Welcome to the journal of Oerttena, the Whisperer, played by Eroy.



Please do not post in this thread unless you have permission from Eroy.

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Content/Navigation

• Welcome
  Navigation
  Rules
  Setting
  Profile
  Time line
  Relationships
  Belongings
  Growth

Rules

Don't post here without my say please.

Setting information

Setting
Just behind the mirror, just out of your glance, lies a hidden glowing place where a thousand gardens flourish, safeguarding a fairy species called the Llithe. The Llithe are small, fragile peaceful winged creatures made of light and magic, and spend their time caring and attending to their beautiful garden.

However, soon the Llithe begin to notice shadows in their garden.. shadows bourne by the Whisperers. The Whisperers are dark fairies cast away from their home, and they seek brightness and light, and the brilliance of the Thousand Gardens caught the attention of their inky eyes. And so they stole into the garden one by one, each slowly consuming the light of the garden into starless shadows that gives them comfort.

Soon, the Llithe became aware of the withering flowers in the mysterious shadows, and the Whisperers of the glare in the sun. It will soon be a matter of time before the two faerie families are locked in a struggle that will change the face of the Thousand Gardens for all time.

Garden Dwellers

Llithe
The Llithe are small, fragile, winged faeries made of light and magic, who have dwelled in the Thousand Gardens since time immemorial. Each of them are distinctive, and have their own unique skills. They are blessed with their skills when they reach young adulthood, and soon after, they begin to transform into full adults. Llithe skills are not exchangeable without a special potion. Skills also tend to influence the Llithe physically (it will be reflected in their artwork) and mentally (should be reflected in your RP).

Some Llithe have magical powers based on their skills, and some do not. There are some rare Llithe that have powerful Illuminae magic that transcends their skills, but so far, they are unknown to us.

The Llithe are peaceful, sociable creatures but are suspicious and afraid of the Whisperers.

Whisperers
The Whisperers are dark-winged faeries who were banished from their homeland for unknown reasons. Like the Llithe, each Whisperer has a distinct skill and some have magical powers. They are similar to the Llithe, in that they also go through two stages before reaching adulthood.

The Whisperers are more comfortable in the shadows and dark, but would not object to going into the sunlight. Though often perceived to be gloomy and grim, the Whisperers are kind folk who loves peace just like any other. They just happen to be introverted and shy. Some also enjoy pranks and jokes.

There are, however, powerful and evil Whisperers who were blessed with the power of Shadow Magic, bent on destroying all that is brilliant and beautiful. Fortunately, they are yet to be found in the Thousand Gardens. But those in the Gardens know about the threat of those with Shadow Magic, and are wary of these faeries.

Spirits
The Spirits are the wandering apparitions of the Garden. They are not faeries but are separate entities in the garden, and they form part of the life in the Garden itself. Some of the voices are soft and dwindle away, while others become strong and have distinct personalities. All of them have names.

There are numerous Spirits, and new ones surface from time to time, but no one knows where they come from or where they are heading. The Spirits can interact with the Llithe and the Whisperers as long as they can get their attention. Some more powerful fae can see them, while the majority can't until they make themselves known or get a faerie's
attention.

The Spirits do not have skills or special powers.

However, some Spirits strive to make themselves known and in time, they may develop such a distinct personality that they become a real Llithe or Whisperer. No one knows how this happens, and such occurences are very rare.

Character Profile

Name: Oerttena
Race: Whisperer
Gender: Female
Hair: Long, wavy, deep maroon
Color scheme: Deep maroon
Personality: Oerttena is blunt and straight forward, yet she is also caring and gentile. She can be a powerful ally and friend, or a ferocious enemy. Though, most Whisperers are perceived as shy, Oerttena has a tendency to be bold and outgoing. As a Whisperer she prefers the darkness, but she is not afraid of the sunlight and does not allow it to hold her back. She is very protective of those she cares for. She has been blessed with the power of healing but she will do what she can to prevent an injury in the first place.

