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Phillip relaxes a bit at Lydia's reassurance. "Yeah, maybe you're right. It's this place...the whole thing is unnerving, I guess. I'm sure the crow is just a crow. He does seem to have taken a liking to you, though."
Phillip unloads the wood and starts stacking it for a fire. All these infinite possibilities now that magic is in the picture. I guess just take it as it comes.
"Tis a fine looking apple indeed, big one. But apples we can get on our own. We wants something new, we does."
She giggles,
"And if its really nice, maybe we throw in something extra? Maybe we give you some Shot to help against the gobbos?"
Miya had a kushi in her hair -- a petite but ornate comb an oba-san had gifted her on her sixteenth birthday. She really didn't want to part with it, but if it was necessary for their survival, then she would.
She turned to Luc and Adam and whispered quietly, "I have something else", pointing discreetly to the pretty comb in her hair.
Phillip pulls back scratching his head as he looks over the stacked wood and tinder in the fireplace conjured from his failed one day stint in the boy scouts. He turns to Lydia and shrugs. "Look okay?"
Dusting off his hands he turns to Robin. "I've been thinking. You mentioned this town Willowdale nearby. Do you think we could find more help there to deal with this ogre? Or maybe somebody there might know some more about him?"
Reaching for his wrist, Lucian actually hesitates in removing one of the few things that ties him to his 'real' self, but he does so nonetheless.
"Ever seen one of these?" - he holds it up in his hand for the creature to take a look.
Josh tumbles and leaps over to where Philip is.
Landing next to Philip, Josh begins speaking. "I agree with Phil. These weapons are good quality, no doubt better than what we can find in the marketplace there, however, all of us are going to need some form of protection if we're gonna fight Grox. I can wear anything light-studded leather will probably be best-and a buckler or light shield would be good as well. If you have that kind of money, I would certainly appreciate if we went into town stock up on some gear first."
"That's fantastic!" Lydia enthuses over Phillip's efforts but she does rearrange things slightly. "Some of this wood is too big for just starting a fire though. You gotta start real small or you will smother the flame."
While Phillip and Josh speak with Robyn, she gets the fire going and works on creating a nice bed of hot cinders. She is grateful that Phillip and Josh make the effort to engage their host, leaving her to handle the weapon-making. They are good with people the way she is good with things. And animals.
Neville squawks in what can only be agreement from his perch atop the apex of Robyn's thatched roof.
The small creature's eyes widen as Lucian holds out the watch. Buzzing slightly, she darts back and forth from either side of his outstretched hand, then over and under, getting cooing as she does so.
"It's pretty. We hear it tick. It has a pretty tick, and shiny too!" she says clapping her hands.
With no further delay, she swipes the thing from Lucian's grasp before he can rethink the offer
"Deal!" she says excitedly, zipping back up into the tree, and hanging it on a nearby branch.
She looks her new prize over once more before giving and exaggerated nod and a wide grin. Then, zipping about the tree, she gathers what appear to be , and awkwardly flies back to the group.
"As we promised, here is some Shot." and she drops them into Lucian's hand.
Still shying away somewhat from Adam, she flies over to Miya, hovering less than two inches from her face.
"We will take you over to the gobbies when they sleep. They hides good when their eyes is open, but we can find them when they sleep. You stay at the old ones, we'll find you there!"
Then, darting back to the tree, and landing only long enough to grab the watch once more, she darts high and deep into the forest.
"Shot..?" - Lucian retorts puzzled, staring at the acorns in his hand.
"What the?... Adam says, annoyance clear in his voice.
He scratches at his leg, wincing again slightly in pain.
Then rubbing his eyes,
"Sure. Ok. Whatever."
He sits down on the ground, pulling his knees to his chest and is quiet for some time.
Looking up to Lucian, annoyance fading to acceptance;
"Well, either we got taken like chumps, or they're magic, maybe?"
Robin looks back and forth to Phillip and Josh as they ponder their options out loud. He purses his lips in thought and scratches his head.
"Well, they may have a few swords and shields in town, but they'd be owned by the guard, so I'm not so sure they'd give them up. Folk there are kind enough to traders and travelers, but they may be more concerned about their own safety. Couldn't hurt to ask, I suppose."
He pulls the stool from the table to the doorway and sits down to talk with them as they work.
"They have a smith down there too, just starting out, from what I hear. He maybe could be convinced to help if you made it worth his while. was his name, I think."
