Somewhere, West Virginia, USA.

The sun was close to setting when Clive and the Halflings made it to their new home 4 miles south of town.

It was farmland, but it would need a lot of work before it could grow anything.

Rocks and thick thorny weeds sprung up all over the land, trees already had their leaves fall and looked bare, some had even fallen over.

A dried river bed cut through part of the property and looked like it hasn't seen water in months if not years.

All in all the land didn't look like the "picturesque" photos on the adds, and certainly wasn't worth the bribe for it.

At least that's what Clive thought.

To the Halflings it looked like paradise.

Hamish had woken his family and they stood surveying the land as the rest of the caravan caught up.

"Looks a little rough." Clive said aloud.

Hamish with a smile and a determined look on his face spoke.

"None but a bit 'o hard work won't cure!"

Hamish scooped up a bit of dirt and took a deep breath of it.

"The ground will provide ifin you know what to do with it! The Old Country, somethin' was killin' the land and no matter how hard we tried it just wouldn'a provide no more. But here!"

He said as he held out the fistful of dirt.

"This here land jus' needs some good 'ol love 'n care!"

Clive looked at the Halfling with a look of respect and worry.

It was getting dark and cold and he wasn't sure how much work the Halflings could do for tonight.

"You know you can stay at my place for the night if yo-"

"Nonsense! You've done more then enough fer us and I'll not be a further bother to you! Its time we stood on our own from now on. But ifin you want to come by in the mornin' to check up on us, I'll not fault you."

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Hamish held out a hand for Clive to shake.

Seeing he wouldn't accept any further help, Clive sighed before shaking the strong hand of the Halfling before saying his farewell and wishing the Halflings luck as he drove home.

-----

The caravan caught up to them as the kind Tallman Clive drove away in his metal wagon.

What a strange thing, Hamish thought of the contraption as it drove away with a hum.

He had set his sack down and rolled out a worn blanket for his wife and little one, before making his way to collect wood for a fire to keep warm and provide light as the sun was setting.

Tired and worn out the rest of them were as they had little rest since entering this strange world.

What little magic some of them had was useless here, it either didn't work or seemed to require enormous effort just to do anything.

And what was stranger was that what the magic did.

A fella had tried to start a fire, but after words, looked like he had taken a dip in a cold lake even though he was still dry.

Another had tried to turn the wind away from them, but after she did, she fell and started gasping as the very air in her lungs was taken away!

The last was even more terrifying!

A poor sod had sought to scry the nearby land, before he could tell them what he saw his very sight had been taken!

No, Hamish thought, magic would do them no good here.

Which was fine by him, he preferred to do this the hard and honest way!

After getting a fire going and warming up a bit he turned to the rest of them.

"Right you lot! As tired 'n cold as you are, you'll be even colder ifin we don't get set up before long! So get yer second wind, roll up yer sleeves 'n lets get to work!"

Hamish proclaimed as he got a hammer from one of the nearby wagons and set about breaking stones from the earth.

The others groaned but made after Hamish with axes to clear some fallen trees and the thick weeds, some of which was thicker then they were!

Others had gotten hammers and hoes to assist Hamish in breaking the land, a small group had made a few torches before following the dried river bed in an effort to see about reviving it.

Some had begun to break down the wagons and set up a temporary camp for the night to provide shelter from the cold.

A couple of curious deer and some rabbit tracks told them that wild game would be on the menu until the first crop could come in.

They tied their ponies to a nearby fallen tree and got a couple of basic pens set up for the hogs and cows they still had with them.

Hamish wondered if the Tallman Clive knew where they could get some sheep as the thought of a bowl of warm stewed sheep filled his mind as he worked.

Thoughts of meats and potatoes filled his head as he worked about clearing his people's new home, singing a tune as he worked.

"Boil 'em, mash 'em, stick 'em in a stew! That's what Halflings do!"

The others joined in as they worked as well.

"Meats, taters, wines! Goes into delicious pies!"

"Sweat all day and break our backs! For warm food and Rump in the sack!"

The men chuckled as the women rolled their eyes as even they joined in.

"But best keep yer fingers outa' our pies, lest you wanna lose yer eyes!"

A few men got swatted as they got a little too handsy with their women.

"Come on lads there's work to be done, no time now fer whiskey and fun!"

Hamish chuckled as his people's spirits were lifted, and the cold didn't seem quite so harsh anymore.

It did need a lot of work if they were going to last long out here, but with hard work and good fortune they would THRIVE out here!

As Hamish broke another rock he spied the river crew running back.

"So? What's the damage?" Hamish asked the Heaving Halflings.

They were all out of breath but one managed to get enough out to report.

"We 'ave a bit o' a problem sir!"

He paused as he caught his breath again.

"Well spit it out then! What kind o' problem?!" Hamish asked impatiently.

"A GIANT problem sir!"

Hamish looked at the out of breath Halflings with shock and horror.

Oh yeah, he'd REALLY need to ask for Tallman Clive's help now.