Elfin

Sunlight blinded Sean for a moment as he stepped out of the trees into a small meadow. "Over here!" 

 He shielded his eyes and squinted against the glare. He'd been hunting that morning for the caravan, but had traveled farther than he thought and gotten lost. He only came this way after hearing one of his travelling companions calling for him. Despite hearing the voice, he saw no one in the glade. Suddenly he felt a tug on his pant leg and looked down. 

 Initially, he was confused. A smiling child was standing beside him, dressed in a woven grass tunic and wearing a large piece of bark over its chest and back. Then his heart skipped a beat when he saw the pointed ears, the eyes that were a bit too large, and the thick golden hair that fell almost to the child's feet. An Elfin. The creature gestured for him to sit down. To his surprise, he did so. It gestured at the rabbits hanging off his belt, and he took one off and handed it over. The Elfin inspected the dead animal, sniffing it, then tucked it into a little bag on its back and gestured at the other rabbit. Sean frowned, "Sorry friend, but I'm lost and I might need this if I'm out here much longer." 

 The Elfin's smile dropped and it gestured to the rabbit again. Sean shook his head and began to stand up, he needed to get back to his caravan. Suddenly, fast as lightning, the Elfin grabbed his hand and bit down. Pain shot through Sean as a dozen sharp teeth pierced his skin. Something dropped onto his back from a tree as he pulled away and pain flared up in his shoulder. He tried to run but tripped over a root and everything went black. 

 When he came to he could see the stars in the sky. He looked around groggily and saw small child-like shapes around a large fire. One of them looked over and saw he was awake. It shuffled over and stood above him, looking down for a minute as he tried to get up. Then it raised a large rock over its head and brought it down on Sean's face. 

   

 

 In the forests of Mahiri (though rare sightings have been reported elsewhere in the world) live a strange little creature that the locals call Elfin, Faeries, or Sprites. These creatures are small, no bigger than a child, with long hair, pointed ears, and large bright eyes. They are elusive and private, preferring close knit settlements in deep and remote areas of the forest. 

   

 No human has ever visited an Elfin village, with traders meeting in neutral locations, often a meadow or by a pond, where the Elfin can approach quietly, and disappear quickly if needed. Always an enigma, Elfin goals and morals are rarely understood. Some Mahiri communities have boasted good trade relations with an Elfin community for years before the community suddenly vanishes. People have reported Elfin leading them to safety through dangerous wilds, while others report Elfin luring lone travelers into the forest never to be seen again.