Meanwhile, Neville the crow gets more bold and hops back down onto the fence, eyeing Lydia with it's head cocked to the side. Derrick raises and ear in response, wondering what the bird is up to, but is content to sit beside Robin as the older man scratches behind his ear.
She flies over to Miya, hovering less than two inches from her face.
"We will take you over to the gobbies when they sleep. They hides good when their eyes is open, but we can find them when they sleep. You stay at the old ones, we'll find you there!"
After the faery flew away with her prize, Miya turned to Luc with an apologetic expression on her face, "Sorry about your watch, Luc. Next time they want something, I have my comb to trade."
Observing Adam's antics on the ground, Miya patiently moved over to him and helped him to stand. "We better get back to Robin's as the faery suggested. When the time is right, she'll find us and guide us to these goblins."
As she walked through the forest, she glanced at Luc. "Maybe the acorns are magical, like Adam's said. Or they grow acorns as weapons in this place ... We'll ask the faery when she comes for us or perhaps Robin knows what this shot is."
Phillip watches intently as Lydia arranges the fireplace and coaxes out a fire. "Ah, start small. That makes sense."
He pulls back momentarily startled as Josh leaps to his feet. "Yes, maybe we can find some things to be better prepared. I'm betting there are others who would be grateful to see the ogre dealt with."
"Telsayne," Phillip repeats the name in an effort to remember. "I'm not sure if we have anything of value to trade, but it's a place to start."
His eyes light up suddenly. "Are there any brewers in town?"
Miya's sharp eyes guide the small group back to the cabin with no incident. Noone appears to be following them, although the sounds of small creatures can be heard all around. Birds occasionally flap away from their perches and rabbits scurry through a bush to a burrow. Under other circumstances, the place would perhaps be a very nice place to camp. Fresh air and green all around, color and life.
Adam speaks very little on the way back, only now and then slapping his arm or scratching his back and muttering to himself. Normally in a situation such as this, you would expect him to be overtaken with fascination. Noting different insects and animals, flora and fauna, but he seems distracted. His eyes even seem a bit different his features more stressed.
Robin nods at Phillip with a wide grin as he begins chewing on a long thick green blade of grass. He leans back in his chair and looks up at the midday sky.
"Aye. That they do. Used to be, there was a tavern down there with the prettiest little lass. Golden hair and boy what a chest! She could make the most delicious dark mead. Just a hint of honey in it, not too sweet, and it tasted like.. well. It tasted like summer."
Crossing his arms in front of him, he got a whistful look about him, remembering a time long ago when he was young.
"Never forget her name. Helena. I wonder if she's still down there. I hadn't thought of her in some time. Funny that."
Meanwhile, Neville has hopped even closer to Lydia as she tends the fire.
He caws once and pecks at the top of the fence with his beak. Derrick, now laying at Robin's feet has settled in for a nap, one paw resting on his wet nose.
Miya had taken the lead and it wasn't very hard retracing their footsteps back to Robin's cottage. The forest was so pretty and vibrant, however, she was concerned about Adam -- He was withdrawn and quiet and she hoped this adventure wasn't too overwhelming for him. It was strange enough for the rest of them.
Miya took a deep breath and acknowledged her friends, Robin and Derek, and noted the strange crow on the fence near Lydia.
"We've returned. We discovered goblin markings on some trees. We also met a faery. Luc gave her his watch in exchange for shot and promise of showing us where the goblins lived when they were asleep. She will come here to collect us when the time is right."
Miya drew another breath as that was a mouthful and she wondered what her friends' reaction would be to the appearance of a faery.
"So, what have you guys been up to?"
And to Robin she added, "The faery seemed to know where you lived. Do you know her? And what is shot?" Miya pointed to Luc and the acorns he was holding.
"Every brewery around is going to be a micro-brewery, Phillip. Just imagine the pub crawls we could have!" Lydia calls over to the men with a laugh as they discuss the tavern in the nearby town.
By the time Miya, Lucian and Adam return, the staves are well on their way to completion but are not quite ready to be used as weapons. She eyes Adam with some concern; he seems particularly downcast as the trio approaches Robyn's little homestead. While Miya describes the events of their afternoon in the forest, Lydia approaches and gently draws him aside to join her at the firepit. Wordlessly, she puts a hand out to rub gently across his back for a few moments before she leans over slightly to rest her head against his, leaving them pressed side to side as they sit before the coalbed. If Adam wants to talk, she'll listen but for now, she'll simply enjoy the comfort of having all her friends close by again.
