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

[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?"

[last_one_out]

Elarron stops too.

"...What about tigerfolk?"

[lurkingkobold]

"...is, thing... don't know if...." sigh.




"What do you think... about... the tigerfolk, being trapped?"

[last_one_out]

He makes a wry face, accompanied by an ear-flick and a sideways twitch of the tip of his tail that probably express a similar meaning if you're an Aluvai.

"I don't actually know what happens to trapped tigerfolk, but I don't get the impression it's anything good. It all seems a bit pointless to me, but the other people here seem to feel strongly about it."

[lurkingkobold]

"Not good," she nods, with a frown, and then takes a moment to think.

Her conclusion appears to be 'time to head back, then', but she pauses to see if he has anything else to say on the topic first.

[last_one_out]

Elarron shrugs slightly. Apparently he does not.

[lurkingkobold]

Well, back to the village, then. The poofy yellow flowers are still closed in the early morning light, and the guards let them pass without comment.

Dusk leads the way to River's house, rather than going to stable her lynx first.

[last_one_out]

Elarron follows along in a thoughtful silence.

[lurkingkobold]

And here is River's house.

"River?"

After a few seconds, River pokes her head out the door and looks at Dusk and her lynx: "headache, huh? Go on, I'll take care of him," and Dusk nods and heads off toward her house.

"How was your night? ...come on in, I'm just making breakfast."

[last_one_out]

"Dusk was right, the forest is nice at night. I enjoyed the chance to get to know the place."

[lurkingkobold]

"Good, I'm glad." She checks on her breakfast: "Do you take your oatmeal any particular way?"

[last_one_out]

He shrugs. "Not really."

[lurkingkobold]

"All right."

And a minute later, she presents him with a bowl of oatmeal, with smaller bowls of honey and sunflower seeds on the side. "I have some strawberries left over from last night, too, if you'd like."

[last_one_out]

"Sure, if it's no trouble. Those were good strawberries."