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#867874 Mon 05/12/16 00:43 UTC
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The Heartwood
The Dirkwood Forest
Home
Hasday, the Seventh Day of Yrick


Bekkah, Cesare, Kadri, Keiko, Lyric, Pietro, Dominic Korie, Miss Emerald, Miss Tomomi and Others

It was good seeing what could be accomplished when one had a definitive task set. It wasn’t even noon before the benefits of their work started to take shape. If they took their horses, Cesare and Pietro could cover enough ground to collect long branches. That was a nice quality of the lands they were in. True, it was mostly given to fields, but each field was accompanied by a small copse of trees. They were like little islands of woodlands, and many of them were young growth, perfect for the task at hand.

In the Village, Dominic accomplished his part, which meant dealing with his three small farmer’s families, not only collecting enough canvas, oil, and leather but making sure all would be properly taken care of while they were gone.

Leather was actually easy to find; it seems there were benefits trading with the Forest Folk. Certain goods came easily to them.

Once branches and cloth were collected, the basketry task began. Everyone who could tie a knot could help, which meant that all of them could work productively. Around noon, Keiko and Tomomi returned, bringing with them a simple map of the Forest, Lake, and Home. While the distances seemed great, Keiko and Bekkah knew that that the Forest Folk’s homestead could be reached in an afternoon. River travel tended to be faster, even up stream. The fact that the Blackwater was sluggish and wide would help greatly as they learned how to pole their odd little boats.

She had just fallen a little past zenith when Dominic leaned back on his haunches, looking to the Squire.

“M’lord Pietro! I present to you your Fleet! By all the powers vested in me – which means I can do pretty much anything as long as it doesn’t annoy Father and Elder Brother, which takes away all the fun stuff – I hereby vest you with the title of Grand Admiral of the Duchy of Talantal...”

The Young Master then blinked and pounded the ball of his palm to his forehead once, hard, and then shook his head.

“I keep doing this.

“Last time I made such a proclamation I ended up married!

“Sea and Stars, my best brother Tray is right, as always. I never learn!”

All that was left was for each to gather up their gear. They had room only for was what could be carried in a single pack. For most, this was not too difficult as most had spent more time on the trail and then in a town. Tomomi had her travel cloak and thus was ready. Miss Emerald was elsewhere, off on a task of her own.

“She’s gone ahead to announce our impending arrival. It isn’t often that Talantal’s grand fleet makes port. In fact, it’s a first! It is something that has never happened before in the History of the Duchy! It is a matter for celebration, feasting and... and...

“Don’t look at me like that...

“Fine.

“It’s really, really, really, really bad idea surprising Broke.”

It took a bit to learn how to maneuver a coracle. It was different than a proper boat. Boats cut through the water, coracles skimmed on top of it. Every now and then, the short saplings they used as poles needed to bat away far too curious fish. Staying to the shallows near the banks was wisest, and a rope was used to link each small craft to the next in case one slipped towards deeper water.

And aye... some were damper than others.

For many – Kadri, Lyric, Bekkah, Keiko, and Cesare – this was something entirely new. Thus, Dominic set himself at the end coracle with Pietro in the lead.

“Remember thine promise, Young Master.”

That was all that Missus Heatherson said, offering Lyric and Bekkah a pair of baskets, warm and meat pie-scented, upon their debarkation.

“Or I’ll set Missus Miller on ye.”

To come back in one piece – it was a very laudable goal, one that seemed much easier said than done as they entered the Dirkwood Forest.

Slowly the treeline approached the river’s banks until roots and underbrush finally stepped into the dark water. The canopy stretched overhead, Her light stained green, shadows now a constant companion. Even looking at them the woodlands cast a malevolent air.




For Keiko and Bekkah, this was a very different manner of travel. Broke had escorted them in a rather straight line. The river took its lazy time, bending this way and that. Beneath the branches, the river earned its name. The water indeed looked black, as if some cleric had spilled their ink.



It soon became comforting that they had taken the river route, or as comforting as poling through a haunted Forest could ever feel. Looking to the shore, the nature of the woods was disturbing. It was at once beautiful, primal and disturbing. The underbrush was thick; the forest floor seemed treacherous and spongy. It was not just lush, it was sultry and humid – especially for the season. The warm breeze that haunted through the branches was more like a tortured hunting beast breathing than any pleasant zephyr. There was always movement and sound around them – branches crackling, soft footpads, the whuffle of unseen creatures – and they were not the benevolent reminders of a sylvan copse. No, they were beast-things prowling, the shadows of predators searching. Even the trees seemed malevolent – bark contorted, thorn-covered, branches reaching and slashing as though they drank blood and not water; as though darkness nourished them and not Her light.

Indeed, the trees were successful hunters.

Bones, pale and white, stuck out here and there, the forest having grown around them.

And bodies did hang from the canopy.

Some were skeletal, hanging together by thin vines and arboreal creepers. Some were pale and mummified.

Some were older than others. One seemed to be more recent, perhaps some Jvrillian guard who had had too much to drink, or lost a bet, or had been dared to walk too close to the woods between the Forest Folk market and his merchant’s wagon.

But most were far, far older.

These wore faded surcoats, and whatever heraldry that was emblazoned on them fell into two categories: too faded to be identified or just bold enough to ensure they were not recognizable.

They were of no house, clan or guild known on the mainland.

Eventually, it was inevitable, matters got worse. Because the sun was falling almost to sunset, and while it might be still light at Waveriders Watch, in the forest it was starting to get very dark. And they seemed to be shadowed. Tall, dark figures were glimpsed following their approach, on the shore, in the trees. But anytime one tried to get a good look at them, they melted back into the Forest. Finally, however, the shore started to break up, soften, as the river turned into a swamp.