Robin leans forward on his chair in the doorway as the group comes back from the forest. He smiles and nods.
"Can't say I know any faeries, but I have been here long enough. I'm sure they know I'm here. The poke fun now and again. Rearranging things or teasing old Derrick, but never actually talked to one."
He gets up an stretches.
"Well, I suppose I should take the sheep out for some feed. Been lazing around too much. Thank you again for your help. I don't know if I'll ever be able to thank you properly, put thanks all the same. You're welcome to stay here until that faery comes. I have a few more blankets stuffed under my bed if you'd like to rest. I won't be too long."
and with that, Robin grabs the crook by the door and goes to the fence with Derrick, slowly herding the several sheep he has left out of their enclosure and up the hill to feed.
Adam seems to calm somewhat, although he is definitely taken suprize by Lydia's closeness. He is still tense, as is evident in his posture, and his muscles are tight. His eyes dark back and forth, as if looking for something.
After the faery flew away with her prize, Miya turned to Luc with an apologetic expression on her face, "Sorry about your watch, Luc. Next time they want something, I have my comb to trade."
"No worries" - he smiles at his friend - "Not sure what use it would be around this place... Huh... Here" - he stammers a bit.
As she walked through the forest, she glanced at Luc. "Maybe the acorns are magical, like Adam's said. Or they grow acorns as weapons in this place ... We'll ask the faery when she comes for us or perhaps Robin knows what this shot is."
"Magical..." - he ponders, looking at the acorns again - "You mean magical, magical? Like, you eat them and... Grow, or shrink, like Alice in Wonderland" - his eyes take a gleam to it - "That would be amazing" - the man adds, then turns to his companion also - "What do you mean magical Adam?"
----
"I guess now we wait" - Lucian sits down, staring through the window - "And hope the 'faery' will make good on our deal, right?"
Feeling that Adam is still very tense, Lydia sits back and gives him a little punch in the arm. She scoots about a foot away and and turns to face him, sitting with her hands hands clasped together around her bent knees, still within reach of the staves she is tending.
"You know, this place...it's not all that bad. It reminds me of that time we all took the trip up to Lake Chabot. It was really beautiful up there. We didn't catch anything but it was so relaxing and peaceful. The water was so blue...I bet there's some really nice fishing spots like that around here, don't you think?"
Miya took a seat on one of the larger rocks in Robin's front garden.
She silently watched Lydia with Adam. She heard Luc mention the faery and nodded. "She said she would return for us. I suppose we have no alternative but to trust in her word, for now."
Robin had mentioned they could stay and wait for the faery. That was a kind offer, and since they had no idea where they were, being in a warm cottage, relatively safe, was a good option.
Lydia brought up Lake Chabot and Miya found herself nodding, again. "The forest here is also pretty, Lydia. If it wasn't for ogres and goblins, we would be able to enjoy it -- possibly go for a hike. Least we can stay here for a little while." She gave Adam a warm smile as if to reassure him. But Adam's eyes kept moving as if searching for something. "Are you looking for something, Adam?"
Miya turned her eyes and looked, hoping to spy whatever was distressing Adam. She listened carefully, as well, in case something was coming from the forest.
Adam responded to Miya's question slowly. He stared over at Lydia, cocking his head to the side, almost mimicking the posture of the nearby black bird. His lip curled up slightly, looking her in the eyes, and for a moment he seemed almost predatory. It passed quickly though, and the other girl's voice seemed to bring him back.
He turned to Miya.
"Looking? I...I guess I'm still just taking all this in. I feel kinda woozy. Groggy like. A bit like some of the meds they tried on me at the hospital to make the voices go."
He got a panicked look on his face.
"My meds..." and began scrambling around on the ground going through the backpack he had with him. It was clearly almost empty, but sagged in the middle as if there were one or two things in it that were very heavy.
Looking back at the group, his nervousness passed.
"Right. My pocket." he said, clutching the bag to his chest. There in the dirt he dug into his pants pocket and pulled out a crumple ziplock bag, folded over several times, containing about dozen green and blue capsules. He fished one out and swallowed it dry.
"Just in case this is all in my head, and that takes us home. Can't hurt, right?" he said with a crooked smile.
