F'illub'iter found the landing a lot more unpleasant than the actual journey. Whilst fear was a powerful emotion, they found colliding rapidly with the ground, having your handheld baggage get thrown at the nearest tree, and needing to reorient yourself as your body stopped moving with your head firmly planted into the ground and your legs being propped upwards, took the biscuit.
Flipping themselves the right way round, dusting their clothes, helped ground them a little. They looked around, trying to take in their surroundings and, at the same time, locate a water source. The green thicket they found themselves in darkened the surrounding area so heavily, F'illub'iter started pacing in circles to get a better look. To say the surroundings were strange would have been an understatement. Melodic noises could be heard quietly from an unknown place periodically, while a few, grain-sized animals flew around. They wagered the melodic noises were made by 'Birds', their songs being noted as their signature perplexed F'illub'iter, why wouldn't any other animal want to be heard? The small animals they assumed were insects. Probably stay away from those, who knows what poisons they could carry.
"EY! OPEN THE DOOR! DID YOU FORGET I’M IN HERE?!" Someone shouted in a guttural voice from the ornate box.
F'illub'iter rushed to undo the lock and allow the homunculus out.
"Sor-" F'illub'iter said sheepishly.
"Nice landing sprite. Where's the hole in the ground you left?" The homunculus walked out, ignoring F'illub'iter.
"I did not choose to be thrown into the ground." F'illub'iter flew to try to cut off the homunculus's path.
"And I did not choose to imprint my face upon the door of my carriage either."
"Rude."
"I'm here to make sure you do your job, not to be nice."
"No, you're here to assist me!" F'illub'iter said clenching their fists in irritation.
" 'Sides of the same coin. We can't record shit in this forest if there's no people. Better find some, nobody will care about some fruit fly’s average day."
"Slow down, are you not ti- . Who am I kidding? You slept through everything. Well, I am tired, and we are making camp."
The homunculus groaned. "Okay. I'll grab firewood. Find us a good place for a tent."
"Did I package you with a name alongside that rudeness?"
"Nah."
"Well, it shall be my privilege. Now go off, I need time to think."
Eventually the sun started to set atop the dark green, tree crowns. F'illub'iter, flew in circles, taking in as many details as they could, trying to make preparations for the next day. To their surprise, there weren't that many animals, even though they could be heard nearly everywhere. Are they really good at hiding, or do they just not live here? they thought. With the day ending and night arriving, F'illub'iter felt a lot more comfortable flying faster, and less carefully. It was freeing to know that being spied on was increasingly more difficult, even if it meant more nosedives into bushes.
An unknown, guttural, staccato sound perked up F'illub'iter's ears. The noise sounded like ragged breathing, and ended in a loud bark. F'illub'iter landed on a nearby branch, to try to scout the source.
Torches. Others.
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"[***] away! Beast. [******], stay behind me! Don't let them get the deer! " The human in front shouted.
There were 2 humans. One standing in front of the other, one taller than the other. They were of different heights. Their face complexity suggested that the taller one, the one in front, was older. Both were short brown haired, wearing a darkly coloured pelt as a collar, and beneath, they wore yellow tunics. Their dressed up appearance reminded F'illub'iter that nights are cold when you aren't putting in effort. I should figure out a way to keep myself warm soon.
"Let me [~~~] [~~~] deer! They can have it!" The younger one pleaded.
"Do not." The older one swung the torch, and F'illub'iter noted down the poor form, it didn't even get close to the 'beast'. "Back! Filthy beast! We can drive them back."
F'illub'iter examined further, peeping from branch to branch to understand the scene better. The older one was carrying a bow of some kind on their back, while the deer had a few holes into its side. Amateurs for sure, but were they hunters, or poachers? Additionally the animals they were fighting were dogs, but bigger and sharper. Probably wolves, but couldn't be sure, dog breeds could get quite big. Were the humans the aggressors here? F'illub'iter struggled to find a justification that wasn't just 'malice'. On the other hand, the animals had one quick reason to why they would attack. Fresh carcass in undefended hands.
