Inky Holiday Exchange
Breaking my âno posting, only lurkingâ streak of over a year on this blog because I have a gift for @incorrect-inkworld-quotes (surprise, it was me all along!) as a part of the @inkyholidayexchange. You mentioned being interested in the natural beauty of the Inkworld so I tried doing something a little different than what I usually write. Did I make make a water nymph sentient? Maybe??? I hope that doesnât make me an Orpheus! Youâre a great mod for us over on discord and I hope you enjoy this little drabble. Happy holidays!
From the depths
The pond was her whole world.
Cool, greenish waters were all that she had known and all that she had ever desired. Outside, the world of the humans was of little consequence to her. Leaves fell from trees and grass changed to frost, yet in the stillness of her pool the world remained relatively unchanged. She had never desired to leave the waters, but still she enjoyed watching the humans through the distorted lens of the water.
Sometimes, they were loud and joyful. A group of them had come through on some occasion with their brightly colored fabrics and loud voices, settling nearby. They hadnât disturbed her pool, and in the night she had heard voices turn to melodies as the fire began to burn low. Above her, the lights of the sky had twinkled and she had let herself float as she tried to take in the music sung in a language she barely understood.
Sometimes, they were harsh and angry. A group of humans had gone past, riding the great beasts they had tamed. They had carried flames on pieces of wood that had likely been a tree once and shouted at one another about things she could never hope to understand. In their other hands, they had carried a long piece of material that glinted in the sun and she had wondered what it was for until one ran it through the body of the other and left him where he fell. She had retreated to the depths of the water that time, putting as much distance as she could between herself and the world of humans.
It was a rare occasion when someone approached the pool where she and her sisters lived, but one day a man did. He emerged from the forest quite suddenly and walked up to the pond slowly before kneeling at the waterâs edge. Three pale lines ran down a face that seemed to contrast the harshness of such marks. Softly, the man explained that he had a request, something that he was trying to acquire in the surrounding areas of the forest. Something that he needed her help with.
No human had ever asked anything of her before. She dove deeper into the pool, in search of her sisters. She found them among the rocks, bubbles floating around their heads as they laughed. Quickly, she relayed the manâs request and watched as their black and gold eyes filled with interest. Her eldest sister quickly made for the surface, followed by the other and she was left with nothing to do but follow them both back to the surface.
With more bubbles of laughter, they lifted their arms above the waterâs surface and ran their hands over his arms, face and neck, leaving behind a filmy deposit that glinted in the morning sun. She had never felt the sun directly on her skin. It seemed odd to her, but soon realized she was simply unused to the warmth of it.
With a small smile on his face, the man whispered his thanks and was on his way. She was left to look up at the sky again.
Sometimes, she saw other creatures. Little ones, with blue skin and chittering voices that chased one another and sometimes hovered over the surface as if hoping to see what lay below it. Other creatures went by her pool too. Large ones that only emerged at night and blended with the shadows, yellow eyes that peered out from the leaves, rustling sounds and howling so terrible it made her flee to the depths of the pool with the hope that the water would muffle the sounds.
All were part of the harmony of the forest. She knew she would not trade it for anything. Not the way the summer sun would warm the pool, nor the view of the forest as the dreary fall rain turned to crisp winter white. Definitely not the spring flowers that danced on the breeze before landing on the waterâs surface, or the rare sights of fire elves and glass men.
Not the bubbles of her sistersâ laughter rising up to the surface, or the way the bottom of the pool shone on nights when the moon was full.
She knew she would miss it too much.