Then the swamp opened up, as swamps in woodlands were wont to do.

It was very shadowy. It had become night.

But ahead there were hints of light.

The Forest Folk place rose up from the swamp before them. It was safe here, in the middle of the green-choked pool, out of reach of the trees. Its lights glowed a soft yellow, something actually warm and welcoming in this black place.



There was a dock and handful of folks were waiting for them; they all wore travel cloaks. There were bigg’uns, lil’uns, and some in between. One was recognizable to all; Miss Emerald waiting at the end of the dock. She immediately latched on to Dominic once the boats were tied up and he disembarked onto the wooden pier. Interestingly, theirs were not the only boats. The Forest folks had a handful of punts tied up, too. Obviously, they had fishermen among them and used the waterways to get through the Forest.

One person was recognizable to Kadri and Cesare: the tall, dark, grim form of Broke, accompanied by her unknown companion guardians. They were probably the shadows that had followed them the last portion of their trip. The rest were only known to Bekkah and Keiko, who had been here before. Without a word, one of the tallest and most graceful of them beckoned the others to follow and lead all into Home.

In looping stairs, balconies, and porches, Home rose in a ramshackle manner. In a way, it was like the Talesan Citadel — rooms and places to sit and sleep and talk were scattered around a chaos of steps and ladders. About halfway up, there was what served as a Commons, a gathering hall — a big wooden room with crystal lamps and a Darksteel hearth. It seemed this was where their food was made and served, tended by a bevy of bigg’uns and lil’uns. Some hid behind others when the real folks walked into their place, some had travel cloaks on but most were in colorful country homespun.

The tall one slowly pulled back the hood of her travel cloak. Long red hair flowed out, framing an elegant muzzle, poked through by two gorgeous triangular ears. This Forest Folk was definitely easy to look at, with sparkling eyes and a voice as soft and sultry as a gentle caress. This was a creature about whom songs would be sung, of romance and love and beauty, in both Highland Path taverns and the small village Lyric came from.

“We have guests.

“They have come to help those of us still trapped in the mines.”

The lovely vixen turned to her guests.

“My name is Lady.”

One by one by one, travel cloaks were shed. These were the Forest Folks. Some looked dangerous and untrustworthy, but perhaps that was because they had been crafted from Rats. There were those who bore Raccoons’ banded eyes, there were more Foxes. It was strange seeing Foxes stand comfortably next to a pair of Rabbits. There was even a couple of Harts.

And of course, there was Broke. The Forest Folk’s boss guardian drew down her hood to shake out her tawny hair, streaked with all the various shades of brown. She was black as night, with a long sturdy-looking muzzle, tall ears and when she grinned, which she did, it was very toothy and very definitely fanged. It explained a lot about her gruff voice and nature. She was not just a warrior. She was not just a hunter, not just a predator, not just a protector. She was — or used to be — a Wolf.

The rest of the guardians were her pack.

At the start there was silence; not a sound from all those gathered as in the shadows behind, more and more and more entered — looking from the window sills, from the rafters, and a few lil’uns on the shoulders of bigg’uns. Some just seemed to appear out of nowhere.

And some definitely appeared out of nowhere. Miss Bekkah was suddenly surrounded, almost vanishing beneath a sudden flurry of lil’uns, all of them reaching for a part of her to hug. The Healer found herself buried under a pile of happy Mice.

Except for Tomomi.

She just hung onto Keiko’s arm and giggled.

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Lyric

There were a couple times, during the journey along the black river where Lyric paused in her poling, and it was only the rope line that interlocked her coracle to the others that kept her with the group.

The first was just moments after they entered the Dirkwood and no shaft of light from She above touched them that didn't filter down through the poisoned, cursed canopy above them.

Lyric seemed overtaken with emotion as she held her pole and stared out into the darkened wood. Tears streaked her face forcing her to wipe them.

This would happen a few times when the starkly beautiful yet malevolent wood revealed itself to them as they travelled. Her reaction seemed deeply visceral as though she felt an anguish and a sorrow.

For those tied close they might hear her whispered words of grief.

"I'm sorry , so sorry that you must endure this..."

Or,

"This is not who you should be..."

And this,

"I hope... I hope I can find a way to heal you..."

Those episodes of emotion were brief enough but powerful for the young minstrel from a place called Kethy's Woods. No one could console her while they traveled in their coracles and she did her best not to make her emotions a detriment to the journey. She would resume her share of the poling to keep others from having to tow her along. But her sad eyes seemed laden with sorrow for the depths of the terrible beauty all around them. Still she poled onward to keep some slack in the lines that linked her coracle to others.

Her mood didn't lighten, even once they were docked and landed at the Forestkin place called Home. The horrors visited upon the poor creatures were linked somehow to to the ravages wrought on these once beautiful woods. It was haunting her as she lugged her pack and followed the others.

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Kadri:

The boat ride was new for her but it was pleasing as were most new things; she had a small smile despite the grim surroundings and enjoyed the feel of the boats on the water.

"It is sad to see beauty in chains and oppressed."

As they arrived she took in those present. The fox, for her own reasons held some special meaning.


"Lady."

She said quietly, and for her own reasons, essayed a deep bow to her, crossing her arms.

"An appropriate name, for a beautiful being. I have much appreciation for what you are."


"Broke. "

She said in a neutral tone and with neutral expression, lacking any inherent hostility but not exactly filled with the most eagerness for contact. She still found much of her earlier mein and actions unconscionable. Still, she nodded courteously and offered a slight bowing nonetheless. She had disagreements with her, and and her behavior towards her friends - but this was neither the time nor the place to bring that up.


