Ch. 2 -- A Home For Now
He awoke gently the next morning. It came to him slowly, he heard a soft humming. A soft feminine voice humming a quiet little tune. He became aware of someone or something gently stroking his hair. A gentle girlish voice whispered in his ear, "Wake up, gorgeous."
As his eyes fluttered open, he saw that he was still laying on the leaf that the creature had placed him on. He looked up as his eyes adjusted to the sunlight to see what he could only describe as an elf. There was no way that was right, he was hallucinating. His vision was still swimming slightly, there were still like sparks floating around his head. But he could think a little more clearly, he wasn't the mindless wanton... oh god what had he done. What the hell had happened. His heart jumped up into his throat as he remembered being attacked and... OH GOD. Just as his breathing began to quicken, the elf leaned down and looked directly into his eyes.
"Shhh shhhh, it's ok. You're safe. I promise you're safe." She cooed, running her fingers through his hair.
"But, that... it... I... I think I. Oh gods I liked it!" Gabriel's voice quaked at the memories of the day before and tears welled up in his eyes. It was all so much.
"Aww no. No tears, it's ok. It's ok to like it." She held his face in her hands.
As Gabriel looked back into her eyes, he felt the panic start to ease. His heartbeat was slowing ever so slightly. There was something soothing about her deep emerald green eyes, they seemed to shimmer almost hypnotically. His breathing slowed as she stoked the sides of his face. She released him and he slowly sat up, never taking his eyes from her. She handed him a leather back with a wood nipple on it, it squished in his hands and he realized it was a water skin. He pulled the cork and sniffed it before taking a drink. It was cool clear almost sweet water, the best he'd ever had.
"My name is Gabriel. I don't know where I am." He breathed, still clearly shaken.
"It's so good to meet you, I'm Ethreal Foxglove of clan Oakheart. My friends call me Eth, so you can call me Eth." She smiled down at this human.
"Eth, do you know what happened to me?" his voice still with a slight waver in his voice.
"It seems that you wandered into my garden, and the assassin vine grabbed you. I didn't see you until I came back from foraging. That's when it laid you on the leaf, I made it let you go. You're lucky, my assassin vine is a little different, it's a bit of a misfit. Normally they kill and eat what they catch. This one... doesn't." Eth smiled and blushed at Gabriel.
"Ok ok ok. I'm hallucinating. This isn't real. I know what happened. I hiked out, set up camp, smoked some really good weed before bed, and now I'm dreaming." Gabriel was rambling now, almost frantically.
"Afraid not, handsome. This is real. See?" Eth told him as she lifted his hand and laid it against her cheek. Her skin was warm and soft, and her touch made him feel safe.
Shakily he quietly asked, "So where am I then?
"From what I can tell. You accidentally came through the veil." Eth answered with a delicate pause. She immediately noticed the look of confusion falling across Gabriel's face and continued, "the veil is the border between our worlds. Do you remember walking through a ring of mushrooms or rocks? An arch or anything like that?"
After careful thought Gabriel responded, "Yeah a bunch of willow branches, like an arch over the trail."
"That's it. You're in the Everdeep Forest now. This meadow is my garden, and my house is over there. You're welcome here for as long as you need, traveler." Eth patted Gabriel's cheek gently and stood, motioning for him to do the same.
She took his hand and they stepped off of the leaf, as they walked into the meadow filled with the familiar hyper-vivid flowers they seemed to lean away from him. Seemingly signaling that they wouldn't expel their potent and heavenly pollen and trap him again. He was conflicted, on one hand glad to be able to pass unhindered and on the other hand let down that the delicious flowing buzz wasn't about to come down around his ears like the crashing of a great wave.
Eth knelt down to pick up his pants, shirt, and boots before motioning for him to follow her to the little house. As they walked Ethreal commented on how filthy his clothes were and how they would have to be washed. She let her eyes play up and down the tall human's muscular body as they walked along. His shoulders were broad and strong, his back toned. She caught herself staring at his naked butt as he walked, it was cute with just enough giggle at each foot fall.
As they drew nearer to the house, Gabriel looked up to take it in. It was built into the stump of some colossal fallen tree. Tall and narrow with moss growing over most of the outside, it had a rounded door that he would have to dip his head to fit through.
Eth touched the small of his back to stop him as she stepped around. He followed her up the steps to the door, taking his clothes as she turned to hand them off. She waved her right hand over the peep hole in the door as an ancient runic symbol glowed in the center. The door swung open under it's own power and she walked inside with Gabriel close behind.