Not Quite So Rare

[Kender Bard]

(Sanctuary, Spring 1020)

Maple was being adventurous. Her forested surroundings, the vitality of her bonded, and a good healthy dose of curiosity meant that Maple had decided to set off on her own to explore. Kaylin was busy with something or another and wouldn't want to look all over the Sanctuary anyway. That was fine! Maple was proud of her chosen and Nuo for being quite brave as it was.

But she was braver still. Flying from spot to spot, tree to tree, to avoid being seen (not hard--the angels ignored her, and she knew them to be friendly, and the other Chosen rarely looked up long enough to spot her), Maple began to head deeper and deeper into the heart of Sanctuary.

[Devon]

Eco had been bored, dreadfully bored. Since coming here, he had been cooped up in the home he shared with Ryder and Nalani and both were too busy to spare the fairy any time. With Ryder preoccupied, Eco had his chance to get out and see all of the amazing sites that he could only sneak a look at from hiding in Ryder's hair.

Taking his chance, Eco flew out of the window glad to have a chance to stretch. This was short lived as he almost flew smack dab into Maple.

[Kender Bard]

Maple gave a frightened squeal, pulled out of her dizzying spin and zipped up to the nearest branch, hiding under a leaf. Her green body blended well with the coloration. Thinking she'd struck a bird, she poked her head out to make sure she wasn't being followed when...

Oh!

"Hi!!" she called out to the other sprite, leaning wayyy out and waving energetically.

[Devon]

Eco rubbed his head, looking at at who called to him. Smiling brightly he flew up to sit next to her in the tree. "Hey!" he said happily. " I didn't think there many of us left and now look there is at least two!"

[Kender Bard]

"Three!" Maple told him excitedly. "My best friend Blueberry is here too. I'm Maple!" She grabbed both of his hands and shook. "Nice to meet you!"

[Devon]

"I'm Eco, Maple," he replied. "That's great news Ryder and I left that fairy council thing early, I was really worried," he said. Not wanting to dwell on that he quickly moved on, "Isn't this place amazing!? Ryder and Nalani haven't let me out much but they're both busy so I had to take a look a everything."

[Kender Bard]

Maple didn't want to think about the court. It brought back strange and conflicting feelings. And it was Not To Be Mentioned to her bonded or Nuo. She pushed that thought away quickly. "Kaylin has stayed mostly at home," Maple agreed. "And I have had to stay with her! But I just had to come look at everything! It really is amazing here, isn't it?"

[Devon]

"It really is, I can't stay gone too long if Ryder finds out he'll get all worried or something," Eco said. "But we should go see the sights!"

[Kender Bard]

"As long as we're careful not to be seen," Maple admonished Eco. "Then... Yes! But do we have to be quick about it? Are you sure we couldn't ask Ryder (that's your bonded right?) if we could stay out longer?"

[Devon]

"Yup he is my bonded, really nice guy," Eco said. Thinking about for a moment he answered. "We could ask him!" Eco also wanted to surprise Ryder a bit with having found a friend to talk to.

[Kender Bard]

"I'd like to see another feyling," Maple admitted, flying in circles around Eco. "It's been a really long time since I saw a new one! There was the shouty human, I forget his name, and his mean faerie, Sneak. Sneak was a boy sprite too, but he wasn't nice like you. He'd chase me round and round and round." She sped up her circling for emphasis.

[Devon]

Eco giggled and took flight as well, joining her in making circles. "Let's go meet Ryder then," he said enthusiastically flying back to the home Ryder shared with Nalani.

Ryder was currently making a few notes, he was wondering why Eco was so quiet, but he wouldn't question the lack of noise from his fairy.

[Kender Bard]

Maple took off with speed after Eco, giggling the whole way.

Nalani wasn't far from Ryder. She was engaged in a similar activity, writing into a small leather journal; though she wasn't writing notes so much as observations and her thoughts on the Sanctuary. Who knew how long the little haven would last? It would be good to have something to remember it by.

[Devon]

"Ryder!" Eco shouted as he flew through the window, stopping his high speed acceleration right in front of Ryder's astonished face.

"Wh-what in the world Eco!?" Ryder answered back. "Have you been gone? I was wondering why it was so quiet in here," he said to the fey.

"Guess what I found, guess guess!" Eco said.

"Uh..a berry?" Ryder guessed.

"No! Another me, well not me she is a girl but there are still more of us!" Eco said excitedly. "Maple come say hello."

[Kender Bard]

Maple stopped her fluttering about the room (Nalani watching with stunned surprise from her own seat) and flew into Ryder's face as well. "Hello!" she chirped. She giggled and pointed at each of his eyes in turn. "Oh you are most certainly the bonded! It's nice to meet you!"

"There's two now?" Nalani finally asked, closing her journal and rising to come closer.

"Are you his travel-friend?" Maple asked of Nalani, pointing at Ryder.

"I am his wife," Nalani told the faerie.

"What's a wife?" Maple asked Eco.