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Exhausted from your travels, you pass out in the hot desert, only to awaken in a moonlit grove with cool mossy carpet under your exhausted body. It smells like damp earth and fresh herbs. There's glowing whisper sparks dancing along the grove, and you can hear them speaking as they come close to you, but they're so quiet you can't make out what they're saying. They seem to be curious yet relieved when you lift your paw to brush against them.
Am I dead? You wonder. Is this what the afterlife is like? You remember the tales of the Winged Queen, who lives in a dark forest lit by nothing but the moon and whispers. You wonder if your soul found its way to her, ready to be taken home by the gentle Iberar. A hare races by, breaking the spell you seem to be under. It perches on a large skull, twitching its nose while eyeing you cautiously.
You could use a meal, no matter how small. Wincing in pain, you sink back into the moss after trying to lift yourself in its direction. The hare perks up, twitches its nose once again, and thumps his large foot on the ground next to the skull. He tilts his head and does it once more. Then again. The whispers seem excited, and they are moving towards the entrance to the grove.
What has the hare summoned? You try to sit up but it's no use. You will just have to hope whoever is coming is merciful.
A few twigs snap, and you strain your eyes in the dim light to see. No-one is there, yet you hear small feet padding along the damp moss. Thinking it could be the hare's mate, you begin searching in the darkness for a smaller figure than the large monster you were expecting. A small cub finally comes into view. You let out a small laugh, relieved you are not something else's small meal.
The cub wears a Diadem of gold and sparkling opals. Each opal glitters and shines just like her eyes that seem to have tiny galaxies in them. She approaches you wordlessly, dropping the Herb pouch she was dragging. In fact, you are almost convinced her eyes contain galaxies, as light dances in them and seems to move about on its own. She stares at you intensely, and you swear the opals are as well. They seem to turn in their fittings as she turns her head, like they're following you as her eyes do. She's starting to weird you out, not gonna lie.
"H-hello?" You stammer coarsely, only to be cut off when she shoves a pawful of herbs in your mouth.
"Chew" a voice says. It sounded calm, smooth, yet otherworldly, and the cubs mouth did not move. Still in shock, you obey. She looks up and lets out a single squeak, and the grove comes to life. Whispers and celestial detrius light up the night allowing you to fully take in the sight before you. The hare keeps a watchful eye on you from his perch while the cub is digging through her pouch and tossing bones onto a mound near her. Shes covered in dried leaves.
"What do i do now?" You ask, herby drool dripping at your feet.
"Whaddya think? Swallow, dummy." The cub taunts over her shoulder. This time it was what you'd expect a cub to sound like. High-pitched and full of snark.
A few moments pass while you watch the cub tear dried herbs down from their hanging place, stuff them in her pouch, and shake off most of the dried leaves clinging to her small frame. You begin to feel stronger as time passes and try to stand. The hare thumps his foot in warning and the cub whips around to face you.
"Who are you?" You ask, swaying as your muscles still struggle to lift your weight.
The hare shoots up and slams into your side, making you collapse. Before you can react, the cub runs up and blows a thick dust in your face. You immediately begin to feel drowsy and struggle to keep your eyes open.
"I am Frigg," the cub laughs as you relax into the moss, "and we will meet again, when you need me," the otherwordly voice finishes.
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