The mind was a complex organic machine, even though her body was technically asleep in the pod her mind was active, only when Sam slipped her into what was now commonly referred to as true sleep, but was officially known as rem sleep, did she feel mentally rested.

She needed at least an hour of that each day, or her thoughts became lethargic and her ability to concentrate dropped dramatically. That was how she was feeling when she finally dragged herself back into the pod after doing the chores and having breakfast. She hadn't even waited for her parents, simply left them a note saying chores were done again.

Natalie sighed with relief as she asked Sam to slip her under for an hour or so. When she next gained consciousness she was in the game, waking up on the little cot in her shack. She stretched and yawned, feeling so much better then she had two hours ago.

She pulled the harvested berries and herbs out of storage and put them into her inventory, she had some deliveries to do. Humming softly she left her Sanctuary and walked into the village, on the way in she was pleased to see other Sanctuary's now dotted the field's around hers. Finally, now maybe she could do her thing with out drawing so much attention to herself.

It was a pleasant walk to the Blacksmith this time, with no one glaring at her, as she approached Master Brethan came out to the entrance of his foundry.

"So you have returned, do you have the two bundles you promised me," he asked as she walked up. In answer Natalie dropped her jaw in a canine grin and pulled the two bundles of blueguards from her inventory.

"Here you go, two as we agreed on." Natalie replied.

The Blacksmith nodded to her then disappeared back into the forge. Natalie continued on to Molly's shop, when entering she found Molly was busy with another player, she was sorting a large bundle of wild herbs. Natalie smiled and moved back a bit to wait her turn, Molly gave her a slight nod of acknowledgment. Soon enough she was done with the other player and had brought about half of what the young man had offered, Natalie watched as the player ask Molly about the Sanctuary's.When the player finally left the shop he had a smile on his face and a farming sanctuary in his hands.

"Well things have been a lot calmer around here since you had your little talk with those first three, I also had a talk to the Council and told them what you said about them only wanting to learn." Molly said. "Once they heard that they lifted the band on the outsiders, now everyone is happier."

" This is good news Molly," Natalie said. " and about the other day, I'm sorry for bursting into your shop like I did, I hope I didn't worry you, it was nothing really, my sister explained to me what happened. And I .."

"No need to say anymore Child," Molly interrupted. " I spoke with the leather worker, he was upset that his aura had affected you so badly and felt guilty, he gave me this pendant for you, it has a good general resistance charm on it. It will protect you from such happenings in the future."

Natalie looked at the delicate silver snowflake pendant, it was beautiful, Molly came to her and slipped the leather cord it was strung on over her head. Natalie didn't know what to say she looked at the charm hanging around her neck then back to Molly.

"It is just a trinket Crystal," Molly told her. "with a charm built into it, don't over think it, he gives them out to just about every female and since he mines and makes them himself it cost him nothing."

Relieved that she wouldn't have to worry about owing anything to the elf, Natalie smiled and nodded in understanding to Molly. She decided to just thank him when she crossed paths with him next.

"Here is the latest harvest, from my farm Molly," she said. "That is if you still need them ?"

"Still neeed them? Of course I do," Molly answered. " oh you think because the outsiders are now bringing me herbs that I wouldn't need your's as well? They bring me wilds Crystal, you can use wilds to make potions, but they are inferior and end up making weak potions. None of the outsiders are producing herbs or for that matter Chance berries, so yes I need what you grow girl."

Natalie placed all the herbs and berries onto Molly's counter including half of the Chance berries she had harvested and watched as Molly started to sort them.

Molly was almost done when the shop door opened again and another player walked in, Molly looked up, then went back to the sorting.

Crystal looked at the newcomer, he looked familiar, she wasn't sure at first, but when the larger Dogkin looked her way she knew who it was, it was her brother Jake, just in time she remembered that his name in game wasn't Jake.

"Minstrel? She asked. " your finally here? Is Brack with you too? "

"Ahh Crystal yes he is outside, we were looking for you," Jake responded. " just came into the Village today we got held up a bit."

"You know this one Crystal?" Molly asked.

"Yes I should do I was raised with him Molly," laughed Natalie. " this is one of my brothers Minstrel, and the other outside is Brack."

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"Nice to meet you Molly." Jake said, turning to Natalie he said. " I'll be right back, just going to let Brack know I found you, he was worried."

With that Jake left the shop, Natalie frowned, worried? What could be worrying Brian? She looked over at Molly and found her watching quietly from the counter.

"Everything all right Crystal?" Asked Molly, she had seen the frowned appear on the normally happy little white Dogkins face, she wonder just how please the child really was to see her brothers.

"Yes it's ok Molly just not sure why Brack would be worried about me," Natalie absently replied, still deep in thought. "I have been here for a few weeks now and have managed just fine on my own."

"I'm sure you have Crystal," Molly chuckled. " but if I know anything I know that family members are always more likely to worry over small silly things and to think that younger siblings won't be able to walk without assistance,"

Natalie looked surprised, then she started to chuckle too, Molly was right. Both were still chuckling when the door open and Minstrel came back in with another Dogkin.

"See I told you we would find her, Brack" Jake was saying, it seemed he was trying to calm an obviously on edge large black Dogkin.

