I hope you don't mind a more of a novel style this time as well as the location description. I'll change it if it doesn't fit the description you had in mind. I also added to the backstory of another back-up character again while I was at it.
Sent out to get food for the monastery for the first time from the elven city of Corwyl, Van walked down a misty forest path littered with flourishing trees and shrubberies. A tall shadowy figure appeared behind him and pierced through the mist at quite the pace, it appeared to be a large hare-person. Not knowing of what manner of being this was Van blocked its path, but the giant hare simply jumped over him while carrying an odd paper wrapped box. As he passed he said “Would you watch where you step? I have a delivery in Corwyl and I’m already late as is.” And with that the hare speed forward and out of sight.
Arriving in Corwyl he found himself in a city built around the forest, often leading up into the trees themselves. Spiralling stairs and hempen rope ladders led upwards to wooden platforms where fairly large thatched houses sat. He however was familiar with elven buildings and failed to see their majesty as he approached the general store where the monastery placed their order. In the general store there was a short man behind the wooden counter, whose ears didn’t seem very pointy, but Van thought nothing of it. He noticed that a paper box was placed on the counter, curious of what it could be he asked the shopkeeper. “Oh, these are the supplies that I ordered from Rivershire. You know, the town to the north.” Van was puzzled by his words, and it showed in his expression. “You monastery types are strange.”
“So are the strange bunny people regulars here?” Van inquired with a baffled look upon his face.
“He was just a messenger from Rivershire, and show some respect. He’s a hare, not a rabbit. They’re different. Anyways, just take your package and go. I’ll just bill the monastery as usual.” The shopkeeper seemed to be getting more and more annoyed by Van’s ignorance, as the conversation continued. Van took note of this and simply took the package and walked out of the store. Walking down a set of spiralling stairs outside the store he noticed the hare-person sitting on a stool in a small bar, at least that’s what he recalled it being called, drinking a golden coloured beverage.
Wanting to apologize for the misunderstanding Van entered the bar and sat on the stool next to the strange hare. “I must apologize for being in your way earlier,” said Van apologetically.
The hare just looked over in disgust and said in a semi-drunken slur, “No you don’t. You people from the monastery are all the same, you act like you care for people who aren’t elves, but you only protect elves in times of need. If elves aren’t in danger you don’t do nothing.” He stood up and pushed in the stool, much to the horror of the barkeep. “I’m leaving” he stated as he walked through the empty doorway.
This was the first time Van had even held a conversation with someone that wasn’t an elf, and this new person hated him already. Not only that but the barkeep hated him too; he chased away his best customer in months. Confused about of what the hare had said he headed back to the monastery with his package in tow.
At the gates of the monastery he dropped off the package and went to find his teacher. His teacher was an elderly elven woman, but if Van had a question she would do her best to answer, Van respected her for that. He started telling her of the hare in the market, but knowing the race she had to stop his story short. The race was known as the Hengeyokai, and they had nearly all been wiped out when a large group of monsters migrated through their lands. The race asked for the help of the monastery, but they didn’t have the resources to defend non-elven groups. The monsters rampaged through the area and the Hengeyokai were decimated. Only the lucky and the fastest of the race survived, hares included. Horrified by the recount of the monastery’s past, Van made a decision. If the head of the monastery won’t defend other races then he would leave to defend the lives of others, no matter who or where they are.