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"You're not to go out there Eluned, I forbid it."
Eluned's mother's voice echoed in her mind as she stuffed clothes and snacks into a worn canvas bag as quietly as she could.
A warm midnight breeze blew in from her bedroom window, which she had set ajar earlier that day to avoid having to wrench it's stiff hinges open at night, which would have made a right uproar.
Eluned sat back on her bed and wiped her brow, glimpsing herself in the mirror across the room. Really, she wasn't sure what her mother expected of her. She'd sent her to warrior school, did she think that after it all she'd settle down and become a housewoolyne? She scoffed to herself. Defying her mother's wishes had become commonplace in their relationship, though it was clear her mother had hopes she would transform into an obedient child.
Yeah, right.
“Odysse is too far too long to travel for a mount, Eluned. You would have to cross deserts! And all for a bird? Eluned darling, why can't you just get a nikyak off Tej, he's got a good range this year! Isn't working as a warrior in Orlion so much easier?"
Eluned recalled her previous conversation with her mother, her words stinging, though she never meant them to.
Eluned didn't want easy, she wanted challenging. Challenge built character, and character was crucial for leaving a legacy.
Her mother had always been far too overprotective, especially for somewool who had adopted countless times and had had to see over a dozen of her children leave the nest. Even as she aged, her apprehension for her children's wild journeys remained and had clearly rubbed off on most of Eluned's siblings. The majority of them worked in Orlion or one of the surrounding towns, and Aber and Pippi still lived at home.
Eluned shoved a flask of water in her bag, wondering how exactly she was going to manage to carry a large backpack with her for a 2-day trip. She shook the thought from her mind and carefully lay her warrior outfit into the bag too, putting it on top in case she needed it on the way. She had never been through the mountains to get to the eastern stretch of Andras before, with her home being in Orlion and her school being in Seawynne, she hadn’t travelled much. This made her mother worry even more.
But Eluned was a young adult now, and as her warrior training school was over, she would have to move out soon, too. This was just one step of many to getting to be an adult! She had decided that it was time to get a mount, and despite her parent's pleas, she WAS going to go and see some drakern. She’d heard many stories of Sparrow, mainly from travellers coming into Orlion with drakern of their own. She had even saved up as much as she could from helping in her mother's workshop to purchase one, and they weren’t the cheapest of amenities.
Eluned realised the time -12:15 am- and scrambled to find a scrap of paper. She would miss the nightyak taxis if she didn’t hurry up. She grabbed a piece of parchment from a drawer and a quill and scribbled a note to her parents.
“Dearest Mamma and Pappa,
I will be gone for a few days, four at most. Do not worry yourselves, I will be safe with a friend! I need some independence.
Love, your youngest
Eluned x”
She didn’t bother including the fact she would be going to get a mount, and her friend would be a new draken. Besides, if she did, they would try to come after her to keep watch- and Eluned didn’t need more judging eyes while she learnt how to fly on a giant bird.
Eluned placed the note on her desk and heaved her backpack on, and snuck out the window.
Her hooves were thankfully supported by the higgledy-piggledy old bricks, and she knew her way down from sneaking out before to train privately. On her first time down, she had misplaced a hoof and fallen butt first into the plants below, bruising her bottom spectacularly. She hadn't said anything when her father grumbled about kids ruining his poppies.
She reached the ground safely, treading around the poppies and ran down through the hills, keeping an eye on her pocket watch so she wouldn't miss her ride. She arrived at the travel station panting, but five minutes before departure. To one side there were travellers with their drakerns, and a few taxi drakern with their riders snoozing. One brightly coloured woolyne chatting with a rider caught her eye, a woolie she knew as Diego. She jogged up to him, calling his name in a shout that she tried to hush. A sleeping drakern rustled its feathers and opened one eye, glaring. Diego looked over and beamed. “Why if it isn’t Eluned!”
Eluned grinned and hugged her old friend. “Diego! What a surprise! I didn’t know you were in Orlion, why haven’t you visited us yet??” She teased.