Time line

04.19.04 Oerttena meets Kallias
04.10.04 Oerttena is a young adult!
04.02.04 Oerttena has arrived!
04.01.04 Created Journal
03.30.07 Submitted Prompt

Relationships

Non-Player Characters

• Caer:
  
  Dalia:
  
  Destine: Oerttena's caretaker.
  
  Dawnsong:

Llithe

• Ora:

Whisperer

• Lazuli:
  
  Kryrla: Oerttena and Kryrla have the same caretaker.

Spirit

Other

• Kallias: Oerttena's pet moth. Given to her by Dalia the Oracle.

Belongings

Growth

Egg


Young Adult

Full Size

Reserved

Reserved

Reserved

Reserved

Reserved

Reserved

Flatsale Prompt

It was a hot summer day in The Gardens, so hot that even the leaves on the trees drooped, wanting a gust of wind, or even a small breeze to stir the thick air around them. Looking out into the Gardens one would think it was abandoned and lifeless as all the creatures took shelter in their favorite shade spot. Even the grasshoppers took a break from their chirping to cool themselves with a drink from the pond.

Oerttena lay sprawled out on a broad vine, which ran under the roots of a cypress tree, absorbing any coolness from the vine and moss she could. She listened to her friends, the ants, go about their daily chores. 'Always such busy bodies,' she thought to herself.

Oerttena was an outcast, as a Whisperer she never felt quite welcome in the Llithe's Gardens, but knows she is more welcome here than anywhere else.

As she lie, trying not to think about the unbearable heat of the day, Oerttena heard a faint, familiar sound riding on the wind. As it approached the voice become clearer, it is Sanarssa, the dragonfly, one of Oerttena's only friends. 'I'm over here, Sanarssa!' she shouted as she jumped up from her lethargic position. She stretched out her stiff body, which she had barely moved all day. 'What is it, Sanarssa? You are moving around much too quickly on a day like today."

Sanarrsa landed on the vine next to her. Oerttena could see in her eyes and body motions that it was something very important. Sanarrsa began to fly in circles around Oerttena and started to fly toward the big tree in the middle of the first garden, before circling back. 'The Oracle want's to see me?!' Oerttena exclaims. 'But why? What could she possibly want with me?' She quickly gained her composure, brushing off bits of moss from her body, and took flight, following her friend towards the large tree where the Oracle resides.

A million thoughts race through her head as she follows her friend through the garden. She hardly even payed any attention to where she is going, or what lied in her path. All she could think was that she must not be late. She doesn't want to anger the Oracle by making her wait for her presence.

Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a quickly approaching shadow. She hadn't noticed before because she was so intent on her destination. She and her friend were being followed by a swallow. 'Look out, Sanarrsa!' she yelled, ducking branches and weaving though blades of grass and wild flowers. It was too late, the swallow was right behind Sanarrsa, and she could not shake it. The swallow made a final swoop closing it's beak around the dragonfly. Luckily Sanarrsa weaved quickly at just the last second, avoiding the fatal beak of the hungry bird, but she was not completely unscathed. One of her wings was badly torn, she fell to the ground.

'Sanarrsa, no!' Oerttena exclaimed as she rushed to the ground to see if her friend was alright. She found her friend resting on a patch of dirt beneath the grasses, her wings gently beating, and one torn and unusable. She began to cry. 'Sanarrsa... I'm so sorry my friend. This should not have happened to you. I should have been paying attention.' The dragonfly looked at her with pain in her eyes, not because she was hurt, but because she knew this Whisperer was her friend and knew her and the other insects better than any of the other Fae in the Gardens.

Oerttena spent the rest of the day nursing her friend's wound. She ended up fashioning a sling out of a blade dead grass the broad leaf of a young blade. Sanarrsa would be able to fly, but never with the grace could she before. After the sling was fastened, Sanarrsa began to nudge Oerttena towards the tree. 'Oh no, the Oracle! I can't leave you here though. You are injured.' She could tell her friend wanted her to go, so she didn't fight her too hard. 'You stay safe until I return.'

Oerttena flew to the top of the tree, quickly and with purpose. At the entrance to the Oracles dwelling she did not hesitate to enter.

