Lost

[Wanderer]

Glorin grunted and wiped the sweat from his face as he stumped deeper and deeper into the wild. He had entered the wood in search of some hidden riches said to be kept there, but for three days he had found nothing. He decided to turn back, but it was too late. The many days of careless wanderings had buried him so deep into the depths that he no longer knew in what direction he was going.

He sat down near a small stream and cuped his hand into the water. He drank the water then looked up to the treetops and to the sky. Stars were now starting to dot the sky, and he felt the need to sleep. He leaned back upon a tree stump and took off his cloak and used it as a blanket. He used his small pack full of trinkets as a pillow. He kept his axe at his side and kept his eyes slightly open.

[HoudiniDerek]

Kerodi strode purposefully through the Selkia, not wandering aimlessly, but not in any particular direction either. He had taken this trip as a reprieve from the demands of his work lately, but the rest and relaxation he had promised himself did not appear to be forthcoming.

Sighing, he stopped at a small stream that was running from a nearby clearing, probably on its way from one of the many mountain waterfalls of the Ularian Ridge. He squatted and washed his hands and face before indulging in any of the crystalline water. It was cold and helped to alleviate the rising temperature of his body after his long exertion.

Raising up, he stretched and headed towards the nearby clearing, hoping that there would be a convenient tree from which to sleep for a while. Maybe that would help him relax if he could get some sleep for a while before pressing on...not that he had pressing business anywhere, but some things were habit-forming.

Kerodi stopped a few paces from the clearing, testing the area with his magic. He sensed a dwarf within the clearing, which could be both good and bad. Most dwarves were no longer the warring tribes of old, although they still had stubborn tendencies, which was the good news. The bad news was that they tended to attack first and ask questions later. Kerodi shook his head sadly. He would have to make the first impression so as to avoid problems.

Weaving a slight lull spell, Kerodi strode to the clearing and stopped before the sleeping dwarf. Kerodi saw that the spell was working and that it was to his fortune since the dwarf had his eyes not quite closed. That axe could have cut him asunder had he not been prepared.

Squatting, Kerodi pulled out his knife and held it to the dwarf's throat. At the same time, he released the lull spell and smiled.

"I mean you no harm, my friend. Now, if you decide to not act foolish and attack, I will back off and maybe we can talk. Do we have an accord?"

[Wanderer]

Glorin had almost fallen into a deep sleep. His eyes grew watery and blury. He yawned and started to breath more heavily. Suddenly his heart thumped harder and faster and something smooth and cold was placed upon his throat.

He choked a bit then looked into the man's eyes. This man he had never see before, probably some forest thief he thought to himself. "If you mean me no harm, then take ye bloody knife away!" he said angrily. "Oh aye, we'll talk, I wont be attackin' but after the talk I know not where me axe will en 'up!"he roared getting to his feet. "Let's talk"he grunted.

[HoudiniDerek]

Kerodi allowed the angry dwarf up, but kept his knife just inches from his neck, too close for the dwarf to do much but listen.

"Now, now," Kerodi said lightly, "veiled threats do not help this situation. If you are willing to talk and listen without violence after the situation is over, then I will desist. However, you show too much of that argumentative nature of dwarves. I would be foolish to allow you to do so."

Kerodi looked the dwarf in the eye and waited for him to respond. Whe he didn't, Kerodi sighed and decided to see if this dwarf was open to logic...some were after all.

"Had I wanted to kill you, my friend, I could have done so already. I merely gave myself the advantage in the situation because I am sure you are an action man over a thinking man in most situations. I mean you no harm as I have shown, nor do I have any need to rob you. My word is my bond and you have my word that I will take no further agressive action towards you. However, I need your assurances as well."

This time, Kerodi stepped back and sheathed the knife, but made sure his magic was ready since dwarves could be the hardest bunch of nuts to crack in any given situation.

[Wanderer]

Glorin shook his head a bit at the man. "I dun understand most o' ye words"he started. "But I understood the last part"he grunted pointing at the sheathed weapon. "Now I won' be a fightin' wit ye now"he said dropping hiis axe to the ground. "What is et' ye want?"he asked.

[HoudiniDerek]

Kerodi smiled and sat, motioning for the dwarf to do likewise. He took his pack from under his robe and set it down before him. Opening it, he took out a small container and opened it, letting the scent of food sneak out to the dwarf.

"I am merely traveling through the forest and I was going to use this clearing to rest for a while, much as you were, my friend. I sensed you here and thought it better to make your acquaintance rather than risk a confrontation." Kerodi smiled knowingly and cut the sandwich apart with a knife from inside the pack.