Diego winked. “Ah, I’m only here for a layover darlin’. Heading out to Odysse, aren’t I? Gotta get that early start!”
Eluned perked up. “Odysse? Why that’s where I’m heading too! How exciting! I’m here to catch a nikyak!”
“Ahh, going via the valleys and then the desert north of Ur-bahn, yes? A good route choice. But you’re going with that huge rucksack, on a Nikyaxi? You must be mad!”
Eluned glanced at her backpack and then to the other woolyne boarding. They all had relatively small luggage in comparison and were still trying to stack as carefully as they could.
“What’s in that giant sack anyway?” Diego peered at it.
“Uh...clothes, food, drinks, armour, a first aid kit, a blanke-”
“Whoa there!” Diego laughed. “I think it’s clear you won't be getting far with that weighing you down. I can take it, and meet you at Odysse if it would be helpful!”
Eluned squinted suspiciously at him. Diego flinched.
“Ay, miss, what on earth is that vicious glare for?”
“What do you want in return?”
Diego bellowed, catching the attention of everyone in the station.
“Nothing I promise! Just thought it would be a kind gesture! I’m dropping a package for a pal in Odysse anyway, so I might as well take yours too!”
Eluned’s expression freed, and she smiled. “Well, in that case, you would be very helpful! Where should I pick it up?”
“Odysse central nikyak station would be good if you know where it is.”
“I’ll find it.” Eluned nodded and smiled, dropping the backpack off her back.
“Just make sure you have some coins and your tickets if I’m taking your supplies. And off you go, before the herd leaves!”
Eluned took Diego's hand earnestly and murmured. “Thank you, really.” Before hugging him with a strong arm. It hadn't been the first time Diego had helped out her family, he’d in fact known them for years. He always outdid himself with his warm generosity. Though it probably helped he had wings.
Eluned grabbed her tickets and her coin pouch and ran towards the nikyaks.
The herd travelling to Seawynne were mounting and getting ready to leave. Eluned flashed her ticket to one of the riders and he hauled her up onto a beast of a nikyak, carrying 5 passengers now. Eluned forgot how well Tej bred his yaks, the ones for the travel services were always so huge and docile, though of course, this meant they weren't fast but they were formidably strong and had great stamina. Eluned had considered a nikyak as a mount but had quickly decided due to her need to want to travel quickly and precisely, a drakern would be best. She knew how they needed a much firmer hand than Nikyaks, but she wasn't one to shy away from a challenge.
Nikyaks were so sweet though.
A rider blew his whistle, indicating this herd was ready to travel, and off they started at a steady and swift pace, as Eluned waved at Diego, feeling way freer. She would need to pack lighter next time.
Eluned had travelled in these taxi herds to get to Seawynne for school before, so she knew that taking night herd taxis was far cheaper than going by the single taxis in the day. She also knew that most night taxi services almost exclusively travelled in herds due to the safety guaranteed in numbers. Travelling solo left you at the peril of all sorts of dangers, including quelliit, bandits, lycore, and to the more superstitious woolyne; myths such as the Fiend of Fenmoore.
Surely enough, as she was sat with four other sleepy looking woolyne, the safe feeling of the herd left her sleepily dozing as they plodded on.
Eluned nodded on and off until dawn began to break, and they arrived at the coast. Eluned pet the nikyak for a few moments and lept off. It always seemed polite to thank the mounts for their hard work. The morning sun caught the sea and dazzled Eluned as she sped towards her boat. If she could get across the desert by the end of the day, she would be at Odysse in the early hours of the next morning. She was however slightly more interested in finding a comfy seat to sleep in on the ship. It didn’t take long for her to drift off into a deep slumber until she was tapped awake by one of the ship stewards.
“Excuse me miss. We’ve docked.”
Eluned jolted awake, catching the steward by surprise. She nodded her thanks, grabbed her coin purse and sped across the jetty and onto solid ground. She spotted a tourist map ahead of her, surrounded by woolyne who were clearly from the south, judging from their accents. She shuffled herself through them, apologizing as she bumped elbows more than once.