It was a Chronicler's job to record life before the cataclysm, and dead Others told no tales. F'illub'iter also acknowledged the possibility that they would be so grateful they might tell others to divulge more precious information. With that, it was settled, the Others would receive help, all F'illub'iter would need to do is set a scene, finding out the least toilsome path to reach it.
One of the 3 'beasts' was closer to the humans than the others. F'illub'iter wagered that they were following its lead, so if it would run, then all of them would run. They could change the Nature of the animal, make it cowardly, but there could be unexpected consequences. However, F'illub'iter's worries were dashed away by the reminder, most likely they will perish in the coming disaster, or will perish from inability to hunt, which did not bother F'illub'iter as much as losing out on the opportunity to start the mission on the best foot.
F'illub'iter glided downwards, onto the back of the wolf, then activated their Sprite-Sight, and got to work. Pulling away strands, moving them around, until what they identified as 'Courage' was located. They attempted to reduce it, weaken it but the animal started fighting back, resisting desperately against the outside influence, causing F'illub'iter to drop the correct strand.
"Look what you've made me do. It won't hurt, just stay still!" F'illub'iter spoke to the animal.
Grabbing Courage was more difficult now as the animal threw itself onto the ground, belly forward, trying to deny an open back. F'illub'iter spotted something related to movement, and struggled to reach it, almost grabbing unrelated properties, until finally, they managed to yank it, causing the 'beast' to freeze still, from the middle to the bottom. Holding it in 2 fingers, F'illub'iter started reducing the animal's courage.
Sharp pain flared from their shoulder, as they got yanked off prematurely. The strands leapt back into their place, messy and damaged, if a Fae would spot it, it would be instantly recognised as sloppy work. Hitting the ground, F'illub'iter looked to see what hurt them, only to see another one of the predators gazing into their eyes. For an eternity they were stuck in a stalemate, both unsure how to proceed without considerable hurt or pain.
A loud yelp, followed by a whimper caused the animal to retreat limping from a fresh wound. An arrow sticking out of its back leg, freshly dug, left blood marks upon the dirt. The pack retreated into the darkness, leaving their leader to attempt to crawl away, before a club hit it right in the temple. Three more hits followed, making sure it would not move again.
The 2 humans started arguing. F'illub'iter could not focus on them, as their lavish clothes were getting stained in crimson. There was sure to be something in their pack, only if they could get to it-
They were interrupted by a voice. One of the humans.
"Are y-you alright?" The bigger human was lending a hand, however, their face looked afraid.
"I need my bag." F'illub'iter spat out.
The smaller human knelt beside them with a strip of fabric, and a reluctant smile, as they started tying it to the now stinging wound.
F'illub'iter cringed, but reluctantly allowed the bandage to be tied.
"Yeah. I-I'm fine." F'illub'iter let out.
"What are you?" The little one said.
"[*****]! Don't ask it that!"
"It's okay." F'illub'iter intervened. "I a-also have questions. Information, for information."
"See, it's fine. Are you a pixie?" Said the young one.
F'illub'iter felt a tinge of anger at that slur. "No. No. I'm a graceful Fae."
"Can you grant wishes?"
"Anyone can. I consumed one of yours by saving you 2."
The older one slapped the head of the younger one, then spoke.
"What do you want? We don't have much, please don't take the deer."
"I said information. I am here as a 'Rememberer' of sorts. I make sure things that are worth remembering, will be remembered. With that, what is your name?"
The older one blushed with that statement. It saddened F'illub'iter that most humans lacked so much self-worth. With a bit more confidence, maybe they wouldn't be so harmful. Or was it the confidence that caused it? They thought to themselves.
"I am Pe-t-ruh. He's Ya-ni-s, we're brothers. Wait, you don't steal names right?"
"I think the elves were the ones who did that." Ianis chirped in.
"I wouldn't need to ask for them if I wanted to take them."
"You won't take my name right?" asked Ianis.
"No plans for that. But I'm not going to leave with just knowing who you are. I want to see where you stay, to record it. I want to know how wealthy you are, and with how many people you live. What settlements are there here? What kind of trade do you perform? Who is the king? And so much more!" F'illub'iter said, jumping to their feet.