It was a serene morning in the sleepy suburb of New Mushroomton. Plump clouds soared though the crystal blue sky as the rising sun graced to rounded tops of the multicolored mushroom top homes. A tiny troll newsboy pumped the pedals on his bike and with a high pitched grunt he slung newspapers onto each doorstep. Descending from the skies Manticore gently landed on the doormat of a lavender topped home. Wiping her feet on the scratchy doormat she pressed a small white button and the distant sound of chimes could be heard within the house. From the house next door a bulbous green ogre, donning his housecoat and slippers, came onto his doorstep holding a mug from which curls of steam rose. He groaned as he slowly bent over to pick up his newspaper. Manticore waved her paw at him as she smiled and he returned in kind before returning into his home. Tapping her foot she turned her head and looked at the house on the other side. The home appeared as an ink blot staining the rainbow of colorful homes on the block. It's round mushroom roof was completely black as was it's wooden base. Round stained glass windows with white trim decorated either side. A tall wrought iron fence surrounded the home as tall bushes and trees attempted to obscure one's view into their front yard. Just then the door swung open giving her a terrible start.

Manticore clutched her chest as she panted. "Laurel, you almost gave me a heart attack!"

"Sorry about that!", Laurel laughed. "Come on in!"

"I brought Dragonblood bread!", Manticore said placing the loaf tin onto the dining table and taking a seat.

"You're the only person I know who makes it this good", Laurel said. She placed two porcelain dishes onto the table and mugs next to each. From a teapot she filled each mug and the air became saturated with the warm delicious scents of cinnamon and apples. "I see you've met our new neighbors"

Manticore cut thick slices of the crimson loaf and placed them gingerly onto each plate. "'Met' isn't the word I'd use. More like visually assaulted by.", Manticore chuckled and Laurel did in kind. "You know you've got to give me the tea!"

"It isn't right, I shouldn't gossip", Laurel said with a wink. "I will, however, tell you what I know of our new neighbors so that you can welcome them"

"Yes, please do!", Manticore winked in kind as she sipped her tea.

"Well, they're Dunmer!", Laurel said leaning over slightly with eyes wide.

Manticore nodded. "Oh right, the refugees. I only assumed it was a matter of time before they reached New Mushroomton"

"Yes, and I'm afraid more might be coming. I saw the news the other day about the eruption of the Red Mountain in their homeland of Morrowind. Many Dunmer were evacuated before the eruption but most weren't so lucky".

"I didn't think Dunmer ever left Morrowind."

"They typically don't. Everyone has been trying to get a glimpse of them but it seems they don't ever come or go. I've talked to other ladies in the Neighborhood Watch Group and they haven't seen them either. Actually, they nominated me to welcome them to our neighborhood" Laurel said feeling quite ill.

"Let me guess, you all drew straws and you came up bust?"

"At first that was the idea but then they all realized the new family lived next door to me. Honestly, I'm terrified" Laurel swallowed deeply as she spied the gloomy monstrosity from her kitchen window. A long snakelike dragon did figure eights around Laurel's legs as it whined pitifully. "Ian, whose day is it to feed Blazey?".

Ian lay sprawled on the couch as he flipped back and forth between three channels. "It's Barley's day. I did it yesterday" Ian said his eyes staying glued to the television.

"Ian, go get your brother for me"

"BARLEY", Ian shouted. "MOM WANTS YOU TO COME DOWNSTAIRS"

"Stop shouting! Go get him!", Laurel said through her teeth.

Ian grumbled as he reluctantly pulled himself from the groove he had worn into the couch and made several angry stomps of protest as he traversed up their stairs. "BARLEY", Ian's voice traveled downstairs.

"STOP ALL THAT-", Laurel said. She paused and began rubbing her temples as she laughed. Manticore shook her head as chuckled. "Geez, now I'm doing it!"

A soft pinging noise emitted from Laurel's phone. Retrieving the item from her pocket she pressed her finger to the screen and a message from Barley popped up:

"Whassup?"

"Didn't I say... for Merlin's sake", Laurel grumbled. She tapped on the phone as she replied:

"Did Ian tell you what I said?"

"Yea. This is faster"

"COME DOWNSTAIRS"

"K"

"These kids are going to kill me!", Laurel said with a laugh.

Barley came hurriedly down the stairs his grand feet creating great pounding noises with each step. "I have arrived", Barley exclaimed with arms open wide. "Whassup, Mom?"

"First, it's your day to feed Blazey. "

"Come on, girl! Time to eat!" Barley said after placing two fingers in his mouth and emitting a high pitched whistle. The dragon went into a frenzy as it's long body scrambled in circles around his legs. It's whimpering intensified as Barley pulled out a giant can and lugged it onto the countertop. Pulling out his Swiss army knife he began cutting away the metal top.

"Well, you don't have to actually talk to them, do you? You could just take this bread and leave it on their doorstep with a note." Manticore said.

"That won't work. The Neighborhood Watch specifically wanted me to give them a verbal greeting"

"You guys talking about our new neighbors, right? Their house is pretty bad ass!" Barley said with a toothy grin.

"I have a bad feeling about them."

"Aw, come on. You haven't even met them yet!" Barley said. Holding the can, which more-so resembled a barrel, with both hands a large pile of green chunks plopped into Blazey's silver bowl. He held his breath as the thick odor of rotten eggs and troll fart spread from the slimy pile of dragon food. Blazey's long forked tongue flicked wildly through the air as saliva dripped from it's mouth. "So their house isn't like ours. Big deal!"

