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57 lines
3.2 KiB
Markdown
57 lines
3.2 KiB
Markdown
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date = '2026-05-27T16:00:00-06:00'
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draft = false
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title = "Those Who are Underfoot, Chapter One"
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summary = "The beggining of the journey, Meppa begins her pilgrimage."
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tags = ['story', 'meppa the kobold']
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showTableOfContents = false
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showPagination = false
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showZenMode = true
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+++
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## Chapter One
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A sinking feeling crept through her stomach as the sun worked its way through her tent flap. She had not slept that
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night, how could she? It was finally the day for her pilgrimage and **Meppa** did not feel like she had the strength to
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do it.
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She lay there allowing time to pass, listening to the sounds of her kin barking and making their way. She could stay
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here forever, hiding from the world. The warm breeze flowed into the tent, touching her face gently with the first
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warmth of the day. The breeze was heavy with the humidity of summer, her journey would not be fraught with the fogs of
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spring or fall. This did not raise her spirits, but instead made her stomach sink further at the thought of the dangers
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awaiting on the road.
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Her mind wandered to vivid visions of being torn to pieces by wolves. She shook her head to try and rid her mind of
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these thoughts and instead imagined being crushed by a large bear. She clenched her eyes tightly and felt herself
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falling, and beneath her was a gathering of sharp rocks greeting her like the teeth of some horrific beast.
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She screamed and jumped out of her cot.
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“I need control, I need control…” she began to chirp under her breath as she feverishly looked around.
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She went over to her travel pack and began to meticulously check everything she had packed. She knew it was all there,
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but the ritual gave her comfort. It was a tactic she used to ground herself in times of uncertainty or fear. Slowly she
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calmed down, things would be OK, she would not be alone; **Dekkara** would be with her.
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After wrapping herself in her travel garb, she carefully wrapped her tail and grabbed the only thing her parents left
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behind for her, a chipped and fractured scale. Despite its age, It still shone brightly with a fiery red; proof of the
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longevity and divinity of **Kaelrath**.
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Leaving her tent, she saw that most of the camp had already been broken down in preparation for the beginning of the
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journey. Sitting next to a small fire was **Meppa’s** sister, **Dekkara**, who quickly noticed her sister and motioned
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for her to join her.
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“A late start today!” **Dekkara** gleefully exclaimed.
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“Was not ready,” **Meppa** grumbled.
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Her sister was always the optimist, she had been waiting for this pilgrimage nearly her whole life. **Meppa**, however,
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had been dreading it. Her sister pulled a rusty pan with some sizzling eggs on it and offered it to **Meppa**.
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**Meppa** excitedly started scarfing them down, she loved the crunchy shells the most. Her sister proceeded to go and
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pack up their tent, and **Meppa’s** eyes slowly drifted southward. Just barely visible over the horizon was a gleaming
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red jewel, **Kaelrath the Ember of the South**, perched upon her mountain gazing upon the valley of **Fallenstar**. That
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was her destination, that was her pilgrimage.
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## Continue reading
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{{< article link="/posts/meppa-2/" showSummary=true compactSummary=true >}} |