'You are late,' Dalia stated, mater of factly, but not angrily.

'I have no excuse for you. You must have known what happened; you are the Oracle after all. Why would you send her to get me? You knew this would happen to her!' Oerttena was angry. She knew she shouldn't be angry with the Oracle, but she couldn't help feel that Dalia could have prevented the accident had she not sent Sanarrsa to retrieve her.

'Calm yourself my child; all things happen for a reason.' Dalia's words somehow calmed her, though she sill felt anger and sadness for her friend's accident.

The Arrival

It happened at night, when the creatures of the day slept and the creatures of the night roamed, a small yet beautiful egg appeared nestled in the soft moss and undergrowth by a large oak tree. It appeared under a large, jutting piece of tree fungus. This would help shade her from the sun should she not be found before morning.

Oerttena could feel the coolness of the earth and dew beneath her. This was an exciting time for her... she was finally here. Though, she did not know that she was entering a world where she was considered an outsider. She had no memories of her past lives, or why she was banished from the land of the Whisperers, but she would make the the most of her life here in The Gardens.

Observers of the night will have seen the small egg beneath the tree, beating it's wings to the rhythm of the night breezes, waiting to be found.

Originally Posted by A Thousand Gardens

Congratulations! Oerttena is here!



Sig: http://lucioleloong.com/1000gardens/...rttenasig1.jpg
Fullpic: http://lucioleloong.com/1000gardens/.../oerttena1.jpg

She is Oerttena, Whisperer of Dreamhealer. She has the nursing and healing ability to treat both simple wounded Whisperers and Llithe.

Please save the pics into your own server and link from there ^^! You can start RPing now, Dalia and the others will be ecstatic to meet her!

~A Thousand Gardens

Oerttena is found!

Oerttena could sense someone near her, someone who could 'sense' her as well. She didn't know what to make of the sensation, but she felt kindness in this person. So as Destine brushed away the vegetation, Oerttena pulsed her wings in rhythm and gave a faint glow.
She was happy to be found and allowed the stranger to remove her from the comfort of the moss and fungi. She was happy this person had found her and emitted a calm sense of anticipation. She wanted to meet this gentile person who had found her.

Destine
Thudump...dadump...dadump...dadump

As Destine bent down to clear off the egg, she felt it pulse. But it wasn't just that.

Thudump...dadump...dadump...dadump

It was a heartbeat; two heartbeats. She continued to clear the moss. The wings that had been reaching for her foot broke free of the vegetation. Destine carefully lifted it and cradled it against her chest. She was mesmorized by its golden sheen. But she couldn't be too distracted. There was another waiting for her. She walked around the stump, examining it closely. The moss moved as the next egg wriggled free. Destine similarly began to clear the moss to retrieve this egg and was taken aback when four red wings gilded in gold reached toward her.

She picked up the egg and cradled it with the other. Both eggs immediately stopped their frantic writhing and placidly worked their wings up and down.

Oerttena hatches!

Oerttena knew it was time to see this world she was born into. She was somewhat reluctant; it seemed too bright outside of her egg. She wished it was shadier, but she could hear that all the others were out of their shells. It was her turn, last but certainly not least.

She first attempted to emerge from the egg slowly. She beat her wings gently and began putting pressure on the inside wall of her egg. A few cracks in the egg appeared here and there, but shortly after they appeared the cracks resealed themselves. "What in world is going on?!" she though. Other than small hairline fractures, it looked like her shell was never broken.

She tried again, this time with a little more force, but it was no good. The cracks again disappeared. It was very frustrating. She would never see the outside world if she could not free herself from this shell. "I wonder if the others had this much trouble?" She was worried she would never escape.

She calmed herself. "That's it!" she excitedly thought to herself. Oerttena flapped her wings with all her might, lifting the egg from Destine's hands. She hoped that the person holding her would not try to keep her from leaving, as she lifted herself into they sky. When she felt she had made some distance between her and the others, she put as much pressure on her shell walls as she possibly could.

Just as she thought her strength would fail her and she would never see the outside world, the shell broke into thousands of pieces, flying away from her in all directions. She was free!