"I'd love to go home Adam but don't you see? Those doctors were wrong. The hospital was wrong. You're not sick because this place is real. We're all here and it's real. You're fine and you don't need medicine at all!"
"If you're in one of your delusions, then we're all suffering the same one. I think Lydia's right, Adam. You don't need those meds anymore. You must have remembered this place when the rest of us had forgotten, or something like that."
Miya shrugged her shoulders, not really understanding how all this was possible and what it meant for them now. But Adam was not crazy; that she understood with fresh clarity.
Phillip smiled at the mention of mead and the possibility of breweries. "Yes, a good old fashioned pub crawl is what we need."
He was lost in thoughts of mead, ogres and goblins and such as the sun slowly crawled across the sky. Phillip settled into place stoking the coals as the others return and Lydia leads Adam over.
At Adam's mention of voices, Phillip takes notice again of the soft distortion in his ears that has become somewhat of a comforting white noise. Just a breeze.
"Adam, can you..." Phillip paused staring at the coals. "If you think you can, is there anything you can share about what happened?"
"Only what you can," he blurted out. "No pressure. No pressure at all. It's just...it might help us...and you, too. You know, get it off your chest." He looked nervously at the glowing end of his stick as he prodded the coals.
Adam glanced over at Phillip, but quickly looked away. He wanted to talk about it. He desperately wanted to bare his soul to his friends, especially in light of their new situation, but he couldn't.
He looked over at the group, focusing on their faces so he didn't have to meet their gaze. He felt tiny all of the sudden, very small. Like a mouse, running from some great big beast, his heart beating ever so rapidly in his tiny chest.
He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came. When he finally snapped his mouth shut, embarrassed (he use to make fun of "mouth breathers") he bit his lip. He winced, and a single bead of blood made it's way to the corner of his mouth, then rolled down his chin.
It was quite apparent to anyone looking in his direction that his top left canine was quite enlarged. And now, in the soft gleam of the embers of the fire, with whispy smoke only barley coming up, one of his eyes was strange. The pupil sharper, the iris more defined. Like a hawk's.
Finally, pulling the shoulder of his shirt to his face and wiping it, he spoke.
"I wish I could, guys. I really do. It's so hard to explain, but... well. I seemed like some kind of dragon was shouting. It was hard to see things...like through a gas cloud, or under water. But I could hear clearly. It had 3 voices and it talked about 6 keys. It wanted me to collect them...it also wanted me to hurt people."
His voice trailed off.
"If it's true that my...problems...were really visions of this place..."
He shuddered.
"I don't want to see that thing again."
Miya had read about dragons and had heard the old myths/stories from her grandparents and parents. Yet, here, Adam was saying he talked to one (or one had talked to him in three voices).
"You could understand a dragon? Now that is something." Miya responded in quiet voice. There was no sarcasm or judgement in her tone.
Miya was puzzled about the part of the story where the dragon wanted Adam to hurt people. She didn't want to push him on the details as it was apparent he really didn't want to delve into the memory.
"When Robin gets back with the sheep, perhaps we should ask him if there are any dragons in this land."
"There will always be someone trying to push you around Adam" - Lucian comments, still staring out the window - "That much I learned in highschool, even better than Mathematics or Chemistry" - his voice trails off somewhat - "It always seems some others have an agenda, but one for you to follow, and not them - it doesn't matter if they are a college jock, a punk wannabe, a drill sergeant, or a dragon... If they push you, you push back, until it breaks if necessary"
His eye never left the window - "You are my friends, my touch of real in all of this - I'll be damned if I let anything bad happen to any of you in 'here' - wherever it may be" - Lucian's hand squeezes the window sill so hard it seems the wood will splinter at any moment, then his muscles ease up and the turns to Adam.
"Honestly? I hope your 'spacing out' were indeed visions of this place - it means we may have clues as to what is going on. It means whatever you can remember is valuable" - he smiles at his companion.
Miya had listened as Lucian spoke by the window. There was something in his voice that made her pay attention, more than usual. This place had seemingly changed them a little -- in ways they wouldn't understand until later, or so it seemed. She saw Luc's smile at Adam, the reassurance he was offering, and she slowly and unceremoniously moved toward the window where Luc stood. Reaching out, she discreetly lay her hand atop his one on the sill. It was an unconscious gesture -- she wanted to show Lucian that he was not alone in this either. Miya didn't leave her hand there for too long as it was meant as a private gesture and not a public demonstration.
