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You enter a forest area of the Sanctuary, and immediately feel beset by an eerie silence. The trees seem not to move, and you can't for the life of you hear any birds. Suddenly, you hear a snap and you flatten yourself up against a very large tree. Instead of feeling the solid trunk of the tree behind you though, you fall backwards, and end up lying flat on your back staring up at a ceiling. A young woman's head peers down at you, and you feel very self-conscious.

"Hello, what exactly are you doing on my floor?" The woman asks. You try to compose yourself, but lying on the floor is not very comfortable at all. You try to pick yourself up, and find that something is holding you down.

"Oh, so sorry, my um, boyfriend put this thing on so that all intruders would get trapped on the floor until such time that he could get here and see who it was and whether or not they warranted holding or not. It's just that he went on some quest or something, left me a note on the fridge asking me to make sure that the cats are fed and that they aren't eaten by any none of the more aggressive or disgruntled dragons. So, I'm not sure if I can let you off the ground! I've got a recording of his voice command somewhere. Um, just hold on... I'm really sorry about this whole thing."

She leaves the room, and you are left wondering how long you have to lie in such an uncomfortable position. You hear a strange sort of man's voice saying some kind of word, sort of like Esaeler, or something to that effect, and you are immediately off of the floor and standing up. You look around, a little confused.

"I'm so sorry. It's a backward release mechanism. You have to say release backwards. I've only got this recording of him and I took the word release out of it and play to backwards. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I had a sparrow locked on the floor for over a week. Oh, I'm Jenovefa, have I already told you that? Are you alright???"

You assure her no, she hadn't told you her name, and that it was only the discomfort of lying on the floor that worried you. She smiles looking relieved, and offers you a drink saying that it is the least she can do. You look at her and decide that it is the probably the only thing that will calm her nerves. She gives you a cooling refreshing drink that tastes a little like strawberries. It is only now that you have time to look around. The young woman has wavy brown hair, blue eyes and her clothes have an American Indian sort of flavour. She busies herself cutting some fruits up for you to eat, even though you've declined them, she sort of made it sound like you'd asked for it originally. You look around the room, and see lots of collectables and many utensils - more than seems normal for a kitchen. You also see a pile of very fluffy looking cushions on the floor. You think it's rude to ask about it at the moment, but the reason for them to be on the floor in a corner is definitely getting the better of you.

"Oh, I'm trying to impress, wel bond with really, a dragon from Gryphon's at Vortex Dragon Impressions. I live in the Sanctuary, but I don't really have an active role here, I sort of just watch this forest for everyone. So, I thought about it, and decided that impressing was the best way to go. Besides, it seems really silly for me to not to look after or enjoy a dragons company, especially since I love them so much. I never could understand the whole deal. I'm supposed to have some kind of draconic blood in my lineage or something. My parents were never too clear on it. Anyway, I thought cushions were the best way to go for bedding. Should I just have sands? I'm moving them all into the lounge next to my bedroom anyway - so any input would be great! I was thinking of making some kind of huge sandbox or something, but then I thought that was only for hatching, and then I completely confused myself, so I stuck with hording cushions and throw rugs. That's probably that draconic side of me, you should see my spare room, it's choc-a-block with little things, objects and the like, and I can't stand throwing things, especially shiny things, out. I don't know why. Would you like some more fruit?"

You suppose you should leave before she offers you dinner, and then fills you full of sweets. You mention that extensively feeding strangers is not a draconic trait. "Oh, that comes from my mother's side. She feeds anyone and everyone and doesn't rest until she's sure they're full to bursting. I'm lucky I'm not horribly obese!" She laughs. You stay a couple of more minutes, and then take your leave. On your way out, she gives you an open invitation to visit anytime, and you notice that her house is within the tree that you thought you had flattened yourself up against. She assures you that there is nothing that can harm you within the forest, and waves before re-entering her home.





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© Dragonmaid (Lynnette Faggotter)