Strangers Eyes

The strange creature who cleaned and bandaged his arm appeared vaguely human aside from the shimmer of features as if they were somehow delayed just behind its movements... almost like rippling water moving behind a boat then rushing to catch up. It did not seem to need labels for gender, race, or specie as it appeared much older than one who might care about such trivial things and somehow he found himself thinking about an old story with a swamp hag whom disguised as an old woman managed to pass as a healer for near a century before the villagers realized something was odd during the witch trials and tried to have it burned only for it to vanish underground when they tried to catch it.

The creature was silent while tending his arm and since he had decided it must be a type of hag he began to refer to it that way in his own mind. Soon it handed him a mug of what smelled like hot spiced wine and stated, "well dearie, I've done you a favor so now it's your turn... tell me how this came about and why my little Mair has brought home an injured bird."

He looked at Mair who nodded as if saying it was alright then back at the Hag careful not to make eye contact with either finally he looked down at the mug filled with burgundy liquid and herbs which seemed somewhat familiar and took a sip. The potion was warming... definitely a type of mulled wine the spiced lingered on his tongue while the bitterness was muted with a honey taste and he felt a little of the pain in his shoulder ease. He took a few slow breaths composing himself and a moment to gather his thoughts before he began.

"The morning started out normal, I had breakfast and went to the office just like I normally do... but I... I kept having this odd feeling... almost an itching under my skin and a feeling I was being watched. But every time I'd turn around there was no one there. I started checking reflective surfaces to see if i could see them behind me but only saw glimpses of a shadow moving away and thought nothing of it. At one point I went to the restroom and as I washed my hands I glanced up and could have sworn my eyes had changed colors for a second yet when i looked back they were normal..."

"Oy 'ow fascinating... 'ow old are ye dear?" The Hag suddenly interrupted.

"I'm 37...why?... what do you mean fascinating?" He replied confused why his age had anything to do with what was going on at all.

"Well I've never heard of any'ne being able to hide it so long... they must've been quite powerful to suppress the magic for 37 years! Goodness me this is quite fascinating!" Squealed the Hag happily, "an' wha' color did they change to dear?"

"Um... I believe they were gold..."

"Not y'llow? Are ye certain?" The Hag replied suddenly quite serious.

"I'm sure they were gold... with flecks of hazel... is that bad...?" He was suddenly worried.

"No dear... I'm certain all 'ill be well", replied the Hag, "but...just in case... best to keep that to yerself from here on oot."