Star
Moonlight Na-Unk sat in her mentor's chambers, meditating. Silga summoned the dark elf priestess that night. Moonlight thought it odd that Silga would summon her on the very night of the anniversary of her adoption.
Sixty-five years ago this night, she had lost her parents in a suspicious accidental poisoning. Both her mother and her father had died the same night. But Moonlight had learned not to grieve their passing.
Yes, she was sad at first. She was devastated. But as the years went by, Moonlight became hardened towards her past.
When Silga took the young Moonlight under her wing, the youth was promised the world. Wealth, power, and position. As it turned out, Moonlight only got power—magical powers taught to her by Silga herself.
Moonlight concentration was broken as the chamber light flashed on, and Silga entered. "Stand up, child!" snapped the withered old dark elf. Moonlight silently obeyed.
"I have exciting news," said Silga, in a raspy voice. Moonlight flicked her black hair back out of her eyes and looked seriously at her mentor. "The last time you told me that," she said, "A swarm of shadow goblins ruined my birthday party and ate all the cakes."
Silga cackled. "That was a great birthday party, indeed," she hissed, "But that is not the reason I summoned you here. The old witch coughed twice, then continued speaking.
"It has come to my attention that another warrior priestess is roaming the forests. From what I have heard, Moonlight, she has an uncanny resemblance to you."
Moonlight eyed Silga suspiciously. "Who is this priestess?" she asked. Silga shrugged. "That's what I want you to find out. This mystery elf has been spotted near Dark Lake to the south of here."
"Is that so?" said Moonlight, her eyes narrowing like those of a cat. The young elf warrior reached for her Moonstaff and grinned. "I will find out who she is, mistress," she said., "And when I do, I will report back to you my findings." Silga nodded in appreciation. "I suggest you get going, my apprentice," said the old elf. "Time is a wasting. The sooner you return with the information I desire, the sooner you will have your reward."
Moonlight had heard Silga talk of rewards many times, only to be disappointed. She had learned not to get her hopes up. She would have to make her own rewards for her work and effort.
Moonlight had finished packing for her quest south to Dark Lake. The lake was still in the confines of the forest of darkness. She packed a map, some food, clothes, and a few other necessities. She carried no other weapon with her besides her Moonstaff. Magic was the only weapon she needed.
Then she was off to find this mysterious elf priestess. Moonlight, too, was a priestess in her own right, with great powers. She traveled alone, which would have been considered dangerous for a dark elf to do.
But Moonlight was no ordinary dark elf. She was a once-in-a-generation kind of elf, wielding dark powers that other mighty wizards would only dream of having.
She began he journey at midnight, which is considered high noon to dark elves. She loved the darkness. It perfectly matched her mood. She slipped in and out of the shadows as she walked. She walked in a way so as not to be seen or heard easily. It was just something the elves knew how to do. A sixth sense, almost.
It took Moonlight two days' travel to reach Dark Lake. When she arrived at the lake, she found a small group of dark elves camping there on the shore.
Moonlight hid herself with magic, but watched curiously. Silga had given her no other description of the woman she was looking for, other than that they both resembled one another.
She tried to see if any of the dark elves looked anything like her. There was only one female elf in the group, and she had dark, shoulder-length hair.
Could this be the one Silga had told her to find? Moonlight knew that if this was indeed the same warrior priestess, she would have to get her alone somehow to question her. That wouldn't be easy, though.
Moonlight watched as the dark elves sat around a campfire and stared into it. The elves said very little to each other. They were still unaware of her presence there.
She waited patiently for her opportunity, breathing in the damp night air. From what Moonlight could understand, the dark elves spoke in a dialect that she understood, yet that seemed strangely unfamiliar at the same time.
"I'm going to bed," said one of them, stepping away from the fire. He was most likely the leader of the watch, and that left only three still sitting up. "I think I'll turn in as well," said another dark elf. He went to the tents for the night. That left two.
The female elf and another male. Moonlight's eyes narrowed as she studied the young female elf's face in the firelight. There was nothing about her that stood out in any way. Other than her short, dark hair, she looked like any other female elf. Many might not have even thought she was a dark elf at all.
The last male dark elf stumbled to his tent, leaving the mysterious female elf alone at the campfire. Moonlight saw her chance and crept out of her hiding spot. As she did, she lifted the spell hiding her from sight.
She silently slipped onto one of the log benches that surrounded the fire. The female dark elf startled when she realized a stranger had appeared in the clearing. She was about to reach for her weapon, but Moonlight reassured her by whispering, "Don't. I mean you no harm. I simply wish to ask you a few questions if I may."
The dark elf let go of her sword and nodded slowly. But her eyes still showed the distrust she felt. "What do you wish to know, my fellow dark elf?" she whispered suspiciously.
Moonlight was surprised that this dark elf knew the truth. "How did you know I am a dark elf?" she asked. The other raised her eyebrows and smirked. "We just know these things, my lady," she whispered. Moonlight smiled. "I am searching for someone…" Moonlight continued. "A warrior priestess…" When the other woman heard this, she became agitated. "Who sent you?" she hissed. "No one," Moonlight whispered. "I am merely searching for a rumored figure with great power. She is…"
The other cut Moonlight off in mid-sentence. "You know, my lady, you look a lot like someone I know. Are you related to the Moonshadow tribe?" Moonlight shook her head. She didn't like the direction this conversation was heading.
But now, as she had a closer look at the dark elf woman, it was almost as if she were looking in a mirror. That is how much they resembled each other. The more they talked, the more Moonlight realized this had to be the warrior priestess that Silga had sent her to find.
"You look like you could be the sister I never had," said Moonlight, lowering her guard some. "I agree," said the other. "By the way, what is your name?" added Moonlight. "I'm Star. Star Moonshadow. I'm glad we could talk, Moonlight. If we ever meet again, I'll introduce you to my friends."
"I'd like that," lied Moonlight. They shook hands, then Moonlight went on her way, returning to her fortress in the northern part of the forest of darkness. But the whole trip back, she wondered how a stranger could look so much like her.
Upon her return to her fortress, she was met by Silga. "And?" said the old witch. "What didst thou discover?"
"I found a dark elf woman at Dark Lake. She was with other dark elves. I spoke with the woman, who claims to be Star Moonshadow. Does that name ring a bell?"
Silga nodded. "Star Moonshadow is your long-lost sister. Your twin, to be exact."
Moonlight gasped in shock. "Twin sister!?" she exclaimed. "I have no sister. What in the two moons are you babbling on about, Silga?"
The old witch chuckled under her breath. "You were both separated at birth. I never told you because I didn't want you to feel like you needed to be competitive with her. That would have only complicated issues, like your training and future. Please understand, Moonlight. My intentions were only the best."
Moonlight felt the anger inside, boiling up like a hot pan on a fire with the lid on.
"I have another task for you, Moonlight," said Silga, looking serious. "I want you to kill her." Moonlight's mouth dropped open in shock. "You what?!" she stammered.
