The Story

Hi!
Sorry I've also been a bit distracted recently. Hope you are both well? All the best with the move Kei.

No problem, Kei! It sounds like you've had quite a time of it. Hope things are improving for you. Looking forward to the next installment of our story.

Nothing was too clear in the dark but this was not something that bothered Dulin as she headed for her target. The map had shown that the books had landed near an isolated clump of trees this, she reasoned, should be easy enough to discover. In the mean time the fight was refreshing and smooth. Her shoulders ached a pleasant familiar ache as the gift of flight pulled at the strong muscles beneath her dark skin.

Much of the night had passed in a peaceful silence when Dulin spotted the trees ahead. With a grimace she recognised the type as from the pictures Tegraine had shared of the magic trees of Corteza he didn’t want the books to land near.

'Just hope things are in order, Dulin.' She told herself, as she came to land at the foot of the tree. The ground she landed on was covered with a debris of branches and leaves, looking up she could see damage to the tree itself. At least one of the books had fallen through the branches.

'The one place we don’t want the books and it hits on target?' Dulon pondered. 'Could there be a link, a power drawing them together? I can’t put this down as coincidence, I feel the hum.'

The hum of the tree like a silent chorus of shamanistic power, trilling the air, making it tremble. Peering into the darkness Dulin spotted a shape that didn’t belong, picking up the tough bound volume she actually smiled.

Magic Fact Files volume B16 – Trees of Corteza

Casting around it did not take her long to find another smaller volume (Herbs and Spices of the moon Frekala) but the third volume was not in plain view. Cursing with impatience Dulin circled the trees looking closely at every shadowy shape.

“ow!” she exclaimed, more out of surprise then pain, as she put her hand to the back of her neck. A shrill giggle came from the branches in the tree. Peering up Dulin tried to locate the source of the noise. Another something bounced of her cheek and she snatched at the air catching it. A small object, hard, smaller at one end. Tree nut? Tree seed? She let it fall to the ground, wasn’t important. She climbed into the tree her eyes and ears open for the giggling attacker.

“Bega!” the shrill voice came from nearby and was followed by more tiny flying objects and another giggle. Dulin threw herself in its direction wrapping her arms around a flash of movement. Branches snapped around her and she fell out of the tree hitting the ground in a mess of twig and leaf. Getting to her knees she looked at what she had caught. The third tomme.

Meddling Pixies of Montegra

Hearing the shrill giggling Dulin looked back up and saw a small grey humanoid shape in the darkness, it’s little red wings flapping behind it and its tiny arms around its middle as it doubled over in a fit of giggles, evidently amused by Dulins less then gracefull landing.

Dulin looked from the book to the pixie and sighed. “you belong in here.” She then informed the creature.

“Bega bega.” The pixie flew towards her and landed on the tome. Dulin took this moment to study the thing in front of her, not much bigger then a hand the frail thing had a scaley grey skin and little red eyes set in a face no bigger then her thumb. It lifted two tiny hands directly above its head then shot from the book straight into Dulins eye. She cried out dropping the tome and swiping at the pixie as it dissolved into hysterics once more. Mad, Dulin snatched out grabbing the pixie round the middle. It then began to attack her fingers with it’s miniscule teeth. Ignoring the bites Dulin picked up the tome once more then, realising she had no idea how to get the pixie back into the book, she placed it with the other two and, holding the three tomes to her chest, took to the air. (Begaaaaaa!) The anger and adrenaline at dealing with the tiny prick in her hands enough to power the transformation.

"Tegraine," Dulon muttered darkly. "You’d better get this thing off my hands or I will kill it and alter the course of the book. This I swear to the goddess."

Hi, Hope everything is going well Kei and Fruitbat? great to be back going again.

Hi Kei & James,
Glad to see you are both back into the writing! I hope you are well. Sorry I haven't replied before - I am currently juggling four different jobs so I have been rather preoccupied. I enjoyed reading your last entry, Kei - it really moves the story along and returns us to our original purpose. I am looking forward to see what you make of the underground hooded creatures, James. It will be fun!

"Angry is what we are!" shouted Stacious before Raisa could answer the cloaked figure. Stacious stomped forwards and began to raise his axe angrily, but found that it was stuck fact to the ground by a mass of roots.

"We may yet not be your enemy, strange creature. Pray keep your temper." said the cloaked figure as he gestured towards the roots which released Stacious's axe so suddenly he had to take a pace backwards to avoid striking himself with it. "You both appear different to my old eyes and I am curious to hear your tale. Decide now will it be violence or tea?" asked the cloaked figure.

As Stacious took a step forward Raisa quickly answered "Tea!".

Stacious made a 'harumph' noise even as he lowered the haft of his axe to the floor. The creature lowered his hood as he moved loser to look at Raisa and Stacious. Stacious studied him back. The creature had rough bark-like skin and whilst of a similar height to Stacious he was much thinner.

"Follow me," instructed the creature who turned and walked down a tunnel taking his orb of light along with him.

Soon they came to a door made of interwoven roots which parted as the trio approached. Once through the door they found themselves in a warm study, the walls of which were made of the finely interwoven stem of some kind of plant which gave off a gentle glow.

The creature sat himself in a wooden chair which bore the signs of a well beloved piece of furniture. Hot tea was served in due course by the creature. The tea was too sweet for Stacious's taste but he drank it anyway. Raisa told their tale to the creature who listened in silence. As he listened he looked around. Were those bones half buried in the wall by the corner? He craned forward to see better which earned him a disapproving glance from both Raisa and the creature. He ignored them. It was there was a skull half buried in the wall. As he stood up he felt roots move to entwine him again, as he began to struggle against them he heard Raisa cry out.

" Now, now," said the creature

this is soo cool - i love this story!
who is this creature? what's going on?
welcome back james, don't worry aboit the gap, life's busy afterall - it was a nice surprise to check in and find another chapter