Aurelia pulled her quartz out of her pocket at the base of the hillside. Luckily it was not damaged in her scuffle with Ola.
5 missed chimes from Claudia, displayed by 5 flashes from the quartz.
"I'm okay, met a Fae who led me out of Halen. Don't panic, she was nice. Almost at the Human realm. Love you"
Hopefully that would suffice. Claudia was her only contact and she couldn't leave the pack without express permission from the Alpha.
Aurelia took a deep breath and trudged on toward the town.
The sun was beginning to set, the sky was a gorgeous shade of lilac and the air was crisp. It was getting colder but at this exact moment, Aurelia could not care any less.
After an hour or so Aurelia arrived at the high fenced border of the Human town. Men stood atop the walls and called down to her.
"State your business!"
"My name is Aurelia, I seek shelter. I no longer have a home", she called back, unsure of what information to divulge.
"Species?", the guard called back.
"Umm...", Aurelia had to think fast. Her books stated that the humans and wolves had no fight but after her talks with Ola she had no idea how true that could be.
"Human."
'Shit. What if they can tell? What if they kill me?' Aurelia thought to herself.
But before she could fully comprehend what she had said, a small door opened not temn feet to her left. She was met by a plump, stern looking older woman with wild wiry brown hair.
"Roll up your sleeve and show me your arm", the woman barely looked at Aurelia. but she complied.
With that, the woman sprayed Aurelias skin with 2 bottles what looked like perfume and smelled amazing. She then pricked her skin with a needle also, and compared to the wounds to her back she barely felt it.
"Umm, what's all this for?", Aurelia asked. Completely dumbfounded but ever so curious.
"Wolfsbane, you're not a wolf. Nightshade, you're not a vampire. And iron needle, you're not a fae," the woman finally looked Aurelia in the eye, before looking her up and down.
"And guessing from the fact that you are not ugly and 3 feet tall, not a goblin. So welcome to Downstride. What brings you to us traveller?"
"I have no home, I need somewhere to stay", Aurelia admitted sheepishly. Her limbs were tired and she was in dire need of a bath and warm clothes.
It was Spring time in Valdera but the tears in her hoodie and shirt had her skin grow cold as the night drew in.
"Do you have any wares? I see you carry no posessions, you are wounded," the woman motioned to Aurelias back. Aurelia flinched slightly and adjusted her hair. She couldn't garuantee her safety if the woman recognised her birthmark, remembering Olas reaction.
"And I have never seen a human girl with hair of that colour." The woman reached out and troked Aurelias hair.
"How much for a lock of that hair, girl? I can pay you finely." The womans eyes widened at the prospect, and she looked back at Aurelias eyes.
"100 gold coins, but let me cut it myself." Aurelia thought on the spot. She knew no real value of money just assumed that would be enough to buy herself board and new clothes. She had no idea what a bargain she had just given this woman.
"DEAL!", the woman practically screamed. She pulled a pair of scissors as if from nowhere.
Aurelia grabbed a chunk of hair from the underside of her head from behind each ear and snipped.
She handed the woman her hair before pulling her hood up over her head and the woman counted 100 gold coins, then placed purse in Aurelias hand.
"Welcome to Downstride. The boarding house is in the centre of town called Peirce Place, you can't miss it. Tell them Lyla sent you" the womans eyes never left the clumps of Aurelias beautiful sapphire hair in her hands, and didn't even notice as Aurelia left.
Past Lylas round figure, Aurelia was now officially in the human realm. People wandered everywhere. There lights high on wires illuminating the streets. Buildings of stores and resturaunts, arms dealers and healing merchants. It was hard to concentrate on any one thing.
After a few minutes of walking through the streets, hugging herself from the now chill in the air, Aurelia spotted a clothing merchant.
She picked out a few t shirts, hoodies, jeans, a beanie hat, generic underwear and some combat boots. She had never been to a store before so it took a while to figure out the transaction progress.
She purchased a backpack at the owner desk, all in all only costing her 6 gold coins.
Her new mission, to find a bed and hot meal for the night.
Little did Aurelia know, a set of deep golden eyes had been following her since she walked through the gates fo Downstride. This being more agile than her friend the fae...