It’s Just In Our Nature - The Druids: Part 1

It’s Just In Our Nature
The Druids: Part 1

   The time with the Tranquil was most definitely educational on a deeply spiritual level. They stayed there for what felt like a couple of days before curiosity started to drive Orvillos and Heldanau further into the mysterious depths of the Below, while Rauhaira decided to turn back and report what she had learned so far, then procure better gear for the adventuring before she’d return here. Waving goodbye, Orvi and Helda headed towards the next clan, which was surprisingly nearby while Rauhaira went in the opposite direction.

   Having passed a few spacious tunnels, the pair ended up facing an enormous lush forest, which bustled with life and created almost home-like cozyness. The major difference was the lack of Sunlight, which was replaced with countless warmly glowing crystal clusters, and the fact this forest was vastly more grandiose than any Vitalus magic-fertilized sequoia woodlands.

   The two Pullers could take in all this beauty for a short time, as both of their attention stopped on a brown fluffy Runner hunching over something at the edge of the treeline near them. Ears perked from curiosity, they approached the stranger and Helda softly greeted them from a safe distance in order not to startle the Vayron too much. To their luck, it turned to look without being scared, and smiled at them as a greeting.

“Hey, what brings you here?”

   She spoke with a weak voice as she usually didn’t talk much, which probably caused her vocal chords to wither a bit. Not that Orvi and Helda would’ve minded, they could still hear her just fine even over the numerous birds singing and tweeting up in the canopy above them.

“Hi! We just got a recommendation from the neighboring clan to have a look over here. I’m Heldanau and this is Orvillos, my mate. It’s nice to meet another Vayron down here.”

   Helda rambled excitedly in response while Orvi’s attention was on the sad-looking strange plant in front of the Duve girl.

“Say, what’s wrong with this one?”

   He tilted his head to the side like a puppy who had just heard a squeaky toy calling for him right after the new Reosean introduced herself as Eislynn from Warrenfall. Both ladies turned to look at the wilting thing on the ground, which resembled some painted cabbage that forgot how to look perky.

“I’m not sure, I tried connecting with it and it looked like it just needed some water, but after I took the trip to the stream and returned to help it quench the thirst, it still claims to be deprived of something.”

   When Orvi and Helda looked around to spot the stream Eislynn was talking about, their eyes stopped at numerous other alien cabbages suffering in the same condition. It looked like they were planted here on purpose as the rows were straight and space between each one was definitely measured. Has somebody forgotten about their little gardening project?

“Here, let me try.”

   Helda sat down opposite from Eislynn and very gently placed her paw pads against the strange plant, attempting to use her magic to sense what it could possibly want. She got the same sensation as Eislynn did - it was thirsty, despite being freshly watered. Orvi patiently waited for Helda to finish her tests so he could hear her opinion.

“Hmm, I get the same response. Maybe we can’t properly understand it as we’re strangers in this realm?”

   Helda thoughtfully leaned her paw against her jaw, trying to brainstorm for explanations.

“Maybe it just can’t pull in water anymore as it’s too dried out?”

   Orvillos dropped an idea of his on others to let them ponder over it. Eislynn seemed to perk up as this idea sounded reasonable, or at least logical enough to try it out.

“That might be it, let’s see…”

   She placed her paws around the plant and closed her eyes to focus. It took her a bit of time to connect to the plant’s veins, then fill those tiny channels with her magic to reach the roots and the rest of the plant’s vascular system. It looks like Orvi’s guess was a genius one as the sweet nectar of life wasn’t flowing properly in the plant’s stem. Utilizing her magic, Eislynn gently summoned the water forward into the empty passages and eventually filled the whole plant with water again. When she released the cabbage from her magic, it already seemed so much better as its everyday processes started functioning again.

“Ooohhh, it worked! Well done, dear! And great job, Eislynn!”

   Heldananu rejoiced as the proper bright colors started to pour back into the plant together with the essential water. With relieved smiles, it was now clear to everyone what had to be done to save the rest of the neglected field. Helda and Orvi swiftly folded makeshift flasks out of enormous leaves they snapped from a nearby tree, sealing the fresh wounds immediately so the tree wouldn’t get infected. Having finished the quick arts n’ crafts class, they rushed to the stream to fill the leafy pouches with the cool and clean liquid before they returned to the droughted flowerbeds, pouring the whole thing right on top of the nearly dead plants. As Helda and Orvi turned back to get refills, Eislynn utilized her magic trick once again to bring the watered cabbages back from the edge of the other side.

   This is how they worked for a while, until Eislynn had to take a little break to recharge her mana as this precise work was rather taxing. Helda showed interest in taking over, so Eislynn taught her how to do it. As talented as Helda was, it didn’t take long at all before she was capable of pulling the water into plants’ vascular pathways herself, thanks to which Orvi and Eislynn could continue carrying water for the remaining victims.

   When all of the funky cabbages had been soaked, Orvi and Eislynn watched how Helda nurtured the last ones back to life, after which all three admired the charitable deed they had done. Slightly tired Helda extended her forepaw towards Orvi to get a high-five, and he didn’t leave her hanging. With the same energy she also expected one from Eislynn, and to her great joy, the shy reserved Runner graced Helda with a very sisterly one.

“Well, what do we have here?”

   Everyone turned to look behind them in unison, where they found a beautiful hairy Haedian observing them with a friendly smile. When and how he got there, none of the topsiders had a slightest clue.

“Looks like my student Ghedren has forgotten his tasks again. Those cabbages are extremely lucky that you three decided to save them from certain death. Also, greetings, surface-walkers, I am Auris, head of the Druids, and you have my sincere thanks for caring for this field.”

   The Vayrons didn’t sense any threat from the pleasant gentleman, so they introduced themselves to him in return and Helda humbly smiled how saving these plants was simply the right thing to do. Auris nodded agreeingly, still a delighted smile on his lips before his eyes narrowed for a brief moment as he got an idea.

“Since all of you showed such great care towards these plants, may I show you something else? Please, follow me.”

   Not being able to resist such a tempting offer, all three had absolutely nothing against seeing more of this magical underground forest and the exciting secrets it held.