Luc was right -- anything Adam could remember about this place would help them survive it (or at least attempt to). She felt her inner resolve grow firmer; she would not allow anything bad to happen to her friends, just like Lucian promised.
"Between Adam, Robin and the faery, if she does come back, we may get some direction. We have weapons, albeit some more makeshift than others. We do need to protect ourselves and each other. Willowdale is the closest town; a day's travel Robin said. Perhaps Lord Volokun's assistant Osrik can help us buy weapons and understand what the laws and rules are in this place. But we have to make up some story ...They will not believe we have come from a different...um...Universe." Miya didn't like lying, but until she got her bearings here, she could not risk telling the absolute truth.
Even though his intent was fully honest, Lucian knew he could not guarantee the safety of his companions, not when he didn't even knew where they were, nor the threats that might be forthcoming - but he would try it as best as he could.
Miya's touch was a welcome and comforting reinforcement of his own will. He looked down to her hand, then at her blue eyes, sketching the barest hint of a smile, acknowledging her support.
"Perhaps we can pass by travellers or merchants if needed? A troupe of some sort?" - he answered, the immediate considerations at hand offering real matters to be concerned about, a respite from the many things they did not understand.
Josh looked back at the others from his standing position. In a mock challenge against a non-existent foe, the thrust the shortsword into the air. He swept it across the air in front of him in a horizontal pattern, then up and down, as if some kind of salute.
"Dragons, huh. Yeah, cool." He had a silly grin on his face, but he could see the concern and uncertainty in the faces of his friends.
"You can count on me guys, till we find a way out of here. But until we do, don't you think we should try to make the best of it. Try to make it enjoyable even?"
He looked over to Philip.
"A brewery. What do you think it's like? Do you think the town is all run down and sullen with dirty people, like in the documentaries?" He looked over to where Robin might be, off in the distance.
"I just wonder how much like the movies it is out there. I mean, here's this whole new place...and what do we have to compare it with? TV shows, movies and stories, man. I mean...wow. We're gonna go fight an Ogre? Just. Wow."
Josh was ever the enthusiastic one. However, Miya answered Lucian regarding his idea of them posing as travelling merchants or a troupe of performers?...
"Those two suggestions seem okay with me, Luc. If we decide to say we're a troupe, perhaps we need to create some kind of act in case they ask us to perform for them. I don't think it will bode well for us if we're caught in a direct lie."
Having heard Josh's idea of what the town would be like, Miya tilted her head at his assumption that the townsfolk would be dirty... "If what Robin said is true and the land is under a custodian for the young lord, then I think the town isn't going to be rundown...least I hope it isn't."
"And I hope we can have some fun along the way, Josh. But fighting dragons and ogres doesn't sound like fun -- but dangerous and hard work. Maybe we can be serious on those matters, okay?" And staying alive in a foreign world..., Miya mused silently.
Phillip listens as Adam shares his vision. Guilt creeps up as Adam shudders, reliving the terror for them. Keys? Did someone have a key symbol over their head in that room? Or maybe they were all "keys" of some sort?
His thoughts lost in the coals, Lucian's question pulls him back to the conversation. "I agree with Miya. I don't think we know enough about this place yet to survive direct questioning. I think the simpler the better."
Phillip stares at the ground deep in thought then brightens. "What if we recreated a movie? No one here would know. There's got to be a few we all know by heart. Maybe a Bruce Lee film? People love a good action scene, right? And it gives us a reason to carry weapons. And explains the 'odd' clothing."
The idea that Phillip had was a sound one, but could the plan be carried out? They had all found each other through just that sort of movie, and whatever talents else they had, they knew most of those movies very very well.
The end of the day was rapidly approaching, and although the group found some comfort in the relative safety and warmth of Robin's small abode, it was becoming more and more apparent how real their situation was.
They had gone through small troubles together but nothing so vast as this.
There was alot indeed to consider.
As the sun began to dip, Robin could be seen on the horizon, a long blade of sourgrass between his teeth.
Just as he began walking down the hill, a dull musical sound could be heard from the opposite direction, slowly rising in volume until it was a chime, distinct, yet still not loud. Zipping out of the sky from overhead was that same faery, pulling herself in a tight arrow as she impacted the ground and float jumped several times till she was at rest at Lydia's feet.
