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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Tarlonniel" data-source="post: 2207593" data-attributes="member: 18079">Kiylea doesn't wait for Bubbles' wagon; right now she much prefers dashing on foot across Amblestock's outlying farmlands. Everything seems more alive than usual, the animals playing and basking in the sun, the plants rejoicing in strong growth under a bright blue sky. But at the same time she can't rid herself of the uncomfortable sense that there's a shadow lurking somewhere, ready to spread darkness over the lovely scene if given an opportunity. "Well it isn't gonna' get one!" she vows firmly.Upon arriving home she finds Ma Tangleweb waiting anxiously. "Bless the goddess, child, where have you been?" Brighteyn asks, hurrying forward. "What happened to your lovely jerkin?""Oh Ma, you'll never guess!" And Kiylea launches into the story of their quest - somewhat edited in any part which involves her injury. Brighteyn listens with only occasional interjections, but it's obvious that she doesn't quite believe the entire story. Motherly intuition, perhaps, or it may just be the fact that Kiylea's a terrible liar... likely both. However, to her child's surprise, she asks no probing questions and makes no accusations. Just listens."When d'you expect to be back this time, dear?" Brighteyn inquires upon hearing of the groups' proposed new adventure. "I hardly know, Ma. Things are gone a bit wild," Kiylea replies with a smile and a shrug. She has gathered her javelins and stands on the threshold of their modest home. "I'm gonna' go see Tirrin and talk with Marigold about mending this tear. Then I'll jump over to the armory, though I don't think they've got anything I could use, and after that back to the brewery. Tell Pa 'Hi' for me. Love you." She kisses her mother and starts off. Brighteyn watches from the doorway, a thousand questions on her lips and a million vague terrors in her heart, but remains silent until Kiylea has disappeared from view. Then a soft sadness fills her eyes. "Our little girl," she says softly. "When did we lose our little girl?" "She wandered into the forest, and from it in her stead is come this woman of the woods, who walks her own paths... and whose secrets I must honor."In a few minutes Kiylea has come to her brother's house and is beginning the whole story over again, though this time she hides nothing. Tirrin listens soberly while his wife, with skillful stitches, returns the leather to something of its original wholeness. "You've had some adventure, Leafkin. And it sounds like there's more to come," he comments at last."I hope so! But mostly I hope we can find what poisoned the boar," Kiylea replies as she slips back into her armor. "That's the main thing. Thanks Mari." She gives her sister-in-law a peck on the cheek."My pleasure. Good luck.""Be careful.""I will." And she's off again. After spending an hour or so looking over the armory, she returns across the fields to where she started from that morning.</blockquote>

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