Chapter 13

"Naturally we went back to the village to get Sticks and Stones so they could read it since the others were away to trade. They came to the cave with us, Stones grumbling the whole way about how no matter what was in the cave it wasn't worth his time.

"He quickly changed his mind when he arrived and read the wall. 'This is quite alarming' he mused 'but it all fits… this put with Oddball's weird stories and ideas would mean…'

"Stones may have been big and strong but he was far from being unintelligent, he thought about it for a long time before coming to a conclusion. Sticks on the other hand was quick to judge. 'This is rubbish' he proclaimed 'these men must have gone mad and killed themselves after writing this lame excuse for a campfire tale.' Stones looked at his older brother disapprovingly, 'the footprints outside say there were many men here. Recently too…'

"After a moment more of Stones thinking and Sticks admiring his face in the reflection of his sword, Stones suddenly exclaimed: 'Snap! We are about to get hit hard. Dangit, whoever these men were they certainly weren't bright.' Stones began to pace. 'What are you on about?' Stick asked not even looking up from his reflection. 'We need to get back to the village and dawn our armor, evacuate the village, send out messengers to warn the nearby towns, and get Oddball, Steven, and Albert back here A.S.A.P'

"Stones glared at Sticks. Sticks finally looked up from his reflection and realized: 'Oh, the Bullies are coming… that's not good.' Stones was still glaring, 'Ya! Not good! Whoever these two were, they wrote on this wall-' Stones pounded the wall with his fist to add effect to his words, 'that our village is near this cave. There are only four towns around here and our village is one of them.' More pacing by Stones and more obvious statements by Sticks like: 'Bullies aren't nice people' and 'I doubt the Bullies are coming to trade… do they trade pie? Pie is good.'

'Sticks, follow me back to the village, we're gonna get suited up and evacuate everyone' Stones finally said, on his way out the door.

'What about us?' asked Jack.

'You two said they had crystals right?'

'Right'

'Search the cave for anything else of value' Stones said 'then hide in the forest near the village and wait till we've dealt with the Bullies.'

'How's my hair look?' asked Sticks, looking at his reflection again.

'I don't care' stated Stones.

'I do' said Sticks, running his fingers through his hair.

'Come on already' said Stones, and with that they left."