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When They Walk
Nov. 1st, 2021 03:10 amThe ocean waves sooth like a pleasant melody. Unlike the previous day’s anxieties, there is a sense of ease in the salt breeze. Hungry, Umlingo scavenges from the shark’s remains. The pieces of flesh that was not obliterated by the Eldritch Blast are charred and have the texture of leather. The elf stands while looking into the ocean. His gaze transfers to the far reaches of the beach. The black sand presents him with a newfound curiosity. Without any indication of where to be, Umlingo decides to investigate.
The transformation from squid to elf has lasting effects. Muscles and coordination fail to cooperate. Movement is clumsy, and Umlingo frequently finds himself planted in the sand. Once grounded, Umlingo slowly steadies himself upright while dusting off the black granules from his bare knees. He shakes his head from side to side. Now, the elf’s head resembles a child. The size and age differentiation frustrates Umlingo. He would rather be a complete child or a full-grown adult. Regardless, focusing on what cannot be altered will only create discomfort.
A piercing cry courses through the wind. The sound returns Umlingo’s attention to the external world. At first, he perceives that the wind is at fault. However, his pale pink eyes catch an object moving towards his direction. Nervous from the shark incident, Umlingo searches for cover. On the left, bramble adorns the beach. The elf stumbles behind the brush. Yet, to his dismay, the creature hovers in front of his poor hiding spot. An imp, the size of a small child, sniffs the air. The imp drops a leather bag to the sand. Bringing its wings upward, the creature prepares to land. Umlingo stares, unable to decide whether or not to attack. Upon closer observation, he realizes that the imp appears confused… Perhaps he is lost…
“What are…you after?” Umlingo’s words squeak out with difficulty.
The elf stands still. Both begin to stare at one another. With an extra sniff, the imp determines that the source of its search has been found. The creature scurries over as a dog would when visiting his master. Unnerved, Umlingo attempts to walk away. With one misstep, the elf crashes to the ground. He grunts in pain. The imp lunges affectionately into Umlingo; further, rubbing its head against the elf’s face. Umlingo shoves the creature off. For a moment, the imp stares with sad eyes. The creature’s emotion triggers Umlingo’s thoughts.
A vision flashes briefly in his mind. He sees himself clad in leather armor. Umlingo’s hand moves upward. A surge of magical energy courses to his index finger. While waving his hand in the air, Umlingo draws a sigil. With a burst of magic, a creature emerges.
“Impy!” Umlingo’s voice cracks as he breaks from the vision.
He stumbles over to the creature. Impy wags his scorpion tail in delight. Umlingo pats his head while avoiding the little devil’s horns. The imp returns his attention onto the leather bag. He bounces over to retrieve the mysterious bag and places it by Umlingo’s feet. The elf stares inquisitively with a tilt of his head. He bends down to observe item closely. Within the bag rests: a dagger; a small hand axe; a canteen; robes; a mysterious orb; a leather journal; ten incense sticks; and tiny, grey humanoid beings. Once the bag opens, out comes the strange creatures the size of mice. Impy stands back and hisses. Umlingo demands that he stops before the little devil would lash out onto the foreign entities.
“Look,” his child-like voice scratches his voice. With a cough, the elf continues to speak; “I think…that they’re doing…something.”
Curiosity takes hold of Umlingo, while watching the tinyling’s behavior. He stares with wide eyes. Suddenly, each of the grey creatures disappear into smoke. Once the mist clears, Umlingo spies a lantern. There, circling around the light, are new tiny beings.
“They’re friends,” Umlingo cheers.
Friends, he did not know the word before. Yet, the new word sounds pleasant. The elf kneels down to play with the tinylings. With his hand outreached, the tiny creatures begin to crawl and jump on the elf. Impy huffs and squats down next to his master. Soon, even the tinylings play with the imp’s tail. He raises his claws, then recoils after noticing Umlingo’s disapproving glance.
Eventually, the tiny friends return to the bag. Umlingo smiles as he notices that the lantern remains lit. He sets his gaze inside the bag. Pulling out a robe, he holds it out in front of him. Umlingo squints at the cloth while pondering its function. Impy nudges Umlingo’s leg. With the elf’s attention, the imp snuggles into the robe.
“Oh?” Umlingo muses with the imp’s assistance. Apparently, the little devil knows more than he does at the moment.
The robe is soft to the touch. Umlingo dons the black fabric. With a pleased grin, he pats Impy on the head. Should Umlingo’s voice feel more comfortable, then he would thank the creature out loud. Yet, Impy does not need words to understands his master’s appreciation. Umlingo places the bag onto his back. With determination in his eyes, the elf begins walking along the beach. The imp follows behind while flapping his wings.
