The light of dawn was coming soon, and I began my morning preparations. I had found out early this forest was strange, with most of the predators being far more active when the sun was hanging high in the sky. In my first act of defense, I flipped my schedule, and I prepared my daylight dwelling. A hammock of vines and leaves that I hauled up foot by foot, a small pulley made of an abandoned branch letting the hammock swing smoothly in the air as I tied off the vine to a rock I had planted earlier. I smiled softly, watching the hammock sway in the slight breeze. A song began to brew in my chest and I began tapping my foot. "Sleep, my little Kovu. Let your dreams take wing. One day when you're big and strong, you will be a king"
***
Roseluck approached the normal campsite of the spirit of the night. The forest was quiet in the pre-dawn light. The smaller predators of the night beginning to bed down as the dangers of the day lay silent in their dens. She jumped as several creatures began sounding off, providing a beat to an as of yet unknown song. She heard the opening line as she approached the clearing, and stared in awe. The night was once again singing. She could hear the anger fire in the words, as the spirit rose up the tree like a snake. She swung out, resting on a branch with a single foot as her arm hung on the tree. "The sound of Simba's dying gasp, his daughter squealing my grasp. THAT'S MY LULLABY!"
Roseluck sat in the darkness as the spirit spun around the tree, disappearing from view. Roseluck may have been a scaredy-pony, but her fear was beaten back by the sense of wonder the song was bringing. It was no heartsong, with instruments coming from the magic in the air itself. This was something different. The wind in the leaves played something close to a guitar, while strange stomps from the woods provided drums. She would swear that the wind itself was providing backup vocals, as dark voices sang sweetly in her ear of bloody and brutal vengeance. She let the song finish, rooted to her spot by the sheer force of charisma playing out in front of her.
***
I spun into my hammock as the song ended, resting my head against the softer portion of vine I had made as a makeshift pillow. I wasn't actually tired yet, but life finds a way. And in my brief experience, that way led to death if you hung out on the forest floor during the light of day. So I was stuck up here barring any strange circumstances. A cough from below me heralded those strange circumstances.
I leaned over my hammock, looking to the floor before seeing the only familiar face I was actually happy to lay eyes on. Roseluck was sitting on the outskirts of my camp, the smoldering fire lighting her entranced face. I rolled out of my hammock, dropping the distance before landing in a crouch. "Well, you are much later than normal young one. Have you come for some herbs? Or perhaps simply to enjoy my wonderful voice?"
I smirked as I rose looking to the dying fire. Roseluck looked between me and the fire, before bowing. As soon as her head lowered a flash of memory seemed to spark inside her, and she rose with haste. "I apologize Lady Night, I forgot your disdain for court." She smoothed out her coat with a hoof for a moment, trying to fidget her nervous energy away. "I came to hopefully settle the debt Princess Twilight accrued in our last meeting."
I raised an eyebrow. "So you come in her place. A commoner here to hopefully pardon the sins of royalty?" I smiled wide, sitting beside the fire. "You are either brave or foolish to the highest degree. I respect that."
Roseluck flinched. "Well, er... It was my idea." I raised an eyebrow, sitting sprawled out and relaxed in my tattered clothes. Perhaps I could negotiate a trade for some fresh garments. Roseluck didn't appear to notice. "I thought that perhaps it might stop tensions running high if before she saw you again all debts were paid and forgiven. And you said I was welcome so..."
I let out a soft laugh. "Indeed you are little mortal. I would even hazard to say you are a friend. Or the closest thing I've had since I was formed in this accursed world of light and magic." I leaned back, looking to the sky. "So speak Roseluck the pony. tell this old girl what boon the princess has granted to me in exchange for her rudeness?"
Roseluck reached into her bag, pulling out a small pouch before walking up to me. I snatched it from her mouth and looked it over. As I opened it Roseluck began speaking. "She remembered what you said about useful tools, so she asked her brother for some advice on useful tools." I reached into the pack and pulled out a small knife. Its silver edge shone in the half-light, and the matte-black grip fit well in my hands. I made a few experimental movements. Roseluck watched as she spoke. "She thought a knife as you suggested would be best. She enchanted it herself, the edge will take centuries to dull."
I smiled as I reached into the bag and pulled out a small holster, hooking the tool to my side. "Then she is wiser than I thought. All past sins are forgiven." A silence fell for a moment as I began scrambling for a suitably mystic sounding saying. "As the dawn erases night, this knife has cleared her slate. She is now welcome in my camp with no fear of attack." I stood up, moving to my pack where it hung from a vine. I undid the knot, lowering it down to my level. "And don't think I forgot you Rosey. I have some gifts for you as well."
As I finished lowering the bag, Roseluck trotted up to my side. She quirked her head as I caught the swinging pack, and pulled out a small collection of leaves I'd hooked together. Inside was another collection of plants and like that, I had found that looked suitably rare. As well as some blue leafed thing that every creature I saw avoided. I had picked it up with several leaves and refused to touch it as I withdrew it. I tossed the pouch to her. "I am unsure of all these plants, but I would suggest not touching any of them with your bare hooves."
Roseluck nodded, putting the pouch in her side pocket as she withdrew a second bag from her satchels. "And this is my gift to you, to thank you for your kindness."
I made sure to be much more polite in taking her gift, opening it with calm hands. I saw the holy items she had gifted me and laughed. A salt and pepper shaker sitting in the bag filled to the brim. "You are far too kind to this old trickster, and I thank you for it." I gave a bow with a smile. "Now come, dawn approaches, and I wish to at least hear some of your tales before dawn robs me of my energy." We both sat and conversed, and as the sun began to rise in earnest Roseluck left. Leaving me in my hammock with my newest tool. I flipped the knife back and forth in my hand and paused as I held it by the blade. When my fingers crossed the silvery metal, it began to stain. Running my palm across the smooth metal it darkened until the blade was black as pit from pole to pole. I heard a soft chuckle in the woods. "Well, that's ominous."