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Pietro


The work was not overly tiring considering the company and pleasant talk which lightened their labor. When the coracles were completed, Pietro took a moment to attend to the edge of his war axe which had cut so many of the withes and branches used in the construction of what he now took to be his navy! His to command?



The squire could not help but laugh at the overly grandiose promotion he had received from Lord Dominic and executed a sweeping, Throckmortian bow in return as he replied.

"I accept the honor, My Lord, if you will serve as fleet commodore."

The levity did not last long, however, as they poled their way slowly up the sweeping oxbows of the rather turgid slow river. The air became heavy and Pietro found it almost difficult to breathe deeply enough. The barely seen spectres which appeared and quickly faded away into the dark, ominous looking forest lining the sides of the river tended to cause his eyes to dart one way and then the other and the difficulty in getting one good look at the... whatevers caused his heart to race a little and his nerves to act up.

After all, regardless of the humor in Dominic's pronouncement, it was obvious that the Korie lord expected the squire to lead the group.

And that meant that Pietro was responsible for the success of the mission and the safety of his companions. He looked around at the others and murmured a prayer for the assistance and protection of Lord Rames during the upcoming dangerous action.

And then, almost suddenly, they were there... the home of the Forest Folk and Pietro could not help but smile at the loveliness of the one called Lady, nod his respect at Broke, whom he saw at once as a formidable pack leader, and laugh at the transformed mice who swarmed all over Bekkah.

Pietro stood back and waited for an introduction of sorts. He knew that Mikal had somehow incurred the displeasure of Broke and he did not want to hazard the same unintended result.

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Cesare

He is watchful through the forest, his crossbow at his feet, as he poled the small craft along. He is silent through the journey, his eyes watchful and taking in all the details of this dark haunting forest. It should be free and open to travel.. a shame it is not. But much would have to change here before that might occur.. and it might not be possible.

The freedom of the forest folk is their goal and he is determined to achieve it.

At the Home, his eyes are even more active. The construction seems haphazard but has its own harmony. He likes all the different methods of accessing the levels and the freedom that provides. And the variety of forest folk too is interesting and he can see where their origins stem from. They would likely have some great sills and natural assets from their humble beginnings.. just like Emerald.. quiet, quick, always finding her way unobtrusively. They would need that.

He smiles at all the introductions but does not push himself forward. This time is Bekkah's.

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Keiko

A pleasant morning passed for Keiko and Tomomi in the making of their map. First, a fair sized bit of parchment was obtained from Thomas — a piece he deemed “too dirty” and “too wrinkled” and “too ragged around the edge” for his purposes. Lines were lightly sketched; only when Tomomi was satisfied that their lines delineated the best possible outline of the Forest and the lake within it did Keiko set ink to the paper with a fine brush. Once completed, the most enjoyable part of the project began — color!

The Rhoni demonstrated how she mixed the various pigments to achieve the colors she wanted, using several of the gifts her Mouse friend had brought over the past couple of months. Creating the map was as much a lesson in painting as it was the creation of a useful guide. Light washes of color were built up to give the impression of depth to the waters of the lake and texture to the vastness of the Forest. The new white pigment from the chalky cliffs themselves outlined the edges of the lake to show their locations.

“A charred ravine and a Darksteel pipe? Those seem so strange that I don’t even know what questions to ask about them yet.” Keiko smiled at Tomomi as she set the completed map aside so it could dry completely. “And yet, I don’t doubt that Renyard has many inquiries he could pose to help me find both questions and answers!”

Sorting through the items in her pack took enough time that the map was dry by the time she finished. The obvious stuff was there — all the miscellaneous things she would need on a journey away from her temporary home with the Millers, a change of clothing, and her pigments and brushes. Well, not all of them, of course! But enough to mix a variety of different colors. It might have seemed strange to anyone else that she considered them essential. There were times that she thought it was peculiar, too. She didn’t know what to expect from their trip to the mines, so all she could do was bring along the things she found comforting. If splashes of color on small pieces of pasteboard could give others a bit of cheer as well? Well, there was no question then of bringing them along. She tucked her remaining ribbons in the pack, too, down at the bottom — all except one.

It was wider than most and a shade of blue that was so pleasant to the eye that Keiko generally wrapped all the other ribbons with it. But it didn’t look good tied in her hair — the blue was almost a soft teal and wasn’t bold enough to stand up to the red streak in her black hair. She smiled as she held it out to Tomomi.

“How fine would this look edged with some of your lace and stitched onto a longer piece of cloth? Why, it would be the fanciest belt anyone has ever seen! Even the Nobles of Dawnview Vale would envy it, I’m sure.”

Making sure that the map was dry, she rolled it into a tube. Then, taking a deep breath, she looked around her little room. It was neat and tidy, with her sleeping roll tucked against a wall and her remaining belongings piled neatly in the corner beside it. She was taking only a single change of clothing, so extra socks and her best tunics were folded, the gifts her brother and sisters had given her tucked in their folds. Anything in her pack could be replaced; gifts from her family could not. The only thing of exceptional value she had with her were the Cards... and she would lose her life before she gave those up. Her daggers were in their sheaths at her waist as they almost always were; her cloak was over one shoulder. She nodded with satisfaction before turning to Tomomi.

“Well. It is time for this adventure. I won’t lie and say I’m not scared, but knowing that I have a forever friend with me will remind me to stay brave even when I’m the most scared.”

Today when she left the Millers’ home, she remembered to tell Missus Miller that she was leaving.

