Irabel exhaled softly and gently placed her soft hand on Zarda's, who was seated close to her on the stone.
Irabel asked, "Hmmm, Where do I begin?" Zarda chuckled in response.
"Perhaps, from the beginning " he replied.
Irabel Otter excitedly recounted her fascinating visit to Fljot, sharing stories of her encounters with grumpy beavers, drunken cranes, and polite troutmen. Her time at Fljot was short, yet filled with interesting events, from meeting Mama Erma the crane to discovering her love, Oscar. She talked about the wild eyed crane that could see without sight. Irabel's riddles made no sense to Zarda at first, but then eventually he realized she spoke of the old cranes blindness and ability as a seer. Irabel described the old seer as kind and nurturing, earning the title of "mother" for her helpful nature. Despite her quirky demeanor, the seer played a crucial role in assisting Irabel in finding her lost companion, Oscar. Zarda interrupted her to ask a serious question, intrigued by her tales.
"Where and how did she locate your beloved?" He inquired.
I'm getting close to that part, please have patience. So, I was sitting with Mama Erma, also known as Mother Erm, who had invited me to join her for tea and sweet nibs. We chatted until I finally asked about my dear Oscar. To my excitement, she knew where he had been. She told me that pelican Fred from the coasts of Australia had been visiting when the humans arrived. Oscar had apparently floated down the stream all the way out to the oceans edge. Pelican Fred and a few crew mates were relaxing and enjoying their stay when a strange creature emerged from the dark waters, startling them. They rescued the weakened creature and brought him aboard the S.S Julian, a sea ship from Australia. They used the ship to sail along the coast of America. The creature stayed there until I found him safe and sound, unaware of my fate. Luckily, Pelican Fred had shared information with his loyal friend Mama Erma, or I would have passed by him without noticing.Instead it looks like I showed up right on time." Shared Irabel.
Zarda asked, "Pelican Fred has been on board the ship named S.S Julian this whole time with Oscar?"
"Well, yes and no. Initially, they stayed a few weeks for Oscar to heal, then he joined them in traveling back home for a bit. They gladly brought him back to see if he could find me, but instead of him finding me, it was I who found him. I am grateful he was okay and well looked after. Now he's resting in a cabin down in Fljot. I wanted to let you know that he and I are going to travel to Australia with Pelican Fred and his crew. I've never been and I hear it's lovely. It's probably safer this way, considering that the scientists are planning to invade Havardr soon. I can't take a chance and lose him again, Zarda. I love my Oscar far too much. I hope you understand," she replied.
Zarda completely understood and had no intention of interfering. He was genuinely happy for her, wishing them both safe travels. And as they parted ways, he gave her a warm hug.
"I should go say goodbye to the others and head back to Oscar. I can't stand being apart from him too long," she said with joy.
Zarda was in desperate need of rest after the exhausting events of the past few days. With the rescue of the majesties and guards completed, the escape from Hellir successfully behind them, the resolution of the battles, the discovery of a lost otter, and a day filled with draining training, Zarda knew he needed a peaceful night's sleep. Oridian lingered in his mind, her expression of despair evident when he expressed his desire to remain friends for now. Although he could tell he had hurt her feelings, she quickly masked her emotions with a cold, intimidating glare. She was now actively avoiding him at all costs.
The cool breeze caused Zarda to yawn, feeling exhausted as she walked back to their sleeping area. He noticed many of the animals also seemed fatigued. Zarda recalled overhearing Bjorn and Osborn discussing before her departure on her new adventure. Something about she hoped to reach the new settlement before their hibernation instincts took over. Osborn too went on to agree playfully yawning, mentioning how the cold weather was already making him feel sleepy.
Zarda successfully reached his bed without stumbling or dozing off. The moment his head touched the pillow, he fell into a deep sleep from which nothing could rouse him. In the meantime, the residents of the town were getting ready for the night. The king and queen were enjoying a warm intimate bath in the temple, the warriors had retired for the night, and Zarda's friends were huddled around a firepit outside the cabins, keeping warm.
Oridian sat silently as Zarda passed by their group and went up the stairs in a daze. Clearly upset at the sight of him, Oridian decided to take a quick walk alone to clear her thoughts. Informing the others that she would return shortly, she found a peaceful path to wander down. Despite the darkness, Oridian could see well enough to watch her steps. The encounter with Zarda had left her feeling like a looser, and she needed to shake off those emotions. Feeling a cold breeze, she was thankful for her black faux fur tunic, with the hood pulled up to shield her from the icy wind.
She ventured further into the forest, surrounded by an unsettling silence. Despite being alone, Oridian remained unafraid, confident in her ability to handle any obstacles. However, the fear of being trapped again by metal bars lingered in her mind. Her recent captures had left her wary of humans, prompting her desire to leave Montana for good. Despite her embarrassment in front of her crush, she still hoped to depart with him by her side, regardless of how they planned to do so. All she craved was to return to the simplicity of their friendship, free from the awkwardness of romantic tension. Maybe in a few days, once the awkward 'I like you, do you like me' phase had passed, they could slowly revert to their playful friendship.
The path ahead of her started to disappear into thick twisted brush. Oridian had not noticed she had strayed beyond the invisible boundaries of the runes. Somehow, she had veered off the path, or so she thought. Now, she found herself in unfamiliar territory, not just for her, but for many residents of Havardr. She persevered, hoping to find a clear path again, but instead, she was pulled further in by the relentless vines and gnarled tree limbs. Rather than enjoying a leisurely walk, she was now fighting her way through the dense foliage. Oridian remained composed, pausing to take in her surroundings. Anxiety crept in as the trees seemed to close in around her, trapping her in a wooded prison. Her worst fear had become reality, and she knew it was her own doing.
Confused and fearful, she began to claw and slash her way through the tangled jail cell, unsure of which way to go. Her pace quickened, her calm walk turning into a sprint as she ran towards freedom. As she ran, her mind raced away from the memories of her old prison. Eventually breaking past the brush into an open landscape, she saw the dark sky above, with the half crescent moon glowing against the black galaxy. The fog settled on the ground around her, and the breeze brushed against the tall grass, tickling her legs.
Oridian came across something shiny peeking through the dense woods on the other side. Intrigued, she followed the mysterious glow, finding that crossing the seas of grass took more energy than the tangled forest. Eventually, she reached a dark, gnarled wooded area where the light grew brighter. Upon closer inspection, she discovered it was just glass reflecting the moonlight, acting as a guide through the dark forest. Approaching cautiously, she peered into the windows of an old, abandoned military plane in good condition, filled with crates of perishable goods or possibly weapons. Excited by her discovery, Oridian marked her scent and headed back towards Havardr to share the news with her friends. Navigating her way through the forest, she eventually returned to find her friends relaxing by the firepit. They looked up, their faces filled with concern as Oridian eagerly shared her findings with them.
Desiring to share her valuable discovery with Zarda, she bravely decided to wake him from his sleep. Leaving the group to converse among themselves, she quietly departed. Sneaking up the stairs and down the hall, she sought out Zarda's bedroom. Finally reaching his resting place, she discovered him peacefully asleep on his bed. Approaching him cautiously, she stood by his side, admiring his stunning, pale complexion.