"You heard me," said the old witch. "And if you succeed, I will know you are truly loyal to me and the dark arts. But if you fail, my child, well…let's just say that you will lose everything. Your position as my apprentice, your privilege, your riches, and your influence. Do you understand me, darling?"
Moonlight had never heard Silga speak to her this way before, with such threats. Moonlight knew well that if she failed to kill Star, Silga would indeed strip everything from her and leave her as she had found her, with nothing.
"Alright, my master," Moonlight whispered. "It will be done." But deep down, Moonlight didn't feel the assurance the words offered. The warrior princess then packed a few more items for the second journey and slept for the rest of the day.
When the next evening arrived, she set out for Dark Lake once again. She had no idea if the dark elves would even still be there.
When she arrived, she found that they were still there, but they were packing up to leave. "This cannot be," thought Moonlight. "I must attack them while I still have a chance."
She hid herself from sight again, then began attacking the dark elves one by one. She easily killed all the male elves in a matter of minutes.
Star was still in her tent when Moonlight had attacked the party. "What the Hell is going on?" she shouted, exiting her tent with her sword. She found all of her friends dead and began to panic.
"Who has done this?!" she cried in terror. "It's only me," said Moonlight, appearing in front of Star. "You!" shouted Star. "Why?! Why would you do this to us?" Moonlight smirked. "I have my reasons," he sighed. "But I do bring news, my friend."
"What news?" said Star. "What do you think I could want to know from you, a cold-blooded killer?"
"You and I," Moonlight whispered. "We are closer than you think. We're…sisters." Star's eyes widened with shock and anger when she heard the news.
"No!" she shouted. "It can't be true! I'd rather be related to a troll." Star dropped to her knees and sobbed. "Moonlight walked over to her sister and lifted her face with a finger.
"Is the truth that hard for you to accept?" she asked, wiping away Star's tears. "I was sent to kill you, and I intend on doing so," continued Moonlight. "Yet…" Star stared up at her sister. "Yet, what?" she asked, slowly standing.
Moonlight sighed. "Yet, I hesitate." Star looked into her sister's cold, dark eyes. "You hesitate because there is still some ounce of good inside of you," she said. "You don't want to kill me. We are family. We are one blood."
Moonlight stood silently, as if conflicted. "Whoever sent you to kill us," Star continued, "Know that you don't have to listen to them. Turn your back on them before it's too late."
Tears filled Moonlight's dark eyes, and for just a moment, Star believed that her sister might lay down her staff. But it was all a ploy. Moonlight wiped away her phony tears, then shot fire at Star from her magical staff.
Star screamed as the fire engulfed her body, then she fell to the ground, dead. Moonlight stared at Star's charred and lifeless body. "What have I done?" she whispered.
"What you had to do," came an old and croaky voice from behind her. She turned to find Silga, her monitor, standing in the clearing with several other dark elf bodyguards with her.
"Congratulations, my dear," said the old elf. "Now I know that you are loyal to me. The old witch reached for the magical pendant that she always wore around her neck.
She removed the pendant and handed it to Moonlight. "This is now yours. You have earned it." Moonlight was in awe. She had always admired the pendant. Now, Silga was giving it to her? She took it and examined it.
"Put it away, quickly," ordered the old elf. "There are many in this forest with hungry eyes, searching for valuables. So Moonlight packed the pendant away in her pack, and the group headed back towards home.
But something had changed inside Moonlight. After killing Star, her sister, she was now a colder and more calculating dark elf. She wondered what could have been if she had listened to her sister and rejected Silga. True, she would have lost everything Silga had to offer her, but she would have gained much more. A family.
The Voyage
The ship called "The Sea Unicorn" sailed away from the harbor of the lost plains. Its entire crew was elves. Orin Stormcaller was the captain of the ship. He was large for an elf, nearly five feet tall with a big belly.
Then there was Lirael, the first mate. He was tall, thin, and had a wooden peg leg.
Mistral was a fair-skinned and red-headed elf who could sing ballads to steer the ship during terrible storms. She was also the cook.
The rest of the crew, Thalindor, Cyrandor, and Zyphros, made up the rest of the crew. The last three were typical elven pirates.
Orin stood on the main deck, breathing in the cool sea air. They had just sailed out into the Lost Sea. As they sailed away, Orin saw a few mermaids and mermen swim past the ship. They sang enchanting songs as they swam past.
"Arrr," said Orin, patting his belly. "Tis a perfect day fer an adventure on the water. Perhaps we'll get lucky and find treasure."
Lirael, the first mate, walked up next to the captain. "We'd have a better chance at finding the emerald dagger," he said, smirking.
"Bah," said Orin, "Why are you always such a wet blanket, Lirael? Cheer up, lad." The first mate did not reply and went back to steering the wheel of the ship.
Elsewhere on board, Mistral was busy in the kitchen fixing the crew's meal. Today, she was preparing the usual. Fish. It was all the crew ate, even on their other voyages.
The other three crew members, the pirates, were also busy, cleaning the main deck. As they swabbed the deck, they joked and laughed, exchanging insults and jabs.
Above the ship, seagulls flew in circles, looking for a bite to eat. Far off to the western horizon, it appeared that a storm was brewing.
"That doesn't look promising," said Orin nervously. Oddly enough, it appeared the storm clouds were slowly moving towards the ship. "Batten down the hatches, one and all!" commanded Orin, racing as fast as he could toward the interior of the ship.
"Everyone inside, on the double!" cried Lirael, "Hurry up!" When everyone was safely inside the Sea Unicorn, the storm hit. Wind blew and rain poured, yet the poor wooden ship managed to hold together.
"I knew we should have gone with the Marauder," said Lirael anxiously. "Nonsense," snapped Orin. "That old ship would never stand this storm's pounding."
"Hey, Mistral," said Thalindor, eyeing the red-haired cook. "Maybe you should do your thing and try to calm the storm, huh?"
"I was just about to begin, Thalindor," she said, winking at the scruffy elf. "I need time to prepare my ballad."
"We don't got time," said Cyrandor, impatiently. As he spoke, the Sea Unicorn nearly tipped onto its side, then righted itself.
"Alright then," said Mistral. She began to sing loud and clear. Her voice broke through the small chamber that the six elves were crowded into. The ship jerked from side to side, as if a giant hand had hold of it.
Then, slowly, the boat stopped shaking and returned to its gentle rocking from left to right. "Is the storm over?" said Zyphros, glancing up the the door leading back to the main deck. At that moment, a clap of thunder sounded outside.
Mistral continued singing her ballad, as if fighting the storm. More thunder sounded, and the ship rocked again. "No," said Orin, "The storm most certainly is not over."
Mistral sang louder, and for a moment, the storm seemed to calm. "Yer voice ain't helping," said Cyrandor angrily. "Maybe you should go out there and try."
Mistral ignored the comment.
"You might have a point," said Orin, scratching his chin. "If we are going to have any chance at surviving this storm, you might have to go to the main deck and sing your ballad out there, Mistral."
