Yarrow finds an injured person in the woods
Gonna try and write this... I had this vague scenario in my head that Yarrow one time would stumble upon this person in the woods who was injured or ill, and would stop to help them... once they're able to walk he'd let them stay at the house for a little bit, maybe offers them his bed (it is too small lol) and over the next day or so Yarrow ends up talking about his story a little...
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Yarrow is up a very old, very stout fig tree, feeling each fruit for ripeness before putting them in the cloth bag slung across his torso. He's barefoot for optimum grip on the tree branches.
After he's gathered enough to fill his bag (which, by design, will be just enough to take to the market tomorrow), he finds a comfy spot nestled between two chunky branches to rest for a while. He lies back and grabs one of the figs out of his bag, ripping it open with his hands to reveal deep red flesh inside. He puts half the fig in his mouth, skin and all. His eyes flutter closed as he appreciates the sweet, jammy flavour.
There's a sudden yelp from down below. Yarrow shoves the other half of the fig in his mouth while clambering to a different branch where he can view the ground beneath him. A human, clutching at his abdomen as he leans against a tree on the other side of the dirt path and slowly drops to the floor.
The branch is low enough that Yarrow is able to swing himself around it so that he's dangling from his arms. He drops to the ground and paces over to the human, crouching to his level. He looks young, with scruffy straw-coloured hair and simple linen clothes. Yarrow takes particular notice of his well-worn but robust-looking leather boots.
He is semi-responsive as Yarrow gently taps at his cheeks, his head tossing side to side. Lifting the man's eyelids one at a time, Yarrow observes that his pupils are dilated.
"Did you eat something? Hello?"
The man mumbles something.
"What did you say?"
"Be--" he attempts again, "berries... red..."
There are several plants that produce red berries in this forest, but only one that would cause such severe symptoms.
"You didn't know yew trees are poisonous?"
"Nnnh..."
Yarrow exhales. "Okay, well, you're lucky I was here. Just hang in there for a minute."
The man groans, which Yarrow isn't sure is a response to him or just to the pain.
Yarrow readies himself, taking some deep breaths. Then, he places his hands over each other on the man's chest. He mutters some words under his breath and his eyes briefly glow a bright, shining red.
He observes the man for a moment, watching for any change in his behaviour. After a while, the man takes a sharp breath in, and then his breathing stabilises. Yarrow sits back on his heels.
"Feeling better?"
The man slowly opens his eyes, which now look normal. He blinks, and then recoils slightly, seemingly only just noticing Yarrow.
"W-wait-- I have a family--"
"I just saved your life; do you really think I'm going to kill you?"
"You're a vampire..."
"No, I'm not."
"Fangs..."
"Plenty of creatures have sharp canines."
"Then..."
"I'm a sprite. My name is Yarrow, which you might know already. I protect the woods here, that's all. I don't drink blood and I don't kill people."
The man relaxes slightly, but is still clearly guarded.
"And you?"
"Um..." Considering whether to give his real name or not, Yarrow assumes. "Aldo."
"What do you do, Aldo?"
"I'm an apprentice. Cobbler."
"You don't work for the cobbler's in town? Sigmund's Shoes?" (lol) (i am googling medieval names as we go along)
"Yeah...!"
Yarrow starts to adjust his position to sit with his feet in front instead of tucked under his legs.
"I forgot I wasn't wearing shoes. I was climbing." He points at the fig tree.
Aldo exhales in mild amusement. He seems much calmer now.
Yarrow stands up and scampers over to the tree across the way. He picks up his leather clogs that are sitting by the base of the tree and holds them up.
"Sigmund's!"
"Oh!"
He brings them back over to where Aldo is sitting.
"Great shoes. They'll probably last me a lifetime. At least a human lifetime. They're technically children's shoes on account of my small stature." Yarrow watches Aldo's expression grow vacant and suddenly feels a little self-conscious. "But, I digress."
"No, it's okay. I just didn't realise you ever go into town."
"Oh, well, yes. I need things sometimes. Food, fabric... shoes."
"It was presumptuous of me."
Yarrow has a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach. "...That's okay."
Aldo smiles warmly.
"I should say... thank you, for... would I really have died if not for...?"
"Oh, definitely. Yew berries are extremely toxic. I don't think medicine could have done anything for you."
"Oh..."
"Sorry." Yarrow shifts awkwardly. "Um, you'll need to eat and rest before you continue on your journey. If you're comfortable, my house is right over there."
"Are you sure?" Aldo asks incredulously.
"Of course. I should warn you, I don't live alone. My domestic imp companion might be around. He's not mine; I didn't conjure him. We became companions through an odd set of circumstances. Anyway, just so you know."
"Oh, okay! That's alright. I've met domestic imps."
"You haven't met Jesper."
"Oh...!"
"No, he's very well-behaved. He's just... Well, you'll see. Can you walk?"
"Umm, I think so!"
TBC...