Chapter 16
The brook was completely deserted in the sheets of rain. It was also completely useless regarding the cleaning of laundry. A roaring white blue torrent brushed at the grass before her feet. She had so forgotten the effects of these northern storms on the waterways. In the south all was done on the ocean, who's personality would change only at the tempest of a real storm. The weather was barely a light spattering compared to what they usually felt in the south. It was a wonder that such rain could cause such a turbulent flow of water.
She exposed her palm to the rain, feeling the weight of the droplets. The water couldn't be that dangerous from such weather. She had already gone three days without bathing, surly there had to be somewhere along the river that wasn't so fast. It was all a matter of finding it. She brushed aside an overhanging branch and began to work her way down river.
Wet dead leaves made footing treacherous, nothing like the soft mosses of the south. Creeping down one incline she slid precariously close to the river and thence forth decided to follow at a distance, where falling would not pitch her into the rapids. How odd it was that all such small things could have such a great impact on the forest as a whole. Almost like their blind belief in their customs. If only one believed it they would hold no weight, but with the entire population completely supporting one tradition. she glanced at the rushing river.
Her predictions proved true, she eventually came upon a sharp decline where the waters spilled over a rock face into a deep pool. Exactly like ones so commonly found in the south.
She quickly made her way to the edge although it was a deep pool with grass and rock siding rather than the gentle incline of golden white sand it was immensely appealing. She removed her boots and immersed her feet in the blue water.
Cold. So bitterly cold. She could feel her skin prickle beneath the surface. No wonder why the northern elves were given the spell for endurance. No sensible elf would immerse themselves in this. Perhaps they were used to it though, she knew the ice elves walked through their winters in normal clothing. However she was not used to such conditions. Even though she did feel filthy. Filthy dirty. At the very least she could use a cloth soaked in the water.
The idea worked, however by the time she felt she was completely clean she felt no warmer than if she had just leapt in. The waterlogged remnants of her sage leaves after the scrubbing had given her the feel and scent of what she had marked as clean. Such water was truly wonderful.in the summer.
She started back upriver. After a short while she heard movement up ahead. Leaves and branches being brushed aside. Surly they hadn't come looking for her. She was new to the colony but not daft. They were heading off to her left though, completely clueless. She shook her heads, southern elves were never this confused.
~I'm over here!~ She called lightly. The movement stopped immediately and then turned towards her, only now faster and even more obviously. No elf was this. She paused incredibly at the notion and then took off towards the village. Crashing foliage marked their progress behind her.
Orcs! They had orcs roaming their forest! What were all those hunters doing? Her feet carried her swiftly faltering slightly still on the wet ground. Their steel toed boots had no such friction problems but their weight and speed were less. She reached the washing area of the river and snatched up her basket. As her footing altered itself slightly crude black arrows slashed through the overhanging leaves. The colony was a short run away, as long luck favored her she would get there in plenty of time.
Fire danced on her shoulder as one haphazard arrow brushed her. She'd have to make her own luck. Trees were the only cover and she darted behind them as soon as she passed, attempting to keep a barrier constantly between her and the foes. Arrows buzzed past like swarms of bees as she came into view of the colony. Arrows from the trees and arrows from the ground hissed past as she sprinted the last distance towards the knot the path to safety. She was pulled up with more vigor than the guards had ever shown since she had arrived and she was ushered up the steps into the main room. But not before she noticed the worried flickers of doubt in the eyes of the archers.
The brook was completely deserted in the sheets of rain. It was also completely useless regarding the cleaning of laundry. A roaring white blue torrent brushed at the grass before her feet. She had so forgotten the effects of these northern storms on the waterways. In the south all was done on the ocean, who's personality would change only at the tempest of a real storm. The weather was barely a light spattering compared to what they usually felt in the south. It was a wonder that such rain could cause such a turbulent flow of water.
She exposed her palm to the rain, feeling the weight of the droplets. The water couldn't be that dangerous from such weather. She had already gone three days without bathing, surly there had to be somewhere along the river that wasn't so fast. It was all a matter of finding it. She brushed aside an overhanging branch and began to work her way down river.
Wet dead leaves made footing treacherous, nothing like the soft mosses of the south. Creeping down one incline she slid precariously close to the river and thence forth decided to follow at a distance, where falling would not pitch her into the rapids. How odd it was that all such small things could have such a great impact on the forest as a whole. Almost like their blind belief in their customs. If only one believed it they would hold no weight, but with the entire population completely supporting one tradition. she glanced at the rushing river.
Her predictions proved true, she eventually came upon a sharp decline where the waters spilled over a rock face into a deep pool. Exactly like ones so commonly found in the south.
She quickly made her way to the edge although it was a deep pool with grass and rock siding rather than the gentle incline of golden white sand it was immensely appealing. She removed her boots and immersed her feet in the blue water.
Cold. So bitterly cold. She could feel her skin prickle beneath the surface. No wonder why the northern elves were given the spell for endurance. No sensible elf would immerse themselves in this. Perhaps they were used to it though, she knew the ice elves walked through their winters in normal clothing. However she was not used to such conditions. Even though she did feel filthy. Filthy dirty. At the very least she could use a cloth soaked in the water.
The idea worked, however by the time she felt she was completely clean she felt no warmer than if she had just leapt in. The waterlogged remnants of her sage leaves after the scrubbing had given her the feel and scent of what she had marked as clean. Such water was truly wonderful.in the summer.
She started back upriver. After a short while she heard movement up ahead. Leaves and branches being brushed aside. Surly they hadn't come looking for her. She was new to the colony but not daft. They were heading off to her left though, completely clueless. She shook her heads, southern elves were never this confused.
~I'm over here!~ She called lightly. The movement stopped immediately and then turned towards her, only now faster and even more obviously. No elf was this. She paused incredibly at the notion and then took off towards the village. Crashing foliage marked their progress behind her.
Orcs! They had orcs roaming their forest! What were all those hunters doing? Her feet carried her swiftly faltering slightly still on the wet ground. Their steel toed boots had no such friction problems but their weight and speed were less. She reached the washing area of the river and snatched up her basket. As her footing altered itself slightly crude black arrows slashed through the overhanging leaves. The colony was a short run away, as long luck favored her she would get there in plenty of time.
Fire danced on her shoulder as one haphazard arrow brushed her. She'd have to make her own luck. Trees were the only cover and she darted behind them as soon as she passed, attempting to keep a barrier constantly between her and the foes. Arrows buzzed past like swarms of bees as she came into view of the colony. Arrows from the trees and arrows from the ground hissed past as she sprinted the last distance towards the knot the path to safety. She was pulled up with more vigor than the guards had ever shown since she had arrived and she was ushered up the steps into the main room. But not before she noticed the worried flickers of doubt in the eyes of the archers.