"Seriously?" said the minstrel maiden. "You want me to go out into the storm?"
Orin and the other elves nodded. She took a deep breath, then exhaled. "Fine," she said. "I'll go. But if this doesn't work, then you have to get another cook."
She crept to the door leading up to the main deck and pulled it open with all of her might. The rain from the storm poured into the lower deck as Mistral marched out onto the main deck, singing her ballad as loudly as she possibly could.
"Close the damn door, Mistral!" shouted one of the pirates below. She ignored him. "We're getting soaked!" cried another. It was the familiar whiny voice of the first mate, Lirael.
Mistral kept singing. She sang louder and louder, until the sun peeked out from behind the clouds. As if by magic, the black clouds parted, and the ship sailed calmly onward.
It had stopped raining as well. Orin slowly walked out onto the main deck with Mistral. He was followed by the other elves. They all joined in her song, though some of their voices were not as good as hers.
As they sang, the storm dissipated completely, revealing the clear blue sky once again.
The Wager
Les Shinytop entered the large villa located in the forest of darkness' easternmost reaches. The other dark elves who were there looked up from their gambling in surprise.
"Is that him?" whispered one, laying down his cards. "Yes," whispered another, "It's Shinytop himself." Les ignored the whispers and walked up to the table he was looking for. At the table sat three other dark elves.
"Hello there, Grenlos," said Les, smiling. The dark elf who was playing cards looked up at the aged elf and groaned. "What do you want, Les?" he asked nervously.
"I think you know," said Les, "I want the fire shard necklace. And I know you have it." Grenlos slouched in his chair. "It's mine!" snapped the dark elf, "Go away! Leave us to our Mooncards."
The two other dark elves looked as bothered as Grenlos appeared, but remained silent. "I'll make you a wager," said Les, "If you let me join your game. I'll wager my Brass Ring of Terror as an ante. If you win, you get to keep the ring and your necklace. But if I win, I get both the ring and the necklace. How does that sound?"
Grenlos' mouth dropped open in shock. "You want me to wager my necklace?! I don't know, Les…" One of the other dark elves at the table, large and eye-patched, stood and left the table with a snort. Grenlos turned back to Les. "See?" he said, "You're scaring away my players. Get lost."
Les reached for his finger, which was hidden by the sleeve of his robe. He pulled off the brass ring and set it on the table in front of Grenlos. The dark elf's eyes glistened as he examined the piece of jewelry.
"It's worth a lot," said Les persuasively, "And it's very powerful. Won't you reconsider?" Grenlos handed the ring to the remaining dark elf at the table so he could examine it as well.
"Wow," said the other, "It's beautiful. And heavy. Where did you find such a treasure?"
Les grinned. "That story is for another time," he said. "Just know that it will serve you well if you win it." Les was confident in his ability to win both items, and he had no intention of losing either one.
"What kind of powers does it hold?" asked Grenlos, taking the ring back from the other elf. "It causes earthquakes when the wearer puts it on and is in danger. It has come in handy many times for me on my adventures. So, shall we play?"
Grenlos stared at the ring, as if it had some kind of enchanting power over him. "Yes," he said, "Let's play." So Grenlos shuffled the Mooncard deck and began dealing out the cards to the players.
"Aren't you forgetting something, Grenlos?" said Les, raising an eyebrow. The leader of the game looked confused for a moment. "Your necklace," said Les, "Put it on the table."
"Oh, yes, of course," said Grenlos, removing the necklace and setting it on the table with the ring. So the three began to play their game. Les drew five cards in all: three black stars, the most common in the deck, one blue sun card, semi-rare, and one green crescent moon card, another semi-rare one.
"Dealer goes first," said Grenlos, chuckling. He laid down a Green Leprechaun card in front of him. "That's five points for me," he said. "You keep score, Ilvvas," he told the other elf playing with them.
It was now Les's turn to play a card. He laid down his green crescent moon card. "Ha!" he said. "Green crescent moon beats a green leprechaun. Ten points for me. I lead!" Grenlos pounded the table in anger.
"Calm down, Grenlos!" exclaimed Ilvvas. "It's just a game." Les grinned wickedly. "A game I intend to win," he said sarcastically. Grenlos was beginning to run out of patience with Les and his behavior.
Ilvvas played a blue crescent moon card worth eight points. Les was still in the lead. Grenlos drew another card and cursed. Les assumed he had drawn the death card, but wasn't sure.
Sure enough, Grenlos laid down the black death card with a picture of a skull on it. The other two elves laughed at his misfortune. "You lose all your points," said Less, smirking. Grenlos pounded the table again as they continued to play. Les drew another card as well. He drew the red ace of snakes, a very rare card. He quickly laid it down and grinned.
"That's worth fifteen points," he said. "And now I have a total of twenty-five points." Ilvvas wrote down the scores as quickly as he could with a quill pen on parchment paper.
Grenlos cursed again and nearly fell out of his chair. They played on for some time, and eventually Ilvvas was eliminated from the game, leaving just Les and Grenlos playing. Grenlos had taken over as the scorekeeper and was now playing better.
The two dark elves were neck in neck, with the score tied at fifty. The draw deck was nearly depleted, with only three or four remaining. Les hadn't yet come across the Spirit card. The Spirit card beat all other cards, including the aces.
Les drew yet another card, and it was a black star. He cursed his luck. He played a dismal hand of an orange leprechaun card worth only four points. He now led by four points.
Grenlos jotted down the points, then drew a card for himself. He cursed. It was another orange leprechaun card. They were tied again at fifty-four. Les hoped for the best as he reached for his last card. He hesitated, then drew.
To his delight, it was the Spirit card. A wide grin spread across his face. He confidently laid it down in front of him. "I win," he said. "No!" exclaimed Grenlos, "It's not over yet. "The other elf drew the last card. It was a yellow sun card worth seven points. The Spirit card was worth fifty points. Les was indeed the winner!
"No!" shouted Grenlos, angrily, "You cheated." He reached for his dagger and flung it towards Les, who dodged the blade just in time. The dagger stuck into a wooden beam across the large room. When the other gamblers saw what was happening, they ran for the exit of the villa, carrying all the coins they could with them.
When the large room had all but emptied, there were only two remaining. Les and Grenlos. "I won fair and square!" exclaimed Les, reaching for his daggers. "You won't take my ring or the necklace!"
As the dark elves began to fight, Les was careful to remember where the two magical items were so he wouldn't lose track of them. Grenlos pulled out another dagger and ran at the older elf. He swung the dagger, missing. Les, at his age, knew a fight wasn't in his favor. He also knew he couldn't win a fight at close range.
The old elf had always been better at long-range fighting. He was adept at throwing his daggers at the enemy from a distance. The elves battled for a while longer, then Les saw an opportunity. The old elf kicked the other hard in the chest, sending him flying backwards. Grenlos landed hard on a pile of chairs. "Now is my chance," Les thought to himself. He flung both his daggers at the downed elf. They stuck into his neck and chest.
