Storybook
10/21/2025 - 11/21/2025 | 11:59:59PM IST
Where the Waters Dream
Despite your best efforts, sleep on the shores of Miðhafsey proved near impossible. Even with you and Hel taking turns keeping watch, the eyes glimmering from the shadows made true rest feel impossible. While difficult, you did manage to doze eventually. The smell of cooked fish woke you from one nightmare right into another. Your stomach growled in protest, and when you opened your eyes you found Hel crouched over a small fire, tail flicking as she nudged a charred piece of fish towards you. “Breakfast,” she muttered, her expression washed over in exhaustion. Neither of you exchanged a great deal of conversation, but instead enjoyed a warm meal before setting off into Miðhafsey’s forest.
The deeper you went, the more the world seemed to close in on both you and Hel. The birch trees grew taller and waves thinned out. Every so often, a hiss broke from a nearby underbrush, followed by quick shuffling and then silence again. You lost count of how many times you heard something, spun, and found nothing. Hours must have passed when Hel abruptly halted, nearly causing the two of you to crash into one another. “Did you hear that?”
You blinked, listening for what Hel was referencing but you heard nothing in turn. Just the rush of distant waterfalls and the wind cutting through Miðhafsey’s trees. Before you could respond, Hel’s tone sharpened. “Hide.” You paused, clearly confused before Hel turned towards you angrily. “I said hide—now!” You barely had time to react before Hel turned and shoved you towards the underbrush. You scrambled inside, brambles tugging at your fur as you pressed down low to the forest floor. Through the narrow gap, you could see only Hel’s legs and the mist of the forest floor curling against them.
A new voice sliced through the clearing. It was smooth, cruel, and laced with mockery as it said, “Well, well, well. If it isn’t Hel. No Loki, though? How peculiar. Perhaps the rumors are true.” Within what felt like seconds the grove flooded with shapes. Nattnkatt. Dozens of them. Hel snarled, lowering her figure as the voice purred even closer to her.
“What do you want, Vessra?” Hel’s tone was cold, agitated, but the tension in her shoulders betrayed her uncertainty. The dark figure stepped forward. Black fur braided into long cords dragged through the moss as she paced around Hel, a wicked grin curling against her muzzle.
“What do I want?” Vessra repeated with a false innocence, placing a paw dramatically against her chest as if to have been offended. “Only what is rightfully mine, of course.”
Hel’s ears flicked back as she snapped, “Speak plainly.”
“You owe me a favor, or do you not remember our de—”
“Enough,” Hel interrupted her, cutting her off sharply as if she didn’t want Vessra to disclose anything to you she wasn’t ready to share. More secrets you thought to yourself, typical. “Tell me what you want and be gone, Vessra,” Hel concluded.
Vessra paused mid-step, her tail flicking. “You promised me a body,” she said softly, “And I intend to collect.” Vessra placed herself into an elegant seat before Hel now. “Fenrir will do nicely.”
Hel’s expression tensed as she scolded Vessra. “No!” Hel pinned her ears. “You’ll have to choose another favor,” she growled. “The terms of our deal have changed.”
Vessra’s eyes narrowed, clearly agitated. “The terms will be doing no such thing.”
Hel’s gaze hardened on her now, her tone shifted into something strange and cryptic. “Then continue walking until blue hugs Yggdrasil’s child. Step within the waves and find your way back where you once came.”
Vessra’s brow furrowed, “Stop speaking in riddles, child! I want what is rightfully owed to me!” For a moment, everything fell quiet, that was until—choas unfolded. Hel bolted forward abruptly, slamming her shoulder into Vessra as she darted into the birch woods. Vessra crashed over right in front of you, and as clear as day you could see the fury painted across her face before she scrambled back on all fours. Vessra spun, that same fury twisting her features. “Don’t just stand there!” she snapped at her followers, “Get her!”
The entire pack of Nattnkatt surged after Hel, vanishing into the silver washed forest with a chorus of hisses and snapping branches. You waited, heart pounding, until the last tail disappeared. When you finally crawled out from the underbrush you were alone. Hel’s words replayed in your mind as you explored Miðhafsey’s passages. Continue walking until blue hugs Yggdrasil’s child.
You followed the path as best you could, here time felt like it lost its meaning, every tree began to look the same. Just when the doubt began to settle in, a voice broke through the silence. “Going for another round?” You froze, eyes scanning the treetops. Nothing. “You’re looking for the tree of life, aren’t you?” the voice teased again, closer to you now. “Try taking a left this time.” You looked left when the voice chuckled and said, “Your other left.” A soft thump followed, and from the branches dropped a silvery pale Nattnkatt, no larger than a fox, its coat laced with hues of moonlight. It stretched lazily before meeting your gaze with bright and colorful curious eyes. “You’re not from here,” the natty twisted its head to one side, then the other. “You’re looking for Maeleanott, no?” it questioned. As you hesitated, the creature purred loudly, brushing against your legs now lovingly. “Come on then. I’ll show you.” Just as the creature took a few steps ahead of you it turned one last time. “You can call me Noctrix.”
With a flick of his tail Noctrix led you through the maze of birch trees until the two of you stood before a massive tree rising from a pool of mirrored water. A waterfall fell from the sky above, washing over the entire tree delicately. Its roots curled outward into the lake, forming bridges and paths that led into a passage inside its hulking form.
Yggdrasil’s child. The blue glow reflected against its base… blue hugging Yggdrasil’s child. Hel’s riddle.
“We part ways here,” Noctrix said, rubbing once more against your leg in a savory manner before vanishing into the darkness at a leisurely pace, never once looking back to see if you were watching. You crossed the shallow pool and stepped within the tree's entrance. Very quickly you happened upon a shrine, it was glowing softly and sending an array of colors dancing along the walls like spirits in motion. Hel’s words echoed in your mind. Find your way back where you once came. You stared down into the crystal pool before you. Of course. Back through the water.
You braced yourself as you plunged beneath the surface. Colors immediately erupted around you, swirls of violet, gold, and sapphire twisting alive like a galaxy right before your eyes. The deeper you swam, the more the current pulled you, spinning you through the endless sea of bursting lights. Just as your lungs burned and the darkness began to close in, a surface shimmered ahead. Breaking through, you gasped for air, violently flailing against the water’s grasp. Before you could ground yourself you were immediately presented with a rather disgruntled Ylva. Her expression was a storm of anger and disbelief. “Where is she?” she demanded, voice sharp. You’re short of breath as you try to explain that Hel wanted you to leave her behind. Ylva was having none of it, and before leaping into the portal behind you bravely and without hesitation, she turned, ears pinned. “I will deal with you later.” Once more you found yourself alone again, soggy, dripping wet, and caught between worlds and portals. With a shake of your head you admit defeat, it’s just another Monday.
Objective:
Depict or Write your character wading through the galaxy-lit waters. Around them, the current shimmers and breathes with hues of violet, gold, and blues twisting through the water’s darkest depths. Pushing forward, guided only by the faint light ahead, the safety of Helvalla just in sight.Reward:
1,500 Felcredits, 1x Chest of War, Peace, Power, Knowledge, 1x Pristine Fishing Pole, 2x Kryptonite Crystal, 3x Redcurrants, 75% Chance at 1x Trait: Diver