Disclaimer: Blah blah blah. You know what I mean. Old characters belong to Gail Carson Levine and everything else is mine.

Author's Note: I think my story is about to go into raw supplemental. Maybe I should back up a bit and tell about her life at Maurice's mansion. Do you guys (and gals) think I should?

Replies to Reviews:

flammingirl-Sorry, I was really tired last night. I must have been cranky or something.

Moonjava-What? Were you expecting something more surprising?

dancrchick-I know it's summer. That just makes it more difficult to update since my parents say I don't have computer privileges, so I have to be sneaky. Besides, I have summer school and I luckily didn't receive any homework on Friday.(:( )

Smittened By Marauders-How is it confusing?

WhiteCamellia-I'm glad you understand how I feel.

bookreader-Okay. I just did.

Mellem-Are you sure? I didn't have any self applause.

scooby-doo-poo-I agree about the name thing. Sometimes (nothing to do w/name thing), when I'm typing reviews, I type words and phrases I've never said before. LOL, do you do the same thing?

Gen-Short Story?

magewhisperer-k

Tidsmagi-I didn't say I was a vegetarian. I think you jumped to conclusions. In fact, I love meat. But nowadays, I don't eat as much of it as I used to. So far, I like all meats, except for corn-beef. Bleh!

Amanda-Thanks.

actress19-Thank you.

tiff- (groaning)

Galelasa-won't tell. I'm overprotective about such details. BTW, there are much better stories out there than mine.

Chapter 12: Vegogarian Village

We followed the veggie (I spelled veggie wrong last time and no one told me!) ogre to a small village, not to far from the lagoon I had swam in.

It was very amusing. It was a village the size of a bustling metropolis. It looked more like an enlarged elfin village, sort of than the sort of place that ogres would live. They were loud, clean-cut creatures that bustled about daily life like a repetition, which seemed comfortable. When we neared the village the ogres grew quiet and watched us move through the marketplace. It was very uncomfortable to be stared at by huge, disapproving creatures. I knew from the way they looked at us that we were not wanted.

"Hello," I said in Ogrese to ogres that gawked at Brandon and I along the path. After going through many business districts, we neared a large, secluded lodge.

"Honored father, we have some guests!" I heard our ogre yell in Ogrese. She walked up to the entrance of the house and said, "Wait here." She left Brandon and I alone.

"So, what are we going to do with that," I asked pointing at his sword. His face looked pained. I could tell he didn't want to leave it somewhere or trust anyone with it.

"Oh come on Brandon, we're guests. You wouldn't want our hosts to get the wrong impression of us. Would you?" He agreed to keep his sword out of sight.

Then our ogre came back. She seemed very happy. Then she spoke in Aythorian for Brandon's benefit. "Father said that he'd like very much to meet you."

I brightened at the subject. From what I'd seen, I t seemed that this particular lodge was larger than the cottages that other Vegogarians lived in, meaning high status. We were probably meeting the person in charge of the village.

The structure of the society was amazingly humanlike. The marketplace was the center of the vast area, more tightly spaced than anything else in the village was. The cottages rose up on the hills that edged the marketplace, nature involved enormously. The view wasn't that bad either, with a lake along the other side of some cottages, very close to the marketplace. Then, as if that wasn't enough, the huge lodge they stood before was the highlight of the area, with trails instead of roads, with the exception of the trade route.

We entered the lodge and were offered some chewy mints. Brandon politely declined, while I only took one. It was delicious and I said so. Our ogre smiled and said they were good for teeth. Then she complimented, "Your teeth are whiter already."

"Now, to meet my father, the ogre who started it all."

Authors Note: (laughs gleefully) Who does my faithful audience think he is? Hint, he was the son of an ogre that Ella met in the actual book. If any of you know of whom I speak of, please spell his name for me. I forgot how to spell his name and I don't have the book for reference.