As Grenlos lay dying, Les took his daggers and placed them back in their holders, still bloodstained. "Good game, Grenlos," said Les, "I'm sorry it had to end this way."
Grenlos coughed twice, then died. Les quickly grabbed the ring and the necklace. He tucked the magic items away into his inner robe pockets, where prying hands could not reach them. Then he turned and exited the empty villa.
Holy Matrimony
Benny Goldentop and his new bride, Mia, were happily married and living together in Elftown. The two were madly in love with each other, and it showed. Today, the first day of Zelekasa, the first month of summer, Benny and Mia were sharing a glass of goldenberry wine in their cottage.
They had both taken their first sips when there was a knock at their front door. Benny handed the glass of wine to Mia and kissed her cheek.
"I'll be right back," he said, "Leave some for me." Benny went to the door and answered it. Allister Kelly, the old scholar of Elftown, stood at the door, leaning on his walking stick. His long white beard nearly brushed the ground. "Allister," said Benny, "What brings you by today?"
The old elf did not smile. He glared at Benny, then pushed his way into the cottage. "Won't you come in, Allister?" said Benny, feeling stepped on.
Allister eyed Mia as she sipped her wine. "I see you two are enjoying yourselves!" he exclaimed, "But that is not why I am here."
"Why are you here, anyway, Allister?" Mia asked. The old elf turned back to face Benny, raising a white eyebrow. "My boy," he said, lowering his voice, "It has come to my attention that a rare treasure exists deep in the forest of darkness. I read about it in one of my books. It is called a trelf. I don't know anything else about it. The first elves I thought of were you and Mia when I learned about it. It might be worth a fortune, whatever it is. How would you two like to go on an adventure?"
Benny sighed. "Look, Allister," he said, frowning, "Mia and I just celebrated our honeymoon. We need time to relax and get ready for our new life together. Can't you find someone else? We're tired."
The old elf glared at Benny. "There are no other elves who are as good at adventuring as you two," he said. "I must know what a trelf is. And I must have one. If you don't bring me back the treasure, I will never stop bothering the two of you for as long as I live. That's a promise!"
"I'm up for it," said Mia, grinning. Benny turned and glared at his wife. "Not you too," he exclaimed. "Do you want to look for something we've never heard of, just to make this old coot happy? Are you sure, Mia?"
She stood and set the glass on the table. "I'll go," she said, "And you're coming too, Benny, my darling." Benny shook his head. "Fine!" he said, "I'm in. But I'm not completely happy about this."
For the first time, the old elf smiled weakly. "I'm glad to hear it, my boy," he said. "You should take a cue from wifey here and learn something about open-mindedness." Then Allister hobbled out of the cottage and was gone.
Mia began whistling as she packed for the journey. Benny begrudgingly helped. When they were ready, they slipped on their packs and locked their cottage door. They walked towards the forest entrance, both in very different moods.
"Cheer up, my husband," said Mia, breathing in the warm summer air, "We'll have our days of comfort and relaxation eventually. Look at it this way. It's a great day for an adventure."
They entered the forest at midday. By sundown, they still hadn't found any sign of the treasure known as a trelf. They asked a passing elven vagabond if he knew anything about a treasure with that name. He did not, and continued on his way.
"Let's set up camp," said Mia, reaching for an old piece of wood to use as kindling. Before long, a fire was roaring away, warming the two elves. As they sat by the campfire, they began to hear a strange sound fill the night air. It sounded like someone playing a flute of some sort nearby.
The pleasant melody was soothing to their ears and made Benny feel rather drowsy. Then, all of a sudden, a stranger appeared in the clearing. He was an odd-looking elf with a large pack on his back and colorful clothing. He carried a long wooden flute in his hand as well.
"Aye," he said happily, "A campfire to warm the soul. I am but a weary traveler, lost in the forest. May I share a place around your fire, fellow elves?" Benny motioned for the stranger to join them. Mia smiled. She could see that Benny was beginning to loosen up.
"What's your name, stranger?" asked Benny, eyeing the elf's flute. "I am Farly the Flutist. I come, Fitzpatrick, far beyond the Crystal River."
"Are you a dark elf?" asked Mia, nervously. "No," he said, "But I know of many dark elves from where I am from. I am but a simple musician. I play to entertain and feed myself. Would you like a sample?"
"Sure," said Benny, "We can pay you as well." Farly grinned. Then he began playing a tune that Benny and Mia had never heard before. It was long and melancholy, perfect for two lovers on a starry night. As Farly played his tune, Benny and Mia shared a kiss. Maybe Benny was glad he came on this adventure after all.
When Farly had finished his tune, Benny handed him two silver mooncoins. "It is much appreciated," said the flutist, bowing. He took the mooncoins, then reseated himself by the fire.
"So," he said, eyeing the two lovebirds, "What are you elves doing out on a night like this? The forest of darkness is a dangerous place, even during the day." Mia smiled.
"We're searching for a rare treasure," she said, "Something so rare that we've never heard of it before. It's called a trelf."
When Farly heard this, his eyes became wide. "A trelf?" he said. "A trelf is not a treasure, it is a hybrid. A mix of elf and troll. Rare, yes, but treasure, I think not. I know of a trelf that lives in a cave not far from here. I can take you there if you wish."
Mia's eyes lit up with excitement, but Benny seemed more unsure. "Are they dangerous?" he asked. "No more than your common troll," said Farly. "Then let's go," said Mia, "Come on, Benny."
Benny hesitantly followed the others as they exited the clearing, without even putting out the campfire. After following Farly for a while, they came to a cave.
"In there," said Farly, "But this is as far as I go."
"Thank you so much for the happy evening, Farly," said Mia, "We'll take it from here." Benny shook Farly's hand and slipped him another silver mooncoin for good measure. "That you, my good elf," said the flutist. "Good luck on your treasure hunt. Stay safe as well. Goodbye, now."
After Farly had left, Mia and Benny entered the cave. They lit their lanterns and slowly walked through the darkness until they came to a large stone wall blocking their way.
"I see no trelf," said Benny, "Let's go home. I'm tired." Mia turned to face her husband, fire burning in her eyes. "Have you lost your sense of adventure. Come on!"
There was a sudden snorting sound, as if something had woken from a sound sleep. In the dim lantern light, they saw movement. A large creature jumped to its feet and turned to face the two elves. When it saw them, it roared angrily and stomped its large feet.
"Okay," cried Mia, "Now I think it's time to run!" They sprang out of the cave and back into the forest with the creature right behind them. It roared and snarled as it ran after the poor elves.
They didn't stop running until they were back in Elftown. By then, morning was breaking. They fell onto the grass and wheezed. Then they broke out in laughter. They had survived yet another adventure.
Benny wasn't sure if the thing he had seen had been a trelf or something else completely. They told their story to Allister, the old scholar, but he didn't believe them.
"If I don't see it with me own eyes, then I won't believe!" he snapped. "Oh well," thought Benny. We know what we saw. And that's enough for us."
