2. Reconnecting paths

"Oh... my... you are not giving up... I can't blame you..." - Faramos commented almost out of breath, then gave chase again forcing himself to run and jump at the escaping boar.

Faramos with last portion of air in his lungs made a desperate leap to jump over boar slipping away.

Even to his own surprise, he managed to catch it and jump over its back. Now... will he be able to keep the angry and wounded animal in his grasps?But... The boar, who was now furious beyond belief, tried to throw him off. It tried to shake him off by hitting with its whole body at the nearest tree trunks what Faramos felt quite well and deep, but even though the pain and scratches at his back - he didn't let go. With one of the boar's attempt to hit him on the nearby rock, Faramos - tired and wounded, but fully engulfed in the trill of a hunt - once more used his enormous strength to redirect wild boar's snout directly at the rock hard surface, making it braking off one of it's tusks and visibly loosing even some more blood and strength.

Faramos
In a desperate attempt to free itself, the boar charged towards a large rock, aiming to crush Faramos against it. With a surge of determination, Faramos used his enormous strength to redirect the boar’s snout directly into the rock’s hard surface. The impact was brutal, breaking off one of the boar's tusks and causing it to lose even more blood and strength.

The boar staggered, its movements growing weaker. With one final effort, Faramos tightened his grip and drove his knife deep into the boar's throat, ending its life. The mighty animal collapsed, its furious struggle finally over.

Breathing heavily, Faramos knelt beside the fallen boar, murmuring a quiet prayer of thanks and respect. The forest around him seemed to hold its breath, honoring the life that had been taken. He quickly set to work, gutting and cleaning the boar. The task was messy and exhausting, but necessary.By the time he finished, the sun had dipped below the horizon, casting the forest in twilight. He hefted the meat and the boar's carcass onto his shoulders, grunting under the weight, and began the trek back to camp.

Springrise, 6th day.
Evening
Brenda and Nindia had finished preparing their camp. When Faramos arrived, Brenda's eyes widened at the sight of the boar.

"Impressive catch," she said, with admiration in her voice.

Faramos nodded, setting the boar down carefully. "We’ll eat well tonight," he said, a tired smile on his face.

Brenda went to prepare the meat, her movements swift and efficient. Soon, the rich aroma of roasting boar filled the air, mingling with the scent of pine and earth. They sat around the fire, the warmth and light a comforting presence in the darkening forest.

"Tomorrow, we'll decide our next steps. Together, we can face whatever comes." Brenda said, looking at Nindia and Faramos. "But for now, I’m going to roast this meat and prepare some rations for us.

Who will sleep in the evening, to stay awake and keep watch during the night? My suggestion is for Nindia to sleep now and Faramos to find some potable water to fill our waterskins, but I don’t know... What do you think?"

Nindia is also very impressed with the catch Would you teach to that one day? Never been hunting I like that! Ninda answer Brenda and not waiting for dwarf's opinion falls asleep in no time.

Faramos smiled on the smell and sight of roasted, fresh meat. Hearing Brenda suggestion and seeing how Ninda is tired he answered:
"Now you want to send me to... hunt some water? Hehe... hunt is a hunt - always a good thing. I will depart very soon."

Turning towards Ninda and answering her about the hunt:
"Yes. It was a good and just hunt. The Boar provided me with proper challange. And I always respect that. But it's true that there are days when I could use some help and someone with a bow... Some boars are even bigger than this one." - he explained.

Faromas leaves acquired pelts in the camp, and exchanges it for the waterskins of his friends and departs to look for some nice and clean brook.

It didn’t take long for Faramos to find a small stream, the water clear and cool as it trickled over smooth stones. He knelt by the bank, filling each waterskin with careful precision, the refreshing scent of wet earth filling his senses. Once they were full, he secured them tightly and made his way back to the camp.

When he returned, Brenda had already portioned out some of the roasted boar for him and Nindia. The fire had been stoked just enough to provide warmth without drawing too much attention to their location.Faramos accepted the food gratefully, the rich flavor of the meat revitalizing his tired body. Brenda ate beside him. After they finished their meal, Brenda said "We should get some rest now." She wakes up Nindia and goes to sleep.

The forest remained quiet, and the night passed uneventfully, the crackling of the fire and the distant calls of night creatures the only sounds to keep Nindia company. She remained alert, knowing that this was just the beginning of their journey and that many more challenges awaited them in the days to come.

Morning, Faramos . While we wait Brenda, my I ask a personal question? I've been told all dwarfs devote their lives for the a holy task of building the world. They dislike humans, daylight and wilderness. And yet you are here - exactly the opposite of the kin I've been told about. Is everything I know of dwarfs a lie, or is it just you being the black swan?

When Brenda wakes up

Morning, Brenda. I've realized I was too exhausted yesterday to ask you, but why are you here and what did you plan doing? Nindia confirm today she is ready to follow you wherever you go. I feel empty. Need more time to figure out what I want even to do
Though it sounds like she has figured it out already, just don't speak of it.

Brenda tells Nindia about the rumors and legends that they heard about, but confess that they haven't discussed a lot about it yet. As they left Willowbrook, they were mainly just anxious to travel.

Faramos snorted slightly and grimaced a bit, dissatisfied with how the matter was put.
"Another one that seam to be insinuating that I'm not a real dwarf..." - his first thought, quickly suppressed his anger:
"But it's Nindia... she deserves to know... and to be honest... I'm certainly not 'a standard' dwarf..."

