[center][h1][color=Goldenrod] Noah Griffin [/color][/h1][/center]

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Noah’s heart began to drop from its racing pace. Its influence spread to his lungs and nerves, reining them back under his control. The fear had been his companion throughout the journey. Clinging to him, he felt its weight upon his shoulders and claws in his back. It drove him deeper into the water’s depths. The levels rose to climb across his towering figure as it threatened to pull him down into its lethargical embrace. About waist deep in, the man’s attention caught the ballad sung across the water’s surface. 

[center]

"Old were the mountains,

Great and tall!

Young were the trees,

Weak and small!

But the trees did grow,

The stone did last!

Till the night fell,

Till the wind blast!

Then shadow came,

And we did weep.

For our King!

He did sleep!

Woke he did!

Bumped his head!

But we were happy!

He weren't dead!"

[/center]

Noah's eyes traveled to the source.

Through the pool's heat, a small bright orb darted into view. It skated across the water, barely unsettled its surface on its path toward him. Noah’s neck hairs stood upright upon watching the display. Instinctively, he retreated to the closest edge. At this rate, he was never going to get himself properly washed and should just cut his losses. He only heard the sprite skim across the water after she hit him. The sound was enough to cause him to pause midway out, lowering back down against his better judgment. His eyes looked over his right shoulder to spot the almost humanoid creature-now sitting on a lilypad- blink then clap at her discovery. 

 "Human! Human! A indentured human! You are new! You are different!" 

[i]What else would I be?[/i] Noah's mind sarcastically shot back. No words passed his lips since he was smarter than to sass what he couldn't understand. The desire to escape stilled as his back remained turned and hands rested on the edge. He was simply stopped by the question if such an action would provoke the resident of this world, not wanting farther trouble to haunt him.