My book-A.F.

[scifibarbie]

We went and found where we were ambushed so long ago. The path was clear and we didnt find anything of interest. I went thru the area again, rehashing things like i did before. After awhile Grenna said she found some tracks. THey were human, and pretty fresh..only a few hours old.

We tracked them and found some young kid heading towards hempstead. He was trying to flit thru the woods undetected. We decided to say hello after following him for a bit. Turns out he was the son of the farmer that we took that family to so long ago.

I guess things have been getting worse and worse, and he was out trying to hunt and find food for his family. He said ogres were getting more and more aggressive of late. Especially to farms near the feet of the mountains where they live. I guess the raided what crops where left and even took the cows and oxen anyone had.

We took him home after helping him hunt for food. We even left him some of our rations that we had to spare. They offered to let us spend the nite with them. Their house wasnt very big. More like a big mud hut. But it was dry at least.

During the night we we woke up and heard crying and screaming! The family from the next farm over was being raided! Grenna and I ran out and saw the some giant shapes running around outside of it and then setting it on fire.

We ran over there and I saw it. There was a woman holding her babe and a giant gore thing gettign ready to mash her to pulp! Grenna just went mad! She screamed and attacked him. I just watched as she took his legs out from under him, then his head flew like a kickball and she started mashing his body to pulp! I nearly went sick watching her, then she looked up and there was a gleam in her eyes I could see in the dark. It really scared me, then she charged at me! I just froze as she charged 2 ogres who ran past my hiding place and started fighting her! Next thing I know I made it to the woman and her babe. I got us to safety while Grenna was pounding those ogres to mush.

After getting the momma to the farm, I went back for Grenna. She had torn apart 4 ogres by herself! But she was really hurt bad. Lucky for her, I had a potion or two the rangers gave me. I quick gave them to her and started to bandage her wounds. She had a nasty gash on her thigh, but she didnt even act like she felt anything! I helped get her back to the farm and the family helped me finish bandaging her wounds. We stayed there a day or two while she recovered. She told me then about how seeing that poor woman and her baby reminded her of what happened to her family. She just lost it and went into what she called her families 'fury'. She just wanted to protect the momma.

After Grenna recovered for abit, we decided to head back to her packs den. It took us about a week, but Grenna was really really tough and we even made good time.

On our trip to her den, I asked her why she acted like that. She told how she watched her family slaughtered like that. That sometimes when bad things happen to us, we try not to let them happen again. And that makes us better for it. You cant change what happens to you, but you can change what will happen according to your measure.

I think i know why uncle Dalan likes her so much.

[scifibarbie]

Its been a hectic last few days!

I have been helping Grenna with her chores and stuff around the den, and we have been gathering minerals and stuff too. Nothing too dangerous, jsut mostly bugs and spiders to deal with. Yeech!!

I met mister Jin again. I like him, hes really nice. Kinda soft spoken though, or maybe its just me. I like him alot, but whenever hes around me I always see him sniff the air nad tehn give me afunny look. Then my scar starts to itch really bad. Its terribly annoying! I try not to scratch it in front of anyone cause only a couple of people know about it. If uncle Dalan found out where i got it he would be so upset with me!

One night while we were sitting by the fire in the den, a bunch of the pack (thats what they call themselves) showed up just out of the blue. Seems they come and go alot. They started talking about things happening in the world and how stuff seems to be getting pretty bad for people. They asked me if I noticed anything, or had been affected by the darkness in the world. I got kinda silent about that.

I hadnt really thought about it in such large terms before. The only thing I could think of was the farmers family we were just at. Im not sure I was ready to really talk at length about my experience with that...but for some reason I just started talking.

I told them how scared I was during the ambush, how I blamed myself; regardless of what I had seen tothe contrary, for the ambush and the fathers death, how ever since then I have been feeling isolated and alone because of it. How i was pushing my friends away cause i didnt want to be the one to get anyone hurt. w

I then started in on the Rofis, and how they drove my dad away from his family. How things had happened and it was their fault because of the stupid stufff they were doing with that dwarf so dad got in trouble cause he didnt believe they were doing what was right.

I talked alot! I cried alot too. I think I talked too much actually, cause when iwas doen and still sniffling, they all got kinda quiet. I think I made alot of them uncomfortable or something cause i jsut opened up and it all came out like a torrent!