"I thought we might do each other the favor of keeping watch over one another while we sleep. The Selkia can be dangerous, even for two people on their guard. What do you think of my offer?" He managed to separate the sandwich and cleaned off the knife on the fresh grass beside him before putting it back in the pack.

"After we are both well-rested, we might tell each other of our journeys and the like. Maybe we can help each other out more than we thought. After all, good fortune is only wasted by those who do not seem to know when it strikes." Kerodi winked and smiled, handing one half of the sandwich to the dwarf, who was watching wordlessly.

"What do you think, my friend?"

[Wanderer]

Glorin took the sandwich with a small smile and stuff it in his mouth. He chewed loudly and looked around. "Aye, I would feel much safer sleeping with someone to watch over me in these parts"he said still chewing.

"I entered this forest wit a purpose, and now I see that purpose was false. A travelling group of Elves told me a tale of riches to be hidden in the depths of these trees. I should have known it was a lie, I should have known those Elves wanted me dead!"He started to get angry. "Pssh, Elves, ne'er like em'"he said with a smile.

[HoudiniDerek]

Kerodi watched the dwarf swallow his part of the sandwich whole and shook his head, amused at the dwarf's behavior. Dwarves were about the only people he had met that did not try to hide their true feelings or thoughts, as was evident with his diatribe on elves.

Kerodi finished his sandwich and went to take a long drink from the stream. He turned and faced the dwarf again. "I will gladly stand first watch if you will stand the second. I will wake you in a few hours."

Kerodi went and sat against a tree on the far side of the little clearing, making sure that if anyone DID attack, that it would be hard to get them both on the first pass. He leaned his head back and watched the dwarf prepare to sleep.

I wonder how much I should tell him, Kerodi thought. He seemed like a decent enough sort, but that was not always obvious. Kerodi could have used his magic to sort it out, but decided he would use his time as guard to think through the situation himself.

So the Elves say there are treasures in the trees of the forest. That might be true. Elves might not like the dwarves, but their words are their bonds. Of course, that might have been in a time long since past or it might be just one or two of all the millions of trees in the forest. I wonder why they would send him here rather than just kill him themselves if they did not want his presence, Kerodi thought.

Kerodi shifted and settled back again, thinking on the situation. He had heard of stories of travelers and treasures from the Selkia, but had never paid it much mind. However, this dwarf claimed that he had been sent here to find the treasures. Kerodi stroked his goatee and stared at the prone figure of the dwarf. Maybe they could work together to see if those tales were true. After all, Kerodi had nothing else to do.

Smiling, he looked up. His thoughts had taken the majority of the night and now it was time to wake his new comrade. Kerodi went over and stood a few feet away, knowing the dwarf would not be caught unawares this time.

"Your turn," Kerodi said. He turned and went back to his tree, using his pack as a pillow and drifted off to sleep.

[Wanderer]

Glorin stared at the man for a bit. "Why was he wondering alone?" He thought. "What purpose brings him in this place" His thoughts strayed for a long time. He then stared at the stars. His thoughts then drifted back to his childhood, those glorious days of living with his own kind.

He almost fell asleep himself before he got up and started to pace around. "What should I do?"He said outloud. "Stay here, and look? Or leave this forest...What would I do then? What do I have left in life?"he asked all these questions outloud before sitting back down. For many years he had done nothing but wander the lands searching for anything of his interest. He had gone on many mad adventures, almost costing him his life.

He threw a small stone at the man, Hitting him in the forehead. "Wake up ye' sneaky thing ye'"he said with a chuckle. "We be havin' a Dwarf breakfeast laddy!"he said laughing as he took a large raw chunk of meat from his pack and dropped it on a rock. He then pulled a small knife from the pack. "Dig in!"he said cutting himself a piece.

[HoudiniDerek]

Kerodi sat up, less than amused with the way the dwarf had woken him. He brushed the sleep from his eyes and stretched before taking out his own knife and partaking in the meat the dwarf had offered to share. After the repast, he cleaned his knife and washed his face in the stream. He repacked his things and stood, waiting for the dwarf to be ready as well.

"The treasure you speak of is not fake, my friend. The Elves do not deceive you in this for it serves no purpose. Yes, they may hate the Dwarves and the Dwarves may hate the Elves, but this is a matter of honesty and principle and the Elves would not be one to forsake that bond." Kerodi gripped his walking staff that he kept attached to his belt usually, but decided for this jaunt that he would utilize it as they trekked through the forest.

