Illustration by BellaBergolts on DeviantArt (original) (raw)

Illustration to fanfic "Light of the damned stars"

Having passed through the thicket of bushes with sticky leaves, skipped a brook and near left his boots in the swamp Galdor stopped and looked around. A place seemed too quiet for that time of the year, and silence was alarming but the elf saw the light quickly - the brushwood here was relatively young; lately fleeced with moss fallen trunks came tumbling down under his feet. Everything suggested that forest fire happened at the turn of the Age. Kept eyes open whether there were any snakes on the earth, the seeker went towards a lone singing bird which voice sounded muted, seemed to be from the hollow within a hundred steps to the east. “I hope you are not in collusion with the flock of predators,” the elf chuckled turning to the flier, “you won’t suck me into the lair of monsters.” The bird began to flap its wings; voice became silent. “Are you afraid I will ruin your nest?” The question received no response; rustle among moss focused attention - a young still short snake slid under the log into dry leaves: green, gray, brown... His gaze settled on a small leaf, it was too light against the background of one-colored and multicolored ones. Bending down and looking closely Galdor felt giddiness - really?.. No, it can’t be true, it can’t! His trembling hand gently took a tiny silver jewel, which was velvety by feel; smile lit up his face. Spinning on place, trying to understand where did the leaf fall from, the seeker began to peer at the tops of trees, tore around with a sinking heart and suddenly saw that he had hoped to find so desperately.