The mom looked nervous as she led me through the confusing paths of the shelter.
She kept looking at me every few seconds like I was going to disappear at any moment.
'With good reason, I suppose.'
I couldn't make heads or tails of where everything was, let alone figure out where we're going.
I mean, I tried to figure out where all of the paths went, but it was all so random. It felt like how a person with too much stuff crams everything in a single drawer.
There did seem to be a rhythm to everything but whatever it was, it wasn't of any fey designs I heard of.
'Actually, now that I think about it... "
I thought as I twisted my head to get a different view of the area.
'It does have something, but it's... patched up?'
It was hard to tell but there was a shadow of fey architecture hidden within this new design. It looked like someone had taken existing concepts and replaced half of them in order to make this dizzying, mazelike, design.
'But, why? What's the biggest difference between this design and others? Besides being confusing, of course.'
I sorely wished that I had my notebook as I struggled to put two and two together. It was on the tip of my wings-
'Wings!'
My eyes widened at the realization.
'But, what about them? I can tell that wings are the key, but why? This is why I need my notebook! To note things down so I can come back to them later with a clear head. Paper, I need paper or leaves! Anything to write this down.'
I quickly turned to the mother with a frantic expression.
Since she kept glancing at me, she instantly saw my expression and panicked.
"What's wrong do we need to go back?!"
She instinctively went to grab me, but stopped midway.
"No."
I shook my head.
"I just thought of something, and I wanted to write it down before I forget."
She heaved a sigh in relief.
"Don't scare me like that."
"Sorry."
I said guiltily.
'I shouldn't have asked. They already saved me once anyway, it's more than enough.'
We kept walking in silence until we reached a tunnel that opened into a large room. It had a rustic, slapped together asthetic. Inside was a counter with several baskets of supplies behind it. A bored looking fey was managing the space.
"We're looking for a notebook and something to write with."
'Wait, really?'
I thought in surprise, since actually getting what I asked for.
'Isn't this supposed to be a rescue operation? How come they have the resources to get me a notebook days before we head out?'
The fey behind the counter pulled out a list in noticeably tiny script.
"Look through this and tell me the numbers on the side, anything under a hundred credits."
'Credit? Are they giving stuff away?! Is it that hard to-! No, wait. It probably is more cost-efficient for someone to liquidate assets than figure out how to take it all with you in an emergency.'
I thought as I looked through everything.
'I wonder if a hundred credits is a lot?'
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
For my purposes? Yes, yes it was.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I walked out of the tunnel with a large cloth bag with a single strap. Like a satchel or purse except bigger.
I peeked inside to see several notebooks made of leaves, an even larger amount of ink sticks, a large brush, and a couple of fountain pens.
I felt a grin crawl onto my tired face and giggled to myself.
I knew the mom was looking at me weirdly, but I couldn't care less.
I laughed all the way back.