Blinky was deep in his own thoughts as he walked towards the shopping district of troll marked, his feet's lead him naturally on the way as he had walked this path countless of times before and that left him room to think.
The subject of his thinking was quite obvious… Argh… there was so many questions Blinky had, so many things that… he didn't at all watch where he was going and t probably shouldn't surprise anyone that Blinky walked directly into another troll whom annoyed turned around.
"Hey watch where you're going!"
"Sorry." Blinky replied… without even looking up, he just continued his walk as if nothing had happened at all, and very similar incidents happened a couple of times before Blinky finally reached his destination where several trolls had their wares laid out on stands.
This place was always a rather exciting place, you just never knew whom were having their stand up and running at this moment but there would always be someone and today looked promising as several trolls had things on display, Blinkys eyes though fell on a familiar stand which he walked towards to take a gander at the contents.
Several different kind of stones were spread out on the table, some placed in baskets in big piles. They were numerous minerals here, all the best for a healthy troll diet.
"BLINKY!" A familiar voice sounded and Blinky glanced up to look at a larger female troll running the stand.
She was a great deal older than Blinky, had a soft round figure made of dark red stone, her black hair was short but looked very thick. What really stood out about her though was her warm eyes shining in a yellow color.
"Myrna." Blinky greeted the older troll in a light smile.
"Oh it's so good to see you, it's been forever since I saw you last!" Myrna commented. "I was starting to get really worried." she admitted. "I heard you've been wandering the big caves alone, that's not safe you know."
"Yes I… I know." Blinky nodded a bit ashamed.
"You and your brother, always so reckless." Myrna exhaled deeply as she shook her head then halted. "Oh i'm sorry, that's not what I meant."
"It's okay." Blinky assured. "My brother could indeed be rather reckless." he fully admitted. "It's erh… ahem." he cleared his throat. "I wont wander alone into more caves right now, so don't worry."
"Oh that's good." Myrna exhaled relieved. "Oh that reminds me, I just got a new supply home!" the older troll smiled as she bowed down under the table and then pulled up a basket with black mineral rocks. "Aegirines! Fresh from the Scandinavian mountains, take one its on the house." she blinked.
"Oh." Blinky blinked. "That's okay I.."
"I know they are your favorites." Myrna pointed out. "Come on, take it." she asked.
And finally Blinky reached out and picked up one of the black rocks then took a bite out of it. "This is good." Blinky fully acknowledged. "Can I have a kilo?" he asked. "Oh and.." he looked around at the other minerals. "Give me some Quartz and some Zardonine." he asked.
"Rose quartz, blue quartz or smoky?" Myrna asked as she arranged the items.
"Give me… a little bit of each." Blinky then asked.
"Are you stocking up Blinky?" Myrna had to ask kind of amused.
"Well, yes." Blinky admitted. "I kind of forget to buy…. anything really."
"I see." Myrna nodded as she piled up very healthy portions of the requested minerals. "Well, it's a good thing you're pulling yourself back together." she stated. "And please don't forget that it's okay to ask for help if you need it." she asked. "This entire war is a terrible business, which just means that us whom are left behind need to stick together. We are trolls, we look out for our own." she pointed out wrapping up the stones.
"Yes… I see." Blinky nodded thoughtfully bringing the piece of Aegirine he still had to his mouth and took a bite. "It's odd though isn't it?" he asked.
"What is Blinky?" Myrna asked. "I keep telling you I can't read minds, you have to say what you're thinking before starting assuming we are on the same page."
"Ah sorry, I just… Gumgums are trolls to right?" Blinky asked. "And trolls are supposed to look out for their own but…"
At that Myrnas face darkened. "Gumgums, lost the right to call themselves trolls." she stated. "They forgotten what is important, yes strength is important too but to kill your own like that? With no honor, they do not even follow the rules of prober troll combat. They'll prey on the weaker and sneak up from behind like cowards. There isn't even regret in their actions, they are no longer trolls." she stated. "They have all forgotten what makes a troll a troll!"
Stunned Blinky looked at Myrna. "Oh." he simply stated.
"You should know this Blinky, you've seen the outcome of their killings." Myrna pointed out. "Look around you, this all exist because of them."
"Yes I know I just.." Blinky halted. "Someone asked me why… I had no answer." he admitted. "I would like to have an answer."
"You're a smart troll Blinky, though sometimes the most logic answers are right in front of you. They are evil, that's why." Myrna simply stated. "They are not trolls, just Gumgums, keep that in mind it'll be easier that way."
"Easier?" Blinky asked then he frowned…. Then finally he found his pouch with coins and pulled up the required amount. "Thank you Myrna." he then said. "It was nice talking to you again."
"And believe me, it was really good seeing you again Blinky." Myrna smiled. "Now I can stop worrying, and I can see you're doing better to."
"Oh… It's that obvious?" Blinky asked.
"You're not looking like a complete zombie." Myrna pointed out. "It looks like you finally woke up, thank the gorgos." she sighed deeply.
"Ah." Blinky realised.
Softly Myrna looked at him. "Give it time." she assured. "I know what you're going through can't be easy, but you'll get through it." she stated. "You're a troll of troll marked, everyone here is part of your family. You're not alone."
"Thank you Myrna." Blinky nodded. "I'll be sure to keep that in mind."
"Don't think of it, no troll should ever be alone!" Myrna stated. "Being alone is not in our nature, we are trolls, trolls look out for each other."
"Yes." Blinky nodded. "Thank you Myrna." he stated as he picked up to now quite heavy bag of rocks. "I think i'll go buy some dried lizards too, I know they are not that healthy but well. They just taste so good."
"Go ahead." Myrna smiled. "You do need to treat yourself, so don't hold back!"
Blinky nodded as he waved. "I'll see you later Myrna!"
"DON'T LET IT BE TO LONG THIS TIME!" Myrna shouted as Blinky walked away.
"I'll make sure of it!" Blinky called back and was gone making Myrna smile as she exhaled, she was genuinely really relieved.
The young troll was not even nearly back to his old energetic self but he definitely looked better, he had been walking in a daze ever since the death of his brother but it looked like he had woken up if only a little, at least seeing other things around him again, and that was good enough for now.