Lost Company

The pins points of light in the night sky wink out one by one until the night is black. Still there is motion. It feels as if I'm being carried about in a stream that tumbles and turns around tight bends, bouncing off the back of a dark mass. As the creature gets further away I can see it is Nicco, the ferrit of my youth. He lopes along with back arched high as he runs chasing the rope that is being pulled just out of reach.
A smile comes to my face without beckon. I'm happy to see him again after such a long time. I reach down to pet the little guy as he stops in the moss of the lush forest floor. His warm fur runs through my fingers as he drinks from a still small pool. Caressing his back I notice the mushrooms planted along the edges of the pool. Their planting looks almost intentional. "Nicco, what have you found here?" as I reach forward to pluck one.
A reflection in the water stops me cold, it's stare emotionless. I look up to see dark hair framing a blue skinned female of some sort. Her face is alien with flat features, non descript, apart from the jewelry that hangs from her ear attached by a small chain to another piercing through her nose. From her neck is a simple necklace of dark pearls that shine with a deep luster that matches her deep green eyes. There is no emotion there. She just stares. I set forward again with my arm, careful to keep from disturbing her and obtain the mushroom I sough.
Just as I clutch a mushroom stalk, far faster than I can avoid, out of the water an arm reaches and pulls my arm in one sharp tug down into the pool. I summersault into the water and am left drifting in a spin with legs toward the surface. Is there a surface? Worry sets in as I'm not sure where to turn and the pull of gravity is strangely absent. There ahead is a sphere of coral though and on it's surface a pearl colored citadel. Around it I can see air, desperately needed to quench the burning that begins in my lungs, and I make for it.
Just as I manage to pull into the air pocket and take a single breath I feel a rush of water and pull near my ankles as if a whirlpool forms around them. I'm pulled back into the water and upside down again. A massive being holds me, arms dangling helplessly, in front of their face. She must be twenty feet tall, with light blue skin and perfect milky pearl earrings the size of my fist. She cocks her head to the side and studies me with narrowed eyes. "Little one, how have you come into the house of the Padisha past the guard?" A thin smile presses past her lips. "How indeed have you managed such a feat?" she echoes as she plucks the mushroom cap from my hand to examine it.
She swirls a finger and I'm upright in a chair before her with a feast set before. It looks lovely and she waits for me to partake with a disarming smile. But past her I see on the wall the rows of flasks, bottles, and vials with all manner of content. Her smile takes on a different light that makes me feel uncomfortable. "You have more talent than stealing from the witch I see. Come then. I will show you what you seek... And we will see if perhaps you will serve me alongside her in exchange..."
 
Eethyl awakes with a start from his slumber during the third watch. Before even the waking birds begin their morning calls. He peers across the smoldering embers that hardly trail a flame anymore and wipes a couple drops of sweat from his brow, offering a weak smile to the eyes that meet his. "My apologies. Just a night terror. You can rest. I'll start my watch a touch early this morning." The gnome shakes his bunched cloths loose again and folds his blanket neatly, returning it to his pack. "I'm sure we will have a good hike today. The logging camp can't be far now."
After they finally nod off he pulls out a leather roll of tools and heads over to the bodies of the ashe zombies...
 
... after rambling on the trail later that day...
 
Well, They aren't much for chatting today are they? I guess in some ways I feel as lost as they. Not having a foundation stunts ones growth though and goodness they need some growth. Why is it that the ones who deal with trauma end up being the adventurers I run into so often? Are they running from it? Driven to reconcile it? I'm not am I? I think not...What then? I guess I'm more physically lost in purpose with clipped connection allowing this freedom to roam? *holding a small sprig of freshly clipped herb in contemplation*
Well what do we do then? Try and provide them that foundation? Goodness. Humans. Like the flowers of the field they grow and wither so quickly. Honestly I think I will find dealing with that more exhausting as I get older. Hopefully patience continues to reproduce or I'm going to end a cantankerous hermit in the eyes of most villagers.
Alright...well...How do we bless these sprouts with good soil and fresh water today? *He stands up and looks back at the group humming to himself* Wolfaen and Flicker aren't too hard. What about Keth though. That kid is a vault I swear. I'm sure his answer to the misses "how was your day dear" will be "fine" in his later years if he doesn't resolve some of whatever plagues him. He has the interest in the arcane...frankly son, you just aren't that bright though... But you do have talent and determination... And what about Sef? I wish she was here. Just the morning alone was refreshing even if she was wrestling.
*Eethyl pulls out a small pearl from his pocket and rolls it between his fingers* "You miss... may need to help me out soon. I need to figure out how she pulled that elemental energy out if I'm going to get your body out of there instead of just your spirit though." *He pockets the pearl again and looks once more toward the three figures traveling before giving a sigh of contentment and turning back toward the undergrowth ahead of them.