I'm not dead. February and March were a terrible months for me. My grades went to hell, my favorite teacher has Covid, and I fractured my arm, so things are going to go slow until it heals. Also the entire document got deleted so I had to start over. Sorry that's it's been so long. Updates are gonna kinda be irregular because I've got exams and stuff.
Callum: Ez, you should really yet to sleep.
Ezran: I'm... I'm... I'm fide.
Callum: You're not "fide," you need rest.
Ezran: What are you drawing? Oh.
Callum: When you were down there, under the ice, I was so scared. I thought I was going to lose you like we lost her. But, somehow you made it. And now I can't stop thinking... maybe she was watching over us. If she knew what we were trying to do, she'd be proud of us. And she would yell at you to sit closer to the fire and bundle up!
"I most certainly am." Sarai said proudly.
Ezran: I know.
Rayla: She's beautiful. She's your mother?
Callum: Yeah.
Rayla: Um, I found some moonberries. This should keep us full... for a day. And I found these for you. Bogeyberries! Ancient Xadian cure for the common sniffles. Mmm... nope. They don't go in your mouth.
Ezran: Uh...
Rayla: To cure a stuffy nose, you've got to stuff 'em up your nose.
Ezran: Oh. Seems doable.
Rayla: How's the egg doing?
Callum: I don't think it's getting better. It was glowing so bright before, but now it's dim and flickery.
Rayla: It's even darker than when I left.
Ezran: We gotta find help.
Soren: These are the best tracking hounds in Katolis. One sniff and they can follow someone's scent for miles. The step-prince's training shirt.
Claudia: It's so dirty.
Soren: Yeah. He spends most of his time falling in the mud. More like the "misstep" prince!
Claudia: Uh...
Soren: You know 'cause he trips and falls a lot?
Claudia: Oh, no, the joke was clear.
Soren: They found the trail! Yah! And... they lost the trail.
Claudia: Aw, good try, doggies.
Rayla: There it is, a town! I knew I saw smoke. Maybe we can find help.
"Going into that town is a bad idea. It's crawling with humans that would be more than glad to kill you." Runaan said.
"Yeah, well we needed to find help. Besides Rayla had a plan." Future Callum said. Runaan raised an eyebrow at Future Callum.
Callum: Okay, sure. We could find a dragon egg expert. But we will defiantly find a bunch of elf-hating humans.
Rayla: No problem. Get ready to meet... human Rayla!
"This was the plan?" Runaan asked while Ethari was trying hard not to laugh.
Callum: Yeah I'm not sure that's gonna cut it.
Rayla: Just wait. Once I prepare my disguise with my perfect human impression, the illusion will be complete. Greeting, fellow humans! Human fellows! I sure do like hanging out with other humans,and talking about things like money... and starting wars.
Ezran: That's pretty good actually.
Rayla: Totally, my good human friend! Bring it in. High four!
Callum: Uh... can you impersonate a fifth finger?
Rayla: Right, right. I need some kind of a... hand disguise. Look, snow-elf!
Ezran: I'm pretty sure that's a snowman.
Rayla: Hand disguise!
Callum: Just don't shake hands with anyone.
Rayla: Snow-elf.
Rayla: Just walking into town, without a care in the world, despite my sub-century life expectancy.
Callum: Shh!
Ezran: That's the spirit!
Mercenary: I defended the border against all manners of horrors and monstrosities. Things you can't even imagine. There's nothing I fear now. In fact, I'll wager I could defeat any challenger here, with nothing but my dagger! What about you? Maybe...you!
"Sure, like I'll believe that." Rayla said.
"I don't think I've ever seen him at the border even once." Amaya said.
" How did he get a sunforge dagger in the first place?" Ethari asked.
" Don't know. Probably bought it or something." Rayla guessed.
Big guy: This isn't even my biggest sword.
Citizen 1: Ooh! I'll take that bet!
Citizen 2: My money on the big guy!
Citizen 3: Mine, too!
"This won't end well." Ethari said.
" It was actually interesting to watch." Rayla said.
Callum: They're distracted. Let's go.
Rayla: Wait, you'll want to see this.
Mercenary: Well...I certainly hope that wasn't you biggest sword. Ha! Anyone else?
Callum: What was that?
Rayla: It's a sunforge blade!
Ezran: Wow! I can't believe I just saw a real Sunforge blade! What's a Sunforge blade?
Rayla: In Xadia, Sunfire elves can make magic weapons that stay as hot as the moment they're forged for hundreds of years. See that? The sheath is inscribed with special runes to protect him from the heat. Otherwise, well...
