« (Marty) »
Rosita was inspecting one of the new Ironbark trees in the cavern next to their heart room. With her were Thorn and Petal. The two rose dryads were adamant that despite the short time since Marty had encouraged the tree to grow it was ready.
Rosita looked at the two serious looking little dryads. “Should we get a runner here to witness the birth?”
The two dryads exchanged a look and shrugged.
Rosita chuckled, “No idea, right?”
Both dryads shook their heads solemnly.
“I’ll go ask. There are a couple currently on the elven level. Wait a bit and then I’ll get Marty to help persuade her to release her child. I shouldn’t be gone more than half an hour.” And with that Rosita flew out of the cavern and made her way to the first level.
Rosita found one runner helping an elven gardener with a bed of strawberry plants. Both were indulging in the sweet berries as they worked.
“Hello, I have a question for you.”
The two beings caught by surprise jumped and whirled round, the elf holding a hand over his heart.
“Um, hello. What do you want to know?” asked the elf.
“I assume you know about the ironbark that grew from the dead runner. Well, Thorn and Petal are sure that the first of its children has reached the stage it should be born.”
The two grinned with open joy.
“That is good news,” said the runner. “What was your question?”
Rosita smiled back. “Well we, Marty and me, wondered if we should ask other runners – or elves – to be present for the birth?”
“It is not necessary, but if you would allow it we, the both of us, would like to be present,” said the elf while the runner nodded vigorously.
* * *
In the end all the elves and runners who had been present on the first level made their way down to the Rose Dungeon’s fourth level. They witnessed in silence as the small bulge above the first set of branches of the ironbark tree reluctantly split releasing the very young runner into the outstretched arms of Petal.
The newborn runner stumbled around on all fours as it looked around in wonder. The impromptu gathering quickly devolved into a party as the youngster crawled around making friends and getting showered with gifts, many quite inappropriate.
Many hours later the guests made their way out of the dungeon by ones and twos with smiles on their faces. Marty watched them go with relief.
* * *
« Rosita we are going to have to make arrangements for the next arrivals. I had a hell of a time not freaking out with all those visitors in the runner grove’s cavern. It is too close to – well – me. »
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Rosita lounged on a moss-covered rock. “Hmm?”
« OK I know – theoretically – that they didn’t want to harm me, but my instincts were screaming at me. We, I have to remodel. »
“I think I understand,” said Rosita. “Should we just ban them, or not tell them next time?”
« No. We can’t let them think we are wary of their intentions. But we are ready to start our fifth level. That should allow us to set up things so that... Well that a visit to the trees won’t put them on our doorstep. »
« (Randy) »
Randy watched suspiciously as the sharp eared woman crouched behind a small bush near their den. With her was a tiny girl woman wearing some rose-based perfume. And she had small green leaves growing among her hair.
They seemed to be very interested in his mother who was at that moment eating one of the outsized worms that lived in these woods. Randy froze in indecision. The pointy-eared woman stowed herself and started to talk softly. Her words were – soothing, calming.
She approached his mother slowly. And all the while his mother just watched her. Randy felt that something was not right – but he couldn’t move. She emptied a small bag in front of his mother before stroking his mother between the ears and retreating again slowly.
Randy could have sworn he could smell blackberries and strawberries. Whatever it really was his mother was gobbling down the offering.
* * *
Over the next weeks the two reappeared often, sometimes accompanied by the small grey furred humanoids. Always the two women bought treats and gave pats and scratches. Randy could see his mother and sisters accept their presence, they even started to anticipate their appearance.
And to his growing alarm, Randy was starting to realize that he too was coming under their spell. Finally Randy screwed up his courage. He carefully followed them when they left, hoping to find out more about them, and hoping to find out what they really wanted.
He was careful. Very careful, but the ladies escort of tree runners that kept to the tops of the trees watched him every step of the way.
Randy wasn’t surprised when they returned to the growing tree town. He was however frustrated as he watched them disappear into the town. After watching for a time he turned and returned to the forest and his families den.
He considered several plans, but they all floundered on the fact that he didn’t want to be on his own, and even more, he didn’t want to abandon his mother and sisters. And they were very happy where they were, there was lots of food and no predators had approached for some considerable time.
« (Ariabaat, Speaker to Others) »
Ariabaat pushed another scroll to join the pile of similar documents on the side of the table he was using in the new library at the Warden’s palace. He picked up one of the new raspberries from a bowl at his elbow and popped it into his mouth.
After mumbling to himself he pulled the slate he was using and erased a phrase and two runes. Then he started scribbling madly. When he finished he examined his work carefully and seemed satisfied.
Ariabaat removed one of the specially prepared and imbued sheets of parchment and started to inscribe the ritual he had come up with. He worked quickly but carefully, showing to anyone who might have been watching of his expertise in the field.
Once finished he sanded the document to dry the ink and cast a brief preservation spell.
Speaker to Others slowly ate his bowl of dungeon gathered delicacies as he studied his work. Satisfied he gathered up the documents and tomes he had been studying and using for references. He carefully returned everything to its own place before leaving the library with the scroll he had just created.
* * *
Ariabaat watched with bated breath as lord Frostmane and Slasher perused his scroll carefully. Finally after what seemed like several hours lord Frostmane looked up. “Interesting. This ritual should work, we will have to test it but I see no problems. Nor does Slasher. However, I have to ask, are you sure you want to use this? It contains no compulsions.”
“Yes my lord. I still don’t understand why I should be considered for this honour and I feel I don’t need a familiar.”
“Don’t be modest kid. Out of all the entitled brats in the choosing, you were the only one who regarded the skunk as his own being, deserving of consideration. So elf up son, you’re it.”
Ariabaat felt a surge of resentment at being called a kid, but he was easily able to contain himself. Lord Frostmane was after all over a century older than him.
“Well Ariabaat, leave this with us, and I’ll send for you when it’s time for you to meet the young skunk.”
Ariabaat left and made his way to the Rose Dungeon. There was a cavern there that he found soothing, and he needed to calm down and relax.