Chapter 2

Zaknafein was almost sure Violet was making up the creature she'd seen in the woods near their campsite. Kel'nar hadn't seen anything other than an owl and some squirrels last night. Violet was probably just letting her imagination run away with her. Still, if she had seen something, it probably wasn't a troll. After all, she'd said it was shorter than her, but twice as wide. Trolls were huge. A troll would be taller than a grown-up.

Zaknafein put a stone in the sling he and Kel'nar had just made and slung it toward the woods behind their camp. The stone clattered against a tree. He picked up another. Mum and Violet had gone to look for more service berries, and Kel'nar had just headed to the stream to bring back more drinking water. Zak whirled the sling and slung a second stone. This time he heard something crash away in the bushes. Something much larger than his stone.

He started toward the sound. At the edge of the trees, Zak hesitated. Mum and Kel'nar always told him and Violet to tell someone where they were going before they left the yard. That probably applied to the campsite too. Still, he was curious. Maybe Violet had seen something. He wanted to see it too. Zak looked over his shoulder in the opposite direction. Kel'nar wasn't back with the water yet. He peered into the forest again. Branches were cracking not far from their campsite. Whatever was snapping them, it didn't sound very big. If it wasn't big, it probably wasn't dangerous. Zak pocketed his sling and stealthily crept into the woods to see it.

It was a troll! Zak was almost sure of it. But it was tiny. About half his height, but twice as wide. Maybe it was a baby one. It lumbered between the trees, knuckles dragging on the ground. Every so often, it stopped, flipped a rock over, grabbed something from underneath it, and shoved whatever it was into its mouth. Then it chewed and smacked noisily.

Zaknafein peered at the creature from behind a large maple tree. Its skin was grayish-green, and it had a broad, flat forehead just like Kel'nar had said. But it was so small, and it almost looked cute as it chomped and chewed on— Eww! Grubs. Zak shuddered, but he continued to watch the oblivious creature. It was missing one of its two front teeth. Weird. Maybe young trolls lost their teeth just like humanoid races did.

Suddenly, Zak felt a tickle at the back of his nose. He was going to sneeze! He pinched his nose and held his breath, but still, he couldn't hold back a tiny squeaking sound.

The lumpy troll creature froze, then turned and looked right at him.

Zaknafein tried to hold perfectly still. He scarcely dared breathe.

The creature squinted at him, then tipped its head to one side. "Ooga ooga," it said.

Zak stared.

The creature licked its slobbery lips. "Ooga ooga!" It made the sound again, louder this time. Then it started toward him, knuckles dragging.

Zak swallowed hard. He wanted to back away, but then the creature would know he was nervous. That wouldn't do. He sucked in a deep breath, raised his arms above his head, and took two quick steps toward it.

"Ook!" The creature froze.

Zak took one more step, and it turned and lumbered away, crashing through the bushes with its knuckles dragging.

"Phew." He blew out his breath when it was out of sight.

Drizzt returned to the campsite with the heavy water pail in one hand. His eyes widened as he entered the clearing where their shelter and wagon stood. Zaknafein was nowhere in sight. "Zak!" he called loudly as he set the pail down. "Zaknafein, where are you?"

Trampled grass and broken branches led into the forest at the opposite side of the clearing. Something crashed through the bushes, and a startled flock of sparrows took flight above the disturbance.

"I'm over here, Kel'nar," came Zak's faint reply. "Coming."

Drizzt started toward the bushes. The crashing sounds grew more and more distant.

Zaknafein stepped out of the forest. His face looked pale, and his eyes were wide. His son licked his lips. "I, uh …" He glanced back over his shoulder, then turned back and kicked the ground with one boot. "Guess I should've told you where I was going. I just had to … you know … uh …" Zak shrugged, then tried a smile.

Drizzt narrowed his eyes. "You saw something you're not telling me about. What was it?"

Zaknafein just stared at him. "Why do you think that?"

Drizzt lifted a hand to indicate the flock of sparrows only just settling onto the treetops again. "Nature, Zak. Plus, I hear better than most people." He tapped the tip of one pointed ear. "Something was crashing away in a hurry."

Zak swallowed and looked down. "It was just … I think it was …" He sucked in a deep breath and looked up. "I don't want you to kill it, Kel'nar. Promise you won't kill it."

Drizzt rested a hand on his nine-year-old's shoulder and crouched down to eye level. "I don't kill something unless I need to, Zaknafein. If it's a danger to us. Or if it's for food to eat."

Zak nodded, but he didn't say more.

Drizzt studied his son's face. He squeezed Zak's shoulder. "Will you tell me what you saw?"

Zak pressed his lips together. "If I don't?" he muttered.

Drizzt sighed. "Then I'll have to go look for it, Zak. But I'd prefer if you'd just tell me."

Zak sighed too. "All right, Kel'nar. I think it was a baby troll."