Bed Head
I don't remember dreaming, and it felt as though I'd only just got to sleep when a sharp smack on the ass woke me.
"Geezus Hooker, have a little modesty!" said Pauli as he stepped into the bathroom. I could hear him doing his morning routine, and drifted into a semi-conscious state. The morning sun was warm on my skin, and the noises outside the window seemed so far away. I heard Pauli say something, but I couldn't make out the words.
Suddenly I was awake again as Pauli leaned over the bed and said loudly "Do You Want Breakfast Hooker?!"
"Mmhm" I nodded.
"Then get yer lazy ass out of my bed and take a shower" he said, "you smell like sex and Jergens lotion!"
I rolled out of bed, still naked and made my way into the bathroom. I could hear Pauli behind me stripping the sheets off the bed.
"Christ, the fuckin' sheets are soaked" he mumbled, "who knew an elf could come so much!"
I started the shower and stepped in, the cool water helped wake me up a little more. He was right, I did smell like sex. My ass wasn't sore anymore though, and the slippery residue of the lotion washed right off.
I stepped out of the shower feeling like a new elf! Clean and wide awake, I toweled off and equipped my cut-offs and a tank top. I brushed my long cobalt blue hair and stepped out of the bathroom. The bed was made already, clean sheets and comforter in a deep rust red. The Dildo still hung from its straps on the closet door. I followed my nose to the kitchen where a fresh cup of coffee awaited me.
"Mmm...coffee!" I sighed happily.
"Yeah," he said, "I figured you could use coffee after the late night you had."
I felt myself blush.
"Wow" he chuckled, "You turn deeper blue when you blush. That's cool!"
"Guess you heard me, huh?" I said in a low voice.
"I'm pretty sure everyone within a two block radius heard you" he replied.
"Ugh, sorry 'bout that" I said, "I was just feeling a little...stimulated, if ya know what I mean."
"I get it" he said, "it's been an interesting few days since you've been here."
"Yeah, and it just keeps getting more interesting" I replied.
He was cooking breakfast for the both of us before he had to go in to work. I gratefully accepted the fried eggs and bacon and hastily devoured the meal.
"I got the dishes, brother." I said, "Don't want you to be late for work."
"Thanks" he said, "what else are you gonna do today?"
"I'll probably do some shopping" I said, "maybe practice a little herbalism."
As he finished getting ready for work, he chuckled "Herbalism, right. Is that what the kids are calling it these days?"
I knew Pauli was a stoner from way back, and gently explained that no, I was not gonna smoke a bowl, and that the herbs I would be hunting were purely medicinal in nature.
"Yeah, medicinal herb" he grinned, "that's exactly what I'm saying!"
"You're incorrigible!" I said, shaking my head.
He finished getting ready for work while I finished up the breakfast dishes.
"Hey Hooker" he said before he left, "see ya after work."
"I'll be here" I said.
"Great, see ya after I get off!" and out the door he went.
I puttered around the house, eventually equipping my leathers and whistling for my Hippogrif. If I focused on what I was looking for, I could find herbs for healing, physical enhancement, and even a boost of energy if I was lucky. I checked my cell phone and pulled up the Maps app. I charted a course that would take me out over the still wild portions of the island, while avoiding houses, roads, and no-fly zones. I mounted up and set off into the bright sky of the island morning.
When I got to the heavily forested area of the island, I started flying low and slow, looking for the tell-tale flash of golden light that would alert me to the presence of a usable herb. At this point, I was more or less running on auto-pilot. When I sensed a usable herb nearby, the Hippogrif would dive through the canopy and land near the desired herb. I didn't have to think about what I was doing, it was as if I was operating on muscle memory as I harvested the useful part of the herb.
After a few hours of low flying, exploration, and harvesting, I had enough herbs to start crafting some potions to replenish my supply. As I was about to return to the air, another changeling plunged through the canopy and pulled up short when they saw me standing by the herb "node".
A cute little gnomish woman hopped off her gyro-copter and, with a huge smile, introduced herself "Hi! I'm Picadilly" she said, "but you can call me Pica."
I knelt down so that we could see eye to eye and smiled, "Hi Pica" I responded, "I'm Eniari, but you can call me Eni."
Her smile was brilliant as we shook hands and added each other to our friends list. We chatted while she harvested from the herb "node".
"Thanks so much for showing some courtesy" she said, "are you from the Islands?"
"Nope, just on vacation." I said, "How bout you?"
"I was born here" she replied, "my family has been here for ages."
"How'd they feel about the shift?" I asked.
"They were a little shocked" she said, "but they've gotten used to it."
She finished harvesting what she needed and gave me a hug around the neck "Again, I really appreciate that you took a knee to chat with me. It sucks when tall folk just expect me to look up to them."
She climbed back onto her 'copter and off she went. I summoned my Hippogrif and headed back to Pauli's place. And now I knew a Mage on the islands.
Gone Shoppin'
As I was gliding in for a landing, I saw the Bartenders car in the drive-way. She had just pulled up and was getting out as I touched down on the grass.
"Good timing" I called, as I dismounted.
"Hiya Eni!" she said, "Ready to do some shopping?"
"Yep, but we can't be too long" I said, "I told Pauli I'd be here after he gets off."
"Please" she said, "all he's gonna do after he