A Feast for the Gods
Nym O'Connor walked out of the palace kitchen, carrying three steaming plates of food. Two in each hand and one balanced on his head. He was an agile elf who was used to doing such crazy stunts.
Nym set the two trays on the long table in the dining room, then carefully removed the tray from his head and set it down as well.
"Show off!" exclaimed Meriel, an older, fat elf who had just waddled into the dining room behind Nym. "Quit your games and get back to work, boy. This is a very serious occasion. You wouldn't want to accidentally drop a tray. Keep your head, Nym!"
The young elf grinned. "Me?" he thought, as he re-entered the kitchen, "Why, I've never dropped a tray yet." A third elf, a tall, thin cook, ran past Nym with two loaves of bread in his hands. "Outta my way, boy!" shouted the cook, nearly knocking over the youth.
"Careful, Gantar!" exclaimed Nym. "What's the hurry?"
Gantar turned to face Nym. He appeared cross. "I think you know what the hurry is, my boy," he said impatiently. "We are preparing a feast in honor of our gods. We must not make any mistakes, or they might not be happy."
Then the cook turned back to his work. He exited the kitchen, returning moments later empty-handed. Nym sighed. "All this in the name of some gods I've never met," he said. A fourth elf entered the kitchen. He was a hefty, rough-looking character, wearing an apron and glove mittens.
"Hagen, old buddy!" said Nym excitedly. "Not now, boy!" said Hagen, "I need to check on the duck. It smells done." Nym figured he should get back to work, so he began chopping up some vegetables on an out-of-the-way counter. "Onions…" he hissed. "Why did it have to be onions?" His eyes burned as he chopped the vegetables, but he kept working.
When he had finished chopping, he washed his hands, then went to join the other workers in the dining room.
"Drat!" cursed Gantar, rubbing his hands together nervously, "The first guests have already arrived. Could things go any worse?"
"Lighten up, Gantar!" exclaimed Merial, laying down a plate of mushroom and olive salad on the table. "Could be worse," said Nym, grinning, "The gods themselves might show up."
Everyone except for Gantar erupted into laughter. "That would be my worst nightmare if the gods came here," he sighed, "And saw how filthy this place was. Nym, could you get busy and clean the floor out here? It looks like it hasn't been cleaned in a century."
"On it, Gantar," said the young elf, running to the kitchen to fetch the mop and bucket.
Hagen turned to the uptight elf and said, "You need to loosen up, Gantar. This is a celebration. I know we are feasting this day to honor the gods, but at least pay others a little respect by relaxing. It won't help anyone if you're so fidgety during the meal." Gantar said nothing, then walked into the kitchen and went back to work.
More guests began to enter the dining room, including a few humans from the Kingdom of Klodon. One of the humans was King Milo's treasurer, Felix. The guests began talking and greeting each other. The elven king, Nesterin McGregor, was there as well.
When the time came for the feast to begin, the doors to the dining hall were closed, and the guests were seated. What a glorious feast it was. There was roast hog and roast duck, boiled eggs, milk, bread, fruits and vegetables, cheese, fish, chicken, roast beastsnag, roast zill, roast leering peep, cakes, and pies.
There was something for everyone. Then, about halfway through the feast, there was a sudden knock at the dining room doors.
"By the gods!" exclaimed Gantar angrily, "And everything was going so well!"
"Calm down, Gantar," said Hagen, taking a bit of bread drizzled with honey. "Nym, be a good lad and answer the door." Nym sighed. He was only halfway through eating, but he ran to the large double doors to see who was calling at such an unlikely time.
The young elf tried to pull open the door, but he was too weak to do so. "Who's there?" he called out, "I can't seem to open these doors."
"That's quite alright, Nym," came a loud voice from the other side of the doors. Everyone in the dining room stopped what they were doing and turned to see the doors come open on their own as in walked Manshee, the elven god of wisdom.
The elves, including Nym, all gasped as Manshee entered the dining hall, grinning. He carried a magic staff with him and held a pipe between his teeth. Nesterin McGregor, the elven king, stood to his feet in shock.
Others dropped to their knees in awe of their god. Many of the elves, including Nym, had only believed that Manshee and the other gods were fictional beings, used to scare children into behaving themselves. Nym dropped to his knees as well.
Finally, King Nesterin dropped to his knees and lowered his head. "My children!" boomed Manshee, "Let us celebrate this day together, in OUR honor! Let us eat."
So everyone made a place for Manshee at the head of the table and asked him many questions. He gladly answered as many as he could. Manshee himself even ate some of the food. How a god can eat remains a mystery.
Skylar
There once lived a young elf named Skylar. He dreamed of one day flying through the heavens and touching the sun. Skylar knew, of course, that this was only wishful thinking on his part. But it didn't stop him from dreaming big.
Skylar realized that he had a better chance of winning one million mooncoins than sprouting wings and flying. Each night before bed, Skylar would pray to Manshee, the elven god of wisdom, to let him fly, somehow.
And not in a dream either. He wanted to fly like the birds did. He wanted to perch on the highest peak in Elftown, the spire on the castle. He would look down on the city as the elves went about their day, busily working and fretting over the little things.
Skylar would be free from all the worries of his former life. With wings, or whatever Manshee granted him to fly with, he would soar above the land, leaving everything behind. He would fly to the top of the tallest mountain in the north, where the barbarians dwelt, and would see the Lost Sea from an angle no one had ever seen!
But now he was only Skylar, a lowly farmhand working in the fields in Elftown. "An elf can dream, can't he?" he thought.
"Back to work, Skylar!" roared Simeon, the head farmer in charge of the other farmhands. Skylar went back to his hoeing. "What an undignified job for the likes of me," he thought, cursing. He hoed for the rest of the afternoon, then went to get his pay for the week. Only five measly mooncoins. Silver ones at that. He walked home feeling a mix of disappointment and mild satisfaction at another hard day's work and minimal pay.
Back home, he collapsed into his bed and was soon fast asleep. He dreamed he was flying through the air above Elftown, enjoying the view. It was the same dream he had every night. It never got old. It was his only true happy place.
In the dream, Skylar flew up the the perch on the top of the castle, where he always went. He could hear merry music playing somewhere in the city, making him smile. He then took flight with a group of birds, whistling as he flew.
But then, something changed in the dream. Something that had never happened before. Instead of flying west towards the plains, he went east, farther into the forest of darkness.
A strange feeling crept over him. A dark feeling. As he went, he began to fly faster and faster, until he no longer felt in control of his movements. It was as if something was pulling him forward. Towards…something.
Something evil! Skylar tried to scream, but nothing escaped from his lips. Then, without warning, he began to tumble down, down, down. He was falling fast. The land was coming up before him at frightening speed.
But before he hit the ground, he sat up in bed. "A dream!" he thought, his heart pounding wildly in his chest, "More like a nightmare." He tried to calm himself, taking a sip of water and a few deep breaths.
As the days passed, Skylar couldn't get the terrible dream out of his head. He thought about it when he worked, when he played, when he slept. Now he was getting very little sleep due to the dream.
