Chapter Text
Aru stood in the corner of the tavern, improvised cloak about him, feeling for all the world like an outsider in a foreign realm.
Smoke rose from many little flames - intended for lighting or otherwise - forming a heady haze that permeated the air among the crowds jostling around every table. Aru breathed shallow breaths, thankful that the worst of it hung far above him.
It had been several days now since he first came here, soaking in as much as he could; watching, listening, and observing the townsfolk as they unwound from their day. This tavern seemed the only place where he could remain inconspicuous - a great variety of creatures and dispositions chattered and drank and played their games of chance and sang their fabled songs - paying no heed to the small luminescent figure.
He was content with this.
And yet, as he watched the clamor and the noise about him, as he watched the varied species interact in equally various ways, he yearned to engage with them on equal terms. To find a new friend. He could not bear to linger in his corner any longer.
Not if this was the life he now had to live.
Through a lull in the crowd, he spotted a lone patron at the far end of the tavern, nursing his drink in silence.
Aru thought back to the day before when he had seen someone approach a solitary figure like this one, with both of them performing a series of gestures and greetings.
He nodded to himself and strutted forward, every step clomping onto the wooden floor. A few patrons took notice as he went but soon returned to their own business as he approached the man in the corner.
The man either hadn’t noticed him or was trying desperately to ignore the upward alien gaze of this pale creature who stood at eye level with the table.
Aru knew this was a long shot, but he needed some headway into this new world. Recalling his earlier observation for reassurance, he drew back his hood, revealing four long ears, and contorted his face into a toothy attempt of a smile.
He held this smile for a long moment, waiting for the anticipated response, until at last the fellow glanced sidelong at him.
“Uh, hey?”
Aru's face lit up and his smile widened. He could not believe it! His first successful interaction! There was no going back now. He knew what he had to do. He reached out and grabbed the man by the hand. The one that held his drink.
He shook it, matching the excitement of the two patrons who had done it earlier, but also out of his own excitement. Drink and cup spilled across the table and clattered on the floor.
The man, shaken straight out of his comfort zone by this sudden and brisk event, shouted, "Nine Hells, get off me!" and pushed his assailant away. Nearby folks paused to watch the outburst, wary of another brawl breaking out.
Aru stumbled back but caught his footing with inhuman grace and hunched low, the smile gone from his face. He did not see it happen like this. Was this wrong? Did he mess up? He did not know. Before he could consider his next move, the man stood up, grumbled at him with some choice words, and stomped away, leaving him to stand alone with an empty table and a spilled mess for company.
His arms and ears dropped to his sides as his alert posture lowered to a sad wilt. Yes, he messed up.
And then he was lifted up - a burly human grabbed him by his cloak from behind and hoisted him into the air with all-too-familiar ease, careful not to disturb the rest of the tavern as he escorted this strange troublemaker to the doors.
"Dunno what your stuff is about,” the bouncer grumbled into his ear, “but you've overstayed your welcome. Again.”
Aru winced in silence and deftly adjusted his weight off of a snagged ear, but otherwise made no attempt to resist, resigned to watch as he passed through the threshold, tail dragging behind him. Failure. The feeling crawled through his mind, dissolving any leftover hope and enthusiasm. He ran out of rations this morning, and this was his last attempt to ingratiate himself before hunger would gnaw at him in earnest.
Now out in the evening air, the bouncer set him down, giving him a moment to catch his feet.
“Or hooves, rather, if you’ll pardon me,” he grumbled. He did not dislike Aru - in fact he was thankful for the lack of resistance. It made his night easier. But patrons needed to be looked after, and this one was hurting business.
Their interaction over, the bouncer hurried back inside. The warm light of the tavern disappeared as the door slammed shut.
Aru dusted himself off and pulled up his cloak to conceal his glow from passersby in the darkening street. Short white fur covered him from head to hoof, and he took every effort to cover it in turn with various wrappings and scraps that he had accumulated. For though he was far from his home in the Feywild, he now stepped through a treacherous wilderness of another kind.
Night was falling. Soon the nocturnal predators would come out, searching for easy prey. Aru turned and picked up a brisk pace and disappeared into the night.
Into his new life as an exile.