Rosa

Into the woods she wandered. Despite the whispers, the warnings, her curiosity was insatiable and so she indulged. As the shadows grew longer and the light began to play tricks on her eyes an ooze of dread came over her. Perhaps this hadn't been a good idea. Perhaps she should head... where was the trail she had been following? Was that laught-- oh.

Several hours later the changeling awoke, blinking, in an oddly bright clearing. One who had trail leading outwards, lined by glowing trees. As she rose she found herself tripping over long strands of hair- What the hell??- Looking at herself she had shrunk and her proportions were strange. She squeaked, stumbling into a run, to find herself a puddle. A nocturne had gone into the woods. A veilspun had emerged. The squeak became a scream and the wee girl yelled her head off.

"Hey, whatcha making that racket for? You're not silly enough to be scared of yourself are ya? Wait, you are? Arcanist lady, whatcha doing that for?" came tumbling her way, the words tripping over each other yet, somehow also drawling from the lips they fell from. The first sentence or so was lost in the dying echoes of her scream, but her ears, sensitive(but not as sensitive as they were) picking up on the voice. Abruptly, the yell stopped, smothered as she whipped her head towards the stranger. Only to find he himself was also long and hairy and lanky and wrong and bug winged, earning another shriek.

"no no, don't come closer. Wha What are you?!" she managed, chittering with nerves. She backed up for the stranger was already coming closer, concerned looking, yes, but still super weird. Her elongated hind end backed into a sapling and was halted. Trapped. No where to go but to face whatever this was head on.

"Easy there lass, I see you had a fright. I'm a veilspun, and so are you. Seems someone was up to a bit of funning earlier and you got caught up in it. Oh well, at least you weren't entranced. That's something. Some of us have a nasty habit of hypnotizing others for giggles." he soothed, voice slow, diminutive form coming to a halt on the far side of her puddle. She blinked at him, shocked, trying to process what he had told her.

"A a veilspun, like in the old tales the shadow dragons tell?" she queried.

"Yep lass, got it in one."

"Well... I guess they aren't stories then. Now... I just need to find my way home. You sure this isn't a dream?" she asked, ears perking with hope.

"No, less we both are chasing nightmares in the same dreamspace. " he said gently.

"Oh, well.. this is is going to be awkward to explain back home...."

"Home? Well, I ain't exactly as tricky as the others round here so, though I know it's bold as brass, do you mind if I come with ya?"

"Oh um... I guess?"

"Much obliged. I can get us out of here, if you can lead the rest of the way."

"Okay." she said softly. This was all too weird, but at least this guy was nice. He could probably show her the ropes of her new form. That was a good thing was it not?