the dark part of Selkia Forest }{ this is wher...

[orchid]

orchid: *hears a creak* *gasp* W-Who's th-there?

[HoudiniDerek]

Kerodi roamed aimlessly through the Selkia. He had decided to walk on his journey this time instead of riding and it had been relaxing. The weather had been nice and he had taken his time. There was nothing to hurry back for after all.

He was heading towards the bog areas of the Selkia where the gnomes and the orcs had an uneasy peace at the best of times and all-out war the rest of the time. Lately, the gnomes had been less active and that had made the orcs more adventurous. Luckily, Kerodi knew most of the areas of interaction and could avoid them.

He sidestepped a hole in the ground and cracked a twig. A tiny voice called out. Kerodi stopped and looked around, confused at the sound and cautious. Where was it coming from?

[orchid]

orchid look deep toward to the sound. wondering if anyone was there.
orchid: it could of been an animal,
orchid beagn to walk to a big oak tree then paused
Orichid: but what if it wasn't an animal... HELLO! IS ANYONE OUT THERE? i demand an answer!!

[HoudiniDerek]

Kerodi was still looking when the noise sounded again. It was either a lot farther away than he thought or it was coming from a very small person. Kerodi couldn't think of any Selkia creatures or races that were pint-sized, but he supposed runts happened in any litter. He began to look around on the ground in the hopes of seeing something.

Seeing nothing, Kerodi kneeled and began to look more closely at the leaves, flowers, etc. If it was a tiny person, they could be caught under something. This could take a while Kerodi realized.

Suddenly, he saw a flitter of movement. His eyes sought the spot, expecting to find a bug or something else, but saw a young girl...tiny too. Kerodi's eyes opened in surprise. A fairy! What was she doing here?

Careful not to deafen her, Kerodi whispered softly. "Hello? Are you alright?"

[orchid]

orchid turned around.. and saw a big man, and gasped in shock. yelling she said " yes, can yu help me? i think im lost, i dont know where to go.. i need to get back to my kingdom"

[HoudiniDerek]

Kerodi watched as the girl got spooked and spun around, speaking very quickly. She sounded very young as fairies go and she was flittering around in a frenzy. Kerodi was confused though as there were not any fairy kingdoms around, especially not in the darkest confines of the Selkia.

"Calm down," Kerodi whispered, trying to not lose sight of the fairy. "What fairy kingdom are you a part of? How did you end up here?"

[orchid]

"well i wason my6 way to find food for my people, when i was caught in a big gust of wind which had pulled me here, ad so i have been wandering around here for hours trying o to find my way or someone to help me" orchid said sadly, a tear dropped from her eye, she began to desend slowly. "can you help me in any way... my kindom is Kolpusta, and i'm Princess orchid"

[HoudiniDerek]

The Kingdom of Kolpusta? Princess Orchid? This was not good. The Kingdom of Kolpusta was on the opposite side of Valear. How did she get here? How did she not know where she was? This could be a disaster for the fairy kingdom. Sadly, Kerodi had a problem too...he had no idea where exactly the Kingdom was since he was a human.

"I don't know if I can help you or not. I know of your kingdom, but I have some bad news. Somehow you were blown the whole length of Valear. I am not sure I can get you back to a place where humans are not allowed. I will try to help you if I can though."

Kerodi reached out a hand. "It might be easier if I carried you though." Kerodi smiled politely and waited.

[orchid]

orchid floated down on karodi's hand.
orchid: okay.. i guess it would.... ar you serious? i really camer to all across Valear? it is a disater.. i hopw you can help

[HoudiniDerek]

Kerodi brought his hand up to his shoulder and deposited her there. She would be protected by the elements if it rained because she could hide inside the hood of his cloak if necessary. Plus, it would be easier for them to talk in the lower tones so she would not be deafened.

Kerodi started walking, retracing his steps towards the nearest town. It would be dark soon and this was not the area of the Selkia you wanted to be trapped in. While he walked, Kerodi wondered how to go about finding the princess's home. Once they got close, she might know it, but that would be a long undertaking. Besides, how far outside the bounds did fairies normally travel? This could be bad.

*****************

A few hours later, Kerodi stopped outside a small hamlet. It was run by gnomes in the heart of gnome country and they were pretty hospitable. Kerodi had always gotten along decently with them and they treated him with some level of respect. He whispered to Orchid.

"Hide inside my cloak. The gnomes can be friendly people, but they can also be very cruel. They do not trust easily and you are new to them."

[orchid]

orchi quickly hid inside the hood of the cloak.
orchid" i understand hoiw that feel when newcomers come into town."

[HoudiniDerek]

Kerodi strode up to a small inn and entered. It was clean and dry inside. Kerodi approached the desk and wizened gnome looked up at him. "Ah, Kerodi," he croaked. "I see you have journeyed our way again."

"I have indeed, Florsh. I was hoping to make it farther today, but I am getting lazy in my old age." Kerodi grinned good-naturedly and Florsh just shook his head in rueful admiration.

"You have never been old, Kerodi. I am sure you have your reasons. Your normal room?"

"If possible, that would be great." Kerodi laid some coins on the desk and received his room key. Thanking Florsh, he headed up the stairs and took the room at the far end. He went inside and closed the door, making sure it was locked. Then, he closed the curtains so no one could happen to see in. He looked around to make sure everything was okay.

"You can come out now, Princess," he whispered.

[orchid]

ochid walk out from the cloak. she saw that they were in a room.
orchid " thank you.. you don't mean how much this means to me and my people.
she flew to the pillow on the bed.
orchid" you've travelled far, you should rest. please i insist.

[HoudiniDerek]

Kerodi watched her float to the bed. He smiled wearily and laid his pack down on the floor. He took a small item from his pack and wedged it against the door. "That should guarantee us some privacy."

Kerodi took off his traveling robe and dusted off the breeches he wore underneath. He sat on the edge of the bed and looked at the princess again.

"Now, why were you out getting food, Princess? That seems like a job for someone else."

[orchid]

"well, you see as the princess of kolpusta, it's my duty to prtect my peple and do whatsever it takes to keep them living. so i've tried to keep them aliv by the believing of fairies... but soon enough they stopped and the only thats able to keep us alive would be the Orbidar Flower found by volcanoes, and thats where i was headed for.. but a big gust of wind blew me all the way to the other side of were i was supposed to go, and next thing i knew, i'm lost alone, until now." she said sadly. she flew quickly to kerodi's knee and looked up at him "so whats you're story? what are you doing here?