Oerttena looked around the garden. It was beautiful, though it was some what bright for her liking. Regardless, the beauty was more than she could have imagined. She noticed the other faes, waiting to meet her and each other for that matter. She flew over to them. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintances. I am Oerttena." She bowed slightly and waited for the others to introduce themselves.


The last egg to hatch was also quite warm to the touch, and it caused a bit of numbness in the palm of Destine's hand, must like painkillers at the dentist would. It was strange, yes, but somehow it it was okay. Destine felt comforted, as if it was supposed to be happening...Could it be that this one had restorative powers of some sort? As it hatched from it's egg, a healing warmth radiated from the crimson fae.

Learning her power and meeting the others

Kyrylo
Composing himself Kyrylo could only shrug at Caers' question, "I'm not entirely sure myself" he mumbled just as the egg in Destine's hand took flight into the air. Staring at the egg struggle a tad bit in the air he felt the strong desire to fly up and help but held back his wings rustling irritably.

As the brilliant red and maroon fae emerged from the egg and took a look at its surrounding he took a chance to give this fae a once over as well. Deciding that she might be more open to talking then the shy Fae born before her. Taking initiative Kyrylo stepped forward and bowed wings outstretched "Kryrlo Eneas" he voiced flashing a rare full smile at Oerttena.

Oerttena
Oerttena returned the smile, genuinely. Kyrylo made her feel warm and welcome. "Kyrylo is it? I'm pleased to meet you." The young boy in front of her was quite handsome, and there was something about his presence that pleased her. She would never have guessed he was a Whisperer by his colors or demeanor.

Dalia
Dalia watched the eggs crack open in their respective ways, the last one being the most impressive as she realized that the fae inside had healing powers that wouldn't allow her to be born without brute force upon her eggshell.

...

She chuckled again as she turned to the last Whisperer--the female with the crimson hair. "And you're Oerttena," she said, giving the fae a smile. "Looks like you've got a very special gift."

Oerttena
When the Oracle approached her, Oerttena returned her cheery smile. She seems quite nice for such an old soul.

After Dalia finished introducing herself to everyone, Oerttena chimed in, "It's an honor to meet you Dalia. I have a question, though. What is this 'gift' you say I have?" Oerttena was the last to hatch, therefore she did not realize that it had been more difficult for her to free herself from her egg than any of the other fae. She simply thought it was the first of many trials to come in their lives here in the Gardens.

Dalia
Dalia was a bit surprised that Oerttena didn't realize what her power was right off the bat, but instead of saying something along the lines of "Why don't you go figure it out?" she merely smiled at the newest young adult fae, and tried to help her realize her power.

"Did you not think it difficult to break open your egg? Did you notice something odd about your emerging? I just happened to see that it took several tries for you to break your egg open. The others seemed to hatch fairly easily, right inside our palms," she said, pointing to Dawnsong and Destine's hands. "But you...after trying to break your egg open the first couple of times, you flew up into the air and practically exploded! But I'm certain your power isn't blowing things up...but rather, the power of healing."

Oerttena
"Oh." Oerttena felt slightly ashamed that she hadn't realized her power, but she quickly shook off the feeling. "I did not watch the others hatch. I thought it was difficult for everyone else as well." She looked at the other fae hoping they would agree. When only blank expressions were returned she realized that it was only difficult for her.

Even though she struggled against it, she felt a sense of pride in knowing her power. She pulled back her shoulders and lifted her head, giving a proud smile. The ability to heal seemed like a practical asset. Though, perhaps not so practical when when attempting to escape from an egg. She got an inquisitive look and rubbed her chin, finally letting out a giggle that seemed to say, 'Oh well.' "Well that's good to know, thanks Dalia!" She gave the Oracle a big smile and a gentle hug. She was excited to try out this new ability, but it would have to wait. It was time to go see the rest of the Garden.

Dalia
Dalia smiled at the young fae, hoping she was happy with her power. It was a beneficial one, she knew, and it would help others in the Garden. She could see already that Oerttena would be a great healer, with sympathy and compassion for others.