Eluned peered at the complex map, her eyes following the “you are here!” dot to the edge of the desert she was to travel. The hardest part of the journey, where she would have to go on foot. Eluned was convinced it would also be most fun, though it was probably her trying to make light of the fact she couldn't afford a mount across the deserts without splashing most of her saved money. Working mounts in the desert sun cost a small fortune.
‘Well,’ Eluned shaded her eyes as she gazed up at the warm sunshine. ‘If I alternately run and walk there, I can make it to the Odysse borders by tomorrow early morning lastest. Plus it will give me good training for potentially wrestling with a bird three times my size.’
Ever the optimist.
She clenched her purse, memorising the paths to the desert and marched onwards. She was going to prove to herself and her family that she was capable of anything she put her mind to. She just hoped there were water supplies on the way, as her mind flitted back to her backpack of supplies, probably in Odysse already.
~ ~ ~
Eluned didn't know how far along she was, but she was drenched with sweat. It had been a good few hours since she started walking, and though she had run about half the time so far, she still hadn't passed any oasis or halfway mark. This was proving to be harder than she thought. Backpacking through a desert, in theory, was far easier. She thought of her mother, finding her note and calling for her father, and them both shaking their heads angrily. Her mother was probably already interrogating half the village on where she was and who this ‘friend’ was.
As her thoughts came back to the blazing sun and her trek, she spotted a white building with cut out windows sitting on a flat stretch of land off to the left. Eluned sighed with relief and made for the shelter, the prospects of cold water giving her a burst of energy as she ran.
A woolyne with a white headscarf was outside in the sheltered overlook of the roof, sloshing water into huge metallic bowls for the mounts resting outside. She caught Eluned's eye and smiled politely. “Go ahead inside, traveller. There is water and food if you are in need of it.”
Eluned almost dipped into a half bow, so thankful for a resting place.
“Thank you very much.” Eluned began to walk towards the door but paused on the handle. “Say, how far till the docks for the southern fjords?”
The woolyne looked up. “Why, it's still a little way. You're about a third of the way at this point.”
Eluned dipped her head in thanks, opening the door to a room full of tired and flushed travellers. A small but muscular woolyne approached her. “Welcome! Water, my good woolyne?” Eluned nodded desperately.
The woolyne grabbed a tin cup from a shelf and filled it with water, passing it to Eluned who took it and drank thirstily. The innkeeper smiled warmly. “You didn’t pack any water for a trip across a desert, young traveller? That’s an...unusual decision.”
Eluned set down the empty cup, and the innkeeper picked it back up and filled it again. “Well, no...I meant to but it’s a long story. I didn’t quite realise how vast the desert was either.” She shrugged with a resigned smile and sipped at her tin cup again. She spent a little while sitting down in the inn, rehydrating before she stood up to leave and head out. The innkeeper wished her good luck as she thanked them for their goodwill, and she set off reinvigorated and ready to finish the walk.
The sun was starting to feel cooler after a while, and it sat lower in the sky as the warm afternoon passed by. Eluned found herself much more energised after her pit stop and had been trekking non-stop for past few hours. The dunes were starting to get higher and deeper, which mean they were much fun to slide down, but a pain to climb back up. She couldn’t help having a bit of fun by running up and down the dunes, skidding in the soft sand, laughing, and getting on all fours to climb back up them. It tired her, but it was worth the enjoyment. What was the point in going on adventures if you took them too seriously?! However, she was entirely thankful that the part of the desert she had to cross was relatively small in comparison to most deserts in Andras. She didn’t fancy travelling for more than a day in a desert. Just as her body began to get weary, the dunes started to flatten out, and small cottages came into view, followed by the sparkle of the sea. Eluned let out a sigh of relief. The fjords, where she would catch her last boat across to Odysse. It was a few hours ride, and Eluned longed to put her feet up on a hammock and rest some more. In hindsight, she should have done more cardio for this trip.