“I don’t know how long I’ll be gone, but I hope it won’t be for very long. I’ll be very, very careful. And the Young Master will be with us. A lot of folks would be quite vexed with him if he didn’t come back out of the Forest in one piece, and he’s an honorable man — he’ll make sure we all return safely.” Keiko smiled as she accepted the packet of travel bread and dried meat from the woman who tried to be so stern and gruff. “Better to have blessed neighbors than cursed ones... better still that they be free and happy, ja?”

The work of constructing the little boats had been completed by the time Keiko and Tomomi returned to the field. In fact, the Young Master was just putting on another performance of proclaiming Pietro to be the admiral of the little fleet. Keiko giggled softly as she set her pack down and draped her cloak over it. And after Dommi finished explaining where Miss Emmi was — indeed, a wise and sensible precaution it was to warn Broke — Keiko presented the map to the Squire with a deep and quite a proper curtsy.

“My Lord Admiral, may I present to you the finest map of the Forest you are ever likely to find... and the fact that it’s the only map of the Forest you’re ever likely to find does not diminish its beauty in any way.”

Her mood was definitely far more radiant now than it had been earlier in the day and she chuckled as she made her way to the edge of the river where the Young Master was explaining the use of the coracles. They were strange contraptions, but she’d trust Lord Tone-Deaf that they would get them safely to Home. After all, he had promised Missus Heatherson. And even the Young Master would wilt if Missus Miller decided he needed a truly baleful look.

Once underway, though, it didn’t take long to adapt to the movement and to the poling. It was a moving vessel and movement was a natural thing for a Rhoni. These little tubs required a different way of balancing, but one did not become as proficient in the Dances as she was without having a good sense of balance.

For all the cursed nature of the Forest, it still held an ineffable beauty. Keiko didn’t care at all for the fish of the Blackwater, but the trees were clearly just as dangerous. Bodies and bones were a gruesome sight, and she found it odd to have so much compassion for the Forest even as it presented its fearsome nature to them.

From her place behind Lyric, Keiko could hear a few words drifting from her friend. While she understood more than most the pain and sadness, she worried more for Lyric than the environment. She wished there was some way to console her friend, but these boats... well, it wasn’t possible.

As Her light found it more and more difficult to penetrate the Forest’s canopy, Keiko noted the shadows along the banks and sighed with relief. The were the right size and shape to be the Guardians. Hopefully, that meant they were close to their destination.

At last, they did indeed arrive at Home. It was just as beautiful as she remembered it to be. She recognized those at the docks and was happy to be out of the little boat. Miss Emmi quickly found her Tone-Deaf Lord, and Lady ever so graciously greeted the newcomers. There was disharmony in Dama Kadri’s greeting of Broke. Keiko knew Broke and, therefore, understood why Broke behaved as she did. She did not know Dama Kadri and, therefore, did not understand the difference in the Dama’s greeting for Lady and Broke. However, Keiko would not worry over it for there were so many other things vying for her attention.

Home gave her a chance to walk and stretch and hug Tomomi and many of the other Mice they came across as the group made its way to the common room. She smiled and made a point to greet Mister Rat.

And finally... finally, Keiko laughed as Tomomi giggled when Lady Bekkah was buried in a huge Mouse group hug.

“You were so right, my friend. Never has any Healer been so loved, I think.” She looked around, looking for Renyard and seeing familiar faces. “It feels like coming home, Tomomi. I know it’s your Home and far too stationary to be a proper Rhoni home, but I can’t help but feel that I’ve... well... come home again.”

She looked over at Lyric and stretched out a hand. “Come feel the joy, Lyric. You see how happy the Mice are to see Lady Bekkah? Terrible things may have happened in the past, yes. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring to us. But there is still joy to be found in the Now. If a person as different as a Mouse or a Rabbit or a Wolf or a Fox or a Rat can find peace and even joy, should we — who are said to be real people — not also see the peace here?”

The Rhoni’s eyes held a hint of a shadow to them, but it was as if she consciously chose to be here in Home, in this Now of joyous reunion... chose to be in this place of unimaginable diversity and hold no judgments of any feelings or corresponding not-feelings.

Whatever sorrow or fear or anger she felt had to be put aside while here at Home. There would be more than enough time and far too many opportunities for those emotions as they ventured out to rescue the Kin in the mines.

Her gaze wandered over to Cesare, a stray through flittered through her mind and a sparkle of mischief glinted in her eyes before she looked back at Lyric, her hand still outstretched.


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Pietro


This was obviously Bekkah's time, so the squire moved to a nearby tree, carefully extracted the map Keiko had given him back at the small village they'd left, eased down and, using the tree as a backrest, started to examine it.

He made a subdued head gesture toward Cesare to join him, but was not sure whether the Rhoni had caught the invitation.

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Cesare

During his scrutiny of Home, his enjoyment of the haphazard nature of the buildings and their access evident in his eyes, he catches a gesture from Pietro. He misses little, choosing mostly to stay in the background observing as he has realised that you learn more that way and also attract less attention, allowing the tides of life to flow around you, rather than inserting yourself firmly in their currents.

He makes his way over, nodding and smiling as he does, an extra large grin in Bekkah's direction.

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Pietro


The squire gestured for Cesare to sit and nodded toward the map he was holding.

"Help me see if we can make sense of this."

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Cesare

He looks at the map, taking a few moments to take in the details before commenting.

"Good map. So it looks like we have almost as far to go again as we have come already. There are things on the map that we would need more explanation of.. such as this charred ravine. Why was it charred? Is it navigable? Is the darksteel pipe large enough for humans? This could provide a back way in.. maybe? At the front there is a wall. Can it be climbed? Or a waterfall.. same question. How guarded are the bridges? We need to talk to the forest kin.. or to Tomomi who drew this.. someone who knows the most about the place and ask our questions so as to decide our approach."

