The scent of pine and damp earth filled Elicia's lungs, a familiar perfume she'd breathed since she was a babe. One last time, she traced the rough-hewn wood of her cottage door, the feel of it grounding her. The small garden, usually bursting with life, seemed subdued, perhaps mirroring her feelings. A faint mist hung in the air, clinging to the ancient trees like a whispered secret.
Phaeton's tail twitched irritably as he brushed against Elicia's leg, a low rumble vibrating through his fur. He hadn't entirely forgiven her for this foolish escapade.
"It will be fun, Phaeton, don't worry." She said, looking down at her admittedly unusually large Maine Coon. "I promise."
She walked slowly, each step deliberate, taking in the familiar sights one last time. Sunlight dappled through the canopy, painting shifting patterns on the forest floor. The Whispering Woods lived up to its name; a soft whispering of leaves accompanied her every movement, a constant, gentle murmur. She paused at the edge of the makeshift path she made when she was a kid, her cottage from this point of view has turned smaller.
"I'll be back." Elicia murmured, her voice barely audible above the rustling leaves. The words weren't directed at anyone in particular; they were a promise whispered to the woods themselves, a thank you to the silent guardian that had sheltered her for so long. "Thank you." She breathed, the gratitude encompassing the trees, the animals, and the very earth beneath her feet, for their kindness and protection.
A sense of peace settled over her, a quiet acceptance of the unknown future. Then, with a deep breath and a last lingering look, she turned and began to walk once again, Phaeton trailing behind, his grumbles now a low, almost melodic accompaniment to the rustling leaves.
She walked through the thick of the woods with practiced ease. Soon, she reached the small clearing where she often found children, crying and lost. A smile painted her lips as she walked past the clearing and into the thick of the woods once again. She saw the trail from afar where most deer hunters will venture in hopes of catching a game, it was not a pleasant experience when a deer gets captured, leaving a fawn to fend for itself, but Elicia accepted it as a way of life, and never attempted to interfere with it. All she could do was tend to the small afflictions of the animals who would seek shelter in her small cottage.
Soon, the edges of the wood unfolded before Elicia, she stood beside an enormous oak where she could watch the familiar dirt path below, where she would occasionally and curiously watch travelers and villagers pass by. A place where she would lead the lost children so they could walk the familiar stretch of roads and go back to their families.
She smiled as she walked down the dirt path with a newfound lightness, her steps confident, her gaze bright.
The villagers greeted her with warm smiles and cheerful "Good days!"
Elicia, in turn, responded with her own bright greetings, her voice infused with a genuine warmth that put people instantly at ease. The air buzzed with the sounds of daily life – the chatter of children playing, the bellows of cattle and the clucking of several poultries in a nearby field, and the faint rattling of tractors from a distance away as farmers harvest their crops. It was a scene of vibrant life, a stark contrast to the tranquil solitude she was leaving behind.
As she walked, a kindly farmer and his wife, approached her in their sturdy hay cart. The farmer, a man with hands as rough as bark and eyes as clear as spring, offered her a ride. "Looks like you're headed to Oakhaven, lass." he said, his voice gruff and kind. "Hop in. We're heading there ourselves."
His wife, equally welcoming, nodded in agreement.
Overwhelmed with gratitude, Elicia accepted their generous offer, a wave of relief washing over her as she let Phaeton climb up the cart before following after him. "Thank you." She said, her voice filled with heartfelt appreciation. "That's incredibly kind of you."
"This is hardly anything compared to the help you've provided us." The wife said.
The wife's words confused Elicia but she made no further note of it.
The farmer, hummed a cheerful tune, as he began to guide the horse along the path expertly. For a moment, the gentle creaking of the cartwheels was the only sound in Elicia's ear.
The farmer's wife turned to Elicia, her gaze thoughtful. "Tell me, dearie," she began, her voice gentle, "what brings you out of the Whispering Woods today?"
The question took Elicia aback. "Oh," she stammered, slightly flustered, "I... I didn't realize people knew I lived there."
A hearty laugh rumbled from the farmer. "Knew? Why, the children speak of you often enough! 'The lady with the silvery-blue eyes and midnight black hair,' they call you. The one who leads lost children back to the road." He chuckled again, shaking his head.
"Half the village owes you a debt of gratitude."
His wife nodded, a wistful smile on her lips.
"Many have tried to thank you properly, lass, to offer their thanks for your kindness. But the woods have always prevented them from reaching you. The Whispering Woods have always rejected all who have tried to enter beyond its borders."
The cart rumbled on as Elicia stared out at the passing landscape, a mixture of surprise and a touch of awe filling her. She hadn't considered the impact of her quiet acts of kindness, the unseen network of gratitude that had grown around her in the depths of the Whispering Woods.
"I... I'm looking for someone." She confessed, answering the earlier question of the farmer's wife. "But, truth be told, I don't even know where to begin."
The farmer's wife's gaze softened with understanding. "There are guilds in larger towns that take on such commissions." she explained "They help people find missing loved ones or other... things. But those guilds expect payment for their services." She paused, then added with a knowing smile "If you've not got much coin, you might try your luck in Central Heardth, the capital."
Elicia's heart sank slightly at the mention of the distance. Of course, she'd heard of Central Heardth once or twice from the travelers she would watch from the edge of the woods. The capital was legendary, a city of wonders and opportunities, but also of crushing competition and harsh realities.
"Our firstborn works there as an apprentice knight." The farmer chuckled, a sign of what seemed to Elicia as affection. "Many people might say that living in the capital is cutthroat, but our son says otherwise. He's a pessimistic young lad, that boy, so for him to say that Central Heardth is a fine place to live in..." He chuckled again. "Well, you best believe it, eh, lass?"
"Thank you." She said, her voice sincere. "Thank you both for your kindness and advice."
The farmer's wife smiled warmly. "It's the least we can do, dearie." She said. "In fact, we'd be honored if you joined us for supper. It's a custom here in Oakhaven to share a warm supper with everyone present every night. It's a small gathering, really, to give thanks for a fulfilling harvest."
Elicia's eyes widened, touched by the unexpected invitation. "Thank you."