~ ~ ~
Eluned spent most of her final boat trip in a deep sleep, waking up just as the boat reached Odysse. She got up and walked around on deck while they docked, peering up at the extremely vertical mountains that were iconic to Odysse’s landscape. As she clambered off the boat, still drowsy, she passed a small souvenir stall, full of geodes from caves and necklaces made with sea glass. A woven bracelet caught her eye, it was well made and tasteful. ‘Diego would like that.’ She used the last of her pennies in her pouch to buy it. It was the least she could do.
She asked the stall owner for directions to the nikyaxi station, who gave her such complicated descriptions of the route that Eluned left more confused. She didn’t want to keep him waiting, especially as it was night now, and she certainly didn't want to miss him, her bag contents were for too important-and expensive.
Finally though, through wandering the winding streets, she found the station, almost immediately spotting his bright pelt.
Diego gave Eluned his signature smile, welcoming her into a hug. “Good job junior ranger! You made it!”
Eluned laughed a tired laugh and embraced her strange friend. “Have you been waiting long?”
Diego shook his head. “Not long at all actually, I didn't expect you to arrive til morning but I came early just in case! Clearly, you don't mess about Lune!” He chuckled and Eluned shone with his praise, which meant a lot considering he was an expert at travel.
“Here is your bag! Safe and sound!” He swung her backpack at her and she caught it with both arms.
“I can't thank you enough. I picked this up to say thanks!” She handed him the paper wrapped bracelet, his eyes sparkling as he opened it. “Grouse! This is lovely Eluned, thank you.” He seemed genuinely warmed by the gesture. “Really, it was nothing helping you out, you’ll have enough to do with a new drakern on your hands.”
Eluned was about to agree but then paused. Eluned hadn't mentioned why she was travelling, so how would he know…
“Drakern?” She questioned. “When did I mention a drakern?”
Diego froze, and his ears dropped back. He let out a low embarrassed groan. “Alright, alright... you got me! Your parents asked me to help you out, alright?”
“But ho-” Eluned started, shocked.
“Lune, they knew as soon as you argued yesterday with your parents about it that you were going to make plans.” He laughed at her amused expression, glad she wasn't upset. “Your stubborness makes you easy to predict, love.”
Eluned held back a laugh, trying to wrap her head around it. She cringed at the fact her parents had predicted her plans.
Diego laughed at her expression again. “I'm sorry for going undercover, but they were worried and I was in town. I wanted to help!”
They knew the whole time! She felt both annoyed and relieved at her parents.Eluned burst into laughter, which started Diego off, and they stood in a nikyak shelter in the early morning in hysterics, tears rolling down her cheeks at the bizarreness of it all.
‘So much for adulthood.’ Eluned thought, wheezing. And certainly the most strange start to getting a mount.

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This is a photostudy/reference I've wanted to make into an exploration image for Eluned for quite some time !! IM///actually,,really proud of this cause I didn't colour pick from the image at all and just chose all the colours free hand......I THINK MY PHOTOSTUDIES ARE HELPING !! the original photo is from pixabay! took about 2-3 hours in photoshop !!!! it actually took me like. a little bit of forever to write the desc. though CAUSE I JUST GOT SO INVESTED PPPPPPFFF idk if there a limit to the +1000 words bonus so really i just went for it !!!!!!! alot of fun to write and im glad i got it done even tho i got stuck quite a few times !!!

- Registration sheet(s):
Eluned | Woolyne Registration
Diego (Woolyne) Registration - Shards:
+ 1 for the exploration entry
+ 2 for extra registered woolyne
+ 4 for 1000 words
+ 4 for 1000 words
+ 4 for 1000 words
+ 4 for complex backgroundTOTAL:
19 shards

Please do not re-post, trace, steal, or use this or any of my artworks!

