Curiosity did what, now?

[lurkingkobold]

The kobold's research cave is coming along nicely, after her previous adventure - the floor carefully flattened (by teleporting stone out) and softened (by teleporting sand in); the permanent portals to Deva and the cavern's exit, currently closed to anyone who doesn't know the passwords, but marked off, with spaces set aside for several more portals; her experimenting supplies tucked away behind further portals in her workspace; a small cache set up for her new translation necklace and any other magical items she might happen to find in her travels.

And, now, another portal, leading to another new world. She double-checks that she has her traveling gear - translation necklace, teleporting ring, twine - completes the spell, and peers through.

Comments

[lurkingkobold]

The kobold doesn't join him, but does relax a little.

[last_one_out]

"Yes, I'm sure I want to go home. I love my family, I don't want to run off to a strange world and abandon them forever."

[lurkingkobold]

"All right."

She thinks back through the conversation.

"I'd like to learn that password before you go back. And... if you wake up that easily, it's probably safe for you to sleep in the elves' village, but I have a bed made up for you if you'd rather sleep someplace else. I need to go to bed soon myself, but I can set up a portal there to take you back to the elves when you're ready - I'd rather not leave any magic out here in the open, though. And we should make plans for when to meet again - I'll check in here when I get a chance, but I'm going to be pretty busy keeping an eye on the tigerfolk."

[last_one_out]

"I told the elves I was going to be wandering the forest all night, but I wouldn't mind the chance to get some more sleep before I go back. And sure, I'll teach you the password. It goes like this—" Whistle.

[lurkingkobold]

Kobolds aren't really built for whistling. She can hum the tune, though. "Close enough - I can teach it, that's the important bit."

[last_one_out]

"All right. So how should we set up our next meeting? You're the one with all the fancy transport magic - and it would probably be a really bad idea for me to carry any more magic than I've got back into the elf village."

[lurkingkobold]

She nods. "I can add more spells to the ring without them noticing, so long as it's all teleportation, but yes. Do you have any idea when you'll be able to get away again?"

[last_one_out]

"For as long as they still think I need to be guarded while everyone sleeps, I'm going to be spending my nights outside the village, so I'll definitely be able to come back sometime after sundown. Probably earlier than I did tonight - Dusk wanted to come with me to make sure I didn't get lost, but then she went off to do something as soon as I said I was fine."

[lurkingkobold]

"Okay, I can be here then." She taps her leg while she thinks. "I'm going to go back to the Bazaar tomorrow and see what it'll take to get another translation necklace; if there's anything you need or want I can look into it while I'm there, they have all sorts of things."

[last_one_out]

"I can't take any magic things back into the elf village or I'll have to explain them, and I'm having trouble thinking of anything that I'd really want to have right away but wouldn't mind leaving behind when I visit the elves. Is there anything I can do to make getting another translation necklace easier for you, since I'm the reason you're in need of one?"

[lurkingkobold]

"I don't think so. I'm probably going to trade a bunch of teleporter rings for it again; the only tricky part is getting the rings to cast on..."

...yaaaaawn...

"...and I should be able to handle that the same way I did last time. Thank you, though."

[last_one_out]

He shrugs and smiles. "Seemed only fair. So, where's this bed you were talking about? And how will I be getting back to the elves' forest after I have my nap?"

[lurkingkobold]

"It's in the cave your ring brings you to, but let me cast a portal," she says, and goes to do so. "I'll put a portal to the elves in there - I found a good spot closer to the village along the main trail, so you won't have to walk as far this time."

[last_one_out]

"Thanks."

[lurkingkobold]

She grins. "No problem."

She checks the portal, and then goes through, gesturing for him to follow.

The cave on the other side is cozy; it's currently lit only by an overhead portal showing the sky outside, but there's a small fire circle off to one side that shows signs of having been used earlier in the day, with a small stack of firewood and a flint-and-iron set sitting nearby. The bed is a nest of blankets and pillows; they're sized for people a bit smaller than Elarron, but there are plenty of them. A large bowl of water and a smaller basket of raspberries top off the kobold's hospitality.

[last_one_out]

Elarron smiles at the cozy cave. He tries some of the raspberries and determines that they are tasty.

[lurkingkobold]

Of course they are.

The kobold picks a fairly flat bit of the cave wall, and puts in the portal to the elves' forest. "This will open and close when you touch here," she says, demonstrating.

[last_one_out]

He watches and nods. "Okay. Thanks."

[lurkingkobold]

"Anything else, before I go?"

[last_one_out]

He reflects on this question, then shakes his head. "Don't think so. See you later."

[lurkingkobold]

"All right. Sleep well."

And then she's gone.

[last_one_out]

Elarron curls up and has a long nap in the blanket nest, and then wakes up and drinks some water and eats some raspberries, and then makes sure he has all his things and takes the portal back to the elves' forest, where he resumes wandering.

The forest is very nice at night.

When the sky starts to lighten, he heads back to the village.

[lurkingkobold]

Dusk catches up to him along the main trail, and falls in beside him with a brief grin.

[last_one_out]

He grins back.

[lurkingkobold]

She rides along silently, tired and a little distracted, and - not worried, exactly, but a bit guarded.

After a little while, shortly before they get into sight of the village, she makes a quiet, thoughtful noise, and stops.

"...say? about tigerfolk?"