Tents had been pitched and set up for the night. Tomorrow would be when this group would all but set out to explore this continent to look for other lost Gelflings.
There had been some exploration a short distance from the campsite. It was certainly beautiful here. There had to be other Gelfling living on this continent too.
There was also always the possibility that survivors might also go sailing over to the first continent to see if Skeksis still ruled or not. But Aughra would see to the ones that came to the castle that way.
There was a grand dinner that night to celebrate arriving there, and a party to just have some fun being back on dry land. The Sifa loved the sea, but their current travelers weren't so crazy for it. Especially the Chamberlain.
A few hours later, they all settled down for the night. There were some guards keeping watch.
Little did they know, they were being watched. It was more Gelfling alright, but they kept their distance for now. They were just observing their visitors.
The next day, everyone was up and was doing their part to get packed up. The ship and the camp would still be here. Some would stay behind to monitor things here. But some of the Sifa were going with them to see if they could scrounge some things up for trade later, or for treasures.
After what had happened with other strange Gelfling meetings, this time, Sil decided to let the guards take the lead. Sure, he had his armor on, but there could always be a vulnerable spot. He would defend when necessary, but it was just better that Gelflings did negotiations should they run into new ones.
They traveled a good distance that day through the woods, and just, nothing.
While they traveled, the watchers saw there was a Skeksis among them. So, they still did live! This got their blood boiling. They would take their revenge this night!
….
That night, after everyone was sleeping, arrows that had fire on pointed tips were shot out of nowhere and onto the tents. Alarmed Gelfling started yelling and screaming. The cries awoke Jen, Kira, and Chamberlain.
When they all saw what the big deal was for waking them up, they knew they had no choice but to get out of the tents before they were killed or injured in the fires.
There was nothing that could be done to save the tents and other supplies.
"Someone must know we're here." Dhant decreed. "And obviously don't want us here."
"Not leaving! We find out who or what did this!" Sil exclaimed. "As emperor, I decree it!" He slammed his scepter down furiously.
He had all his robes on, so he didn't have any embarrassment on that part. He had managed to save his scepter, the one main thing he did save. But his armor had been left in the tent as it had burned. It might survive the burning, but then, would it be of any use now?
Jen held Kira to comfort her in this scary surprise attack. He was just as scared as she was.
"Did anyone see who did it?" Jen asked.
"No. It's too dark out." a guard stated.
"If strike again, we find them." Sil proclaimed. "No one gets away with that."
"Let's just not get in over our heads, though, Lord Chamberlain." Lira said. "We need to find out why they did it. They surely don't know what they are doing. They don't understand why we're here. We need to help them understand."
Sil could see her point. "Very well. Yes. Hmm."
They all kept on lookout the rest of the night, watching out for their attackers. They were all too on edge at the moment to sleep. But another campfire was started to give them some light.
When light came, everyone got a good look at the remnants of last night. As they walked through the ashes, very little was left. Sil did find his armor, and it was little more than burned to cinders. He picked up the front piece. It was so soft now. What good would it be for protection now? He threw it back to the ground.
He also looked for his weapons. They too had been damaged. No good either.
Perhaps it was better to be weaponless. Other Gelfling might see it as a threat. But they could get more of the supplies back at the ship's camp. But they weren't going back just yet. They had to keep going forward.
The watchers saw that the Skeksis still lived. They were beginning to get curious about the Gelflings that traveled with him, but they would get their answers soon.
…...
The group made sure to stick together as they traveled. They were going deeper into some woods. The woods were creepy.
The watchers knew they needed to get the Skeksis separated from the Gelflings.
With the way that this was such an unknown place, the Chamberlain wasn't planning on separating from his friends and guards anytime too soon. He would have to be desperate for meat if he did. But he had no need to when some soldiers would go out in the evening daily to get him something.
Sil honored them with bringing him the food he so desired.
But the next evening, it was strange when the two guards that went out hunting for Sil's food didn't return. Not even well after dark.
Most of the group had eaten their dinner by then. Sil had had a small bowl of broth, but was still hungry. He was getting impatient. It took a lot more for it to happen to him, but his hunger was knawing at his nerves.
"What is taking guards so long to get dinner?" he asked aloud.
"They must not be having much luck." Jen replied.
"Yes. Does seem to take time to find animal for food." Sil stated.
When they didn't return at all, Sil had to make due with some veggies. But it was suspicious why they hadn't come back at all. But, they could have been harmed by wild animals out there that they didn't know about too.
The remaining guards took turns watching the camp tonight. They would try to find them in the morning.
In the morning, everyone was up and went off after their kin to find out what was going on. Ever since arriving here, things had seemed to go from bad to worse.
Kira had an uneasy feeling, as did Jen. They stuck close to Sil.
Sil himself was also uneasy about this place. He was sniffing the air carefully for any signs of them.
Guards up front followed the tracks, but soon, they just… disappeared! It was in a clearing. Where could they have gone?
"My Lord, can you come up?" a guard asked.
"What is it?" Sil asked. He started to come up.
"This is where the tracks end, my Lord Chamberlain. There's no other sign of them." he said.
