I had never before really thought about getting a life
partner, but now it seamed that I had found one. Strange that it would be the
same one who had saved me as a child.
Kirin and I led the way towards Corinth's cottage,
all of us in high hopes of getting something nice and warm to eat. A smiling
Pecorth greeted us, "I thought that you would return, for no everyone comes
back once they have tasted my pies." And Pecorth laughed at that. Then she looked
over towards Decorah, "I see that you have found who you were looking for."
Then she smiled. "Corinth is out training Erred and Wherric right now, but he
should be back soon." She then set out a plate in front of each of us, and put
three pies on thee table.
"It has been ages since I last had a hot meal,"
Decorah said, eyeing his plate.
"I am sure that we all could use a good meal,"
I said already digging in to my food.
As I ate, Dorono looked over at me. "I am sorry
Zarrel Charmain. I did not know what had come over me."
"It is okay Dorono. I forgive you."
A tear slid down Dorono's face, "Thank you,
Zarrel Charmin."
The door opened, and in burst Corinth followed
by Erred and Pup. "Zarrel Charmain!" Pup said running up to me. He jumped at
me, and in his wild embrace, I almost fell from my chair.
"Yes," I solemnly said, "I am glad to see you
also."
"Glad that you made it on your journey," Corinth
said.
I looked down at Erred holding a short sword
in his hand. "How is he coming along in training?" then I looked up to Corinth
for an answer.
"Quite well, actually." Then his face lit up,
"At this rate he is sure to get a commanding position once he is old enough."
Erred walked up to me, "Someday I hope to be
as good with the blade as you Zarrel Charmain."
"Where did you get the idea that I am better
then your father?" I said laughing at Erred's remark.
"He said so."
I turned around to ask Corinth why he believed
I was so good, but he was off in a corner talking to Wintroq. I was trying to
figure out what they were talking about when Wintroq came walking up to me,
"Zarrel Charmain, my sister. I have decided to stay here in Laxcorna. Due to
the coming war with father's army, they will need all the help that they can
get. Besides, it would be impossible for me to live life as you do, as a rogue.
It just isn't in me. I just thought that you should know." He looked at me to
see if I supported his decision, and when he saw my smile, he knew it was so.
"Just one thing Wintroq," I said, "You better
kick Vernok's tail when he gets here." And with a laugh, Wintroq walked off,
and I turned to face a smiling Pecorth. "We should get going now," I said to
her, and she looked as if she supported us. "I hope to make it back to the woods
by nightfall."
Pecorth nodded, "Well, you are welcome back
anytime you please." And with that I walked out the door with Dorono, Kirin,
Herupah and Decorah following.
"Goodbye, Zarrel Charmain!" both Pup and erred
yelled out at the same time, before we disappeared into the night.
We did reach the forests' edge by nightfall.
It was then that we parted with Herupah and Decorah. Herupah stepped up, "We
may not cross each others paths again."
Then Decorah started, "But we will always remember
what you have done to help us."
"And somehow we will help you."
"Even if you are not there to see." And after
that they both took flight, and disappeared into the night.
"Now, what did that just mean?" Kirin asked
scratching his head.
"I do not know, but some time in the future
we are destined to find out, for the black Uni twins have always been right
before." And then we walked off into the forest headed for home.
As we walked into my camp that I called home,
I sighed. It seamed so peaceful. "What is wrong?" Kirin said kneeling down beside
me.
"Nothing is wrong. It is just so nice to have
everything go back to normal." And then I turned to face Kirin "Well almost
everything is back to normal." And I leaned on his shoulder.
The next day, I woke up sweating. After getting
used to the snow and cold weather of High Reaches, I had forgotten how to deal
with our weather. I got up, and walked over to my pack to get something out
to cook breakfast with, but was surprised to find it empty of food. "Well, I
guess that I have to go buy some food," I said to myself. I scratched out in
the dirt that I was going to get some supplies, and then I made my way off towards
the nearest village.
As I reached the village, I took off my cape,
and after carefully folding it, and placing it in my pack, I walked over to
the bazaar. I went from shop to shop purchasing things such as bread, omelettes,
meat and eggs with the Neopoints that I had claimed from Makum. I had just finished
collecting all the necessary items when a spotted Pteri flew into me. "Watch
where you are going!" I yapped picking myself off of the ground. Then when the
Pteri stood up, and I got a glimpse of his face I laughed. "Bakel, it is you
right?"
The Pteri looked up at me. "Now, who are you?"
I opened my mouth to say, but then the Pteri interrupted me, "Let me guess.
Grek, no you're not green. Ople, no she was much bigger in the gut. Shards,
I can't put my finger on it."
"Zarrel Charmain," I said smiling.
"Zarrel Charmin!!!" Bakel exclaimed jumping
back. Then he looked up at me, "It is you isn't it. I would stay to chat longer,
but I have to deliver an important message to Queen Laiondite. I shall tell
her that you are alive and doing well. So long Zarrel Charmain." And Bakel jumped
into the air, and flew off towards Laxcorna.
"Now that was odd," I said to myself, and then
I started to walk back towards home.
I reached home just as the sun started to set,
and both Dorono and Kirin greeted me. Dorono walked up to me. "Zarrel Charmain,"
Dorono said, "As we escaped High Reaches, I did not take off that belt Jown
gave me, or toss away his sword." Then Dorono grinned up at me, and he held
up Jown's emblem, ripped away from the belt. "I decided not to waist a perfectly
good belt, but first I had to get rid of this." And with a flick of his paw,
Dorono flung the emblem far into the forest, and with a distant clang it settled
to the earth lost to all eyes.
"Nice throw," I said patting him upon the back.
"Well, that is not the best of things Zarrel
Charmain," Dorono started up. He took out the sword, and showed me the
handle. Upon the handle was scratched out an Eyrie standing next to a Zafara.
"I had Kirin scratch this out with his blade. That way whenever I am fighting
I will always know who I can trust."
"Thank you Dorono," I said hugging him. Then
as Kirin walked up I turned towards him. "You are very good with etching Kirin.
I saw your work on Dorono's new blade."
Kirin walked up to me, but he turned to face
Dorono. "Don't worry." Dorono said smiling, "I have gotten over my jealousy."
And with a smile, Kirin embraced me in his arms. As he did that, the feather
of Dorono's that I kept safely tucked in my belt slipped out. I ran from Kirin,
and jumped into the air after the feather, but I missed it. "Shoot!" I yelled
as it started to fly off with the wind.
"Don't worry," Dorono said, looking at
me, "I have plenty more feathers where that came from."
So Kirin and I walked over to the edge of a
hill, and watched as the feather floated away with the wind. The golden light
from the suns last rays, made the feather glitter magnificently. "For luck,"
I whispered after the feather.
"For luck," Kirin agreed, and I hugged him.
As the wind blew away the feather, it could
not blow away one thing. It could never blow away one thing. It could not blow
away the friendship that existed between Dorono and I. It could not blow away
the bond that created a legacy of adventures. It could not blow away hope. So
as the sun set I did not frown with the going of the day, but I smiled for a
fresh day soon would come.
The End | 
