From: Thorr-kan, the White Minotaur, and Horde Father-Confessor
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: [Roaming] Into the Great Forest
Date: 28 Jul 1993 03:45:10 GMT
Message-ID: <234so6INNf5v@news.gac.edu>

Slowly, the normal sounds of the Forest began again.  The disturbances had  
passed, leaving the creatures to continue their lives.  Three bodies lay fallen  
in various positions, quite dead.  From the shadows, a goblin slunk forth.  He  
crossed the glen towards the bodies, bow nocked and ready.

When it became clear that there was no longer a threat, the goblin moved to  
examine the bodies.  One lay face-down with three arrows in its back.  The next  
lay half-twisted, a weapon half drawn.  Scorch marks covered its shoulder and  
face.  The final body sat against a tree, a gaping hole in the ribs and an  
arrow peaking from its eye.  The goblin relaxed; there was no longer a threat  
here.  He motioned to the forest behind him.

The forest shimmered in response.  Out of the disturbance stepped a short  
figure.  He had an elven grace, but was built like a human.  A glowing sling  
dangled from his hand as he scanned the forest about the two.

It had been seven days since Pheu and Thad had departed from the _Gibraltar_.   
The ranger and the bard had spent the entire time dodging patrols of these  
hulking creatures.

"So these are our enemies," said the half-elf.  "They would seem to be some  
type of ogre.  Pheu, I have had too much of ogres recently."

The goblin grinned without humor.  "Me too, Thad.  But these no ogres I ever  
seen.  Look, twisted, somehow.  Not good, not good..."

"Whatever they are, they need not sleep."  Thad looked grim.  "For three days,  
they followed us. Neither your woodcraft nor my cloaking spells did more than  
delay them."

Pheu nodded agreement.  The goblin walked over and kicked one of the corpses.   
"Abomination," he muttered.  Aloud, "Come, elfes.  We almost to the Lady.  Even  
now, Pheu can hear her call."

The half-elf looked about him.  He lacked his friend's sensitivity to this  
particular forest, but, as a priest of Chan-Da'all, Thad had an empathy with  
nature.  Pheu was right.  Throughout the forest, there had been a feeling of  
wrongness.  Here, that feeling eased.  Everything was not well, but something  
seemed to say, Wait.  Bear with us. We are trying.  "Indeed," Thaddius  
Farsinger answered, "lead on."

-----

It took two more days of backtracking and twisting until Pheu was satisfied.   
The goblin seemed paranoid about leading these creatures to his Lady.  Thad  
made no comments.  It was not his friend at threat.

On that second day, Pheu called Highflyer to them.  Whispering to the hawk, the  
goblin seemed to pass on instructions of some sort.  Glancing at Thaddius, Pheu  
drew himself up.  "Forward," he said, a gleam in his eyes.  "The Lady awaits  
us."

-----

As the two entered yet another part of the forest, the light took a surreal  
edge. Everything seemed bright, sharp, in focus.  Wonderful scents filled the  
air: flowers, fruits, the very life of the forest.  All around came the sounds  
of animals at play and at rest.  Here, at least, the Forest was in Harmony.

The thickets parted, revealing a glade of exceptional beauty.  Thad stepped to  
it, only to feel a hand on his arm.  The bard turned halfway, looking back at  
Pheu, who stood with a hand shading his eyes.  There was a glint of pain on his  
face, but the look of sheer awe easily surpassed it.

"I can go no further, Thad,"  whispered the goblin regretfully.  "Beyond here,  
I will never be allowed to pass."

"What..?" Bewilderment crossed the half-elf's face.

Pheu smiled.  "Me goblin.  We creatures of the dark, no matter how much I might  
wish otherwise.  Out there, only faerie and their kin can roam.  That be you.   
Farewell, Thaddius Farsinger.  You have been a true friend.  I am honored you  
allowed me to Roam with you..."  The goblin faded into the shadow.

"Good-bye, Pheu.  Thank you," Thad whispered and turned, walking towards the  
Light.

-Thaddius Farsinger
"Bred to Roam alone..."

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Sometimes, those you love most are the ones you have to leave behind.
Matt Cutter, e-mail to mcutter@nic.gac.edu OR mcutter@vax2.gac.edu
Gustavus couldn't afford my opinions if they wanted them!
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