His work on the farm suffered as well. "You need to get your head in the game," said Simeon, "Or you won't have a job to come to anymore." Skylar became depressed and eventually lost his farmhand job. His finances became tight, and he struggled to put food on the table.
"All I ever wanted to do was fly," he sighed, "Now look what I've become. A penniless peasant." It was then that he decided that he would scrape together what little money he had remaining and attempt to build himself a flying machine. Now that he wasn't working, he had all the time to devote to his passion project.
Skylar went to the edge of the forest and cut himself a few thick branches from a tree. He took the branches back to his shed and began nailing them together into a makeshift flying machine. Skylar built the wings out of wood as well.
The machine was more like a glider, with a place for the rider to sit. The building project took about four weeks to complete, and with Skylar's knowledge of carpentry, that helped as well.
Others from Elftown took notice of his work and would come to watch. Many young elves watched eagerly, hoping to see the strange contraption fly.
On the day of the flight, nearly everyone in Elftown helped push the large wooden glider up to Dead Elf's hill. The strongest elves pushed the glider into place, then everyone turned to Skylar and wished him good luck.
"You know you don't have to do this," said Simeon, looking concerned. "How about I hire you back like old times. Don't worry about me firing you. I'd hate to see a young elf like yourself throw your life away over a silly hobby."
Skylar thought about what Simeon had said. But the pull from the sky was too strong. He just had to try to fly. "If I survive," he told Simeon, "I'll definitely come back to work for you. But now, it's time to fly."
The two elves shook hands, then Skylar climbed onto the glider's seat. The atmosphere was a mix of excitement and uncertainty.
"Alright!" said Skylar, "I want the strongest elves to line up behind the glider and push as hard as you can. Give it all you've got."
So the elves, including Simeon, began pushing the glider towards the hill. "Here I go!" shouted the young elf. The crowd watched as the glider began rolling down the hill. At first, no one thought it would get off the ground.
Then, just before it reached the bottom of the hill, the glider lifted into the air. The crowd oohed and ahhed as the glider turned in a circle in the air.
In the glider, Skylar didn't feel the freedom that he had expected to feel. He was feeling quite the opposite. Panic! Even Terror! Something was wrong. He knew it. He cried out in fear as the glider brushed the tops of some low pine trees.
"He's gonna crash!" shouted one of the elves, pointing at the glider. It was heading straight for a huge spruce. The crowd scattered, running in all directions. Some ran down the hill, while others ran back to their cottages. Fear filled Skylar's mind as he sat helplessly in the seat of the glider. The falling dream came back to him clearly, as if he were re-living it in real time.
He was at the mercy of the glider and the wind. If this were the end, at least he would go on doing what he loved. Something about that didn't sit right with him, though.
A gust of wind lifted the glider higher into the air. "Just what I needed," he thought, sarcastically, "I need to be going lower, not higher." Skylar could barely hear the sound of the elves far below him on the ground, crying out.
He felt as helpless as they did. "How am I going to get back to the surface?" he thought. Then, something unfortunate happened. It began to rain. Then, it began to pour. "Rats!" exclaimed Skylar, "My luck is running out."
Out of nowhere, a bolt of lightning struck one of the glider's wings, and the whole thing began to fall from the sky. "It's over…" whispered Skylar, sadly. Just like in his dream, the land spun up towards him, giving him little to no time to prepare for anything.
With only moments to live, Skylar wished he had chosen a different path. The path that led to Elftown and all it had to offer, from friendships to happy meals together to good, hard work. But Skylar had traded it all for a chance to fly. Had it been worth it? No!
As the glider hit the ground and broke into a hundred pieces, Skylar's spirit was finally free. He soared with the birds and finally saw what he had always wanted to see. The land from a bird's eye view.
The Clockwork Tower
Chadrick Longtooth was outside his hut, chopping wood, when his friend Teelee the elf came running up to him. "Chad, my friend," exclaimed Teelee, jumping up and down. "What's got you so excited?" Chadrick asked, dropping his axe, "Have you been eating golden berries again? You know those berries will make anyone hyper."
Teelee grinned. "No, Chad," he said, "I just feel like an adventure today."
"An Adventure, you say?" Chadrick said, wiping his brow with a white cloth. "And just where did you want to go adventuring, Teelee?" The elf grinned. "Into the forest of darkness," said the elf.
When Chadrick heard this, he shook his head. "I'm not setting foot in that ungodly place," he stated evenly. "You may go with your friends and play in the forest on your own time. I'm busy."
The elf looked sad. "But I want to go with you, Chad," he said. "Remember all the adventures we used to have?" Chadrick shook his head again. "I'm not as young as I used to be, Teelee," he said, reaching for the axe again, "I'm very busy. Please let me work."
"If you don't come with me," said the elf, "I'll tell Mercy you're overworking again." Teelee grinned and winked at Chadrick. "Mercy?" he exclaimed, "You wouldn't dare! She's my daughter. She'd be on my side, anyway."
"I don't think so, father," came a voice from behind him. Chadrick spun to see his young daughter standing there. "Mercy!" he exclaimed, "What in the two moons are you doing here?!" She eyed him coldly.
"Father," she said. "You have been working too long and too hard. Teelee is right. You need a break—an adventure. Here, give me your axe. I'll finish chopping the wood."
"You can't be serious," Chadrick said, anger flashing in his voice, "But you are…" He silently handed his axe to his daughter. "I'm sorry, Mercy," he said sadly. "I don't know what came over me. I'll go inside and pack for our journey."
"You do that," said Mercy, then turned and began chopping the wood. When Chadrick had finished packing for the adventure, he exited his hut and met Mercy and Teelee outside.
"You stay and watch my house," Chadrick told his daughter, "There are many valuable books and scrolls inside. I wouldn't want thieves taking them." Chadrick and Teelee then set off on their adventure.
Teelee skipped along excitedly, whistling a happy tune. Chadrick followed, looking less enthusiastic. They entered the forest of darkness at noon. As they traveled through the trees, a few deer ran passed. A group of Leering Peeps darted by as well.
As they went deeper into the forest, it became darker. The tall spruce trees grew closer together as well. It was now cooler than it had been when the two had entered the forest.
They walked until they came to a small rock opening in the ground. "There!" exclaimed Teelee, jumping up and down and pointing at the opening. "We must go in there!"
Chadrick eyed the cavity suspiciously. "Are you sure, Teelee?" he asked nervously. "Why not?" said the elf, "We're on an adventure." So they both slipped into the opening. Inside, they discovered that it wasn't that deep. Maybe ten feet at the most.
Chadrick lit his lantern, giving them needed light. Teelee created a magic fireball, adding to the light. They moved carefully through the cavern, trying not to make too much noise.
As they went, the rooms in the cavern became larger. Chadrick and Teelee realized they were going downhill inside the cavern. Soon, they could not see the top of it. Then, in the dim light, Teelee noticed something a far distance off.
