arms and smirked, bending down to her height.
"I'd have shot you down, had you not started crying. You run like a wounded deer."
She could not deny her ungraceful scrambling through the dark.
"You followed me."
"I was curious."
"You stalk me, strange boy."
Juniper huffed and turned to leave.
"I would not go that way if I were you. There are wolves, and you are unarmed."
He reached out and took her hand. She was about to protest, even smack him in the face.
However, he opened her palm and placed the pruning knife in it.
"I believe this is yours."
"Thank you."
She put the knife in her satchel and continued on her way without so much as a farewell.
"You are going the wrong way. If you wish to head home. Your house is that way."
A long arm reached out, pointing South East of himself.
He smiled cheekily and took Juniper by the waist and lifted up her light body, which squirmed and wriggled, and threw her over his shoulder.
"Get off me! How dare you! Where are you taking me?!"
She hammered her fists against his back, but his grip was strong. Juniper took a handful of his long red locks
"Tell me, or I'll pull your hair from your head!"
"Home. You're lost and you're slow. I know my way through these parts in the dark. You're not as far as you think."
She let go of his hair and went limp in defeat. Juniper felt humiliated, yet resoundingly thankful.
She could have been killed had she not been found by him.
Mere minutes later, they came to a clearing. He stopped and let go of Juniper, who fell to the ground, landing on her bottom.
"Ouch! You bastard!"
"Oh, shut up and look behind you…"
Her head turned and her wide eyes laid upon her home. It was a sight she never thought she'd be so relieved to see.
He took her hand again and pulled her to her feet. Juniper rubbed her sore behind.
"Thank you."
Knowing she was safe now, he nodded and turned to leave.
However, Juniper's curiosity was unsatisfied, she called after him.
"Wait!"
The tall Bosmer stopped in his tracks.
"May I know your name?"
He turned his head and answered casually, before continuing on his way once again.
"Felnyx."
Juniper watched him leave, she repeated his name to herself quietly.
Once he had disappeared into the night, the girl hobbled back to her home with sore knees and snook up the path towards her home.
She peeked through a window to see if it was safe to enter unseen.
Lamp light flickered from the dinner table. Her brother was awake, sipping from a mug.
He noticed her watching him and smiled, shaking his head.
Thank Y'ffre.