He is generally quiet but that is often because he doesn't have much to say. Occasionally he does.

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Pietro


Impressed despite himself, Pietro looked at Cesare for a long moment before smiling and nodding to the younger man.

"You ask very good questions, my friend," he said.

"We will have to see how satisfying are the answers we are able to obtain to them."

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Lyric

Slowly a smile formed, thin and wan, but Lyric's eyes seemed haunted still, maybe even a little lifeless... lost in some deep angst... more than ennui or malaise, this was an existential melancholy.

Lyric offered her hand to the Rhoni girl and let her fingers entwine with Keiko's. At first there was little strength in the grip. That weak smile, all the life she could muster, had to be enough to let her friend know she was still 'alive' in this place of unimaginable sorrow. But there was the glimmer of life and hope burgeoning among the denizens around her now and that also mattered to Lyric. The mouses were overjoyed and even in the grimmest and bleakest landscape of a dark-magic devastated forest... the Forest... these little ones had hope.

Her hand tightened a little and her smile warmed. For the briefest of moments there seemed to be a hint of light in her eyes as though those pale blue irises became vibrant again.

"Forgive me friend Keiko... My sadness is weight in this place... The people are happy and have hope, maybe for the first time in all their lives, and that is reason to be joyous. I see that..."

Still holding Keiko's hand, she glanced around at her other companions, Cesare and Pietro huddling to look at the mouse inspired Rhoni drawn paper, Bekkah been covered in adoration and child-like love and honor and respect, and Dommi who watched it all himself while Emmi and he were reunited.

"I am far from my home... and yet I feel closer now than I have ever felt in my life... To see this forest like this tears at my heart and soul. I feel grief and I feel regret... I wonder what might be different if different choices had been made... If I had not left my home when I did, what might be different, who might I be?"

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Keiko

“I understand... about the Forest, anyway. The World Forest should be...”

The Rhoni paused, her eyes searching Lyric’s pale blue ones as if, perhaps, inspiration for the right words could be found there. But she found only the reflection of her own imperfect words.

“It should be as it was meant to be. But friend Lyric, we cannot change what was. And to burden our hearts with what might have been is a deep current that leads to the darkest places of a soul. It matters who you are, here and now. Only by being who we are in the now, and not worrying about who we might have been if different waves had been ridden, can we affect what might yet be.”

Keiko smiled at her friend and gently squeezed the musician’s hand. “You left your home when you did. You are who you are. I like who you are. All that remains is for you to ask yourself if you like who you are. And for you to remember that the wonder you have found in all the new things you have found on your journey still lies in the familiar. The World Forest, though cursed to bear the name Dirkwood, still holds wonder, Lyric. It’s just harder to see through the pain the Forest feels.”


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Lyric


"Oh friend Keiko, you do have my gift for feeling and sensing what others need to hear..."

That was a purposeful understatement of what Lyric did in terms of reading people, but for the point she was making it served in the poetic sense of things to state it as she did.

"Let not doubt hinder your path. This empathy, blended with your own Gift, must mean you are destined for the very things your elders saw and believed when you set out upon your own journey."

Lyric squeezed her friend's hand again, and offered a hand to Tomomi. It was a bold step, for the Mouse friend had clung closely to Keiko.

"We WILL free the forestkin and we will then find a way to end this terrible curse upon the Forest. Those who have tried to break her spirit and poison her soul will be broken themselves."

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The Heartwood
The Dirkwood Forest
Home
Hasday, the Seventh Day of Yrick


Bekkah, Cesare, Kadri, Keiko, Lyric, Pietro, Dominic Korie, Miss Emerald, Lady, Soft, Miss Tomomi, Wuff-Wuff, a Rat, and Others

The vixen woman turned to face the guests. It was as if she simply couldn’t not be graceful... as if elegance and beauty had been the most important facet of her forging... as if she had been specifically made that way — which was both an alluring and a very, very disturbing thought.

“Here we have One Law, One Teaching, and One Rule.

“My One Law is simple: to always help each other. Kindness has no limits.

“Renyard’s One Teaching is just as plain: to learn a new kindness every day. Even a little kindness is to be treasured.

“Broke’s One Rule I suspect you already know: No fighting. Never raise paw, hand, talon, claw, or teeth to another with the intent to do harm. Do not fight. Protect.”

Lady smiled then and offered her guests a formal bow.

“We are a simple folk, with only three tenets to guide our lives. Please, be patient with us as we are not used to guests. We have now had more in the last three days than we have had since we first built our first room. It is almost time for our evening meal, and we have yet to invent formality.

“Welcome to Home.”

She then blinked once, then twice, and placed her hands on her curvy hips.

“Fine. Two more things. The only hands most of us know of your kind are harsh and cruel. So do not be disturbed if some of us are shy.”

Her brow raised, as she glanced to the side where somewhere beneath a pile of Forest Folk there was a Healer.

“Not all of us are Mice.”

In truth, there was something different in the character of the hugs that suddenly enveloped Bekkah. Yes, the Kin were happy, thankful, wanting to give back a kindness in return for the one that had been granted them. But there was also a sense of desperation to not lose that gift — to prove by touch that it was real and sure, and to hold on to it for as long as possible as if it was something that could be taken away in a heartbeat.

Lady’s attention then fell on Kadri, her pretty eyes catching the slightest hint of the Noble’s discomfort. She looked between the Amber Princess and her Guardian.

“There is a difference between fighting and protecting. Fighting you do for yourself, protecting is a kindness you offer to others at a bitter cost that you then take onto yourself.

