Pyppa

Pyppa & Akolu: A real life fairy tale.

Once upon a time…

I met a young ranger boy wandering the streets of Crossing. He was clearly overburdened with sweetness (though he wore it well) and looked a little lost. When he invited me to join him at the fest I just couldn’t refuse. What a pair we were, I in my empath’s finery and he in patched breeches with his father’s old bow (hey, he remembers it his way and I remember it mine). I felt he might enjoy the fest more if he had money to spend so I shared my coins with him. He then sweetly spent all those coins to buy tarts for me throughout the evening. See how burdened he was? I grew concerned though that maybe he had some kind of tart thing. So, I subtly asked him, “Do you have some kind of tart thing?” He explained shyly how he thought all Olvi loved tarts. I was overwhelmed by his thoughtfulness and consideration.

I then sat with him on a nearby bench secluded ‘neath the trees where, being a medical professional and having read all the charts from the empath shop (twice), I proceeded to explain to him not only about the birds and bees but also about how to tell the difference between an Olvi and a human.

From that day we became joined at the hip, albeit a sometimes distant joining (you know how rangers are). Always there for one another, we drop everything to rush to the other’s side if ever it’s needed. For example, once, when he fell in snow goblins I was there in a flash to heal and drag him to safety. He was so grateful that his first thought was of the backpack full of treasure boxes he dropped. As was his second… and his third. I found it inspiring that, even in death, he was comforted enough by my presence that, rather than stressing over the loss of his life, his concern could turn to such trivial matters as the backpack I was clearly carrying.

Before my eyes, the cute, overburdened ranger boy I found those years before on the streets of Crossing, grew to be a handsome ranger man (though he still looks a little lost to me). These days I tell him that, “Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes.” He just smiles and agrees. I know he’s not just humoring me – he would never do that. Would he? Fair is fair however, and when he shows me the latest card is his ever growing collection I get genuinely excited about it and rarely ask, “What’s the point?”

Eventually, being smart enough to realize that I was the one for him, he brought me a ring of copper.

“Too common,” said I.

He then brought me a ring of bronze.

“Too common,” said I.

He then brought me a ring of silver.

“Too common,” said I.

He then brought me a ring of gold.

“Too common,” said I.

He then brought me a ring of regal mistglass encrusted with winter opals and glacier emeralds

“I accept,” said I.

We were wed, both in this world and in our dreams, and we continue to live happily ever after.

Written by Cythra Feralclaw