"What is that?" whispered the elf, squinting. "I see nothing," said Chadrick, raising his lantern. They moved forward, stumbling over the moss-covered rock in the cavern. When they got closer to the thing Teelee had first seen, Chadrick saw what it was.
It was a tower. An underground tower inside the cavern. He couldn't tell how tall it was at first glance. If he had to guess, he would say 100 feet or more. There was a large clock of some sort on the front of the tower. Its markings were so ancient that even Teelee could not decipher them.
As Chadrick and the elf approached the entrance to the tower, the whole thing began to vibrate with clicks, whirrs, and whistles. It seemed to come alive!
"But that's not possible," thought Chadrick, examining the nearest wall inside. Teelee had to duck as a spring boinged out of the wall towards him. Then, a large pendulum swung behind Chadrick, just missing him.
"This place isn't safe," said the middle-aged Chadrick, eyeing the pendulum nervously. The round object seemed to be as sharp as a sword. "It could have sliced me in half," he said. "Be glad it didn't," said the elf, grinning.
As much as Chadrick wanted to go, Teelee insisted they stay and explore some more. They made their way to a staircase and climbed it without incident. On the second story, they found four large gears turning in each corner of the room.
In the center of it stood a mechanical creature with a large golden key on its back. The key seemed to be for winding up the creature for animation. Teelee jumped up and down excitedly.
"Wind it up!" he shouted, "Wind it up!" Chadrick hesitated. "I don't know," he said, glancing at the motionless mechanical creature. "Please," Teelee whined, "I want to see it move." Chadrick sighed. "Alright," he said. So he began trying to wind up the mechanical creature. He had some trouble turning the key at first, but managed to with a little effort.
He hadn't wound it much when the creature turned its large silver head and looked straight at him. "Intruder!" exclaimed the creature. "Intruders must be destroyed!" The creature, which looked like a cross between a lion and a, eagle, jumped at Chadrick, roaring in a mechanical voice.
"Any bright ideas, Teelee?" shouted Chadrick, running for the stairs. The lion eagle creature suddenly became distracted by Teelee, who flew down at the elf, screeching. The creature grabbed Teelee in its talons and lifted him into the air.
"Teelee!" shouted Chadrick, running back towards the center of the room. The creature flew in circles while it carried the elf in its claws. Chadrick brought forth the Spirit Sword from his mind and prepared to attack.
He feared what would happen if the creature let go of the elf. It would mean certain death for Teelee. The creature roared, then swooped down at Chadrick, suddenly taking interest in his sword.
It let go of the elf, who dropped to the floor, unharmed. Chadrick swung his sword, barely missing the creature. Then, the entire room began to shake, as if the whole tower was waking up from slumber. "Earthquake?" said Teelee, rubbing his sore head.
"I don't think so," said Chadrick, "This tower is alive or something. I don't know how that's possible, but it can sense our presence here. We need to get out, now!"
"Intruders must be destroyed!" the creature said again. It flew at them as they ran down the stairs, the creature close behind. Back on the first floor, more springs boinged out of the walls at them, and the large pendulum was swinging wildly again.
"This is madness!" exclaimed Chadrick. Then he got an idea. The pendulum. Of course. Perhaps he could use it against the creature. But that would take a lot of magical skill. Teelee nearly avoided getting crushed by the slamming doors. The doors were opening and closing on their own. "Be careful, Teelee," said Chadrick, "Stay alert." Chadrick concentrated on the swinging pendulum as the creature tried to avoid the springs.
At just the right moment, he threw his sword at the pendulum with all his might. When the sword hit it, the pendulum flew backwards and sliced the mechanical lion eagle creature in half. It fell to the ground, twitching.
"In-tru-ders…must…be…de-stroy-ed…," it whimpered, then died. As the creature died, the tower stopped shaking, and everything went silent. The springs fell to the ground as well, and the pendulum stopped.
"We did it," said Chadrick, hugging his friend. "Now let's get out of here." Teelee wholeheartedly agreed, and they exited the tower. They moved quickly away from the clockwork tower until they couldn't see it anymore. When they were back at the crevice leading into the forest, they wearily climbed out and rested in the clearing.
After a good, long rest, Chadrick and Teelee returned to the hut where Mercy was taking care of things. "How was your little adventure?" she asked them, smiling.
"It was fine," said Chadrick, "But sometimes I think I would prefer chopping wood."
AVARICE
Tyler Anders lived in the Great Kingdom of Klodon during the reign of King Vasu. Tyler was a farmer and had a growing family of five. His wife, Kitty, was a renowned seamstress in Klodon, selling her finely sewn clothing to the castle for a living. Their three children attended the best school in the kingdom and got good grades. Tyler was a hard-working man and found it hard to relax when he wasn't working. Leisure just wasn't his thing.
One afternoon, after Tyler had returned home from an errand, he found his wife and oldest son, Gerald, fussing over a small box, or more specifically, what was inside the box. "Let me see it, Mother," said Gerald, as Tyler walked into the wooden two-story house, feeling tired. "See what?" asked Tyler, glancing in the direction of his wife and son. "No, Gerald," said Kitty, in a concerned tone. "Don't touch it. You might break it." The conversation had piqued Tyler's interest just enough to stop and take a second look.
His wife held a small green statue, about six inches long. It was a statue of a figure of some sort, perhaps one of the gods from eons past. The statue had two tiny diamonds for eyes. "Where did you get that?" asked Tyler, raising an eyebrow. "I found it in a box in the attic yesterday," said KItty. "It looks very old. It also looks like it might be worth something."
When Tyler heard this, he grinned. "I like the sound of that," he said, reaching for the loaf of bread on the table. He also helped himself to a freshly picked pear. He quickly cut himself a slice of bread and, after topping it with honey, took a bite. "After I eat, I shall examine the statue," he said, as he chewed. "Did you find any markings on it, or a way to tell who it might belong to?"
Kitty shook her head. "No, my husband," she said, setting the statue down on the table. Gerald had lost interest in it minutes ago and was busying himself with another task. "Boy," said Tyler, still eating. "Go and milk Sadie. I need to speak with your mother alone." Gerald slumped away to the barn to milk the old cow. It wasn't even morning. Gerald knew that his father had something significant to tell his mother if the cow needed milking a 3 pm.
When the youth was gone, Tyler stepped closer to KItty and grabbed the green statue. "I didn't want to tell you this in front of Gerald," he began. "But you were right when you mentioned the value of this item. This could really get us out of debt and living in a better situation. Just imagine, a three-story brick house instead of this old dump. A sprawling yard beside the castle of Klodon, or better yet, in the Northwestern Hills, where all the wealthy merchants live. A place for the children and the dogs to run free and play. A place to live life as life was meant to be lived."
Kitty had never heard her husband talk like this before. "Are you feeling alright, Tyler?" she said, placing a hand on his forehead. "I've never felt better," he said, grinning. He glanced down at the statue in his hand. He rubbed it as if it were a magic lamp. Then he got a serious look on his face. "And under no circumstances are you to tell the younger children about this, understand?"