"Well... thats quite long story, but lets say for now: when I was very young, I was lost in the woods for exactly one year. No one... including me..." - his voice broke a little as though he wasn't really that sure - " knows what was happening to me during that time. Then I returned. Visibly older, but with stolen memories... My parents have left few months before... that was still a time of Mist, so no one wanted to go after them with me. So... I stayed in Willowbrook and grew up among humans." - he paused for a moment with some thought of what he could learn being among his kin.

Then clearly annoyed by the subject again, he started to talk as surpassingly as he stoped:
"To sum it up: I will start to build the world when I will find my parents, as I don't know how to do it now. I have no problem with light, nature seam to talk to me and I like most humans I have met so far... except those that think I'm not a real dwarf." - he finished with a menacing sigh. But a moment later he smiled, clearly thinking that he had managed to trick Nindia tha he is really angry.

"And I' more like green bear, than black swan." - he said trying to sound mysteriously.

---

"I say we push forward to the north. I really want to be sure that Rust Brothers aren't able to fallow us. And not many people dare to enter The Whispering Woods. I think... I was there... once.... and as you can see... I'm still alive. So we should go straight through it. Maybe even to the other side. That way we will be sure we lost Rust Brothers. We need more fighters and resources if we want to stand a chance against them..." - Faramos was quite surprised that this thought of fighting Rust Brother has crossed his mind, but apparently Nindia's story has moved him much.

You don't cease to amaze me, Faramos. I thought you are looking to meet Yawim. When I met you - you were moving west... forbidden knowledge and a simmering rage - it doesn't speak to you? It certainly doesn't speak to me!
OK I'm ready to go whenever you are and I'd like to stay behind the first day to see how you do that, I'm only good at stepping into a nest of wasps

With that, the three of them packed up their camp, ensuring that no trace of their presence was left behind. They moved northward, deeper into the forest, away from the ancient road that had guided them this far. The trees grew thicker as they walked, their trunks wide and twisted, roots knotted into the earth like the fingers of an ancient giant.

The weather was cool and pleasant, with intermittent light rain that came and went in gentle waves, interspersed with moments of sunshine that broke through the canopy above. The forest was alive with the sounds of nature—birds singing, leaves rustling, and the distant murmur of a stream.

As they walked, Brenda kept an eye on Nindia, who moved with a renewed sense of purpose. Though she was still grieving and lost in the aftermath of her village's destruction, the company of Faramos and Brenda seemed to give her strength.

Whispering Woods
The Whispering Woods stretch before you, an ancient forest cloaked in perpetual twilight. Towering trees with gnarled trunks and thick canopies create a roof of leaves that filters the sunlight into ethereal beams. The air is cool and damp, filled with the earthy scent of moss and decaying leaves. A chorus of whispers seems to emanate from the trees themselves, as if the forest holds countless secrets. Underfoot, a carpet of fallen leaves and twisted roots makes the path uneven. Here and there, patches of luminescent mushrooms cast a ghostly glow, and the distant hoot of an owl or rustle of unseen creatures adds to the otherworldly atmosphere. The woods are alive with a sense of magic and mystery, inviting you to explore their depths but warning you to tread carefully.

Springrise, 7th day.
Morning

The Whispering Woods seemed to breathe around them as Faramos, Brenda, and Nindia pressed forward along the uneven path. The forest, ever-present in its eerie beauty, whispered its secrets through the rustling of leaves and the subtle shifting of shadows.

The trio moved cautiously, each step calculated to avoid the treacherous roots and hidden pitfalls beneath the thick layer of decaying foliage.

Today, the forest was alive with whispers, an endless murmur that seemed to rise from the very roots of the trees. Faramos could feel the pulse of the woods beneath his boots, the slow, ancient heartbeat of something both wise and dangerous. He knew better than to take the forest’s secrets lightly, but something about the way the whispers ebbed and flowed today put him on edge.

Then, cutting through the endless murmuring, came a sound that made them all stop in their tracks: a faint, distant cry. It was fragile, like the voice of a bird caught in a snare, and it sent a chill through the group.

"Did you hear that?" Brenda asked, her voice low but tense.

"Aye," Faramos replied, his deep voice barely more than a rumble. "Someone’s in trouble, I reckon."

"Could be a trick," Nindia cautioned, her instincts as a rogue making her wary of the unexpected.

"Or it could be a child," Faramos said, his eyes narrowing as he listened more intently.

Brenda, what was the the legend about sprites that play tricks? Faramos, why did we came here again? Nindia visibly struggle. She is used to deal with humans, not spirits.
Certainly not looking for children she adds unconsciously making a step back and put hands on her weapons.

I can sneak upon whatever is making that noise. I prefer fight trick against trick. she whispers a suggestion that indicates she stay with her conclusion about the sound

"Legends usually have some wisdom in them. But it doesn't mean they are completely true." - Faramos tried to recall what there was in those legends, but was interrupted by the next question:
"We came here to make sure that no Rust Brother will be able to follow us... and complete their work..." - he replied very coldly, with lowered voice but Nindia quickly understood that the coldness came from the fact, that he also took their current situation very seriously.

"We have to check it. Either to help someone... or to get to know what danger is lurking upon us out there... it's better to face it than to look back constantly if something want to catch us."

"Let's get there together. Brenda... you stay back, at the length of the sight, to not loose us... you're not exactly the stealthy type... I dare to admit...".

Faramos crouched down getting ready for cautious approach:
"Shell we? You want to lead?" - he looked inquisitively at their rouge companion - "Or are you too afraid?" - he ended with almost none hearable whisper in this very dwarf-like manner, trying to encourage someone by daring her.