I must have fallen asleep because I wake to the sound of Jack laughing and Gretta holding a stone disk against my open hand. I hear a few other giggles as I blink the sleep out of my eyes. I can see that it’s morning and as I sit up I take note that there are a few dozen geared up people milling about.

“What is wrong with you!” Gretta half growl’s, I’m not sure if she’s talking to me or the identifying stone. Jack is cackling all the more.

“You’re doing this!” Accusing Jack who’s still sitting at the top of the bleachers. Jack with his hands up, palms out, gesturing that he has nothing to do with it.

“Enough!” I turn to see Inquisitor Lightbringer, Bishop Ramos, and a few others, standing around where I started to push the bleachers. “Spread out and ready yourselves. Divination is now positive.”

Everyone goes silent, draws weapons, and spaces themselves about ten to fifteen feet apart across the archery field. As Bishop Ramos passes in front of me, I hear him comment. “It’s day three. I would have thought that you would have been better prepared.”

I know what he’s saying. If I had thought about it or planned better, maybe I could have borrowed some old armor or something. As it is now, it looks like whatever was going to happen has already started. The Ghillie suit doesn’t sound so bad right now. Wish I at least had Grut’s sword.

A tear starts to form just past the archery field into the woods. I watch as it gets everyone's attention and they start sprinting to form up behind it. I see one of those little shits step out and survey the archery field, his gaze stopping on me as he sees me watching him.

A moment later he is quietly pummeled and mobbed rushed. Lightbringer turns, tower shield before him with a sword in the other hand, he steps into the tear with the rest of the raiding party following closely behind.

Go

Sitting back down on the bench, I can’t help but think ‘Where the hell was he hiding that tower shield?’ As I watch, the tear does a slow quiet self-implode and fades away.

Maybe I should have taken the initiative and gone with. I just feel kind of mentally drained and a little overwhelmed. It was all fun and new, but I want to go home now. At least talk to my wife somehow. Tell her I’m ok and ‘Guess who came by the other day?’. Too many questions and too much time sitting here thinking. Why was Ava so concerned not to be seen, using ‘Whispering Wind’ to direct me, then acting normal and talking with us? I wonder if GOD got me cash back or credit on my Visa from the stuff I brought? What does it take for Pixies to swarm?

😐

I nod off a couple of times through the day, getting some much-needed rest. ‘thump.’ I’m feeling better, more alert, rested. ‘thump.’ I stretch a bit, my stomach growling. ‘thump.’ It looks like I slept most of the day away. It’s definitely past midday, but it is still light out. ‘Thump.’ “What the heck?” I say as I pick up this walnut-looking thing that just hit me in the chest.

Looking up in bewilderment, I watch just in time to see what looks like a fly ball arcing down to hit me right in the face. ‘Smack!’ “Ahhh!” The nut shattering into pieces. Thankfully, not in my eyes.

Now I’m pissed! Awake now! Looking up to see what the hell is going on, I see Jenn out in the distance, hiding in the trees, giving me the “What the F***?” gestures with her hands out to her sides. Followed by some signaling to “Keep silent.” “Stay.”

‘Like I’m going to do what she tells me to.’ I think to myself as I’m scanning the woods trying to figure out what she’s talking about.

“Hey there buddy?” A man is suddenly here, walking up to me, like he knows me. “Do you know where everyone is?” Giving me a glance at my wrist, I don’t like him already.

“They’re right there.” I point back at the vendor tents, never taking my eyes off of him.

“Not them.” He says with a smile. “Where’s everyone who plays up here?” He asks.

Another vagrant has shown up almost as suddenly as this first one did. I was paying more attention this time. They seem to just be running, moving a lot faster, or something. “They're not here.” I overhear him say as they both turn to look at me.

“Well? Answer me…Where are they?” His voice starting to rise and the kindness that was in his voice turns harsh.

There is a strong smell of earth and something like fresh cut grass in the air as I see Jenn off to the side, about ten feet behind them. She is raising her arm and pointing at one of them.

The second vagrant that arrived becomes aware that something is wrong. I see his eyes light up with that realization and without any hesitation, a Flash Step, he is gone.

This first vagrant pauses to look before turning back to see me looking somewhere else behind him.

As he turns, he sees Jenn pointing at him. “There you are.” he says with a smile as Jenn finishes up her statement “That’s one of them.”

Jenn’s mother Lilly is now standing at her side with a bow similar to Stag. Fully drawn and coursing with power, sets of rings almost reaching the man where he stands. Grandpa’s hand on her arm, lowering her bow.

“So, you know my granddaughter?” Reyansh asks. The man not moving or responding.

Reyansh raises a hand, palm up, as lights of fireflies dance about it. ‘Track, Follow, Mark.’ He says and they streek lines of luminescent glow, pursuing the other vagrant.

“Well? Answer me?” Reyansh asks calmly. I think maybe mocking the man with his own words. But he does not move or speak.

I can see a transformation happening to the man as his skin color changes and roots grow, intertwining around him from the ground up.

In moments he looks like a humanoid plant decorated with some clothes for the holidays. Reyansh reaches up to where his skull was and pulls out a seed or nut-looking thing. ‘Tell me what you know.’ he speaks to it as he closes his fingers around it.

After a moment, he tosses it back at the feet of the man who was. ‘Whither’ he says and the man dries like wild brush, cut down and left for the season.

“Come daughters.” Holding one arm up to escort Lilly while wrapping his other arm around Jenn’s head, hugging her like a child. “We will see where this path takes us.”

