The inside of the village is even more gorgeous than the outside. Small children play in the streets, while adults chat with each other. Erdian, Tynah and Sevarint enter, with the former pointing out various attractions.
"That's the carpenter shop. The shop owner makes wooden weapons for us young pets to train with."
"And over there's the Salted Taffyfish Salespeophin. Mmmm... Taffyfish..."
"That's the armory, for times of war. We kids don't have any crystal armor in our size, though."
"What about the Guidance Hall? That's where we go to ask the wisest of our people, young and old, for help, y'know."
"That's nothing compared to Shyndaru's grave!"
Sevarint, who had been thinking about how the tourists would love this place once he told the world about it, suddenly looked interested. "Shyndaru's grave, huh? Tell me more."
Tynah looked around, then whispered mysteriously. "Shyndaru is our hero. She was a mighty Jetsam, who saved our people. She sheltered us from the speeding, sharp debris of the raging whirlpool, then, with many injuries, led our kind through the tunnels for miles. She died at this-" The Koi motioned at the ground in front of a glittering statue of a Jetsam. "-exact spot as soon as she found a home for us. As soon as she found the Caves."
"Now, warriors come to this sacred place to ask Shyndaru's spirit for courage before going off to war, or to the Arena." Erdian touched the base of the statue solemnly.
"Wow..." Sevarint felt chills running up and down his spine as he gazed up at the statue. "She must have really been brave..." He broke the spell by looking away and blinking at Erdian. "What's the Arena? Is it like the Battledome?"
"Kinda... but you aren't allowed to use weapons." Erdian nodded.
"Anyhow, it's getting late. How about you stay the night in our hut? It's this green one here." Tynah put an arm around Sevarint's shoulders and steered him into the hut.
Inside the hut, a small campfire glows. Surrounding the fire are four beds of moss; two for Erdian and Tynah, two for visitors. Crystal shelves containing food, water, dishes and the like jut out from the walls. Other odds and ends clutter the ground here and there, such as wooden swords and crystal jewellery. Erdian and Tynah happily shove in Sevarint.
"It ain't much..." Tynah gestured at her house's interior.
"But it's home!" Erdian smiled fondly.
The trio enjoyed a supper of crackers, cheese and those Salted Taffyfishes Erdian and Tynah were so partial to. Apparently, they were roast fishes dipped in taffy and cut into bite-size boneless pieces. They were surprizingly tasty, and Sevarint ate several cubes before the taffy welded his mouth shut and Erdian had joked about prying it open with his wooden dagger. The three friends told stories around the fire, then just sat and talked awhile. Sevarint explained about how he wanted to be remembered as a legend, and told all that had happened to him. He left out the part about Raggal and Poskrat, instead saying his injuries had come from falling into a bramble patch. He doubted the two believed him, but said nothing more about the matter.
Finally, feeling full, happy and safe, The Kougra, Koi and Kiko all fell asleep.
Full, happy and safe... but for how long...?
"That's the carpenter shop. The shop owner makes wooden weapons for us young pets to train with."
"And over there's the Salted Taffyfish Salespeophin. Mmmm... Taffyfish..."
"That's the armory, for times of war. We kids don't have any crystal armor in our size, though."
"What about the Guidance Hall? That's where we go to ask the wisest of our people, young and old, for help, y'know."
"That's nothing compared to Shyndaru's grave!"
Sevarint, who had been thinking about how the tourists would love this place once he told the world about it, suddenly looked interested. "Shyndaru's grave, huh? Tell me more."
Tynah looked around, then whispered mysteriously. "Shyndaru is our hero. She was a mighty Jetsam, who saved our people. She sheltered us from the speeding, sharp debris of the raging whirlpool, then, with many injuries, led our kind through the tunnels for miles. She died at this-" The Koi motioned at the ground in front of a glittering statue of a Jetsam. "-exact spot as soon as she found a home for us. As soon as she found the Caves."
"Now, warriors come to this sacred place to ask Shyndaru's spirit for courage before going off to war, or to the Arena." Erdian touched the base of the statue solemnly.
"Wow..." Sevarint felt chills running up and down his spine as he gazed up at the statue. "She must have really been brave..." He broke the spell by looking away and blinking at Erdian. "What's the Arena? Is it like the Battledome?"
"Kinda... but you aren't allowed to use weapons." Erdian nodded.
"Anyhow, it's getting late. How about you stay the night in our hut? It's this green one here." Tynah put an arm around Sevarint's shoulders and steered him into the hut.
Inside the hut, a small campfire glows. Surrounding the fire are four beds of moss; two for Erdian and Tynah, two for visitors. Crystal shelves containing food, water, dishes and the like jut out from the walls. Other odds and ends clutter the ground here and there, such as wooden swords and crystal jewellery. Erdian and Tynah happily shove in Sevarint.
"It ain't much..." Tynah gestured at her house's interior.
"But it's home!" Erdian smiled fondly.
The trio enjoyed a supper of crackers, cheese and those Salted Taffyfishes Erdian and Tynah were so partial to. Apparently, they were roast fishes dipped in taffy and cut into bite-size boneless pieces. They were surprizingly tasty, and Sevarint ate several cubes before the taffy welded his mouth shut and Erdian had joked about prying it open with his wooden dagger. The three friends told stories around the fire, then just sat and talked awhile. Sevarint explained about how he wanted to be remembered as a legend, and told all that had happened to him. He left out the part about Raggal and Poskrat, instead saying his injuries had come from falling into a bramble patch. He doubted the two believed him, but said nothing more about the matter.
Finally, feeling full, happy and safe, The Kougra, Koi and Kiko all fell asleep.
Full, happy and safe... but for how long...?