Fayen's Travelouge: A Rainbow Vow (Wouagi)

A kaleidoscope of colors flooded Fayen’s vision, forcing them to shut their eyes as they found their footing. It took a fair amount of effort not to stumble on the unstable surface.
Gods, please… 
They took a steadying breath. The air was humid and earthy— pungent in a way that felt almost familiar to Fayen.
With slow blinks, the world around them gradually came into focus. They glanced downward to find gnarled roots poking out of the ground, weaving through the damp earth. On a whim, they turned to check behind them. The portal that had brought them there remained, nestled into a large tree. With this fact confirmed, they trained their gaze forward and carefully stepped into the undergrowth. 
No corner of the dense forest stood out. There wasn’t a path—not one Fayen could see, anyway, with the thick vegetation—so they continued straight ahead as best they could, avoiding the thick overgrowth that threatened to smack them in the face.
Squelch.
Their boot sunk into a deep patch of watery mud. Hurriedly, they attempted to wrench free, but the momentum caused them to lose their balance and swing backwards. Before they could fall to the ground they grasped desperately at an errant branch and used it to hoist themself up onto their feet. Standing unharmed, they wiped their hands on their cloak. They didn’t try to move for a long while, letting their rapid pulse calm down through deep breaths. 
Suddenly they were rather thankful they had chosen to wear leather thigh boots that were sturdy enough to keep water from seeping through. Most of the water, anyway. 
Their peace was interrupted by low, guttural groans emanating from somewhere in the distance. 
A boar…?
They pushed themself to press onward through the unforgiving earth, each step tentative and sluggish. The greens and browns of this forest were beginning to become monotonous. 
How far would they have to go? 
A frog’s croaks interrupted the relative silence of their wandering. Fayen searched for the source of the sound, and managed on the edge of their peripheral to spot a flash of orange that promptly disappeared into the shadows.
“Hm,” Fayen said, as they continued walking.
If they did see a living creature, what would it look like? Certainly, they might make similar sounds, but there wasn’t any guarantee that they would resemble what Fayen knew, or that they would be safe to go near. For that matter, what about the plants? Though nothing had seemed dangerous, they mustn’t be careless.
Ahead, the layers of greenery were thinning, and an oddly colorful veneer covered the mud. Fayen attempted to pick up their pace as they waded through the sludge, hindered by it becoming increasingly liquid with each step they took. Swarms of insects circled around the puddles, forcing them to swat the air as they moved. Eventually, a lush hill came into view. Fayen scrambled towards it, and, once their feet were on drier land, examined the surrounding area.  
They could now clearly see large expanses of multicolored open water— or what they presumed to be water, in lieu of evidence to the contrary despite its striking appearance. 
Curious. Was it caused by some kind of mineral, or algae? 
Setting aside the question for later, they continued to sweep their eyes over the landscape. The forest obscured the sunshine and their line of sight towards the right, making it difficult to pinpoint any landmarks. At their left, a break in the mangrove trees revealed a kind of wooden structure. It was too neat and organized to be natural. Although it wasn’t nearby, there didn’t appear to be any other promising threads to follow. 
Another trek, then. However, it was one that could potentially make this entire ordeal worthwhile.    
They started to walk on, but movement below them attracted their attention. It was a slimy lizard-like creature, about half the size of their foot, that had dark scaly skin dotted with vivid yellow. Fayen watched it crawl away, mesmerized.
Maybe it was already worthwhile, being offered a glimpse of life like this. Yet surely that meant there could be more? 
They resumed their hike, keeping to higher ground whenever they could. As they approached the structure, its true function became all the more apparent. Beams of wood jutted out of the water, bearing what looked to be a simple building a fair distance above the reach of the pools. There were steps to connect it to a lower path which led away from its entrance. Beside the path were more buildings, all intertwined. Although there wasn’t any obvious layout, the pieces were cobbled together in such a way that it almost seemed like there was some order to the chaos— like a pair of clothing that had been lovingly mended over many years.