"It's not their house that's the problem. That can be ignored if that was the only thing to worry about. Dunmer are deceitful murderers, thieves, and they're obsessed with death! We'll have to be extra careful from now on"

Manticore nodded as she took another sip of tea. "It's true, you know. I saw a short documentary on the news about it".

"That's not what I read in Volume 5 of the Historical Compendium of Quest of Yore. Actually the Dunmer…" Barley said wearing a wide smile as he wound up for a long winded rant on one of his favorite subjects.

Laurel went into the kitchen and opened a drawer. Withdrawing a box of plastic wrap she cut off a long sheet and began wrapping the Dragonblood bread. "Okay then, Mr. Smartypants, you can take this bread over to our new neighbors.", Laurel said shoving the plastic mummified bread into Barley's hands. "The Neighborhood Watch Group wants to make them feel welcome."

"No prob, Mom", Barley said giving a lazy salute.

….

Barley walked to the wrought iron fence and before he could pull the metal lever on the gate a whining creek emitted from it as it swung open. Shrugging his shoulder he walked along a cobblestone path and marveled at the large bushes of black roses, purple calla lilies, spikey bat orchids, purple violas, maroon, hellebore, and black velvet pentunias that grew wild nearly covering the yard and obscuring most peeping neighbors from having a good view. Through the giant green leaves of the bat orchid plants he could see two sets of wide eyes peering from behind the curtains within his home. In a moment they disappeared behind the curtains causing Barley to chuckle. He stood on the doorstep looking around for a doorbell. He lifted his hand to rapt on the door and paused as he lifted his foot in order to read the words on the doormat. "Carpe Noctem? If I remember correctly that means 'Seize the night'", Barley said. The chiming of bells rang within the home. The door slowly creaked as it opened. Before him stood a slender girl with porcelain skin that had a silver iridescent hue, black hair that was neatly pulled into a bun, and deep red eyes and no whites. Her brows furrowed as her thick black lips formed into a slight frown.

"Please, we told you that we don't want a newspaper subscription!", the girl said. Though she meant to sound firm her voice was just above a whisper as she stammered slightly.

Barley opened his mouth to speak and silence greeted him. Clearing his throat he tried again. There seemed to be a halo around her face that caused his gut to flip flop. In his mind he articulated the perfect greeting but once he opened his mouth they tumbled out in a garbled mix of incoherent mess. "I here and, uh, HELLO. This bread", Barley said chuckling oddly.

"Huh?", the girl said as her long pointed ears twitched.

"Get it together, man!" Barley said to himself. "Okay, I can do this"

"Well, I have to go" the girl said slowly closing the door.

Barley grabbed the door. "Wait, I'm Barley Lightfoot. I live next door and brought your family some Dragonblood bread to say welcome to our little slice of Valhalla!"

"Thank you" the girl said. She quickly grabbed the bread and began closing the door once more.

"Wait!" Barley said grabbing the door once more. "What's your name?"

"I… I'm Obsidian Azarath." Obsidian said, tightening her grip on the doorknob.

"Cool name! Did you know that obsidian is a protective stone with magical properties!" Barley said excitedly. "It shields against evil energies, psychic attacks, and represents compassion and strength"

Obsidian looked agape at him blinking several times. "No one outside of the Dunmer ever knows that!", Obsidian said. Her lips pulled slightly upward. "And, did you know that barley makes a hearty soup?"

"Know it? I live it! Maybe a little too much" Barley guffawed as he slapped his stomach. Her laugh was like the tinkling of bells and it caused his skin to grow warm. Releasing the doorknob she cast her gaze to the ground and fiddled with the lace hem on her bell sleeves.

"Nice patches. I like Hydra too", Obsidian said softly.

"What! No one around here knows them. I saw 'em live a year ago. Had to drive two hours to get to the venue. Place was a major dive. Man, the next morning I felt like tenderized meat but it was SO worth it!"

"Their lead singer Peter Steele is a true poet. Several of my paintings were inspired from his lyrics"

"So, you're an artist? I am too! I painted a mural on my van and I keep a book of sketches"

"Not really. I try but I'm not very good", Obsidian said. She frowned as her cheeks blossoming pink. "I'm enrolled at your communal institution of arcane knowledge hoping to become a skilled artisan"

"You mean, the local community college?"

Obsidian blinked once more and nodded. "I'm taking a painting class, a photography class, and…"

Obsidian could feel a presence behind her. The sweet and spicy smell of pipe smoke greeted her noise. A large blueish-silver hand gently landed on her shoulder and she felt disappointment wilt her spirits. "Obsidian, who is this young man?"

"Father, this is Barley Lightfoot. He's our neighbor and brought us bread to welcome us"

"Whassup, Mr. Azarath!"

"Indeed", Mr. Azarath said looking at the item and Barley with equal measures of incredulousness. "We thank you for this gift, young man. As custom dictates we will return the favor before a week's time. There ends our contract".

Obsidian's father wore a black robe with gold trim. An amethyst scarf draped around his shoulders and was fastened by a silver brooch with arcane inscriptions carved into it. His black hair was short and neatly trimmed as was his long translucent nails. The intensity of his narrowed blood red eyes was magnified by his sharp cheek bones and keen nose. With the wave of his hand the door slowly began to close. Through the ever diminishing gap Barley grinned and waved wildly at Obsidian. Her Father clenched his fist causing the door to slam shut violently.