In a world where the lingering moonlit remnants roam the earth, lies a dense woodlands known as the Forest of Cackling Trees. It was given that moniker for if one listened closely on a day of violent winds, the wind that would blow through the tree bark sounding like the chittering of teeth that merged into an old raspy laughter. Within these woods emerged Fireside, a small impoverished town secluded from the other major cities only keeping itself afloat with strong tourism and the occasional trade with other local communities inside the woods. 

Fireside was built along a clean river crossing into a sandy beach. The beach itself wasn't much of a spectacle but every few nights, a vast bunch of rocky gray flowers would appear and float on the surface river. These flowers would travel much more slowly than the current, as through wanting to be admired as it traveled through the beach and into the ocean, disappearing in a bright collection of moon light before the sun comes up.

David had come to Fireside to be one of the many to see this wonder in person. He was a withered middle aged man with a long gray beard cascading down to his chest like a waterfall and a smooth bald head. He is a sickly man with sunken blue eyes wearing small round glasses and a pointed purple hat that reaches just above his eyes. He wears a thick black robe that stretches to his knees with plenty of pockets within the interior. Being a very cold man, each pocket is surrounded by clean white fur stitched to his robes and on his feet were thick fur boots well equipped for long distance travel. The Forest of Cackling Trees by themselves weren't as dangerous as the rocky wasteland that surrounded it and David had made sure to avoid coming on a windy day to avoid the laughter of the trees. He was an avid scholar of many subjects and had personal interest in plants with magical properties which only amplified his curiosity of the Fireside event.

When he was told by the townsfolk and other tourists that the event wouldn't be happening until the next day, he was disappointed. He resigned himself to a dingy hotel at the far side of town and noticed that many of the rooms seemed barely hospitable for humans looking ruined with basic comforts such as degraded beanbags, dimly lit lanterns, and minimal furniture. Dismayed by the flatline quality of these rooms, he pays for the most expensive one hoping that the increase in price correlates with an increase in quality but as he is given the key and approaches the top most floor. His expectations are lowered when he finds that the wooden door is tilting from the loose metal hinges; he pushed the door aside and entered the room to find that it wasn't much better. It was a large single room with a sliding door leading to a closet and a single broken window. There were dirty floorboards that creaked with an orange foam within the gaps and upon opening the closet, finds it featureless with an assortment of old cleaning supplies.

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David: "No wonder this place is in the gutter" He says in muttered breath as he closes the sliding door.

He looks over at the beanbag laying sadly under the dim lantern hanging from the ceiling. The fire inside flickers and with a brief cold gust from the outside wind, the flame is snuffed and the room goes dark. His gaze tiredly drifts from the unlit lantern to the window near the back of the room. A view of the entire town is visible along with much of the woodlands, watching the gentle chill blow through the leafy greens his eyes drag to the beach and the ocean beyond. He thinks back to his dwindling life, but if it weren't for his frail skin being a habitual and frequent reminder, he wouldn't mind it at all.

David: "Get a hold of yourself" He says with self resignation, covering himself more thoroughly as he lays on the tired beanbag. 

He closes his weathered eyes, feeling the floor struggle to support his weight. The thin covers of the bean bag do little to warm against the icy breeze and his mind wavers as it falls into dream..... 

He suddenly felt lightweight followed by a sharp pain entering from his spine and erupting through his stomach. The pain was so violent yet so brief that the next time he opened his eyes, he found himself floating a few feet above the sand of the beach.