You’ve just arrived in a swampy, dim town. As you look around, your gaze is met with shacks and cabins. It smells of rotted wood and wet moss. You duck and step into a tattered tent, illuminated by a series of candles suspended in the air. At the back of the tent, an old hag raises her head, “What brings you to this dingy town? she begins, then pauses to study your face—”Ah, it’s you. I’ve been expecting you. Sit,” she gestures at a cushion, “Tell me your story.”
Promptly they snapped themself up tall and towering, heavy eyes shedding their exhaustion in favor of wild surprise. "M-" They start, then stop as they peer over their shoulder to spot who this woman must surely be speaking to. "...Me?" They soon finish upon finding no soul in sight to save them from their predicament.
Seeing no other option to take they resign themself to the directed seat, plopping down heavy like a felled tree. Tire drags their limbs heavy into the chair and the comfort of something plush grips them in their cravings for sleep. Yet they peak...
"There is not much to tell," they admit, followed up by a cringe, "I lived a simple life of a nomad." Slowly they collect themself back into the resemblance of proper posture, albeit one with a heavy hunch. "Me and my family did, I mean." They weakly smile knowing that it won't convince anyone. "It's just me now."
"I am a... a wood elf?" They look away as if they have to remember and immediately shakes their head of such a ridiculous act. "Wood elf," they reaffirm more confidently. That confidence doesn't last long. "A- uh, ante. Do you know that word?" A genuine smile graces their lips "it means last." Quickly it falls away. "I think. My mother did not teach me much of the... of our language. I... I do not think she knew much either. But she -- she called our family ante -- I mean last." They nod to themself rapidly, eagerly. "Because we were the last ones of the family. For a long time. Generations. Alone... Wandering..." Their eyes dart about over the ground as they absentmindedly fiddle with the hem of their shirt. "And now I'm ante."
They look up into the woman's eyes, sudden panicked worry fleeting over themself. "Am I using that word right?"
