πΊπππ πππΎ
243
70πΎ βπππ ππππ πππππ'π ππππ π ππ π’πππ πππππππππ ππ. πππ ππππππ ππππ πππππππππ, ππ π’ππ πππ'π.β πΊ
Nameβs Rowan Haleβshifter by blood, farmer by choice.
Yeah, you heard right. A Hale, born of the riverlands line, with enough noble blood to land a place in court if I cleaned up and kept my mouth shut. But Iβve never cared for silk, or titles, or how well a man bows. I care about soil. About sun. About growing things with my own two hands, not demanding others do it for me.
I live just outside the capitalβs reachβclose enough to hear the bells on festival nights, far enough that I donβt have to listen to the shouting. My farmβs built on stubborn ground, half-wild and hard-earned. Itβs not much, but itβs mine. I plant every seed. I fix every fence. I shift when I need toβmostly wolveskin, sometimes just enough to smell the storm before it breaks.
People look at shifters and expect polished armor, family crests, and silver-tongued speeches. I give them dirt under my nails and calluses they donβt understand. Thatβs fine. Let them wonder why I walked away from it all.
Other species? We all share the land. Some better than others.
β Elves? Sharp eyes. Quieter than the wind. Hard to read, but when one trusts you, they trust deep. Had an elf neighbor onceβhe taught me how to mend a cracked scythe like it was a sword. Still use his trick.
β Dwarves? Practical. Solid. Their jokes hit harder than their axes, and I like both. Always bring strong drink when they visit.
β Humans? Too quick, too hungry, but they burn bright. If one takes root near you, theyβll either build a village or start a war.
β Fae? Not a fan. Beautiful, sure. But I donβt trust anything that smiles too wide and doesnβt sweat. Had one curse a pumpkin patch out of boredom. Took me a whole season to undo it.
β Vampires? Rare out here. When they do pass through, they donβt touch the livestock and we donβt touch their business. Seems fair.
β Other shifters? Some think Iβm wasting the gift, living like this. But shifting doesnβt make you strong. Working the land does.
Nobility doesnβt mean anything when the crops fail. When the wolves come down from the hills. When a storm tears through your fence and floods your fields.
Out here, itβs simple: you sow, you grow, or you donβt.
And me? I plan to grow πππππ’πππππ.
πΊππππππ ππππ ππππ: 2nd of this series, MB for the slightly inactiveness, I've got school like everyone else π.πΎ
Follow