After what seemed like an eternity of weird silence, they said I was pretty brave to try and go and face whatever it was that was vexing me on my own. That even the bravest fighters feel that way when bad thigns happen and I shouldnt blame myself for the fallen. I did what I could do and thats all any of us could do. Or soemthing like that. The life my dad chose, and what I seem to be on the path for, it comes with the calling. You just have to go on. try and learn from your experience, but dont let the bad things stop you.

As far as the ogre stuff and bandits they said it was kinda what they had been seeing too. They said something along the lines of the smelling trouble in the air and that the ogres were getting braver or more desperate. That more and more stuff like that might happen since food was scarce for everyone.

After everyone left, Mister Jin came to see me in the room I was in. He asked me some odd questions, but in return he told me a story about my momma.
He asked me where I grew up, since he heard I disappeared for many years until recently. I told him I grew up in a small village dad helped rebuild after the plague stuff in hurm. I didnt know where it was, but I told him my momma was buried there. It was an important place I guess, since it was where she grew up. Then he asked if I had ever played with wolfs. Played with wolfs?! That was an odd question, I had never been asked that before. I asked him why, and he jsut he was just curious, so I told him about the wolf pack that saved me when I was alot younger. I didnt tell him about the bite the big one did to me, but it did start to itch terribly as I told him the story.

After telling him my story, he said it was his turn if I wanted. He told me the story of when he helped my momma save her momma! He said it happened in the village where i grew up, since that was where she grew up. It was really scary, but he said my momma faced some terrible things and did a great deed. Afterwards he told me about the trip back and how momma helped fight some cursed wolves or something that came for him. He showed me his scar and told me how he was marked by a great wolf, and the wolfs my mom helped defeat were tracking him by it.

He said the rest of that story was for another time if I wanted. Cause it was a difficult time in his life nad he felt he lost everything, kinda like how i feel right now. But good things came of it.

[scifibarbie]

Ive been spending alot of time with the pack. They have me helping out with the den while I stay here with Grenna.

Berilu is really sweet. She has me helping around hte kitchen and is showing me how to grind wheat nad corn and stuff for meals nad flours. She also has me cleaning and tidying. Especially the stuff she cant reach easy! I guess Im gettig pretty tall now.

Karana is really nice too. Abit weird sometimes as she keeps telling me I need to be able to knock the boys out who get fresh with me. She is really nice once you get past her gruff exterior. At first I thought she was kinda touched or dumb or somthing cause of her ideas and way she talked. Boy was i wrong! Shes really smart in her own way nad really nice. She even held my hair when i got sick in th trash can after she got me to drink some nasty stuff she was drinking! Grenna yelled at her sayin Dalan would have her hide if he ever found out I was getting drunk at my age and while under her care. I jsut remember being all giggly with karana and then blech! I felt really terrible the next day and grenna nad berilu really made me work hard that day! To teach me a lesson or something.

Jin still looks at me funny. I swear he sniffs at me sometimes like hes smelling me nad getting my scent or something. Not in abad way..just like a dog or something I guess is the best to describe it. Hes also teaching me to fight using my hands and feet.

Coyote is really funny. Hes this elfish fellow who keeps changing shapes all the time. I think he likes me cause he keeps turning into a cat and having me pet him and brush him. I guess he needs some grooming or something!

The rest of the pack have been fun too. Some of them are teaching me more about different plants and stuff.

Thats it for now I guess...tomorrow we are leaving for my old village. I guess Jin knows the way and the pack are gonna escort grenna and I there. I cant wait! I get to see Alice again!

[scifibarbie]

Mister Jin seems to think I need time in my old haunts. Grenna agreed too, they seem to think that by seeing those places it might help me find what Im looking for.

To be honest, Im not even sure what it was I was looking for now in the first place. I know I left originally because I was tired of what I was feelin at home. That I was to blame for things between dad and miss Jenna at least partially. Now Im not so sure.

I miss my friends, I miss Sarah and Cole and Tristan and Sonya. I hope they are all alright. Sarah sent me a letter, but she ended it kinda funny. I dont think it was her that finished it. Im sure shes fine, it was prolly cole or tristan playing a joke on her or something.