Characters © Hevirago & LizardLizard

Artwork © Hevirago
- Please refrain from using my art as avatars, ID's or reposting my art without my written permission, you will either be told to take it down promptly or reported effectively. Thank you! -

Description

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"You're not to go out there Eluned, I forbid it."
Eluned's mother's voice echoed in her mind as she stuffed clothes and snacks into a worn canvas bag as quietly as she could.
A warm midnight breeze blew in from her bedroom window, which she had set ajar earlier that day to avoid having to wrench it's stiff hinges open at night, which would have made a right uproar.
Eluned sat back on her bed and wiped her brow, glimpsing herself in the mirror across the room. Really, she wasn't sure what her mother expected of her. She'd sent her to warrior school, did she think that after it all she'd settle down and become a housewoolyne? She scoffed to herself. Defying her mother's wishes had become commonplace in their relationship, though it was clear her mother had hopes she would transform into an obedient child.
Yeah, right.
“Odysse is too far too long to travel for a mount, Eluned. You would have to cross deserts! And all for a bird? Eluned darling, why can't you just get a nikyak off Tej, he's got a good range this year! Isn't working as a warrior in Orlion so much easier?"
Eluned recalled her previous conversation with her mother, her words stinging, though she never meant them to.
Eluned didn't want easy, she wanted challenging. Challenge built character, and character was crucial for leaving a legacy.
Her mother had always been far too overprotective, especially for somewool who had adopted countless times and had had to see over a dozen of her children leave the nest. Even as she aged, her apprehension for her children's wild journeys remained and had clearly rubbed off on most of Eluned's siblings. The majority of them worked in Orlion or one of the surrounding towns, and Aber and Pippi still lived at home.
Eluned shoved a flask of water in her bag, wondering how exactly she was going to manage to carry a large backpack with her for a 2-day trip. She shook the thought from her mind and carefully lay her warrior outfit into the bag too, putting it on top in case she needed it on the way. She had never been through the mountains to get to the eastern stretch of Andras before, with her home being in Orlion and her school being in Seawynne, she hadn’t travelled much. This made her mother worry even more.
But Eluned was a young adult now, and as her warrior training school was over, she would have to move out soon, too. This was just one step of many to getting to be an adult! She had decided that it was time to get a mount, and despite her parent's pleas, she WAS going to go and see some drakern. She’d heard many stories of Sparrow, mainly from travellers coming into Orlion with drakern of their own. She had even saved up as much as she could from helping in her mother's workshop to purchase one, and they weren’t the cheapest of amenities.
Eluned realised the time -12:15 am- and scrambled to find a scrap of paper. She would miss the nightyak taxis if she didn’t hurry up. She grabbed a piece of parchment from a drawer and a quill and scribbled a note to her parents.
“Dearest Mamma and Pappa,
I will be gone for a few days, four at most. Do not worry yourselves, I will be safe with a friend! I need some independence.
Love, your youngest
Eluned x”
She didn’t bother including the fact she would be going to get a mount, and her friend would be a new draken. Besides, if she did, they would try to come after her to keep watch- and Eluned didn’t need more judging eyes while she learnt how to fly on a giant bird.
Eluned placed the note on her desk and heaved her backpack on, and snuck out the window.
Her hooves were thankfully supported by the higgledy-piggledy old bricks, and she knew her way down from sneaking out before to train privately. On her first time down, she had misplaced a hoof and fallen butt first into the plants below, bruising her bottom spectacularly. She hadn't said anything when her father grumbled about kids ruining his poppies.
She reached the ground safely, treading around the poppies and ran down through the hills, keeping an eye on her pocket watch so she wouldn't miss her ride. She arrived at the travel station panting, but five minutes before departure. To one side there were travellers with their drakerns, and a few taxi drakern with their riders snoozing. One brightly coloured woolyne chatting with a rider caught her eye, a woolie she knew as Diego. She jogged up to him, calling his name in a shout that she tried to hush. A sleeping drakern rustled its feathers and opened one eye, glaring. Diego looked over and beamed. “Why if it isn’t Eluned!”
