With Luna safely back in their arms, the group stood tense, their hearts still pounding from the search. The Gloomlings huddled together by their nest, watching the immortals warily, their grotesque, twisted forms trembling under the weight of the situation.
One of the Gloomlings, a smaller creature with wide, shimmering eyes, stepped forward, its small, gnarled hands clutching at its chest. "We… we didn't mean any harm," it stammered, its voice quivering like a leaf in the wind.
Eirik tightened his grip on Luna, still not fully trusting the creatures. "What do you mean? Why did you take her?" His tone was sharp, laced with the residual anger of the earlier encounter.
The Gloomling flinched but continued, "We saw her… playing alone. She was so happy, laughing, and we thought… maybe she could come with us. We don't have much joy… and she seemed to bring it."
The other Gloomlings shifted nervously, glancing at each other as the small one spoke. The immortals exchanged skeptical looks, their expressions a mix of confusion and disbelief.
Lucius crossed his arms, his brow furrowed. "And you thought stealing her away was a good idea?"
The Gloomling's ears drooped slightly. "We didn't think you would find us… or her. We just wanted her to play. We thought… maybe she'd like it with us. We've seen her play alone for so long." It took a deep breath, as if steeling itself. "We thought she might be lonely too."
Nyssa's expression softened. "You saw her alone and thought she could be happy with you. But you scared us. We thought you were dangerous."
The Gloomling nodded slowly, its gaze downcast. "We understand. But we didn't know. We were afraid too. We thought you might hurt us if we let her go."
A silence fell over the group, the weight of the Gloomling's words hanging in the air. Eirik's fierce demeanor began to waver as he watched the little creature tremble with fear. "So, you're saying you only wanted to play?"
"Yes!" the Gloomling exclaimed, its eyes wide with hope. "We're lonely, and we saw how happy she was. We thought… maybe she could be our friend. If you let us… could we come to play sometimes? We'll bring gifts! Or help you if you need anything. We know this forest better than you do. We've been here a long time."
Thalos raised an eyebrow, skepticism evident in his voice. "How do you know how long we've been here?"
The Gloomling tilted its head, its expression thoughtful. "We've seen you many times. You weren't hard to spot, with the way you searched the forest. We've watched you from afar, trying to figure things out without knowing what you were looking for." It paused, and a flicker of understanding crossed its face. "We saw you turn a beast into a monster before you defeated it. And we saw you find the ancient castle… how you met your ex-guardian."
The immortals exchanged startled glances, the gravity of the Gloomling's observations settling in. They had been watched, studied even, by these seemingly insignificant creatures.
"What about Luna?" Elara asked, her voice low with curiosity. "Do you know where she came from?"
The Gloomling shook its head, its features contorting with regret. "No, I don't know. The first time we saw her, she was with you. She just… appeared, out of nowhere."
The immortals fell silent again, their minds racing with questions and possibilities.
Eirik took a breath, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "You're sure you don't know anything about her origins?"
The Gloomling shook its head again, its wide eyes filled with sincerity. "We only know that she is special. We felt it the moment we saw her."
The group stood in contemplation, processing the Gloomling's words and the implications behind them.
"Very well," Thalos finally said, breaking the silence. "We'll consider your request. But understand, we will protect her at all costs."
The Gloomling nodded eagerly, relief washing over its features. "Thank you! We promise to be good friends! And if you need us, we will be here."
With that, the Gloomling retreated to its nest, its companions inching closer as it spoke to them in hushed tones. The immortals turned to leave the forest, their minds swirling with newfound questions and a growing sense of mystery surrounding Luna's existence.
As they stepped into the clearing, Luna babbled happily, reaching for the sunlight filtering through the trees, her laughter echoing like music in the quiet woods. The immortals exchanged knowing glances, a silent agreement forming among them. Whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them together, united by their bond with Luna and the uncharted path that awaited them.
---
After the immortals left, the Gloomlings gathered, their voices a soft murmur against the gentle rustle of leaves. "Do you think that child comes from the village nearby?" one Gloomling asked, its curiosity evident.
"Maybe," replied the one who had spoken with the immortals, glancing toward the path the immortals had taken. "But who knows?"
The discussion faded into quiet speculation, their small forms huddled together in the dim light of their nest, the air thick with wonder and uncertainty.