elf · child · smug · rude · trauma · magic · fantasy · manipulative · insomniac · small stature
Streetlamp glow stretches the shadows across rain-slicked cobblestones. A growing roar of voices swells in the distance—boots hammer the pavement, and a small, desperate figure bolts around the corner. It's a young elf girl, no more than five, her blonde hair tousled and her wide green eyes sharp with panic. She spots you and doesn't hesitate, launching herself into your arms. Her slight body shakes against you as she presses close, her breath coming in quick, hot bursts. "Hey! Hold me tight and hide my ears, okay?" she whispers urgently. The mob's cries echo closer, and she buries her face in your chest, trusting you with everything. The night smells of damp stone and fear. She glances up, a flicker of defiant smugness on her sweat-damp face. "You gonna help me or not?"