Thread: Among the Elves (GoldenGateSon x Wingshadow)

Steven pushed aside his soft, black hair and wiped the sweat off his brow with the back of his hand as he pushed his way through the bushes and shrubs that stood in his way. He had been on this journey for a few days already, and with little progress in sight, the 15 year old boy was beginning to wonder if he should just turn back. Being an orphan would definitely be better than dying out here in the wild at least. His rather plain shirt and pants had been torn up and dirtied by the sharp branches that hed waded through, and his fair skin had been cut in a few places even. His boots were caked with dirt and mud, and bathing was certainly not something that he had the luxury of out here in the middle of nowhere. A bit exhausted and dehydrated, Steven took a seat on the soft dirt and grass as he leaned back against one of the many large trees that lived in the woods. Breathing a little heavily and sweating more than just a little, the young boy took a sip of water as he thought back to how he ended up wandering aimlessly through the wilderness on his own. When his father lay dying back in their home, the prospect of being without a family, without someone to look after or care for him seemed to be the worst thing that could possibly happen. As such, Stevens eyes widened and his heart was filled with hope when his father finally told him of the young boys mother, of how he had met her by chance one day long ago while traveling through the woods, and of how several months after a night under the stars together, a baby had been left on his front door with no note and no explanation, wearing nothing but a simple necklace of a wooden leaf around his neck. Thinking back to his father made Steven rub at his eyes which were slowly filling with tears. Though life hadnt exactly been a breeze for them, Steven had grown up happy enough under his fathers care, a man who loved and cared for him despite his hardships and the circumstances of their coming together. He supposed that this deathbed revelation was made for Stevens best interest, for if he had known of who his mother was, he might have sought her out sooner and found himself in a situation such as this, woefully unprepared for the journey. With his father now laid to rest, however, there was no other choice for the boy. As he continued to sit against the tree with his head tilted back and eyes closed to rest for a moment, Steven let the soft, serene sounds of the forest wash over him. With his breathing slowed and calmed and no longer making a ruckus as he made his way through the woods, the young boy actually began to hear other noises through the soft rustle of leaves or the chirping of birds. He actually heard voices. Confused, Steven opened his brown eyes and sat up a bit, trying to hone in on where those sounds were coming from. Who would be so deep in the woods, unless he trailed off as his eyes widened. Steven sprang to his feet and began to quickly make his way towards the sounds, and as he walked, the voices became clearer and clearer until they were very nearly upon. Wading through a thicket of bushes, Steven at least pulled aside a branch and was met with. These are the elves? the young boy asked aloud to himself as his mouth hung open and he raised his eyebrows in surprise. Indeed, little had been known of the elves who tended to keep to themselves. Only occasional anecdotes from travelers brought news of this strange, enigmatic peoples to young Stevens ears as he grew up. Perhaps that was why his father never talked much about his mother, not wanting to fill Stevens mind with tall tales and be laughed at by many who assumed that elves were nothing more than stories and legends. Yet what laid before Stevens eyes was far from a fairy tale. What he saw were naked people. Men, women, and children clad in nothing, bared completely to nature save for a few select pieces of jewelry or ornaments around their necks and elsewhere. The young boy wasnt quite sure what to expect when he found the elves, but it certainly wasnt this. Partially because of the surprise of having actually managed to find these hidden people and partially because of fear that stepping out suddenly from the brush would cause a commotion, possibly landing him in hot water, Steven instead opted to remain partially hidden where he was and observe for the time being.