They were in the borderlands of Neraka. It was here that they faced their most peril as bug swarms patrolled just about everywhere. Tasslehoff pointed this out to Dreamflight, asking how they were going to avoid the insectoid guards. She merely smiled and assured him that something would work in their favor. It usually did.
As it turned out, the storm did just that. The next morning had come and there was no lull in the torrents of rain coming down. With urgent prodding, Dreamflight and Tas spurred Crotus into action. With rain and wind like this the bugs patrolling the outskirts of Neraka would have retreated back to the shelter of buildings and hives and such. Although the rain stung their exposed flesh, and the winds drilled bitter chill into their blood, the two kender were taking a most optimistic approach to the situation.
"I haven't seen a storm like this one in quite a while," Tas mused, his teeth chattering. They had wrapped a blanket around themselves but it grew increasingly damp and heavy and they were forced to put it away again. Now Tas was trying to shrink into his collar, hoping the woolen vest would help. Dreamflight road proudly, her head tilted up to the rain, laughing almost joylessly.
"This is so exciting!" she shouted over the winds. "How much do you want to wager that we'll be struck by lightning? I'll bet… I'll bet my cracked mug that we get blown into the trees first."
"I don't think any wager will benefit us if either of those happen," Tas observed. "Blast, this rain does sting though." Dreamflight smiled apologetically behind her shoulder and spread her wings, rather pathetic looking when soaked, over Tasslehoff in hopes she could shield him. It helped. Not much, but enough. Tas sighed and wrapped his arms tighter around her waist for support as Crotus slipped and slid in the mud.
"Wouldn't it be dreadful if we ran into one of my brother's minions in this storm?" Dreamflight reflected. "I wonder who would be at more of the disadvantage." She waved her hand. "No matter. I can't think of a single insect, big or small, who would willingly go out in the storm. They'd be blown to pieces." Tasslehoff glanced around in the near pitch darkness with eager anticipation.
"I wouldn't say that," he mused. "I'm sure there must be at least one species that can handle the wind and rain."
"And what's that?" Dreamflight scoffed. "Name one." Tas squinted more to his left.
"How about a locust?" he offered. "A big locust… Waxy wings, powerful body." Dreamflight tilted her head.
"I suppose a locust could," she admitted before Crotus reared up, forcing Dreamflight to hang on to the reigns tightly. He reared again, this time dumping the two kender into the muddy ground. They scrambled, slipping frequently, to get to their feet. Dreamflight looked around for Crotus but it appeared he had vanished. "Tas… Why did you suddenly think of locust?"
Tasslehoff plucked his knife from its sheath, "No reason. Well, except for that one I saw stalking us in the forest. I didn't want to tell you because you were so busy steering." Dreamflight shook her head, silent, listening. The two kender pressed together, straining to see in the darkness between flashes of lightning. Thunder shook the earth… And then it kept shaking.
"Do you feel that?" she whispered, fumbling for Tas's hand. Tasslehoff nodded. They waited, tensely, for an attack… But none came. "False alarm?" There was a high pitched insectoid scream, a horrible ripping and cracking sound… And the lower half of Crotus was thrown over their heads, landing in front of them, twitching horribly. Conscious of the present danger, Tas thrust his arm out in front of Dreamflight and backed up with her slowly, all the while watching the mutilated half insect with fascination.
"What do you suppose makes it twitch?" he asked, depositing her in the shadow of a tree. Before she could answer, he ran back to it, poking at it gleefully with the tip of his hoopak. "Is it still alive?"
"Tas, get back here!" Dreamflight pleaded. "The locust that did that must still be out there!"
"Quite rrrright goddess…" Dreamflight stiffened. She could either run, scream, or do nothing. Her mind chose to run and her body chose to do nothing. Tasslehoff spun around and faced the locust with defiance, gripping his hoopak tightly. Behind Dreamflight stood a towering locust, clicking its mandibles and lower its arms down. "I'll just be taking this…" As Tasslehoff made a threatening move forward, the locust halted.
"I am not as foolish as my breathrrren," he explained. "I will not take the goddess by forrrce. However… If you allow me to take herrr willingly, no harrrm shall come to pass… I will be brrringing you as well… My masterrr was clearrr on that. So will you come willingly?" Tasslehoff hesitated, looking to Dreamflight, waiting for her to do to this creature what she had done to Crotus. To his dismay, she stood with her head lowered, her hands clasped obediently before herself.
"Dreamflight?" he murmured. "Are you alright?"
"Let him take us," she whispered in a voice that carried the weariness of years. "We would not get to Godshome on time… Not without Crotus…"
"You can't just give up!" Tas cried out, lifting his hoopak defiantly. "We didn't come all this way to just roll over and take this!" Dreamflight lifted her head. In her eyes sparkled a message, brief, and bright. Tas blinked at this sudden show of life, and it took five winks on her part before he caught on. Smiling, he slung his hoopak cheerfully against his shoulder and marched up to the locust.
"Alright!" he declared. "Let's go! The sooner we get out of the rain the better." The locust looked suspiciously at Tas.
"Why the sudden change in hearrrt?" he muttered. "Arrre you planning something?" Tasslehoff smiled brightly at Dreamflight and shook his head. The locust peered at the two… And shrugged. He snatched the two kender quickly, jerking them about, and leaping into the air with his powerful legs. Before long, the two were being speeded with all haste to Neraka. The locust was still quite sure they were plotting, but to his mind, what could they possibly do?