"You're quite welcome Oerttena. I do hope you'll make the best of your powers. I know they'll come in handy one day. Actually, probably more often than you'd expect." She gave her a sage nod and squeezed the fae's shoulder. "You're a great asset to the garden," she said, and then turned to the others. "You all are. I expect great things from all of you!"

Kallias

Dalia
I'll be calling on each of you to come visit me at some point or another, so that I can get to know you better and perhaps give you some advice about your futures." She gave a quick, shrill whistle, and suddenly, practically out of nowhere, four moths appeared, as if they were at the Oracle's beck and call.

"These are my messengers," she said, holding a finger out so that one of them could land there. "Each of you will get messages from a specific moth, so pay attention to which is yours. I'd love for you to give them names, and treat them as your own pets. Please, be kind to them. I will know if you have not." She gave the new fae a waggle of her finger, and watched as the moths floated to their respective fae.

The firstfloated over to Ora, seemingly pleased with her charge.

The second chose Kyrylo, fluttering over his head expectantly.

The third seemed to like Oerttena, and flew over to her quickly, perching atop her headdress.


The final moth was jewel-toned, much like his charge, and not knowing what to do now that he'd vanished, this particular moth perched atop Dalia's finger, waiting anxiously for his return.

Oerttena
'A messanger?' Oerttena though as Dalia explained everyone's new pets to them. As the moth flew over to her, Oerttena noticed how beautiful he was. His maroon colors matching her own. She knew right away that she would treasure this new friend. "I shall name you Kallias if that sounds suiting to you?" The moth didn't seem to make any objections to the new name, so Oerttena smiled.

The 1000 Gardens Tour
((For a full read of the roll play please go here. The following are the highlights.))

Destine:
... She looked nervously away. "But, I'm sure your excited to see the place you will now call home. Come, let me show you the Thousand Gardens."

Destine smiled and motioned toward Oerttena and Kyrylo, beckoning them to follow.

Kyrylo:
... He couldn't wait to actually be able to get the tour over with and explore a bit with Calliope. ... "Shall we?" he questioned, trying to hide the impatience he felt.

Oerttena:
Oerttena was ready to explore her new home so gladly followed Destine when she was beckoned. "I am ready," she stated. ...

Destine:
... "Before we go, I must warn you. It is in our nature to favor the shade. You may be full of energy now, but be wary, the sunlight will certainly drain you. ... Try to conserve your energy by gliding."

... Destine launched herself corkscrewing into the air. ...

...

Destine:
... For new to the Gardens, she expected Oertenna to be more like Kyrylo, impatiently zipping back and forth, like a bee looking for its next meal. Instead, Oerttena had a peaceful look on her face. It made Destine feel good. She smiled and giggled in her direction when Oertenna lost the current for a moment and wobbled back and forth in the air. ...

..."So, we've arrived," Destine said with a grin. ... "That," Destine motioned toward the tree,"is the Center Garden. "That is where the Oracle lives. Take note, she may call you there sometime, and she's very insistent on punctuality." Destine then turned and waved her arm over the valley that lay below them. "This is the Evercommon Garden. It connects all of the Gardens." ...

... exploratory posts ... Kyrylo and Oerttena discuss flying tactics ...

Destine:
... The Evercommon Garden connected all of the Gardens, and it wasn't very far to Mirror Lake.

... Below them, dozens upon dozens, maybe even hundreds, of lakes of all sizes flowed in and out of each other, creating an irregular, alternating whooshing and resting sound, as if the land were breathing. To add to this grandiose display of nature, fountains shot out of various rocks at what seemed like irregular intervals. Some danced in small synchronized displays, while others shot out of large crevices -- those presumably kept the water fresh and the level constant.

But the Garden wasn't all turbulent white water. Patches of dry beach encircled many of the bigger pools, punctuated by glistening rainbows that never seemed to waver despite the occassional spray of water. Nearing the center of the bigger pools, the water faded to a deep indigo, denoting the deepest areas. ...

... Ora and Caer meet up with us ...