"I can go with you and try to help you ascertain where the treasures are, but you put yourself in great peril that even me with my magic may not be able to overcome. We have to travel into the farthest reaches of the Selkia. If you still want to go and want my company, I will go too. But know that if you go, you might never return."

[Wanderer]

Glorin gave a raspy laugh. "Aye laddy, I go wit ye'. But ye don have te worry about me, I have nothing much to liver for...I be alone"He said the last part with a sad tone. He then looked around and found his cloak and pack. He tied on his cloak, and put on his pack. He then used hois axe as a cane and moved forward.

Glorin stuck out his stubby hand for Kerodi to shake. "Glorin, at your service. I be glad to be roamin' these queer lands wit ye'"he said with a smile.

[HoudiniDerek]

Kerodi took the hand and smiled warmly as they shook, two new acquaintances off on an adventure. "Kerodi," he said and released the grip.

"I know what it is like to be alone, Glorin," Kerodi said. "It is no easy task, but it is also no reason to waste your life foolishly. If you believe that you are alone and that you are meant to stay that way, you will indeed never find companionship. Already you have taken a massive step towards the understanding that you do not have to be alone, as I do not have to be. It is worth remembering as you continue to live that you generally make the most of your life if you believe there is something to it."

Kerodi headed out, going back the way he had come the night before. He figured they would follow the stream for a while and then cut inward. The Selkia was dangerous to those who did not know it, but Kerodi had traversed its trails for years and knew it well...with the exception of the small area to which they were going. Once there he would be a novice like the dwarf. But, that would take several days of walking and he was sure that there would be time to reach a plan. Whistling, he continued to walk, hoping his long and steady pace would not tire the dwarf too soon.

[Wanderer]

Glorin began to like this mysterious person, this Kerodi. He stumped after him into the forest. He felt that his grip on his axe grew tighter as he heard more sounds on his left and right, not so much for himself, more in readyness to protect Kerodi.

The dwarf knew this was no normal man, he had to have some sort of magic in him. He began to grow more curious about him. "Tell me Kerodi, what eh...what are ye?"he asked with a small chuckle.

[HoudiniDerek]

Kerodi chuckled inwardly at the way the dwarf had phrased his question...making it sound like he was an IT rather than a HE. This was indeed quite the experience and as of yet, nothing had really happened. Maybe he had been gone from society too long.

"I was born in one of the border settlements between the Selkia and the Ularian Ridge," Kerodi started, hopping a small ditch and waiting for the dwarf to hurdle the obstacle. After doing so, they continued on and Kerodi continued his tale.

"I learned to survive in both, knowing the friends and the dangers of each place. I have always been gifted, but I know not why that is the case. I am of the race of Man and most men do not do magic, yet it is apparent in me as I am sure you guessed already. Well, one day my parents sent me to the forest to gather some herbs for a special concoction my mother used to make."

Here, Kerodi faltered slightly, but coughed quickly to cover it and then resumed his story once more. "I went, but could not find any herbs nearby, so I had to travel a great distance. At the time I thought that this was going to ruin my day and my mother's stew. However, the detour had saved my life. The Orcs had raided while I was gone and my family was slaughtered. I have been on my own ever since."

Kerodi stopped by the stream and cupped some water to his hands, drinking in several before standing again. Seeing that the dwarf was ready to continue, Kerodi moved out again and finished his story.

"I have been traveling for many years and there is probably no one alive that knows the extent of the Ularian Ridge or the Selkia better as I have made them both my home at times. Most of my time is spent in the Ularian Ridge though, harnassing my innate magic and working to make sure that I can stop the annihilation of the innocent. I am sure a dwarf like you has heard the tales of the ghost of the Ularian Ridge."

Here, Kerodi stopped, turned and looked at the dwarf, his eyes turning bright red and a fire-red glow beginning to emanate from his skin. "Now, you have met the spectre," Keordi rasped, his face turning skeletal as he spoke.

[Wanderer]

"Whats wrong wit ye boy!"said Glorin loudly staring at the odd red color in Kerodi's eye. Glroin started to sweat and moved back a few steps as a glow emanted Kerodi's skin. "Do not pull any devilry on me laddy!"he said pullling up his axe into a striking posistion.

Glorin looked from side to side. No escape. What was happening with Kerodi, he could not say. This magic was beyond his knowledge, all he knew was that it was'nt normal. He moved back a few more steps then tripped backwards over a rock. He fell flat on his back and stared into Kerodi's eyes.