A friend… Umlingo thinks to himself. Let’s find a friend and perhaps they may know more of this strange place.
The transformation from squid to elf has lasting effects. Muscles and coordination fail to cooperate. Movement is clumsy, and Umlingo frequently finds himself planted in the sand. Once grounded, Umlingo slowly steadies himself upright while dusting off the black granules from his bare knees. He shakes his head from side to side. Now, the elf’s head resembles a child. The size and age differentiation frustrates Umlingo. He would rather be a complete child or a full-grown adult. Regardless, focusing on what cannot be altered will only create discomfort.
A piercing cry courses through the wind. The sound returns Umlingo’s attention to the external world. At first, he perceives that the wind is at fault. However, his pale pink eyes catch an object moving towards his direction. Nervous from the shark incident, Umlingo searches for cover. On the left, bramble adorns the beach. The elf stumbles behind the brush. Yet, to his dismay, the creature hovers in front of his poor hiding spot. An imp, the size of a small child, sniffs the air. The imp drops a leather bag to the sand. Bringing its wings upward, the creature prepares to land. Umlingo stares, unable to decide whether or not to attack. Upon closer observation, he realizes that the imp appears confused… Perhaps he is lost…
“What are…you after?” Umlingo’s words squeak out with difficulty.
The elf stands still. Both begin to stare at one another. With an extra sniff, the imp determines that the source of its search has been found. The creature scurries over as a dog would when visiting his master. Unnerved, Umlingo attempts to walk away. With one misstep, the elf crashes to the ground. He grunts in pain. The imp lunges affectionately into Umlingo; further, rubbing its head against the elf’s face. Umlingo shoves the creature off. For a moment, the imp stares with sad eyes. The creature’s emotion triggers Umlingo’s thoughts.
A vision flashes briefly in his mind. He sees himself clad in leather armor. Umlingo’s hand moves upward. A surge of magical energy courses to his index finger. While waving his hand in the air, Umlingo draws a sigil. With a burst of magic, a creature emerges.
“Impy!” Umlingo’s voice cracks as he breaks from the vision.
He stumbles over to the creature. Impy wags his scorpion tail in delight. Umlingo pats his head while avoiding the little devil’s horns. The imp returns his attention onto the leather bag. He bounces over to retrieve the mysterious bag and places it by Umlingo’s feet. The elf stares inquisitively with a tilt of his head. He bends down to observe item closely. Within the bag rests: a dagger; a small hand axe; a canteen; robes; a mysterious orb; a leather journal; ten incense sticks; and tiny, grey humanoid beings. Once the bag opens, out comes the strange creatures the size of mice. Impy stands back and hisses. Umlingo demands that he stops before the little devil would lash out onto the foreign entities.
“Look,” his child-like voice scratches his voice. With a cough, the elf continues to speak; “I think…that they’re doing…something.”
Curiosity takes hold of Umlingo, while watching the tinyling’s behavior. He stares with wide eyes. Suddenly, each of the grey creatures disappear into smoke. Once the mist clears, Umlingo spies a lantern. There, circling around the light, are new tiny beings.
“They’re friends,” Umlingo cheers.
Friends, he did not know the word before. Yet, the new word sounds pleasant. The elf kneels down to play with the tinylings. With his hand outreached, the tiny creatures begin to crawl and jump on the elf. Impy huffs and squats down next to his master. Soon, even the tinylings play with the imp’s tail. He raises his claws, then recoils after noticing Umlingo’s disapproving glance.
Eventually, the tiny friends return to the bag. Umlingo smiles as he notices that the lantern remains lit. He sets his gaze inside the bag. Pulling out a robe, he holds it out in front of him. Umlingo squints at the cloth while pondering its function. Impy nudges Umlingo’s leg. With the elf’s attention, the imp snuggles into the robe.
“Oh?” Umlingo muses with the imp’s assistance. Apparently, the little devil knows more than he does at the moment.
The robe is soft to the touch. Umlingo dons the black fabric. With a pleased grin, he pats Impy on the head. Should Umlingo’s voice feel more comfortable, then he would thank the creature out loud. Yet, Impy does not need words to understands his master’s appreciation. Umlingo places the bag onto his back. With determination in his eyes, the elf begins walking along the beach. The imp follows behind while flapping his wings.
A friend… Umlingo thinks to himself. Let’s find a friend and perhaps they may know more of this strange place.