Right now we have been on the road for about a week or so. Its a long way to the village. We have been running through the forests though, and not by any roads or anything so I guess thats why its taking so long. The pack has made sure I am training hard, and really working on my sneaking and searching skills and all things woodsy.

I have made pretty good progress too. They had me sneak up on a campfire I spotted on watch one night. It turned out to be bandits. A couple of ogres and mostly men I think, maybe an elf or two also. It was kinda hard to tell in the light and from the distance I was at. I didnt want to get too close.

I did see an overturned wagon and the ogres were gnawing on a horses leg or two! Looks like they raided a small caravan and hid it in the forest. Not good enough though!

The pack decided to pay them a visit, I was told to stay back and watch, but to keep my bow handy in case I needed it. I watched as the pack surrounded them, then once they were in place, mister Jin just walked right into the middle of them! It was so funny seeing their faces, all shocked and surprised and stuff. Mister Jin just asked why they were so far off the beaten path and why was there a dead person left unattended in the forest close by. I never saw that! Glad I didnt actually.

They just said that he was next, then the fight started! It was over pretty quick too. Miss Karana and Grenna went after the ogres and just seemed all insane about how they were fighting! The ogres didnt have a chance, though miss Grenna did use the horse leg to beat one of them senseless! That was actually pretty gross to see. The rest were dispatched really quickly, Jin knocked one into a tree with a punch! I swear he left a dent in the poor tree with his head. Coyote jumped on one shaped like a big cat of some sort mauled the elf trying to cast a spell. I couldnt watch much of that after he pounced on the caster. Im glad the fight didnt last too long. None of them were too seriously hurt which I was glad of.

The only thing i didnt really like was that we had to bury the bodies so that they wouldnt rot and maybe become diseased or something.

Well...to scout the area during my watch.

[scifibarbie]

We made it back to the old village.

Its changed alot since the last time I saw it. The huts arent so shabby and it seems to be thriving too! Everything seems so much more alive and flourishing here!

I think Jin was really surprised too. He told when he was here with my momma all the buildings were burned and the land was desolate. He said my dad had done a good job with the place.

I found miss Trudy's place. She has really gotten old. I just remember when she seemed so much younger and able ot get around alot easier. Even Turon is looking pretty shaggy. His coat has alot of grey in it.

She was so happy to see me! She gave me a huge hug and started crying alot. She made us dinner after that and the whole pack stayed at her house that nite.

The pack stayed in the village for a couple of days, just to be sure I would be alright. They looked around alot and I introduced them to my friends that were still around. I saw Alice again too!

She had changed alot, she looked different somehow, but its prolly cause its been so long since I last saw her. Shes really becoming a strong wizard too! We spent alot of time together again.

I noticed Jin and the pack disappeared for awhile, but I was too busy running around seeing old friends at the time.

THe last nite, we had a huuuge meal! It was really cool. All my old friends got to come, and teh pack told us a few tales of their adventures. It was a great time for all of us.

The next day the pack left. Im gonna miss them. I gave them all a hug nad said I hope ot see them again soon. Grenna said she would tell Dalan I was here, and when i was ready he would come and take me home. If he couldnt make it, then she would come for me.

As they left, JIn came up to me and said something odd...He said the longstrider watches over me. And I have friends who are watching over me. I think he meant my friends and stuff, and the pack too, but it was still odd I think.

Then they were gone.

[scifibarbie]

Ive been helping out miss Trudy alot lately. Chopping wood, cleaning the garden, patching the roof. Its hard work but Im enjoying it.

Yesterday I told miss Trudy that i was going in to the woods for awhile and may not be back for a day or so. She just warned me to be careful. I guess there has been trouble lately. She said some ogres or something found a way into the valley and raided some farms. Supposedly they were driven out and the entrance they came by was sealed. I hate ogres.

Bu thats not why Im going. I heard the baying of wolves teh last couple of nights. I dont ever remember them being so close to the village before. Plus, since I started hearing the howling, what Jin told me has been bugging me alot. So has my scar come to think of it! IT itches really bad.

I think I just need some time in the forest. Maybe I will have a visit from the wolfs. I hope so.

After spending the night in the woods, I decided to make my way back to the village. I thought I might spend some time at mommas tree. I havent been there since I first arrived. I always felt like she was near me when I was there.