And there, descending the steps, was a humanoid figure going about their day. Fayen stilled, breath catching in their throat. 
What should they do? Could they ask them questions? Would they even be able to speak a language the other understood? Or, were they thinking all wrong, and they ought to simply… watch, without disturbing the—
The figure glanced in their direction. Instinctively, Fayen raised their hand to greet them with a simple, if somewhat stiff, gesture. They received a brief wave in return, but that was all.
Still! 
Fayen moved along, unable to hold back a grin. A group of three emerged and walked towards them, forcing them to step to the side to allow them to pass as they reached the wet wooden path. 
Several pairs of eyes appraised Fayen in passing as they entered the town proper. None were inclined to break their routines in order to comment or question them. They watched as an elf—they were close enough to see the people’s features properly, now—entered a canoe and began to paddle away, gliding gently on top of the rainbow water. Another resident sat leisurely with their serpentine lower half curled around them, holding a fishing rod over the pier.
Then, a voice to the side said, “Excuse me?”
Fayen turned their head towards the sound, and met the eyes of a dark-skinned elf with long black hair. “...Yes? 
How am I able to understand what they’re saying?
“Can I help you?” the elf asked with a kind voice.
It occurred to Fayen that they were standing in the middle of a rather busy walkway.
“Oh, I’m…” Their cheeks flushed. “I’m sorry. Perhaps you can.” They paused to think, clasping their hands together. “If I may… what is the name of this place, for a start?”
“Ah, you must be another visitor.” The elf smiled at them. “This world is Wouagi. And we call this city Augwen, though I don’t suspect that’s the information you were after,” they said with a chuckle. 
“No, thank you. Anything you can tell me is helpful.” Fayen ran a hand through their hair. “But, you say, ‘another’...?”
“Yes. We’ve seen many adventurers from the portals recently. Though, I admit, you’re the first one I’ve spoken to.” They regarded Fayen with a look resembling pity. “It’s just that you seemed lost.”
They hadn’t thought their face could get any warmer, but apparently, it could. Averting their gaze, they responded, “I understand. You’re… not wrong.”
“Then I was right to approach you,” the elf said lightly. “My name is Shayna. How may I address you, friend?”
Fayen met the other’s bright green eyes and swallowed, trying to clear the lump in their throat. “Fayen. You may call me Fayen,” they said softly.
“It is a pleasure, Fayen.” Shayna went quiet, seemingly considering something. “Would you like to sit down for a moment?”
Fayen’s tired limbs practically answered the question for them. “I would,” they admitted.
“Good. Follow me,” said Shayna. “I will show you where I like to go.”
Fayen bowed their head. “It would be an honor.” 
The pair walked in cordial silence, weaving through the many corners of the city until they reached a secluded part of the platform that hung low above the water. 
“Here we are,” they explained, sitting by the edge and looking up at Fayen. “We won’t be disturbed, I promise.” 
Fayen took a seat next to them. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Shayna turned their head towards the water. “I hope you find it as peaceful as I do.”
“Mm.” 
The water was just as colorful as it had been earlier, if not more so. It seemed to shimmer in the sunlight, changing in hue ever-so-slightly as it rippled.
If Fayen wanted to, they could reach their hand down and…
“May I… touch it?” they asked. 
The question elicited a giggle in their companion. “Of course. Go ahead.”
Fayen brought their hand to the water, skimming across the surface with their fingers. It was slick and warm to the touch, although cooler than the muggy air surrounding it.
How did I get so lucky?
The rainbow pool continued to glisten, as if answering their unspoken question.
I will not waste the gift that I have been given.
Chittering, chirping noises, punctuated by distant splashes, echoed through the air. 
And that was enough.

 

Author's notes

Word count: 1525 words Wouagi prompt #1: Rainbow Pools It's finally time for Fayen to see what it's like in another world. :-) This their canonical first portal visit, which is why they're so uncertain about everything. I'm sure they'll get used to it in time. And, hey, as first as first experiences go, this doesn't seem too bad (aside from the biting insects).