Earth Protectors

~begin chapter~

From around the bend a short stocky leprechaun on a raft floated up. Rain and Vassilij and Jude remained hidden in the bushes. He wore a dirty yellow shirt with a light blue vest over it, and a red belt with dirty dark blue pants tucked into fur boots. He looked like a gypsy, only not. He pushed a long pole into the water propelling him onward towards the boys.

"Who are you?" Rain asked. The leprechaun bowed.

"I am Rican the Boat maker," He said respectfully. "I build any type of vessel from ship to ferry! I ferry good creatures across Frost River. I will gladly ferry you across for just a loaf of bread."

"Jude, go get a loaf of bread, quick now," Vassilij said to Jude. Jude nodded and ran back to the others.

"Now, I have introduced myself. I would like to know who you are," Rican said. Rain stepped from behind the bushes coming into clear view. Rican's eyes widened and he bowed. "Ney, never mind the toll, Human. You may pass for free."

"There isn't just me," Rain said. "There is also my friend, Vassilij, and our leprechaun friend Jude."

"Two humans?! My Guardian! Never mind any toll! You may be ferried for free. Even when y'come back to this side! I won't even charge the leprechaun!" Rican said, his face still to the wood of the raft.

"Hehe," Rain chuckled. "Good sir, thank you for your kindness. You deserve more than just a loaf of bread."

Jude ran up with a loaf of bread he handed it to Rain. Rain took it and gave it to the old leprechaun.

"I said there was no toll, sir," Rican said, not touching the bread. Rain smiled.

"For your kind help, sir. Please take it," Rain said. Rican nodded. "And get up off of your knees, we're not royalty, besides, how will you steer your raft on your knees?"

Rican got up, smiling, "You're right! Well, get on laddybucks! To the other side of the river now!"

Rain, Vassilij and Jude boarded the raft and went to the other side of the wide river. Rain looked at the list and was immediately confused, he didn't get a thing of what strange writing Freuer put down. He gave the list to Jude.

"You can read right?" Rain said.

"Of course!" Jude said. Rain nodded.

"Good, take this list and go out and find the herbs, we'll be around to make sure y'don't get hurt. This is your own special mission!" Rain said. Jude's eyes lit up with happiness. He huffed up like he was put with a very important job, which he was.

"Yes, sir!" Jude saluted smartly then took off.

"Why did you make him do it all, Rain? Can't you read?" Vassilij said. Rain just glared at him for that remark.

"Of course I can read, but millions of people can't you know. But I don't think anyone but these leprechauns could read what Freuer wrote. They were a total different language, completely different from what we read," Rain said as he kicked a stone off into the forest. "They looked like strange symbols."

"Oh, there's a reason to have a leprechaun around now eh?" Vassilij said. Rain nodded. Five minutes later Jude ran up panting. He gave the list to Rain and showed them the herbs he had gotten.

"All on the list, sir! Every last one!" Jude said. Vassilij and patted Jude on the head.

"Good job, let's go now. This forest is rather bleak and dark," Vassilij said turning around, Rain and Jude either side of him. They went back to Rican the Boat maker's ferry and crossed the river.

"Thanks for you kind services, sir," Vassilij said. "Perhaps you would like to join us for dinner?"

"Dinner, s-sir?" Rican asked hesitantly. Vassilij nodded. "Tis a kind offer, sir. But none can dine with a human, it'd be acting to equal to them. You certainly know that, sir. For it is the decree of the leader of the Green Misty Lands."

"Well, we're not from the Green Misty Lands, Rican. We're just humans, and we're just as alive as ye, so join us, good sir, for a dinner that will be merry with you around."

"The thought is tempting, sire, I couldn't do such a thing-oof!" Vassilij and Rain grabbed his arms and lifted him and carried him into the camp to the others.

"Hey, we have the herbs, Freuer!" Jude said and gave the herbs to Freuer. Freuer nodded.

"Good, thanks," Freuer said then started to mend the wounds of Chris.

"Is he going to be alright, Freuer??" Jen asked earnestly hovering over Freuer practically. Freuer growled.

"If you stop hovering over me, I might get something done!" Freuer seethed. Jen backed off.

"Sorry, sorry," she mumbled. "I'm just worried."

"Yeah, fine…" Freuer said as he continued to apply herbs, having Khan mix them. After a few minutes of introductions to Rican, and thanks to the hard work and skill of Freuer Chris was regaining consciousness. "He'll be in and out for a little while longer," explained Freuer, "but he should be fine in two days."

"Oh thank you, Freuer!!" Jen hugged Freuer. Freuer blushed beet red. Everyone laughed at his face.

"Yes, yes, all nice and all. Let go of me now…PLEASE!" Freuer said. Jen let go of him and knelt down near Chris, brushing a few bangs away from his eyes.

"You're going to be okay!" Jen said excitedly. Freuer just looked at the others.

"Is dinner ready?" he asked.

"no.." they mumbled.

"Why hasn't dinner been started?"

"No one thought of it," Artemis said. "Where's our food supply? I'll get a great ol' Native American feast up for all of ya!"

"Yeah! It's right over there," Freuer said, pointing to the bag near the herbs. Artemis nodded.

"Get a fire started, we're eating good tonight!" Artemis said.

That night was the greatest meal of their days in Crypto-Earth, Artemis could cook like a Frost Leprechaun. She had cooked up some fry bread, roasted a few apples even made a bit of cakes and other lovely delights she could make from what she was supplied with. They drank cider and water, and ate well.

~End Chapter~

There y'go for that! ^v^ Don't expect updates anytime soon, I'm busy as hell making two chat sites and doing stuff. Y'can contact me on Yahoo (TragicJesterFraserOokami). Well, soon you will have a Crypto-Earth to chat at…soon…

Jester