She looked up at the young woman and smiled a large grin, from ear to ear.
"hello."
Almost immediately, she turned on her heel and made her way towards Miya and Lucian, who she seemed to regard as the elders of the group.
"The gobbs are sleepy time now, and my present tick tick ticks." she giggled and sat down on a small rock, pretending to look at something in her hand, and looking to her audience.
"I take you to them?"
Josh seemed stunned by the appearance of the faery, and his mouth dropped slightly,
"Is that a..Wow!"
He sat down and rested the sword across his knees. It was sinking in.
The faery seemed to want the attention, so she stood qucikly, flying over to the fence to get a better vantage of the group.
"I take you later if you like. But best when gobbies sleep. Easier to find. Them can be rilly sneaky ones. Forest good for hiding."
Josh spoke up.
"Maybe we should try to go to town first, see if we can get that trader to work with us. Get some better gear....or at least more...er less... anachronistic. Are we really ready to fight goblins?...an...ogre?"
Miya listened to Phillip's idea and pondered its success.
"A movie plot may help explain why we carry weapons. But would it register with these strange folk? I mean ... we need to seem like we fit in. We don't speak like they do, we don't know the leaders ... And regarding the clothing, we may need to purchase some new clothes once we're in town. But I don't think these folk value the good old American dollar. We need their kind of currency to make purchases."
Then there was a sudden commotion and Miya saw that the faery had found them at the cottage. Miya's thoughts turned to her.
"Miss Faery ... What is your name, by the way?" Miya paused so the small creature could answer her first before continuing.
At Josh's question, Miya's mind felt like it was on a carousel. "We aren't ready to fight goblins, ogres or any other monster in these lands. We need better gear and weapons. We need information so we can gain the upper-hand when we do meet up with them. I say we stay here for the night and head out tomorrow morning for this town, Willowdale. We need to ask Robin to educate us as much as he can until we leave."
Turning a concerned eye on Adam, Miya asked, "It's a day's walk, Adam. Can you manage on your wounded leg?"
They had so little in way of anything in this strange world and Miya grew anxious thinking on how she would be able to help or protect her friends when she had no clue herself. Yes, she knew how to use her weapons and could fight. But what of her opponents? Too many unknowns and it didn't sit well with Miya.
Lucian looked back and forth between Miya and the faery - "I don't know Myia... Maybe we should grab the chance and move head on against these goblins" - Lucian comments - "They know we are here, and they can decide to retaliate at any moment - if they do so and we are gone into town..." - he looks at Robin - "I don't know how things may pan out"
"They should be mostly asleep, and Miss Faery has a gift that should help us, right?" - he then turns to the beautiful winged creature - "May we know what is the gift you intend to provide in our assistance? It will go a long way in helping us make a decision" - he requests.
"I'm not sure if we're going to be able to fit in right away. I think we either pose as outsiders from another land or just try to blend in and not draw too much attention to ourselves..."
Phillip trails off as the faery appears. He's stunned silent, staring at the little creature. Whistling murmurs fill his ears as she flits around then slowly subside.
He shakes it off. Okay, faeries are real.
"Uh, do you think the goblins might have gathered items from other travelers or farms? They seem like scavengers. Maybe they have some stray clothing that can get at least one of us into the city looking somewhat normal to buy real equipment."
Upon seeing the faery for the first time, Lydia finds that she is not atonished by the fantastical little creature's existence. Anything is possible, so it would seem, and her well of amazement has run dry. Time to get on with figuring out how to get back home.
"Phillip makes a good point about scavenged gear," she says, fiddling with her newly crafted weapon, "Plus, the faery is here to guide us right now so it'd be awfully rude to head to town instead."
Miya was astonished by Lydia's attitude. Her blue eyes focused on the older girl.
"It isn't rude to consider all the options, especially with Adam already hurt. The faery has been paid for her service with Lucian's watch. And she has no problem with showing us the goblin den later, because she said so already."
Then she sat down and said no more on the matter until the feary answered hers and Luc's questions.
"Miss Faery ... What is your name, by the way?" Miya paused so the small creature could answer her first before continuing.
The small creature paused with an odd look on her face, as if she had never been asked the question before.
"I never. Had never had name before. Not the same as biggins. Would like a name though. You have an extra? I give another shot for it." she said with a smile.