Caer:
... 'Something worries me though, that I would like to share,' Caer continued, her voice lower. She paused and gathered her thoughts. 'Recently at night, the lakes are a little less calm and I'm hearing some strange noises that I have never heard before. The wind is stronger and thus the waters seem forbidding. I don't think it is the spirits which are causing these disturbances.. but still I'd like to warn everyone to keep away at nights. I wonder if any Whisperers are behind this..?' she asked nervously, not knowing how Destine would react to such a wild claim.

... Introductions with Caer ...

Destine:
... Turning to Caer, Destine grabbed one of her hands with both of hers. "Caer, come with us too. It's been so long since you've visited, and I'm sure observing the first meeting of these fae with the Shadowgrounds will be quite the study." She smiled warmly.

... With the last burst of energy she seemed to have, she flung herself toward the roaring wall of water. Moments before hitting it, she extended her wings to their full length. Like light curtains, the water opened for her, leaving just enough room for her to get through, but not wetting her with a single drop. After she passed through, water dropped back into place. She had flown toward the waterfall haphazardly, so it didn't seem like she consciously moved the water; it just seemed to flow around her.

For a split second as the waterfall closed behind the fae, it seemed almost too dark to continue for the Lilthe, but for the Whisperers, it was as clear as day. Behnd the waterfall was a gaping maw of a cave that spanned the entire heighth of the valley wall.

And it wasn't completely dark. Moments upon entering, the faes' eyes would adjust, revealling shots of the dying sunlight entering at various angles from the ceiling above them. Even more glowing phosporescent fungi hugged the walls here -- in different shapes and colors. In the flowing water beneath them, glowing fish and salamanders jumped and wriggeld into and out of the water. Even so, the water under them flowed gentle and profound, scattering dancing reflections on the ceiling of the cavern.

After a bit, the cavern narrowed, but not so much as to make it difficult or dangerous to fly. The gentle water was confined into a smaller space and flowed more like rapids. As the cave came to an almost uncomfortable width, it opened to an unfathomable gorge, the water pouring down into the darkness.

Looking back, they had flown out one cave of many littered along the wall in the depths of this gorge, and were flying toward another one. A keen eye could notice that the fungi in the cave they had flown out of had a bright white glow, and they were flying toward a cave marked with fungi of a similar color.

Out of this cave, a gushing stream of water poured into the gorge as well. The cave was narrow at first, but gradually opened up. The water flowed deep and calmy. Instead of a waterfall barring the entrace here, the water shallowed and moonlight poured in. Trails of dry land wound through the cave until the fae came to the Shadowgrounds. Land stretched out from both sides of the caves, on either side of the River of Promises.

It was here, near a massive weeping willow whose leaves barely brushed the water, that Destine waited for the others to arrive.

Kyrylo
... "Your home?" he asked staring at the area around where he had fallen.

Oerttena
... She liked it in here, more than she would have expected. ...

Destine
... "Some Lilthe and Whisperers who don't frequent here call me Protector of the Shadowgrounds." ...

...

"Welcome to the Thousand Gardens. I have only one thing to leave you with. The Thousand Gardens are beautiful and full of hope and light -- a paradise even; but, don't be mistaken -- some shadows really are darker than others."

((For a more detailed recap of the tour please visit the link to the RP thread at the top of this post.))

Oerttena finds her new home.
Chapter 1

Oerttena was exhausted after the long day's journey. Not really knowing where to go to sleep she decided to curl up in the branches of one of the willows lining the calm river. It took her a while to get in a comfortable position. Sleeping in a tree didn't seem idea, or smart to her. She feared falling out while deep in her lumber. However, the rhythm of the slow breeze whispering through the branches soon lulled her to sleep.

She woke the next morning, soon after sunrise. Though these were called the Shadowlands, small shafts of light leaked through the cavern walls and ceiling, this light reflected and danced between the different caverns by the water, fungi and jewels that lined the caverns. It was easy to see when it was daylight outside, even there in the darkness.