“Let me ask you something. Have you ever seen one of our Guardians draw their Darksteel blades first? The answer — one I believe in — is no.”

She then held up her hand, summoning a brief pause before she continued.

“Last, anyone — anyone — tonight who gives Broke and that Korie lad enough beer to get them singing will be tossed in the swamp with the two of them.

“That’s a kindness to us.”

That got a bark from the big black wolf and wide eyes from Dominic Korie. Dominic’s response was sudden, blurted out and panicked, very much like a younger lad getting caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

“But, Mother!”

Lady waggled her finger.

“Aw, you never let me have any fun.”

The vixen-woman smiled.

“Welcome back, Young Dominic.”

True to Lady’s word, the Forest Folk dinner began. There must have been some kind of magic associated with dinner as tables slid out by themselves and there were suddenly many lil’uns here and there, setting out plates and bowls and then platters of meat, cheese, and bread. Preparing for the meal finally brought Bekkah some respite as her Mice slipped away to begin their chores — though she was never without a handful. From the common room hearth, just like any other great hall, the stew was ladled out from a big black pot. The rest was a celebration of homespun bustle. There was no formality at all; one merely found food and partook.

There was, however, an oddness. There was a scarcity of iron and silver within Home; indeed, it seemed that most metal items, from spoons to knives to cooking pots, were made of Darksteel, even to the hinges on the doors.

As for food, there was fish to be had, pies stuffed with vegetables, and venison. The Guardians went for the venison, and it wasn’t a pretty sight. Two of them started to wrestle over the biggest piece — a white Wuff and a tawny one — and it wasn’t long until the piece of venison was forgotten (actually taken by a second black wolf just an ear shorter than Broke) as the first two got lost in their life and death tussle.

It seemed hypocritical at first until what was happening became evident. It was obvious to the Forest Folk, who let them tumble past as if it were a regular occurrence, something normal and not to be paid attention to.

They were definitely not fighting.

They were very definitely playing.

For the others now, matters were much simpler.

Dominic had found a chair and with Miss Emmi sitting on his lap, an oddly perfect fit, they were sharing a bowl of stew.

Tomomi nodded quietly, listening as Keiko spoke to Lyric. The Mouse’s head swiveled back and forth between the two, until she finally reached up and tugged at the minstrel’s tunic.

“Hey, Miss Lyric.

“This is our Home. And I know. We’ve been real people for a day, but even so? We... we would get lost if we didn’t have a Home. I almost got lost. Friend Keiko saved me.

“Now this is her Home, too.

“Can’t you feel it? Safe and warm. Lady and Renyard to teach us. The Guardians to protect us. Soft to... to... to...”

The little Forest Kin blinked as her action matched Lyric’s, that of hands reaching for each other.

“Keiko! She needs to meet Soft!”

Snaring both their hands, Lyric’s and Keiko’s, she led them to a table where a short guardian sat with a taller one. This Wuffess perked her ears as she watched the three approach. She was all browns with white highlights and a thick fur that looked more gentle than velvet or merebeast. Definitely female, this guardian wore a light tunic over which was an open hauberk of leather and black metal.

“Miss Soft... this is Miss Lyric, and she looks like a Rat that’s come here for the first time! She looks better now but even so, she needs to know about Home!”

Next to her the short guardian spoke up.

“Wuff.”

At that single word Tomomi nodded.

“See, Keiko! See, Miss Lyric! Even Wuff-Wuff agrees.”

Soft looked up at Lyric, lifting a plate of bread and meat from her lap.

“Herrre. Firerrrrst, we fi’hh yourrr tummy. Don’t worrrrry, it’s good. And as you nibb’hhe, ‘ook around you.”

It seemed the Guardians, as a whole, had real problems with their Rs and Ls.

“See.

“Nothing but smi’hhes. Nothing but warm hearrrrts. Ja... the Forrrest is currrsed. But Home is not.

“Do you not have a Home of yourrr own?

“If so, you underrrrstand.

“If not, take a chance.

“No harrm, no hurrrrt, no demands. I prrromise.

“Sharrrrre ourrrrs for a night. For herrrrre, it is not imporrrtant who you werrrre or who you arrre suppposed to be. Herrre, it on’hhy matters who you arrrre.”

Elsewhere, Pietro and Cesare could find their tree to lean on; not that there was much choice. It was the central tree that rose from the swamp, the tree that supported Home, its trunk and branches providing the structure for the ramshackle residence.

As they looked at the map it appeared they had collected a shadow. At first, it was an uncomfortable shadow – not a lil’un or a bigg’un but somewhere in the middle. He had the large ears of a mouse and the long tail of a mouse sweeping out from under his long tunic skirt — not a Mouse, but a Rat... a Rat with extremely long whiskers. Rats, in general, were hard to get used to and especially hard for a very, very large one. His tunic was sturdy but like most of the Forest Folk garb, it was a patchwork of different pieces and different materials.

“That’s how they get the sap from the First Tree to the forges...”

From the side, the Rat reached out and pointed to the line labeled ‘Darksteel pipe.’

“I guess if you could cut Darksteel you could get into the pipe. You’d drown before you get to the Old Masters’ place... but because it’s the sap of the First Tree, you wouldn’t die. I don’t recommend it, though. It hurts real bad.

“The Old Masters keep that portion of the woods burned out, so the Forest doesn’t eat the pipe. It’s not long so it’s actually doable. But it means it’s probably the only place you’ll run into the Old Masters above ground.”

He then crossed his arms.

“The bridges... it depends. If things have gone bad in the mines, there will be Weasels, as they’ll need to make more of us. When there were still Men in the mines the Bridges were watched; now less so. Otherwise, the Old Masters care little about what happens above ground. Below ground is a different matter.”

