[Kenderfriend]

*On the previous page of the journal, a sketch in the top left corner of the page... quite random, of Ben Poetr and Jaelle Thornwood in the kitchen of Scamp's Mug both sitting on crates. Ben is grinning and has a leaf in his hair, while Jaelle is holding a baby, and her face is covered by a hood, on the right of the page looking towards the left.
On the bottom right corner is a quick sketch of Niloc Greenleaf in Hempstead fields, looking quite surprised he's being drawn by a somewhat bored halfling.*



*taps the quill on the page as she thinks what to write, putting the book on her lap and holding with her left hand onto the trunk of the tree she's sitting in. She dips the quill to begin writing..*

Written - Wedlar, Mai 4, 1437

Thistle,
Much has happennned recently, and I'm not sure that I can tell it all now... I suppose I'll tell you my latest adventure.
I was walking through Hempstead (getting used to the city now..) and Rockhead was next to me, we hummed a duet cheerfully.
*thinks as she writes, 'Now when was this... a week ago perhaps? I've forgotten, terrible memory'. smiles*
I pushed open the big gates, and there we saw Tod and Layl. I was happy to see them both.. Layl (or Sun in common, I say the Elvish.. she'd prefer it wouldn't she?) I hadn't seen her in a long while, so that was nice. They were looking for a group of people... funny thing was I was too, but I hadn't told the dwarf yet.
I said I didn't know where they were, but Rocky pointed behind the oxes and there they were! How'd he know? Tod and Layl ran across to see them, and we walked on behind.
Then with a pang of realisation I remembered I'd left my journal on the bench from earlier! I told the group this and asked them if they could wait.. they said yes, and the dwarf came with me too.
I ran back once I stuffed it hastily into a pack and luckily, they were still there. We set off as a group.. Me, Tod, Rocky, Layl, Oma Limetree, Daniella Stromhaven.. those I knew.
There was also this man hooded and clad in a dark green, who I cam to know as Elder, the three 'Wardens of Toran' (Nom, Rank and Rit) whom I really hate now. Don't ask..
I think that was it, hopefully I didn't miss anyone out.. apart from the clerics who traveled with us, that is.
Anyway, when we got there, there was this guy called Nottalor. He started to tell us of his dream, a dream where old men shook spears at each other or something. We had to try and solve it.
By the hells! I can't even remember the name of Nottalor's people. Ah well.
The other tribe were the Avners in any case.
I was getting bored, and tip-toed to see over the group. They spent too much time arguing, I just wanted to get on with it. Then Elder said he shared the same dream, so he and Nottalor walked away and talked. We waited.
The wardens couldn't stay still and Rank kept going up to Rit and saying,
"Sir yes sir!" Or "Sir, whats orders sir?"
I gritted my teeth and couldn't take this anymore... when I get angry, I get angry. When Rank said the latter, I stood up and burst out with,
"How 'bout you SHUT UP! I've 'ad just about enough with all this 'yes sir'!"
Everyone looked to me, even Tod peeked round the building (he went to eavesdrop on Elder). Oma started laughing then, I had a feeling she was thinking something similar to me.
Anyway, we made our way to the valleys.. blah,blah. The stupid wardens kept rushing ahead, but after awhile I just ignored them, I didn't care anymore.
Then we came upon tigers. I rushed ahead, and I calmed it down.. then arrows stuck in it, and I could see the rage come back into its eyes. It slashed me.. was ripping me apart. Those fools!
The others hacked it down off me, but the damage had been done. I fell to the ground and I was lying in a pool of blood soon, moaning in pain.
It was lucky that they bandaged me up quick as they did, and I slowly got to my feet.
I glanced across at the tiger corpse and a glint of sadness passed in my eyes. I turned to the others and got their attention.
"I 'ad that one calmed! Don't you see? Ya almost got me killed, and the tiger killed too... and for what? To quench your bloodthirsty needs?" I protested.
They didn't seem convinced though.. and I sighed. Why am I bothering to try? Why would they listen to me? They carried on, and Tod looked back and waited for me to trudge on behind.
Tod would scout ahead and lure the giant spideys ahead, and we smooshed them. The wardens found a hole, and were questioning it. I knew they were dumb, but thats obviously where the spideys came out of.
I just muttered, 'Yeh, hopin' ya fall down et..' *chuckles to herself*
This went on, until we finally made it to the Avner camp. It took a lot of talking, but finally both tribes agreed to be at peace, if we could pass their test. We had to clear out this valley or something...
They were going to get Tod to go scout again. I thought I'd make an excuse to go with him... be some back-up ya know? No-one should go alone, in case they get seen... or something. I thought of a good one in time too, I said I could sneak and that should there be any more tigers, I could calm them. Daniella seemed to think this a good idea, and she nodded.
So me and Tod scouted ahead, keeping close to the trees. I gulped.. We saw about twenty harpies, all along the hills!
So we went back and told them the news. We went ahead then, to try and clear them. We did the luring thing again, to be on the safe side. It was working too!
Then one ran ahead, and Tod followed. I gripped my sword and ran forward to slash at the group of attacking harpies. They saw me, and slashed back with long talons. It was getting bad.. harpies were firing arrows too.
I had to move back, I was getting badly hurt, and I pulled out my bow and shot one in the head, it went down. I glanced across, Tod was still there! I turned my bow and notched an arrow for the one attacking him...
The arrow never fired. Because I turned my bow to his attacker.. I never paid attention to the others. I couldn't tell what was going on, only that everything blacked out suddenly and I felt searing pain in my ribs... I fell to the floor.
Suddenly I woke again, gasping for air and my eyes darted about startled. Bending over me was a cleric, and a very relieved looking dwarf.
Turns out the cleric raised me back to life... I turned to thank him, but he was already gone.
I glanced back and saw Daniella helping Tod up, he was thrashing about.. looking just as startled as I did. Tears welled in my eyes. He died too? So I failed to help... I looked at my bow and took the arrow out. I cursed myself.. I kept thinking, I could have fired that arrow! But maybe I couldn't. Who knows.
Anyways, we made it back safe to Hemp eventually... and life continues.
The two tribes were at peace, at least we achieved that.

-Keppli

*closes the journal and makes her way out the tree, journal under her arm*