I saw someone near the tree, just sitting there. Their back was to me so I wasnt sure who it was at first. As I snuck up I saw....it was dad!

I was so shocked! I still dont know what to do. I just watched him as he sat there for a long time. Then I faded back into the woods.

My first instinct was to run up and hug him and never let go. Then my anger at him started to well up...I wanted to run up and yell at him and hurt him like he hurt me! I dont know what to do. I need to think. Im not sure Im ready for this.

[scifibarbie]

Im not sure if dad saw me or not. If he did it doesnt matter, he probably wont be able to track me thru the woods. Uncle Dalan was having trouble tracking me before I left, I have improved alot since then.

I wandered pretty far into the wood. I needed time to think. So many memories of happier times, so much anger at what he did to me and miss Jenna.

He made me feel all alone in the world. That he was leaving me. For my own safety he said, because the church was mad at him and didnt want them to take it out on me and miss Jenna he said. Then he was gone. He said he would come visit, I saw him once. He was gone for so long after that. Miss Jenna wouldnt even look at me, she saw me and remembered dad and she would just get all depressed. I liked miss jenna but I couldnt bear that. Its not my fault he left us!

But then, he was never around alot when I was really young either. He would come and go for week or two and then be gone again for weeks at a time. But when he was around, we spent all of our time together., He taught me to use a sword, how to take care of myself. I remember him telling me stories of his and mommas adventures. How when I got sick he would bring me soup and tell me stories and keep me company.

I know i was not the best kid in the world, always wandering off and getting into trouble. But I didnt think I was that bad that he would leave me. I know he said what happened between him and miss Jenna wasnt my fault. That is had nothing to do with me, but i dont know.

Somethings near...

[scifibarbie]

The pack has grown! Many of the cubs I met so long ago are now large wolfs. The leader of the pack, the big dire that bit me so long ago seems to have gotten bigger too, or maybe it was just me.

I dont know why he brought me here. I think he wanted to show me something. I guess I was better at speaking with the wolfs than I thought! I can understand all of what they are trying to convey to me.

He seemed to know that I was really upset about something, he seemed to know my pack was hurting and it was hurting me. That I had alot on my mind and even more confusion about myself. He had a couple of wolfs walk with me for awhile in the woods while he left for abit. The female he left me with was named Blackpaw (you can guess why), the other was Greybeard (he had grey tufty jowls). They were really nice, they asked why I came back here and about other stuff. then they asked me about my pack. I told them my pack wasnt together anymore. I told them my pack leader (dad) left us, that I left because I reminded the rest of the pack about the leader. Since I wasnt the child of the current female. I tried to explain my story as best as I could. I told them that my dad was here. I guess he was looking for me. After awhile we headed back towards the rest of the pack.

We entered a small copse of woods with an opening in the middle of it and a large rock in the center. The pack leader went and sat upon it. He let out a long howl and the pack came and surrounded us all. In a few minutes everyone around me started to howl...I even started howling! I never knew I could do that! After the howling stopped, I looked up into the sky and saw the moon, and a bunch of stars shining really brightly, it kinda looked like an archer i think. The pack leader said we were giving thanks to the great pack leader, guardian of the wood, and prince of wolfs.

I guess its their god, I asked what his name was and they simply said he was just known as the great hunter or the prince of wolfs to them. He is the one who guides the pack, that makes sure all those who respect the wood are safe within it.

He told a tale in the distant pass, when the forests were young and wolves roamed the land. In the world there was a dark forest, with evil living at its core. Surrounding this was a light forest where wolves roamed; this was the pack of the Prince of Wolves, his children as they came to be known. Eventually the wolves encountered the evil and did battle with it. He didnt name the evil, but said that it recently awoke and was defeated once more. That the pack was nearly destroyed but in the end a great wolf triumphed over the darkness.

He spoke of why the pack had come to this valley. That the pack was called here a long time ago, to keep watch over something that had been destroyed. They also took it upon themselfs to protect the villagers, even though the villagers dont realize it.