Beady eyes peered at the map.

“The waterfall is not too high, and it would be easy to get you to its base. Otherwise, you will be daring the Forest’s wrath. You will need at least one Mouse to get in, but it all depends on where you are going. Mice can only go to where they have been before, with one exception.”

The rat also supplied the answer to Cesare’s final question.

“That would be me, Wrath and Lockpick. Wrath is the other black Wuff and Lockpick, well that’s what she is. Our lockpick.

“Most of us don’t have names. Just what we do.”

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Pietro


He had noticed the rodent-looking Forest Kin observing him and the Rhoni lad, but he could not discern any threat from the Rat, so he said nothing for the moment. Then Lady began to speak and something drew him to his feet where he listened respectfully.

Lady was Dominic's mother? That both tended to answer several questions yet, at the same time, was difficult to believe. Pietro glanced at Cesare to see if his newly met companion had heard the same thing he had.

When Lady finished her welcoming oration and the feast began, the squire turned and listened as the Rat began answering Cesare's questions, nodding slowly and frowning in thought.

"My name is Pietro Keir Hansson of Talantal," he said, "in service to Lord Dames and this is my friend Cesare."

"I would be honored to know how you are called."

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Lyric

She accepted the proffered plate humbly, and bowed her head as a 'remark' of gratitude. It was not time for her to speak, even in reply, for she was a guest and the Guardian had wisdom to impart for which she given to do for others before Lyric. So Lyric could assume because Tomomi wanted her to meet Soft for a reason.

Lyric ate and looked around and accepted that the Guardian Soft was indeed true to her word in that there was a sense of peace and safety carved out of the middle of such anguish and sorrow. And then Soft asked a question that none had ever asked her before. Surely they had asked where she came from and she answered them after a fashion. But Soft asked her if she had a home. She felt compelled to answer that question, but the Guardian continued to speak and made her own question somewhat rhetorical. No doubt she posed the question to give Lyric reason to pause and consider the answer only in her heart, but not speak it aloud.

Tears welled up in her eyes though. Take a chance.

No harm, no hurt, no demands.

A promise.

The answer to Soft's question died on Lyric's lips, but the weight of the admission did not fade so easily. But it softened as the invitation, heartfelt in it's offer, whispered peace and hope to her soul.

Lyric let slip her heavy pack from her back, sliding it off one shoulder first, freeing her arm, the one that held the plate, and then letting it ride down her other arm until it's weight was stopped by the floor between herself and the table. It was as much a real act of relaxation as it was a metaphor in reply to the Guardian.

"You have done me a kindness... Who I am, In The Now, is Lyric... a Minstrel. I am grateful for your hospitality and your openness to offer me the safety of Home... for both my body and my heart."

She exhaled deeply, another gesture of her parting ways with the angst she carried that had been stirred by this dark forest.

"I would return that kindness to you and to all here with a song. That is my nature. If you do not like my song though, then I would not resist being thrown into the swamp."

At that last she summoned a shrug and chuckle, trying to slip back into her Minstrel's ways of performance.

"But maybe it will be the first of a few songs, if my voice is pleasing, that is..."


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Cesare

He nods when he is introduced but gets back to business without much delay.

"So the pipe is out as a way of entry. So it sounds like the waterfall and possibly the bridges are our way in. It has been suggested that this is a sneak mission.. which is fine by me."

He grins thinking that if he had been forest kin he might have been a rat or a mouse.

"We will need to know what it is that the dwarves do to you. If we are to change that we will have to destroy what they use. Sorry if this is a sensitive topic but the more we know, the better job we can do."

He nods to the rat.

"Appreciate your help."

He wishes Mikal was with them. They could do with his sage advice.

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Kadri:

She pauses, not interrupting before speaking again, calmly and without rancor.

"I do not wish to bring hostility into this gathering, Lady; but neither did my friend when he was unduly accused. His being ready to do something if the situation demanded is by no means the same as actually having done it. And I find little good in gratuitously besmirching the honor of a good man. I accept your guardian's role here. I laud your ethics. I do not, however, accept the unjustified insults to my friend's honor easily. I can and will work with Broke for the good which is helping those whom she protects. That is a good thing, a worthy thing, a thing which would make me happy, make others happy. I would willingly risk a dance with Krysta for such a good thing. But my friend is my friend - and as far as I am concerned is family. Just so you understand why I might find myself less than gregarious with your guardian while things stand as they do."

She looks at the map reaching much the same conclusions as cesar.

"Yes, climbing and sneaking I am good ATM both."

She nods.

"And I too am interested in Cesar's questions."

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Bekkah

She smiled and graciously took the time to hug every mouse who came to her. She had smiles and words of encouragements for each of them. She seemed to have an endless amount of patience.

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The Heartwood
The Dirkwood Forest
Home
Hasday, the Seventh Day of Yrick


Bekkah, Cesare, Kadri, Keiko, Lyric, Pietro, Dominic Korie, Miss Emerald, Miss Tomomi, Lady, Wuff-Wuff, Soft, a Rat and Others

“Stak an stehn...”

Lady returned Kadri’s remark with a simple phrase in Forestalk. While she answered the Amber Noble, her words were obviously for those gathered around her, to calm expressions of concern, confusion and perhaps even a little fear.

“Gevtsa nin en knisse jemanstvu, er de forde deknisst fevts kun.”

As she straightened herself, Lady’s words met with nods by her kin. Then, with a single graceful paw she reached out and over to the side and, by just knowing where her Guardian would be, closed her dainty hand into a fist and very lightly rapped Broke on the nose, to which the black wolf went cross-eyed for a heartbeat. Then Broke blinked and gave Lady an almost stern look before returning the favor, but definitely not as lightly.

