Druids Clan: 1

Pyrri had left the three friends with directions to the next clan and some advice on approaching the clan. The Empyrians flew through the tunnel as it was getting a bit cramped, getting smaller and smaller until they were forced to walk in a single-file line. However, the tunnel opened up to a massive space shortly after. The three were thankful because they had just experienced a panic attack from being away from the sky. 

This new clan was closer to the world they knew above and far from it. There were forests and plants, unlike anything they had seen before. Massive stone structures rose from the ground with another flora they hadn’t seen before wrapping around them. Still, even without the sky, this was the most open space they had seen in a while. 

“What should we do?” Oeric asked.

“Pyrri gave us a pretty good idea of how to earn some trust,” Griffith reminded him.

“Let’s go take care of some plants!” Aule clapped as he wandered into the forested area. 

The three nodded to each other and wandered around the forest until they came across a small patch of vegetables. The patch looked like someone had previously taken care of them, but it’s clearly been a while. The patch was overrun with weeds and holes in the leaves made it obvious that pests had been eating them. 

“Alright, this should do,” Griffith said. 

“What should we do first?” Aule asked, surveying the patch. 

The three friends looked at the patch in silence. They all thought of different ways they could help mend the forgotten patch of vegetables. 

“Let’s start with the weeds,” Oeric spoke first. Aule and Griffith wanted to disagree, but they knew it had to get done eventually. 

Each Empyrian took a side of the patch, it was a square patch, so that left one side open, but their long arms were able to reach that portion of the patch. The three friends took their time carefully picking through the weeds. 

“Do you think some of these could have other uses?” Aule asked while he looked at a few weeds in his claws. 

Oeric and Griffith turned their attention to the discarded weeds they had in a pile. After a few seconds of staring, Griffith picked up one of the weeds thinking he recognized it.

“I think you’re right,” Griffith said, “I recognized these from the tranquil clan.”

“We can separate them into piles and maybe it will help our case,” Oeric added. They all agreed. Oeric and Aule went back to the patch to continue weeding, and Griffith started to separate the discarded weeds. 

It felt like hours had passed by the time the three friends had finished weeding the patch. They examined their work, feeling quite proud of themselves. 

“What can we do about the pests?” Aule brought up their next challenge. 

“I can use some magic,” Griffith thought aloud. 

“That would be simplest,” Oeric agreed. 

Everyone was nodding, but Griffith brought up one of his concerns, “I just don’t know how long the spell will last.”

“It should be okay,” Aule said, “once we show the Druids we mean no harm, we can let them know it isn’t permanent.”

Griffith wasn’t entirely satisfied with that answer, but there wasn’t much they could do about it now. Oeric reminded him why they were tending to the patch in the first place, essentially telling Griffith not to care so much. However, while Oeric felt this was just a means to an end, Aule and Griffith wanted to do well. They wanted to show their genuine care. 

Eventually, Griffith sighed and began his magic. It didn’t take long, a simple repellent spell was pretty much Griffith muttering a few words and it was done. The patch glowed a pale blue to show the spell was in effect, but the glow slowly faded to something less visible. 

“Is that supposed to happen?” Aule asked.

Griffith shrugged his shoulders, “I’m not sure. Down here might react differently to my magic.”

Oeric and his friends watch the magic fade completely. They were all left wondering what was happening, but for now, Griffith settled for his explanation until something else became more apparent. 

They couldn’t think more about it because someone clearing their thoughts made them all turn to the new Haedian. Oeric was shocked he didn’t hear them approach, but Aule and Griffith assumed the Druid Haedians would know how to move with ease through these forests. 

“Thank you for what you’ve done.” The Haedian said, “Follow me this way.”

Griffith, Aule, and Oeric all looked at each other before they carefully followed after the mystery Haedian. The three assumed they were heading toward the pillars they had seen when they first approached this territory but remained silent as they followed their new guide.

[806]