Eluned grinned and hugged her old friend. “Diego! What a surprise! I didn’t know you were in Orlion, why haven’t you visited us yet??” She teased.
Diego winked. “Ah, I’m only here for a layover darlin’. Heading out to Odysse, aren’t I? Gotta get that early start!”
Eluned perked up. “Odysse? Why that’s where I’m heading too! How exciting! I’m here to catch a nikyak!”
“Ahh, going via the valleys and then the desert north of Ur-bahn, yes? A good route choice. But you’re going with that huge rucksack, on a Nikyaxi? You must be mad!”
Eluned glanced at her backpack and then to the other woolyne boarding. They all had relatively small luggage in comparison and were still trying to stack as carefully as they could.
“What’s in that giant sack anyway?” Diego peered at it.
“Uh...clothes, food, drinks, armour, a first aid kit, a blanke-”
“Whoa there!” Diego laughed. “I think it’s clear you won't be getting far with that weighing you down. I can take it, and meet you at Odysse if it would be helpful!”
Eluned squinted suspiciously at him. Diego flinched.
“Ay, miss, what on earth is that vicious glare for?”
“What do you want in return?”
Diego bellowed, catching the attention of everyone in the station.
“Nothing I promise! Just thought it would be a kind gesture! I’m dropping a package for a pal in Odysse anyway, so I might as well take yours too!”
Eluned’s expression freed, and she smiled. “Well, in that case, you would be very helpful! Where should I pick it up?”
“Odysse central nikyak station would be good if you know where it is.”
“I’ll find it.” Eluned nodded and smiled, dropping the backpack off her back.
“Just make sure you have some coins and your tickets if I’m taking your supplies. And off you go, before the herd leaves!”
Eluned took Diego's hand earnestly and murmured. “Thank you, really.” Before hugging him with a strong arm. It hadn't been the first time Diego had helped out her family, he’d in fact known them for years. He always outdid himself with his warm generosity. Though it probably helped he had wings.
Eluned grabbed her tickets and her coin pouch and ran towards the nikyaks.
The herd travelling to Seawynne were mounting and getting ready to leave. Eluned flashed her ticket to one of the riders and he hauled her up onto a beast of a nikyak, carrying 5 passengers now. Eluned forgot how well Tej bred his yaks, the ones for the travel services were always so huge and docile, though of course, this meant they weren't fast but they were formidably strong and had great stamina. Eluned had considered a nikyak as a mount but had quickly decided due to her need to want to travel quickly and precisely, a drakern would be best. She knew how they needed a much firmer hand than Nikyaks, but she wasn't one to shy away from a challenge.
Nikyaks were so sweet though.
A rider blew his whistle, indicating this herd was ready to travel, and off they started at a steady and swift pace, as Eluned waved at Diego, feeling way freer. She would need to pack lighter next time.
Eluned had travelled in these taxi herds to get to Seawynne for school before, so she knew that taking night herd taxis was far cheaper than going by the single taxis in the day. She also knew that most night taxi services almost exclusively travelled in herds due to the safety guaranteed in numbers. Travelling solo left you at the peril of all sorts of dangers, including quelliit, bandits, lycore, and to the more superstitious woolyne; myths such as the Fiend of Fenmoore.
Surely enough, as she was sat with four other sleepy looking woolyne, the safe feeling of the herd left her sleepily dozing as they plodded on.
Eluned nodded on and off until dawn began to break, and they arrived at the coast. Eluned pet the nikyak for a few moments and lept off. It always seemed polite to thank the mounts for their hard work. The morning sun caught the sea and dazzled Eluned as she sped towards her boat. If she could get across the desert by the end of the day, she would be at Odysse in the early hours of the next morning. She was however slightly more interested in finding a comfy seat to sleep in on the ship. It didn’t take long for her to drift off into a deep slumber until she was tapped awake by one of the ship stewards.
“Excuse me miss. We’ve docked.”
