Chapter 72: Varrinor
As Dune stepped off the descending platform and set foot on the soft earth of the village, he was instantly drawn into a world unlike anything he'd seen before.
Varrinor was alive with movement. People walked the stone and wooden paths that wove through the trees, busy with work and conversation. The village wasn't loud, but it buzzed with a quiet, peaceful energy, like everyone had their place and purpose.
Dune's eyes wandered across the vibrant landscape. The land around the village stretched out in wide patches of lush green, with patches of flowers blooming in bursts of yellow, blue, and red.
Animals roamed freely, some small and fluffy with wings instead of legs, others tall and lean with antlers that shimmered in the light. A fox-like creature with feathers instead of fur darted past his feet, disappearing into the thick underbrush.
The people of the village wore long robes that looked like flowing shrouds, mostly in shades of green, black, brown and yellow. The fabric moved like water, light and natural, blending beautifully with the forest around them.
Some had hoods, while others wore many belts or woven threads. Dune noticed something else too, some villagers had animal-like ears on their heads, and a few had tails swaying gently behind them.
He turned toward Cadogan, curiosity written all over his face.
"They're half-beasts," Cadogan explained.
"They have deeper connections to both animals and Neba. Strong bloodlines. Most of them were born here... descendants of old tribes who learned to live with nature, not fight against it."