The Budding Bramble

[Kholibrii 1211]

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The babble and splashes of the stream grew stronger, she was close. 

 

The southern heat was nearly unbearable and the sound of rushing water left Naeri’s mouth dry. The river can’t be much further she told herself. Vines tugging at her legs, limbs catching in her hair, Naeri pushed her way through the underbrush toward the sound of rushing water. With one last heave, she emerged into a clearing, the stream only a few yards ahead. Coming to an abrupt stop at the water’s edge, Naeri fell to her knees and began to lift handfuls of water toward her lips.

 

After satiating her thirst, the woman moved to wash away the grime of the forest. She began by splashing the cold water over her face and neck, washing away the sweat and dirt, then moving to her arms, then legs, until the only signs of her battle with the underbrush were the small scrapes at her ankles from briars. 

 

Just as she began to relax, the sounds of the forest began to mold together until the only sound surrounding her was a harmonic lullaby. Her eyes scanned the clearing searching for the source of the earthly melody. Like a lighthouse in the fog, a patch of bramble across the stream glistened in the sunlight. As her eyes locked upon the bush and the lullaby grew stronger, pulling her, calling her home. 

 

The elfess slid into the stream, weaving through the river rocks, guided by her gleaming lighthouse. With each stride the beautiful melody grew stronger. As she reached the other side of the river, the sounds of the water were fully washed out by the all consuming melody. Clawing her way out of the stream, Naeri found herself face to face with a terrifyingly large blackberry bush. With a gentle smile, she lowered herself to the ground, curling into a ball like a child. Looking toward the bush, the defenseless woman began to gently hum along to the lullaby, gently rocking herself into a deep sleep. 

 

As soon as her hums stopped, the limbs of the bush contoured. In a split second the limbs of the bush lunged toward the elfess, wrapping around her body, thorns plunging into flesh. In one single heave, the bush pulled her into its mass. The only thing left behind were a few streaks of blood.

 

And just like that, the Naeri the world knew was gone.

 

 

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Spoiler

This post IS NOT a PK post, but serves as roleplay for a Epiphyte CA application.