Go

Walking away, following the glowing trail of light, you would think that they’re just out for a walk and enjoying the evening. No rush, just some good family time.

Farther out in the distance around us, I can see some slight movements and glimpses of what must be the other Elves. ‘Burn’ I hear Reyansh say as the dried brush and leaves within it burn up with a flash and smolder away.

I didn’t go with the Raid party before, but I think that I want to follow now. Still wishing I had Grut’s sword, I kick at what’s left of the embers and ash thinking that maybe something is there that I can use.

Finding and kicking some metal pieces around, I pick up a small sword. A dagger-looking thing, and leave the rest. Doing a slow jog to catch with Jenn and her family. A few minutes later I am strolling behind them, enjoying the scenery and the evening sky.

🙂

It doesn’t take long for me to realize that we are moving faster than we should be, as we are already passing Greens Brook. I would compare the experience similar to driving on a highway, passing a city. Except looking at my feet and Jenn’s family, everything looks normal.

Soon we have traveled far enough that I do not think I could find my way back. The air feels heavy and there is a weighted feel about it.

Speaking to her father, Lilly says. “I am concerned for Doug. I do not know if he has ever been beyond a New Dawn.”

Reyansh slows his pace then stops. A look of pondering on his face as he turns to look at me. “He can train with Jenn.” he decides.

Lilly is slightly shaking her head no. Jenn is dancing foot-to-foot on her toes.

Reyansh continues. “We will follow this path and I will tend to our friend Doug while we travel.” Bringing his hands up, they have a slight glow. He touches his index fingers together ‘When Ends Meet’ There is some distortion to the road ahead.

Holding up his arm to escort his daughter. Jenn quick-stepping to his other side. “Elemental Magic!” Jenn excitedly tells me while looking back over her shoulder.

We walk maybe fifty feet, and we are…somewhere. My gut and insides feel twisted with cramps. Enough that I stop and hold my stomach with both hands, dropping the short sword.

Jenn rushes to my side. “Doug?” she asks.

“I think I’ll be ok. Give me a minute.” It feels like I’ve eaten way too much and no bathroom in sight.

We are at the edge of a large property but not past the tree line that surrounds it. Feeling a bit better I stand up straighter. I see a rather large county mansion near the center.

“Daughter. Stay with Doug.” Lilly nods yes. “Granddaughter, come with me.” They blur towards the mansion.

After watching them disappear into the distance, I reach down to pick up the sword.

Lilly turns to look at me. “Doug.” Lightly scolding me “Put that thing down, it’s dirty and it’s embarrassing with you walking around with that.”

Looking at the sword in my hand, I did just pull it out of that pile of ash. I’m noticing that my one shoe and pant leg on one side are full of ash. I just toss the sword off to the side and brush myself off the best that I can.

Not soon after, I notice Lilly looking back at where I had tossed the sword. A goblin has crawled up to investigate it, but not touching it. I try to remain calm and not make any sharp movements.

“They’re scavengers, mostly,” Lilly tells me. “Don’t turn your back to them. If there’s one, there’s more. If you feed it, it may start following you. Keep feeding it and you’ll find yourself with clans of them. They Behave in some ways similar to bears. Unless you provoke it or somethings controlling it, it will go away. ”

Lilly, speaking to the goblin. “You can have it.” The goblin looking back and forth, more at me than Lilly, it still doesn’t touch the sword.

“It thinks it’s yours.” She then turns back to watch the mansion.

‘You just said not to turn your back on them…hypocrite.’ I think to myself. Looking back at the goblin, it’s still looking at me. With an exhale, “You can have it.”

The goblin puts out his hand while keeping an eye on me, taking the sword and pulling it to himself until it is close enough for him to pick it up. Looking at the sword, turning it over in his hands a few times before his feet start doing a little happy dance like he has to go to the bathroom. A little bit more dancing and he turns and runs off with the sword.

“See, you made it happy,” Lilly says without looking back at me.

“I would have thought you would have killed it or something. Taking your daughter, attacking the children.”

“Unlike some races who destroy the ecosystem…” Turning to look at me, “Unless an animal is looking for food, scared, defending its territory, protecting its young, or something, it’s not going to care too much about what you’re doing. Even with those Commanders, something else is directing them. Correct whatever is doing that, and nature will balance itself again.”

After another fifteen minutes or so, Jenn and her grandfather are back. Jenn doesn’t look so happy. Reyanshs’ deminer is about the same. “Another that was there and things that should not be.” He says primarily to Lilly, then turning to me and holding up the sword I won off Grut’.

“How did you find that out here? I thought I left it at…” Reyansh holding up a second similar sword, Jenn holding a third.

Handing me one of the swords. The sword is unique in its polish and evenness to its surface. If not for looking at the two other swords just like it, I would swear that this was Grut’s sword. Holding it I turn slightly and point the sword at Jenn. I maybe feel something in my arm just before the tip of the sword starts dropping with a weight that I cannot hold. The tip is now in the dirt. I just drop it.

Reyansh hands me the other sword, then Jenn, the one she is holding, all three perform the same. “I would have sworn that one of these was the sword I used, but they act the same as when someone else tries to use the one I have.”

“I see.” He says looking at me. Picking up one of the swords, turning it in his hands, and showing me. “This is my work. I once made this sword long ago, yet I do not know this blade.”

Holding up his other hand, palm up, then closing it into a fist, it begins to slightly glow. “Tell me what you know,” He says.

Tossing the nut-looking thing off to the side, he asks me. “Where is the ring that lets you use the sword?”