"They should be mostly asleep, and Miss Faery has a gift that should help us, right?" - he then turns to the beautiful winged creature - "May we know what is the gift you intend to provide in our assistance? It will go a long way in helping us make a decision" - he requests.
She turned to the larger fellow, the grin still on her from a second ago, stronger than ever. She was obviously very excited as she made little skips on the dirt, flicking her wings quickly.
"Yes, strong one. I gaves you shot. It's a good gift. Very...growy." she giggled.
"And you gives me gift. Tis very...ticky." that seemed to make her laugh even more, and she pulled to a stop with a high quick squeak.
She continued skipping around, making tight circles around the legs of the group.
*****
Adam was quiet, but responded to Miya.
"I can make it to town. Don't...worry...about me." he scratched at his neck while looking at the strange bird sitting on the fence. "The...faery. Doesn't seem to be in a rush. We should consider..every. Everything." the last bit trailed of into a low growl.
*****
Josh's attention still seemed to be on the faery, but he threw in his opinion, albeit with less enthusiasm than normal. He was no longer animated, clearly rapt by the current situation. He was considering something, by the look on his face.
"We need all the help we can get."he said softly, as much to himself as anyone else.
"Well miss faery," a nervous smile crept across his lips. He gulped, and began speaking quickly lest he change his mind. "I have an extra name. Never much liked my middle one, so you can have it. How would you like to be called Paul?"
The creature stopped in her tracks. Squeaked, and fly/leapt onto his pantleg, hugging his ankle.
"Paul! Paaaaallll. P p p poaul!" she said the name over and over again.
"I love my name. It's the most beautiful name ever!"
She danced for a while then came to a stillness, composing herself for the group, more serious.
"I was going to give you more shot, but I think...Paul gives big gifts for big things." She grinned. "There's hidey hole I was saving. It can take you to to any place in the realm from there. To a castle... to a river... what you like. It's a good gift. Use when you want too."
She looked around on the ground, passing over several stones until she found a teardropped shaped one. She heft it up, tapping it several times.
"Just make a mark like a passage on a tree and you can pass through to anywhere in the realm." She held up the stone. "Tis a good gift, yes? Paul gives good gifts."
Phillip watched the faery as she flitted around with curiosity now. How did she fly around on such tiny wings? What kind of magic propelled her? Was she anything like Tinkerbell? He took a quick look at the windowsill to make sure there was no Peter Pan lurking around.
Phillip spun back around when the faery mentioned the stone of passage, his mind spinning with ideas. "Did you say we could go anywhere in the realm? Paul, have you ever seen a stone room with six glowing blue pools on six pedestals arranged in a circle?"
"Just make a mark like a passage on a tree and you can pass through to anywhere in the realm." She held up the stone. "Tis a good gift, yes? Paul gives good gifts."
Paul? But that was a boy's name and the faery was clearly a girl. But the small creature seemed to really like the name, so who was she to say otherwise...
"It is a very good gift. Thank you, Paul. May I ask, how many times can we use it to travel through the realm? If it is just the once, then we need to think wisely on how we use it. If we can use it more than once, then perhaps we can use it to travel into Willowdale and get gear, clothes and other necessities..."
Paul cocked her head quixically, almost comically at Phillip's question.
"Not seen sompin' like dat." she said, tapping her finger to her tiny forhead, as dhe tried to recall anthing useful. "I seen one big pool that glows at the base of that there moountain, but you done' wanna go there. SCARY place, that. Got nasty spirits there. Old ones. " and she pointed at a peak that could be seen just beyond the forest.
Turning to Miya, with a smile, pleased,
"In, out,and back again. That's how many times. The shot is just one and poof, though. Throw and let go, then things grow!" she clapped her hands, giggling.
Phillip thought for a minute. "Can you tell us more about this pool? Have you seen anything in it? Or come out of it? What do these spirits look like?"
He turns to the group. "If this stone can get us closer to home maybe we should save it."
Then looks back at the faery, looking closely at the stone, offering out a hand to take it. "How common are these stones? Do you know where we can find more?"
Paul frowns.
"Twas a nice pool once. Bad spirits there now. Some ladies, some gentles...even animals go bad thereabouts. After they's gone, that is."
She looks puzzled about more stones, as if the subject has never been apporoached before.
"Common? Not so. Can't find em, these. Have to be given. Not all us...Paul's folk...have'em neither. So can't says to gettin' more."