Lady rubbed her muzzle and then smiled.

“That was not fighting. That was a lesson. Lessons are important. It is also why that one over there...”

She nodded to the Guardian conversing with Lyric, Keiko, and Tomomi.

“...teaches our newly rescued. We do not call her Soft because her fur is fine. Imagine being a Mouse and having to look up to Broke or Wrath. They are, by who and what they are, rough around the edges.

“You come into my house and bark at my Guardian. Should I instinctively growl back or should I instead try to understand your true nature? Should I expect you to be like me, a forged vixen? Should I expect you to be like the majority of real people we have met? Should I come to know who you appear to be, who I think you should be, who I have convinced myself you are or instead should I try to learn what sort of person you really are?

“The last takes patience, time and kindness.

“Which would you prefer I do?”

Cesare and Pietro were involved in a very different manner of conversation. Their discourse was much more focused. Pietro’s question was met with a most curious non-answer.

“Well met Pietro Keir Hansson of Talantal. I don’t have a name. I am just the One They Come To When It’s Time To Do A Rescue.

“That Rat Over There.”

The short rat-person shrugged his shoulders as if it were just a matter of course.

“Rats can get you up the waterfall. Easy. It is what Rats do. And yes, the longer and farther you can go without alerting the Old Masters the more successful you will be; our Rescues end when we are discovered.”

The Rat then closed his eyes.

“They break us. They hammer us. They kill us over and over, but because of the sap we cannot die.

“Do you think we are not telling the truth when we say we are forged? It is precisely that. It happens in a smithy, just like metal. Instead of boiling metal there is the sap, liquid flesh, and mush of bone. Where a sword maker casts magic to strengthen and change ore into a blade, so it is with us. Close your eyes and imagine being a billet of steel; that is what they do to us.

“Just like any other tool.”

He opened his eyes and looked at the map.

“The mines are deeper than the forges.

“It will be difficult for us.

“Do you understand? There are no smiths among the Forest Kin. Our crafted metal is made in the Village beyond the Watch.

“Knowing what it is to be forged...

“How could we do that?”

By then, things had changed a bit. Broke had wandered over to join Dominic and Miss Emmi, sitting down next to the young lord after snaring up a big hank of venison for herself. When she roughly claimed her spot, she and Dominic exchanged some elbowing, punches to the shoulders and a few cuffs. However, the roughhousing ended suddenly after a sharp squeak from a Mouse. There was a moment of silence followed by laughter from all three.

The other black wolf took the space on Broke’s other side. While she and Dominic were playing, he took half of Broke’s venison.

“Hey!

“That’s twice for you!”

Those sudden light words came from the Mice who had swarmed the Priestess of Attera. Indeed, it was a fair accusation, as several of the Mice about her merely circled around to get another hug and greeting from Lady Yurisdotter. An endless amount of patience was thus matched by an endless cycle of Mice.

Though she was surprised when suddenly the sea of Mice parted and Bekkah was suddenly lifted up from her feet in a very, very strong embrace. The Mice all giggled as Bekkah was snared from behind by a large, handsome figure, whose broad shoulders and sharply carved face was cervine-sculpted, and between long tapered ears rose a dashing rack of antlers.

A big buck of a deer had just taken over the hugging.

To the side, Soft looked between Keiko and Lyric. She still slurred her letters as she spoke again. Large brown eyes met the Minstrel’s as if she were reading cues of stance and expression, as if the Minstrel’s quiet was clear and loud.

“One of the hardest things we have to teach the new Kin is that you don’t have to answer every question.

“That it is fine to just hear, as long as you listen.”

Tomomi nodded at those words. And in return, she just held onto Keiko tighter, stronger, resting her head against the other’s shoulder, as if it were perfectly fine not to speak. Until... until Lyric made her offer. Then Tomomi’s eyes flashed open wide, bright and surprised for a heartbeat or two. Without a word she looked at Soft, as Soft was her Elder and one of Home’s Important Folks. Her gaze was far too easy to read: happy, hopeful and cutely pleading.

Soft just chuffed out a rough wolfish laugh and returned her attention to Lyric.

“Does that answer your question, Minstrel Lyric?

“Melody is rare to these rooms and stairs, for who would teach us?

“It would be a very welcome gift.”

Tomomi then tugged at her forever friend’s sleeve.

“And Miss Keiko has a whistling potato!”

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Pietro


The squire cocked his head to one side and gave the Rat a long, appraising look and then nodded.

"If you would like to have a name, we - Cesare and I - could search for a title worthy of your talents, then." He made a slight gesture, vaguely apologetic.

"If that would be allowed, of course."

Pietro paused and looked from the Rat to Cesare, then to the map and then back to the unnamed Rodent-kin.

"It is good that you survived such harsh tempering. I think that we will work together well."

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Cesare

"I am a smith. I forge things - but I would =never= forge creatures. That must stop."

He takes a deep breath, forcing his anger down as Rat paints him a very vivid picture of what these creatures are put through.

"So there might be two ways to stop this. Either we stop the sap or we break the forge. Do you think either of these is possible? Or is there a third way?"

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Bekkah

She continued with the hugs from the mice when she was suddenly swept up. She squealed with surprise, then laughed. Harm was something that never crossed her mind.

"You're welcome. You're all welcome. But I'm nothing more than the person who asked for help." she said still laughing.

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Pietro


Pietro glanced at Cesare with a quick, if small, smile for the Rhoni lad.

While the squire had been doing his best to be diplomatic, Cesare had come forward as the practical one. Perhaps they would make a good team.

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