"Nat.. umm Crystal," rumbled Brian. " your alright? We checked the forums and they had a write up on there about a group in this town that tryed to attack a small white Dogkin, reasons unknown, you are the only one in this area that fits that description, I made Minstrel hurry up so we could check on you."

"Oh yeah I'm fine and with Molly here's help, we manage to calm everyone down," Natalie reassured her brother. "Aside from a bit of a scare I was totally ok."

Brack stared hard at her, his eyes flicking over her visually making sure she was whole and safe. Then he seem to deflate a bit as his body relaxed from the tension it was under going.

"Thank you, Molly." He said. "For keeping my sister safe."

"Your welcome but Crystal hardly needed my help, she has been doing ok here." Molly replied. "Now Crystal about this crop I can not afford to give you the complete value of it, will you consider a trade and half the coins?"

"Sure Molly," Natalie promptly said. "What sort of trade do you have in mind?"

"Well seeing as you have all but one of extensions for your Sanctuary, I went and brought an upgraded Sanctuary of animal husbandry from a friend of mine," Molly replied. "It's an even better model then the one you would have gotten from the barn quest. That one is only a Tier 1 with nothing else upgraded other then that, the one I have to offer is a Tier 1 as well but it's a Copper Tier 5."

"What do you mean? I thought a level in the copper tier was tier 1 though to 20 isn't it?" asked a confused Natalie.

"No child, Copper is the Tier 1, the rankings are the level of that, when you reach level 20 it goes into Brass Tier 2 which is 0/30 and then Bronze, Iron, silver, gold and finally platinum." Molly told her.

"Oh that's going to take a very long time to do," Natalie said feeling a little overwhelmed by it.

"With dedication, not to long," Molly said smiling. "But that is also why the trade item I'm offering you is a good one. My friend went into an agreement with me, so that I can trade this to you for the Chance Berries you have offered me here. Even with this it is still a deal leaning heavily in my favour but I don't have anything else to offer just yet."

"It's a deal Molly," Natalie didn't have to think to hard on this, Molly had helped her out quite a few times and besides she liked to think they were friends. "I'll trade this harvest for the Sanctuary, this way you have saved me from having to deal with Vincent!"

Molly laughed, she was well pleased, this deal was going to make her and her friend, now business partner very well off. Natalie would be profiting from it as well, for both Molly and her friend had passed the word along about a little white Dogkin having a steady supply of a rare berry.

"Are you sure about this Crystal?" Jake asked. "It doesn't sound to much like a good deal to me."

"It's fine Minstrel," she said. "Im happy with the deal, I watched Vincent and not having to deal with him, is worth a whole bucket of Chance berry's."

"What's the big deal about these Berries?" Brack asked looking at the pile of purplish berries on Molly's counter.

"I'll tell you about it later Brack," said Natalie. "For now just know those are really rare, and dangerous to get, and I got very lucky with them."

"That you did girl, that you did indeed." Molly said." Most people don't survive their encounter with these."

"What!" Brack said. "What do you mean survive? What did you have to do to get those?"

"That sounds extremely ominous," Minstrel said. " just how many people actually managed to survive those things?"

Both brother's spoke at the same time, they stopped looked at each other then looked back at Molly.

"The last time was about 60 years ago, on the other side of the map." Molly told them. "Anyone else who has tried usually dies, it's partly because most people don't realise they are messing with Chance Berries, they look similar to another berry that is commonly used to make a sweet fruit drink. But those others are a darker purple and the berry's shape is longer while Chance berries are almost a prefect sphere."

"Yeah if you too come across any purple berries and your not sure what they are, don't use harvest on them," warned Natalie. "Just pick them, or better yet don't touch them if you have no use for them."

"Wise words, indeed very wise words," said Molly. "I would wish more people were just as cautious, this world of ours is not forgiving, not even in the slightest way."

Natalie picked up the scroll box and the small mound of coins Molly had placed on the counter earlier.

"I'm off to the Fletchers shop." She said. "I want to get a bow and some arrows, and maybe find someone to teach me how to use them."

"The Fletcher can do that Crystal, he will have you at least shooting straight enough to hit what your aiming at by the end of the week," Molly said. "He charges 2 gold coins a lesson but he is well worth it."

"Oh that's great, Thanks Molly," Natalie said. "What are you two going to do, Minstrel, Brack? Got any plans for the day?"

"Well now that we have found you, I want to get some training for combat," Minstrel said. "I think starting off with the bow is a fine idea, so I'm coming with you."

"I think I will go and attempt to get a Sanctuary from the Blacksmith," said Brack. "I think I want to concentrate on making armour and weapons for a bit."

"Well sounds like you three have things to do," Molly said. "And so do I, off you go now all of you, Crystal when you have more crops please don't hesitate to bring them to me."

The three siblings walked outside, Natalie turned to her brothers and asked in a low voice,

"Dogkins? Why are you two Dogkins I thought you were going to be a dwarf Brian and what happen to you just being Human Jake?"

"We decided we wanted to be your brother's in game as well as out," chuckled Brian. "We can't make that claim if I'm a dwarf and he is a human."

"Of course you could have," Natalie said shaking her head. "We could have just claimed we grew up in a orphanage together and decided we would be family, it's how Chelsea and I were going to play it with her being an elf."