"They couldn't just disappear into thin air." Dhant stated.
Sil thought on that for a second. He still remembered back when Gelflings were used for essence, and that's what happened to them after their essence was drained, but this had nothing to do with that this time.
Sil started sniffing the air. He picked up a strange scent in the air. It started looking like it was headed up into the trees. He pointed upward. "Must have gone to trees. Strange smell in air. Something from not one of us." he instructed.
"Somebody's watching us." Lira stated. It made them all cautious now.
After the fire, they hadn't had much of weapons left to use. Sil still had his scepter, but the Gelflings had used big sticks that they had carved into spears.
They traveled carefully through the woods throughout the day. It was going to be hard of what they would find here. But they needed to find out who was watching them.
That night, no one left camp to hunt. They all just ate veggies and fruits, keeping on the lookout for intruders. Sil still smelled something out there.
The watchers were seeing that their visitors were paranoid now more than ever. They had captured the two guards and taken them back to their leader. Being held prisoner until further notice.
Gelflings had always been peaceful before, but after the clans were all but wiped out by the Skeksis, it had hardened their hearts to the acts of war when necessary.
Even though no one went hunting for Sil that night, after most of them had managed to fall asleep, while scouting around the camp, two more guards were taken from the camp. The others didn't see anything.
When the next shift of guards woke up for their shift, they saw that the other two were gone now too! They knew better than to just take off like this. Gelfling guards usually took their posts seriously when on missions like this.
The Gelflings working alongside Chamberlain were shrinking. There had been fifteen altogether on this mission. Now it was down to eleven.
The watchers saw that there were two in the middle that stuck close to the Skeksis that didn't look like Sifa or guards at all. They should be targets too, but they would have to see on that.
…..
Over the next couple of days, another two more vanished.
Sil would sniff them out and it seemed to be they took to the trees and the air. Kira had searched the trees by flying into them and nothing out of the ordinary that she could see. This just wasn't good. But they had been males, so they couldn't just fly away from here.
When it came time to set up camp again, on their 8th day inward here, Jen was gathering up some firewood at the farthest point from the camp, and then, all of a sudden, he was jumped from behind!
His mouth was covered and he was pulled into the bushes. They now had one of the leader Gelflings!
The watchers dragged the young male to the trees and took off into the air, to where they wouldn't be tracked so easily by the Skeksis.
Soon, Jen saw below him, a village. They had flown for a little while.
Within a short time, he found himself in a dungeon, with the other male Gelflings that had been taken.
"Where am I? Who are you?" Jen demanded.
"Shut up! We will tell you nothing until we are ready." a female voice responded.
"It's best to not aggravate them, Lord Jen." a guard said.
"Are they all girls?" Jen asked.
"Some males, but the girls were the ones that took us here, of course."
"But, what do they want?" Jen asked.
"We don't know. They just said that they are trying to get to the Skeksis."
Jen knew that every Gelfling clan they had come across had been bent on revenge against Sil. This was just another one.
"Hey, listen up. My friends and I are here for peace, nothing else." Jen called out. "Even the Skeksis."
"Shut up, Stranger! We will hear of no lies from anyone serving a Skeksis!" a red haired female looked down upon them in rage.
"It's the truth!" Jen proclaimed. "The Skeksis is not your enemy. He's here for peace, too."
The owners didn't really care and ignored him.
Jen tried over and over to try to get them to release them, or to get them to go find their friends and introduce themselves peacefully. Things didn't have to be a bloodbath. But it was to no avail. He and his guards could only wait.
…
Kira started to become worried when Jen didn't come back from gathering wood. She called out to him, and nothing. She started to panic. She went back to the Chamberlain.
"Chamberlain, I think Jen is missing. There is something out there." she spoke in a very scared voice.
"Gelfling. I smell new Gelfling." Sil replied with a stern look.
"You sure?" she asked.
"Yes. If Jen gone, they take him some place. Must find where is."
"I just hope he's alright." she said in concern. Sil knew she loved her mate.
Everyone didn't sleep too well that night. Sil was leading the way in the morning to try to find Jen and the others. This had gone on long enough.
Kira hoped she would find her mate in good shape.
Sil had caught a downwind scent that was leading south. With him leading, they followed it to a village, deep in the woods.
It was a masterpiece built, like once was before. Sil remembered long since, like with the Vapra clan. But it was hard to tell what clan this was. Right now, all Gelfling were one unity to him anymore.
"Maybe you should wait here, Chamberlain. They won't take too well with you being there. Of course, I have no offense against your eminence, my Lord." Dhant bowed.
"Perhaps Dhant is right. Not want another problem with Gelfling. Go free Jen." Sil declared.
"Thanks, Chamberlain." Kira smiled.
He nodded back at her. The Gelflings all disbanded from him and he stayed put on the edge of the village. He would keep a lookout.
Sil went to look for a nearby shelter. Anywhere that was close by the village. He soon found a cave in the root of a big tree. He collected wood and started to make himself at home. He had seen how Gelflings made campfires. He would have to fend for himself a little while.