Eluned jolted awake, catching the steward by surprise. She nodded her thanks, grabbed her coin purse and sped across the jetty and onto solid ground. She spotted a tourist map ahead of her, surrounded by woolyne who were clearly from the south, judging from their accents. She shuffled herself through them, apologizing as she bumped elbows more than once.
Eluned peered at the complex map, her eyes following the “you are here!” dot to the edge of the desert she was to travel. The hardest part of the journey, where she would have to go on foot. Eluned was convinced it would also be most fun, though it was probably her trying to make light of the fact she couldn't afford a mount across the deserts without splashing most of her saved money. Working mounts in the desert sun cost a small fortune.
‘Well,’ Eluned shaded her eyes as she gazed up at the warm sunshine. ‘If I alternately run and walk there, I can make it to the Odysse borders by tomorrow early morning lastest. Plus it will give me good training for potentially wrestling with a bird three times my size.’
Ever the optimist.
She clenched her purse, memorising the paths to the desert and marched onwards. She was going to prove to herself and her family that she was capable of anything she put her mind to. She just hoped there were water supplies on the way, as her mind flitted back to her backpack of supplies, probably in Odysse already.
~ ~ ~
Eluned didn't know how far along she was, but she was drenched with sweat. It had been a good few hours since she started walking, and though she had run about half the time so far, she still hadn't passed any oasis or halfway mark. This was proving to be harder than she thought. Backpacking through a desert, in theory, was far easier. She thought of her mother, finding her note and calling for her father, and them both shaking their heads angrily. Her mother was probably already interrogating half the village on where she was and who this ‘friend’ was.
As her thoughts came back to the blazing sun and her trek, she spotted a white building with cut out windows sitting on a flat stretch of land off to the left. Eluned sighed with relief and made for the shelter, the prospects of cold water giving her a burst of energy as she ran.
A woolyne with a white headscarf was outside in the sheltered overlook of the roof, sloshing water into huge metallic bowls for the mounts resting outside. She caught Eluned's eye and smiled politely. “Go ahead inside, traveller. There is water and food if you are in need of it.”
Eluned almost dipped into a half bow, so thankful for a resting place.
“Thank you very much.” Eluned began to walk towards the door but paused on the handle. “Say, how far till the docks for the southern fjords?”
The woolyne looked up. “Why, it's still a little way. You're about a third of the way at this point.”
Eluned dipped her head in thanks, opening the door to a room full of tired and flushed travellers. A small but muscular woolyne approached her. “Welcome! Water, my good woolyne?” Eluned nodded desperately.
The woolyne grabbed a tin cup from a shelf and filled it with water, passing it to Eluned who took it and drank thirstily. The innkeeper smiled warmly. “You didn’t pack any water for a trip across a desert, young traveller? That’s an...unusual decision.”
Eluned set down the empty cup, and the innkeeper picked it back up and filled it again. “Well, no...I meant to but it’s a long story. I didn’t quite realise how vast the desert was either.” She shrugged with a resigned smile and sipped at her tin cup again. She spent a little while sitting down in the inn, rehydrating before she stood up to leave and head out. The innkeeper wished her good luck as she thanked them for their goodwill, and she set off reinvigorated and ready to finish the walk.
The sun was starting to feel cooler after a while, and it sat lower in the sky as the warm afternoon passed by. Eluned found herself much more energised after her pit stop and had been trekking non-stop for past few hours. The dunes were starting to get higher and deeper, which mean they were much fun to slide down, but a pain to climb back up. She couldn’t help having a bit of fun by running up and down the dunes, skidding in the soft sand, laughing, and getting on all fours to climb back up them. It tired her, but it was worth the enjoyment. What was the point in going on adventures if you took them too seriously?! However, she was entirely thankful that the part of the desert she had to cross was relatively small in comparison to most deserts in Andras. She didn’t fancy travelling for more than a day in a desert. Just as her body began to get weary, the dunes started to flatten out, and small cottages came into view, followed by the sparkle of the sea. Eluned let out a sigh of relief. The fjords, where she would catch her last boat across to Odysse. It was a few hours ride, and Eluned longed to put her feet up on a hammock and rest some more. In hindsight, she should have done more cardio for this trip.
