A fire crackled and popped as heavy rain fell around the traveling pair. The warm and sunny sky of the morning had turned foul and dark by the time sun was setting. It had drizzled through the majority of the day today but had increased in its intensity and as the sun was setting, thunder and lighting cracked and raced across the sky. Robateli had pointed out a long burnt and hollowed out stump where they could attempt to get out of the rain for the evening and that was exactly what they were trying to do now.

The stump was large enough to fit a dozen men easily. The ancient tree had fallen over clearly many years ago, its wooden carcass laying decayed on the ecotone that separated the forest from the swamp they intended to enter in the morning. The two inside the stump worked to waterproof the space as much as possible with mud and strips of bark and grass. They had layered many strips of the dead trees bark across the open “roof” of the stump. It wasn’t perfect however, and water still dripped in.

“Dis is good enough for me, but if der is anything more you can do with your magic, I know I wouldn’t mind da space to be a little less damp” Robateli said as he wiped the mud off his hands on his bare legs and thighs as best he could.

Eroan looked down at his mud caked hands and robes and puckered his face. He nodded as If answering a question inside his own head. He raised both of his hands to eye level and with his palms down he quickly lowered his hands inches away from his robes down his body to his waist in an action as if to throw the mud from his hands. As he did this the mud and filth of the day rushed off him, like a wave down his body onto the ground. With what sounded to Robateli like a sigh of relief Eroan spoke finally while now shifting his attention to the makeshift ceiling.

“Let me see, this might work best for the least amount of effort”. Eroan said, raising his hands into the air once more while looking at the bark strips.

In the air he seemed to write out shapes for but three or four passings of a heart beat before Robateli could see with his own eyes what was happening. The strips of bark that covered the hole in top of the massive stump were weaving themselves together in a lattice and pulling themselves taught over the space. In just another few beats Eroan lowered his hands and spoke again “there, that should do it I think. I also created for us a door to do the same, and an indent with an escape and a hood out into the air for smoke so that we might have a small fire tonight as well.

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Robateli blinked and spun around to the space that had just a moment ago been a gap in the stump that acted as the entrance. It was now covered in the same bark weave, with a twig latch as well. Spinning around once more Robateli scanned the small but now comfortable space and saw the small nook he had indeed created to allow for a small fire. Robateli shook his head and laugh allowed.

“Ho ho, ha ha. Even wit da most mundane tings you think of all the details Eroan”

Eroan smiled but lowered his head in modesty.

“Truly only with the most mundane things is where I excel my friend. We need just a few stones and we can rest easy tonight I think.”

“Well since I be the only one still a mess, I guess I will step out and bring in a few stones and da fire” Robateli said in response as he moved to the bark door. He unlatched it and stepped out into the rain as a clap of thunder roared around. He picked up a few flat stones from around their makeshift fire and grabbed a non-burning end of one of the logs still barely alight and he brought them back into the cozy little space. He placed the three stones he grabbed on three sides of the cubby space and gingerly placed the small log into the now protected space for the flame to grow and as it did the once dim interior lit up and started to fill with warmth before to long. From his bag Eroan withdrew what looked like a door handle of a tarnished bronze color. He held it in his hand and looked at Robateli.

“How about a stew? We still have some carrots and potatoes as I recall.”

“Sounds good to..ah!” Robateli nodded before cutting himself short. He stuck his finger in his mouth and sucked on it wincing in pain. “OOoo dat stung. What was dat hu?”

“It looks like the warmth brought us a few unwelcome guests” Eroan spoke as he pointed out a large beetle walking away from Robateli and into a hole in the bark wall of the hollowed-out space. It was a very distinctive orange and black color splotched around the carapace, but was gone into the crevasses of the wood before ether could react to potentially crush or otherwise prevent future bites through the night.

Robateli removed the finger from his mouth and held it gingerly in his other hand. He looked up at Eroan with unsure eyes, something that Eroan did not miss.

Eroan knew the answer was yes from the look in the trolls eyes, but he asked the question anyway

“It was poisonous?”

Robateli nodded slowly, opening his palm and turning the finger over to look at it. The bluish green skin, tough and callused was pieced he could see, but the wound had already healed over thanks to the gifts of his race, but the area was inflamed and puffy. Like a sting from a bee or wasp. The area however was not red, but instead a dark black color.

“Ya, a pretty bad one too at that.”

Robateli said, looking back at Eroan. His hands both flexing, and his toes wiggled on both feet.

“Ya, it’s pretty bad. Dat wasn’t me meanin to move my hands just now.”