Then he talked to me about the nature of the pack. That the pack survives because they each support and protect each other. That without each other, the pack would grow weak and die. Disagreements and arguments happen often in even the most closely nit pack. Sometimes things are resolved easily, other times a pack member may leave for a time to find their truth. But if the pack is truly close, then regardless of what transpired the pack does reunite and stay strong, even grows stronger sometimes. Sometimes though, no matter what happens, a seed of darkness can enter the heart of even the strongest pack, and if its allowed to grow and fester. The pack will rot and die, and perhaps none of them will survive their winter.

[scifibarbie]

I cant believe the dream I just had. It was so vivid!

Was it real? Why do I feel like I have been up all night long.

Im glad I wrote it down before I forgot it, though...I dont think I could ever forget that.

I think Im ready to go find dad now. I feel like Im ready for whatever may happen.


*As she gets up to leave, she notices there is a giant paw print in the moss near where she lay asleep. She smiles suddenly and heads back to where she last saw her dad.

[scifibarbie]

There he was, sitting under the tree.

I have to admit I was still thinking if I was ready to see him again. I was afraid of what he might say, what I might say. How I would feel. Then I steeled myself for it, the pack must be healed I guess.

I didnt want to sneak up on him, so I threw a few rocks at him to get his attention.

When he stood up and saw me, when I saw him...I dunno. I just stood there quiet like. We both stood there, gods it seemed like forever!

I just remember waving a little and saying hi dad or something like that. Next thing I know he had me in a huge hug and I could barely breathe!

We both cried for abit. Happy to see each other again. We sat under mommas tree and I remember we were quiet for awhile, just listening to the water in the stream that ran nearby.

Then he asked me why. So I told him, he left me, it wasnt like before, this time was different. I dont care what his reasons were, he just left me alone. SO what if he said he would come to visit me, it wasnt the same as before. Then he was gone for such a long time, i figured he had had enough of us all. I was angry, and I told him so.

I told him i needed time to think for myself. I also told him I was feeling really confused about other things within myself as well. I still am, but Im better now I think.

I told dad about my trip to the Rofi temple in Vehl. About Serissa and the priest guy, that I was so angry at the church for screwing up our lives. I know its not so anymore, there was more to it than just them. But I was so angry at the time and I wanted them to just leave you alone.

I told him about how I met with Grenna and we travelled together for awhile. How she took me to the old places, and how we visited the family we saved, and then how I spent time with the Farstriders.

I didnt tell him about the other night. Im not ready to share that with him. Im still trying to get it all straight in my head right now too.

[scifibarbie]

I am still not sure how I m feeling about dad right now. I love him, he is my dad after all. And we have spent alot of time together these last few days. It almost like the old days when he would come to visit me.

I know he loves me too, and that he will always do what he thinks is best for me. He says he will always be there for me too...That one Im not so sure of. Im not sure I do want him there for me all the time now. I think I see that I was selfish to think he would always be there, always around when I needed him, and always there when I didnt. And when the time came that I felt he wasnt, I ran off on my own. That the world revolved around me (which it does ) and that I could solve my problems by not dealing with them where I should have.

I like the idea that my dad will always be there for me, thats what the family is for. Now though, I think its time I start to learn to run on my own. To be able to do something for others, for the pack. And by becoming stronger, make my pack stronger. I know I still have alot to learn from my family, only now I think I will be better able to be apart of it.

My time on my own and with the Farstriders has shown me that I need to be able to stand on my own two feet. To be able to manage on my own and carry my own weight. That for the pack to grow and become strong, its members must be able to contribute. So far all I have done is take take take from my family and expect them to be at my beck and call sortof. I sound like a spoiled princess!

Time to grow up abit more I guess. I think Im ready to leave here and go home with dad now.

[scifibarbie]

My time in my old haunts has been good for me. I think mister Jin was right in having me come here.

I have enjoyed seeing all my old friends again, and walking the paths of the valley. I have learned much about who I am I think, and I have reconnected with my dad again.

After these last few weeks though...I think its time I leave. I miss this place alot. It was my home for so long, though my friends have grown and changed, so have I I think.

I dont know if dad is anxious to go. He seems to like it here. No troubles in the world to bother him, just the simple life of the village. I like it too, sitting by the stream under mommas tree, wandering the woods and staring up at the stars.

I think when Grenna and uncle Dalan get here , they will be surprised to find dad here. Im hoping we can all travel together back to half lake and from there back to haven or wherever. I am honestly in no hurry to return to city life.