Sleeping in the tree after such a long flight had made her whole body stiff. Carefully rising from her branch, she stood up on her tip toes and stretched her whole body, the branches of the willow gently brushed against her outreaching feathers. She leapt off the branch and gently floated to the ground below. She hadn't paid much attention to where the others had chosen to sleep the night before, but it didn't much matter. She had a goal today, to find a place to call her own. Perhaps someday she would be called the Protector of someplace.

She was almost ready to set off but she needed something in her stomach to give her energy. He had hardly eaten the day before with all the excitement. Luckily, she noticed a berry bush under one of the brighter shafts of light. She had to squint her eyes as she approached it, for the brightness of the sun was particularly painful to her her after being the dark for so long. The berries were plump and plentiful on the bush, their colors ranging from red to purple and a few shades in between. Her mouth watered as she eyed over them, trying to decide which to eat first, her stomach gave a grumble. She was hungrier than she thought! Oerttena plucked one of the berries and its deep purple juices ran down her fingers. After tasting it she realized she had never tasted anything so sweet in her life, the sweet juices quickly energized her. After a few, she realized that they were too sweet for her. They were beginning to hurt her stomach so she decided that perhaps these should only be eaten on occasion. She would need to find something more suitable to her stomach's wants for her next meal.

Chapter 2

It seemed like the others were either asleep or had left already so Oerttena decided to set off on her own. She knew what she was looking for and just where to go to find it. She followed the river down stream, admiring the playful fish and other creatures swimming in the clear water. Soon she noticed the water picking up speed, faster and faster, until it finally and abruptly dropped off the edge of the enormous gorge where all the systems of caves in the Shadowgrowns seemed to connect. She was expecting it this time and did not falter in her concentration like she had the first time she saw the spectacle. 'Ah, just what I was looking for,' she said aloud. But which way would she go, up or down? She wasn't really sure. She could search these caves for years and still have not visited all of them. She surveyed the area, noting that a few of them had streams flowing out of them. They were not nearly as dramatic as the River of Promises, but pleasant none the less. She decided her home should have a source of water near by, so perhaps one of these caves would be the one she is looking for.

To her, the best idea was to fly by each of the caves with the streams running through them and decide if any called to her. This would be faster than searching each one individually, for compared the vast number of caves few had streams but there were still more than she could possibly search through in one day, possibly even a week if she searched them thoroughly. She wasn't sure if it would be faster to start from the top or from the bottom, since she could hardly see either, but made up her mind that it would be easier to glide down than to fly up for a long period of time.

And so she made her way to the top of the cavern, noting all the different caves that spotted the sides, large and small, ominous and inviting they were of all shapes and sizes. Some had oval openings, others round; some barely had openings at all, some openings seemed impassably covered with stalactites and stalagmites almost resembling demons' mouths, though it did not scare her. With each passing one she fell more in love with the idea of living in these vast caves. Infact, she began to wonder if anyone besides Destine lived here and if no than why not? Surely others found beauty in this place. Yet, she hadn't noticed any other fae traveling through here yet. Perhaps, everyone was still sleeping?

Chapter 3

After a few minutes of upward circling she made it to the top of the gorge, or as close as she could get anyway, for the gorge was actually a massive cave in of itself. There were bigger stalactites than Oerttena could have imagined dropping from the top of the cavern like a wall of gigantic daggers. Shining through those daggers were rays of light from openings to the humongous cave closer to the top. She would have had a difficult time maneuvering through them to find the openings towards the very top, so she decided that this was a good of a place as any to start.

She began to slowly circle around the large cave, visiting each of the smaller caves the outwardly appealed to her. She did not spend too much time at any making mental notes of any she might revisit for further investigation. However, none of the caves towards the top really caught her eye. In addition, it was much too bright up there for her liking. So she continued her circling, hoping something would call to her.

After a few minutes, the rumbling of the River of Promise grew quite loud. 'I'm back where I began,' Oerttena observed. It seemed she would need to keep looking. Just then a cave caught her eye. The fungi marking its entrance were a deep maroon, the same color as her hair, which pulsed with a faint glow. The entrance was almost too hidden to see, if the fungi had not caught her eye she would have missed it entirely, for it was hiding behind the massive waterfall produced when the river hit the gorge.