~ ~ ~
Eluned spent most of her final boat trip in a deep sleep, waking up just as the boat reached Odysse. She got up and walked around on deck while they docked, peering up at the extremely vertical mountains that were iconic to Odysse’s landscape. As she clambered off the boat, still drowsy, she passed a small souvenir stall, full of geodes from caves and necklaces made with sea glass. A woven bracelet caught her eye, it was well made and tasteful. ‘Diego would like that.’ She used the last of her pennies in her pouch to buy it. It was the least she could do.
She asked the stall owner for directions to the nikyaxi station, who gave her such complicated descriptions of the route that Eluned left more confused. She didn’t want to keep him waiting, especially as it was night now, and she certainly didn't want to miss him, her bag contents were for too important-and expensive.
Finally though, through wandering the winding streets, she found the station, almost immediately spotting his bright pelt.
Diego gave Eluned his signature smile, welcoming her into a hug. “Good job junior ranger! You made it!”
Eluned laughed a tired laugh and embraced her strange friend. “Have you been waiting long?”
Diego shook his head. “Not long at all actually, I didn't expect you to arrive til morning but I came early just in case! Clearly, you don't mess about Lune!” He chuckled and Eluned shone with his praise, which meant a lot considering he was an expert at travel.
“Here is your bag! Safe and sound!” He swung her backpack at her and she caught it with both arms.
“I can't thank you enough. I picked this up to say thanks!” She handed him the paper wrapped bracelet, his eyes sparkling as he opened it. “Grouse! This is lovely Eluned, thank you.” He seemed genuinely warmed by the gesture. “Really, it was nothing helping you out, you’ll have enough to do with a new drakern on your hands.”
Eluned was about to agree but then paused. Eluned hadn't mentioned why she was travelling, so how would he know…
“Drakern?” She questioned. “When did I mention a drakern?”
Diego froze, and his ears dropped back. He let out a low embarrassed groan. “Alright, alright... you got me! Your parents asked me to help you out, alright?”
“But ho-” Eluned started, shocked.
“Lune, they knew as soon as you argued yesterday with your parents about it that you were going to make plans.” He laughed at her amused expression, glad she wasn't upset. “Your stubborness makes you easy to predict, love.”
Eluned held back a laugh, trying to wrap her head around it. She cringed at the fact her parents had predicted her plans.
Diego laughed at her expression again. “I'm sorry for going undercover, but they were worried and I was in town. I wanted to help!”
They knew the whole time! She felt both annoyed and relieved at her parents.Eluned burst into laughter, which started Diego off, and they stood in a nikyak shelter in the early morning in hysterics, tears rolling down her cheeks at the bizarreness of it all.
‘So much for adulthood.’ Eluned thought, wheezing. And certainly the most strange start to getting a mount.

»»-------------¤-------------««

This is a photostudy/reference I've wanted to make into an exploration image for Eluned for quite some time !! IM///actually,,really proud of this cause I didn't colour pick from the image at all and just chose all the colours free hand......I THINK MY PHOTOSTUDIES ARE HELPING !! the original photo is from pixabay! took about 2-3 hours in photoshop !!!! it actually took me like. a little bit of forever to write the desc. though CAUSE I JUST GOT SO INVESTED PPPPPPFFF idk if there a limit to the +1000 words bonus so really i just went for it !!!!!!! alot of fun to write and im glad i got it done even tho i got stuck quite a few times !!!

- Registration sheet(s):
Eluned | Woolyne Registration
Diego (Woolyne) Registration - Shards:
+ 1 for the exploration entry
+ 2 for extra registered woolyne
+ 4 for 1000 words
+ 4 for 1000 words
+ 4 for 1000 words
+ 4 for complex backgroundTOTAL:
19 shards

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Characters © Hevirago & LizardLizard

Artwork © Hevirago
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