Ezran: His pants would be on fire?
Rayla: Yeah, his legs too.
Callum: Rayla, if that blade can cut through a steel sword like it was butter… would you say it can cut through pretty much anything?
Rayla: Not just pretty much everything, it can cut through anything. My wrist binding!
"Could a Sunforge blade really cut through a binding?" Ethari asked Runaan.
"I don't know, it might." Runaan said.
Callum: You have to go get that dagger.
Rayla: But what about the egg?
Callum: We'll find help for the egg. Just meet us back at the statue.
Ezran: How will you get that dagger?
Rayla: I'm going to ask nicely.
The group laughed and Runaan sighed deeply. "How to propose you ask a human nicely?" Runaan asked. Rayla smirked.
Soren: What are we gonna do?
Claudia: Can you just be quiet for a minute? I'm trying to think.
Soren: Every minute we sit here, the step-prince and the crown runt get further and further away.
Claudia: I know a tracking spell, but first I need something from the princes.
Soren: We have this?
Claudia: No, something more personal than a shirt.
Soren: You mean like… underwear?
Claudia: No, gross! I mean like spit or toenails.
Soren: We don't have time to search the whole lodge for toenails, Claudia!
Claudia: Well, I don't see you doing anything helpful!
Soren: We have to do this! If I fail, I don't know what Dad will do to me! And I'm already failing at step one never mind…
Claudia: "Never mind" what?
Soren: You said "something like spit or toenails." What about elf hair?
"So, they used your hair to track us. That's kinda weird." Future Callum said.
"Yeah, I kinda forgot about that braid being shot off. I mean, it was a good shot… for a human." Rayla said.
Claudia: Yes! That's perfect! We'll find Callum and Ezran wherever we find that vile, bloodthirsty elven assassin. Cute braid, though!*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ezran: Look! Do you think this is some kind of animal doctor?
Callum: I think so. Or… a dating service for pets?
Ezran: Probably an animal doctor. But that's a good idea! Right, Bait?
Doctor: I'll be right with you! Oh, I'm so sorry. There's nothing I can do for that poor creature.
Callum: Mmh. What? Oh, no, no, no. He's fine. We have, uh, a different problem.
Ezran: Oh, what happened to you, little sweetie? Aww! You saw something really scary, didn't you?
Doctor: She sure did. This one ran away up the Cursed Caldera. Whatever she saw, she's lucky it only scared her. Won't make that mistake again! So… what can I help you with?
"Here comes the sort of fun but not fun part." Rayla said with fake enthusiasm. Runaan sighed and Ethari looked at her.
"What do ya mean "sort of fun, but not fun"?" Tiadrin asked.
"It's a human town and I'm gonna talk with a human." Rayla said.
"Fair enough." She said.
"Why do I have a feeling that you're gonna have to go up that Cursed Caldera." Lain said. Rayla looked at him and smiled while he and Runaan sighed.
Mercenary: I won that money fair and square!
Rayla: I don't want your money.
Mercenary: Then what do you want from me?
Rayla: I want your help.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Doctor: Tell me exactly what's going on.
Callum: Well, uh… A friend of ours has a problem.
Ezran: Jofus.
Doctor: Your friend's name is Jofus?
Ezran: It's a real name.
Callum: Mmm-hmm. Yep. Real name. Our friend ,Jofus, has an egg. An animal egg. He's been taking really good care of it. You know, keeping it warm, and safe… wrapped in blankets. Except one time he dropped it in an icy lake for several minutes. Anywho…
Doctor: Uh, sorry, what was that?
Ezran: He dropped it in an icy lake.
Callum: Joseph. Uh, Jofus. Jofus did. This was Jofus.
Doctor: Right, of course. That sounds bad.
Callum: Yeah. We're worried it's hurt. The egg is colder, and it doesn't glow like it used to.
Doctor: Wait, a glowing egg?
"Well done. You just told a human that you have a dragon egg." Runaan said dryly.
"Hey, he helped us and didn't tell anyone about it." Callum said.
Callum: Uh...yes?
Doctor: Look, I can tell you have a real problem. I want to help, but I won't be able to unless you tell me what's really going on. I promise you, I'm not going to get you in trouble.
Ezran: You can't tell anyone.
Doctor: I won't, okay? But you need to trust me.
"I hope the egg will be okay." Lain said as Tiadrin cuddled closer to him.
"Everything will be fine, Dad." Rayla said
Again, I'm sorry for the unintended hiatus. Life has just been kinda crappy.