Kitty nodded. "If it means so much to you, Tyler," she said. "I won't tell a soul. But I want to make sure you aren't going too far with your foolish dreams of possible wealth. I, for one, happen to like living here. And it's not a dump, my husband. Be careful what you wish for. As they say, you may get it." Tyler shook his head and grinned. Then he slipped the statue into a secure pocket and went to find a good place to hide it. To keep it from prying hands.
The next morning, something strange happened. While the family was eating breakfast in the large dining room, Tyler noticed his youngest daughter, Elizabeth, fiddling with something under the table. "Show me your hands," said Tyler, setting down his fork. Elizabeth hesitated, then pulled her hands out from under the table. Tyler gasped when he saw what his daughter was holding. It was the green statue with the diamond eyes. "Give it to me," he said. She handed it over and turned back to her breakfast.
"Where did you find this, Elizabeth?" he asked her, looking serious. "It was in the fireplace," said his daughter. She didn't appear to be playing with him. She looked serious as well. "That's not possible!" he exclaimed. "I didn't hide it in the fireplace. I put it in the…" Kitty glanced at him. He had almost given away his secret hiding place, where he had placed the statue the night before. "Never mind…" he sighed. "Let me be clear. This goes for everyone in this house. No one is to touch MY statue. Understood?!" Everyone else at the table went silent. Tyler then stood and left the table, clutching the old treasure.
As time passed, more unusual things continued to occur. Objects and food items were mysteriously moved from one place to another as the statue had been moved. One of the family's dogs died suddenly, leaving the children sad and angry. And the worst change of all was the downward spiral of Tyler Anders. He became more and more obsessed with the statue, and spent long hours in his bedroom just staring at it and rubbing it as if it were a pet.
Kitty and the children became concerned, so much so that one of Klodon's most respected priests, Rutherford the Reformed, was called on to see Tyler. But Tyler had no interest in talking to a priest. He just wanted to keep spending time with his statue. Rutherford analyzed Tyler for a short time, but didn't get much out of the session. The priest suggested that the family might need a break from their work, even though Tyler hadn't been tending to the farm much at all. Kitty and Gerald had to pick up the load in Tyler's absence.
Then, when all hope seemed lost, Tyler went missing one night. The people in the Kingdom of Klodon were on edge. True, many people went missing from the kingdom, but this case seemed different somehow. Citizens from the kingdom formed search parties to go looking for Tyler. They searched all around Klodon and even the nearby lands surrounding the kingdom. But he was nowhere to be found. Kitty and the children were worried sick.
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Far away from the kingdom, Tyler trudged along towards the northwestern hills. He clutched his statue as tightly as a new mother might hold an infant who had just been born. It was as if Tyler was being pulled towards something. He didn't know what it was. He just felt that something big was tugging at his soul. "I'm…almost there…" he panted, sweating heavily. The wind whipped at his jacket as he approached the hills. It was bitterly cold out tonight, with winter fast approaching. Then, something deep inside his mind reminded him of home. He thought of his wife, Kitty. He thought about his children. Gerald. Elizabeth.
He knew that at any given moment, he could simply throw the statue down and watch it smash into a thousand pieces, and rush home to his loved ones. He wouldn't have to worry about any of this again. No more statue to gaze at for hours on end. No strange feeling pulling him to who knows where. This nightmare would all be over with one small decision.
But something else inside of him kept him moving forward, towards the hills. He didn't know why, but he couldn't resist the urge to keep going. Once he arrived in the northwestern hills, Tyler held out his statue, and it began guiding, or more like pulling him, towards a specific cave. The statue guided him to the mouth of a large cave near a small cluster of maple trees. He bravely entered the cavern and quickened his pace the farther in he got. Soon, he was nearly running.
He had to press on. He had to discover what mystery the statue had to show him. Then, he noticed that the statue was glowing a bright green color. It was pointing at a smooth, rock wall near the end of the cavern. "There?" he asked, jogging up the rock wall. There, in the center of the rock wall, was an empty pedestal. "Here?" he asked, expecting an answer. He got none.
He hesitated. He thought of his wife again. He remembered her warm, home-cooked meals and the joy the family had together for so many years. "Come home," he heard her say in his mind. He felt torn. He so badly wanted all this to be over. But he also wanted to know where the statue was leading him. He imagined piles of gold and other treasure waiting for him behind the rock wall. He would be rich beyond measure! He looked down at the glowing statue in his hands. Had this all been worth it? Then, Tyler looked up the pedestal again. He hesitated, then set the glowing statue into it.
At first, nothing happened. He was sorely disappointed. He stood there, not knowing what to do next. He was about to go when the cavern began to shake violently. He managed to stay on his feet as bits of rock fell from the cavern ceiling. They crashed onto the cavern floor with loud thuds. Then, the statue turned a bright red color and turned sideways. The rock wall suddenly slid open. Indeed, there was a cavern leading further in. Tyler's eyes went wide as the light from the next room of the cavern met him. The light was as bright as the sun. He took a step into the room and gasped when he saw what shone so brightly. Large piles of treasure lay sprawled everywhere in large piles. Diamonds. Jewels. Rubies. Sapphires. Gold. Silver. Every treasure you could imagine lay in the room. It was a dazzling sight.
"I'm…rich!" exclaimed Tyler, grinning. "Richer than King Vasu!" He quickly entered the large room and began filling his pockets with as much of the treasure as he could take. He took many gold and silver coins, a few diamonds, and a golden crown to top it off. He places a pearl necklace around his neck to take home to Kitty. "She'll love this," he said. He glanced around the room one last time. It all looked so spectacular. He eyed a silver crescent moon pendant greedily and reached for it. "Maybe just one more thing," he whispered.
As he did, low growls could suddenly be heard coming from somewhere inside the cavern. "I think that's my sign to go," he thought to himself. He turned to go, but as he did, a large dark figure caught his eye. What had he seen? Had it been his imagination? He heard more growls and froze! He then ran for the treasure room's exit, with the gold and silver he had with him nearly weighing him down.
But as he approached the exit, he didn't notice that something was blocking his way. He looked up suddenly and screamed! There, standing in the doorway, stood a large creature with eight eyes and many sharp teeth. The creature licked its lips hungrily. Tyler cursed his luck. He knew he had made the wrong choice. Greed had clouded his mind to the point of near madness. He had neglected his family and duties, all in the name of wealth. Tyler slowly backed up, pulling up his sagging pants that were being weighed down with all the treasure.
"I'm very sorry," he said quietly. "I didn't know this treasure belonged to you. I'll put it back and go." He started to remove the treasure from his bulging trousers, but as he did, the creature lunged at him and grabbed him with its large tentacle. Tyler cried out in fear as the creature opened its large mouth to devour him. Coins and treasure flew everywhere, landing on the cavern floor with tiny clinks. Moments later, the large creature belched and slithered away into a dark corner of the cavern, having just enjoyed yet another tasty snack.
Tyler died in vain. His memory lives on as a life lesson on how not to be. Always put family and work first, and NEVER let greed get the better of you!