The Fairy Diary Day 407 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

We stumbled across a cave entrance that had eluded Dunfallon’s notice from the air, so Gibley just had to check it out. While I stayed outside with a dozing hatchling, the goblin went in accompanied by Rumble and Noralei. 

They were not gone long, for it turned out to be inhabited by an animal of some kind – absent at the moment.

Gibley did find a few scraps to give to his dragon later. 

We were about to move on when Dunfallon dropped in to see us. As he slid off the back of his eagle we all saw that he was wielding a knobby stick and made to strike the hatchling with it. Before any of us could react, the hatchling was awake and threw itself at the stick. It was soon wrapped around it and making contented sounds. The pixie laughed and explained he had found this dragon training staff near the cave that was farthest from the river. 

Dunfallon had recognized it from his library research. And Gibley confirmed its use by his people. 

His hope soared that he may soon be back with them.

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The Fairy Diary Day 327 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

The first passage that Dunfallon tried, ran in a direct line down to the Low-way. So he returned in short order. He skipped over the next two and hopped down the one opposite the first. This one followed a stream all the way up to the surface. 

The pixie was gone a little longer because he sought to identify the location. He believes the cave opening was situated above the farmlands between Laguayil and the mountains to the back of Corbelin. 

So with that information we reasoned that we were on course for the canyonlands. 

After disappearing down the next passage, our friend came back almost immediately. Rejoicing. 

For he had found a passage whose walls are festooned with dwarfish decorations.

Day One Thousand One Hundred Forty One #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Reuben was the one who discovered the cave. He said afterwards that it was as though he was pulled into it. And I marvel that he did, for no way was the entrance visible from the path below on which we were fleeing.

And we gained its safety none too soon for otherwise the swarm of drones would have overtaken us.

And here we have stayed put through the night and all of today.  Reuben was restless and made frequent forays to take a peek around. He reported the movement of soldiers in the distance, happily, headed in the wrong direction, but was shaken to his core the last time when he spotted Moglen standing nearby, watching in silence, alone.

Day One Thousand Fourteen #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We passed the night in a cave. A little cramped, but no one was forced to stay outside.

There was frost on the rocks when we emerged to take up our trek, so we had to watch our footing. Even when it melted, the rock bed of our path remained slick.

Reuben and I took turns helping Elijah along the narrow stretches. Just about everyone slipped but our trio. Thankfully there were no serious injuries. If anything the hurts were to their dignity, and, thankfully again, those were not lasting. And when handled in the right spirit, instructive.

Reuben noticed this, and that fact pleased both Elijah and myself.

We passed the summit of this route and are now descending.

Day Seven Hundred Seventy Two #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Our young people returned with good news.  Indeed, there was a passage under this mountain that disgorges onto the other side.

With this comforting knowledge we settled down to pass the night in the safety of the cave.

Come morning we pressed onward led by Tomas and Mei.

There were a couple of tricky sections where we had to descend a good height by handholds chipped from the rock by persons who had explored this way before. Who knows how long ago?

Once through to the other side, Mei and Tomas waited for us to catch up. Tomas collected our firebrands and suggested that we rest up and spend the night again in the cave.

His thoughtfulness was very welcome.

Day Six Hundred Seventy Five #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We have stayed put today in the nice dry cave Elijah found for us. We need to sort through some issues before making our next move.

Just as we had our news to share with Tomas and the Captain, so too have they returned the favor.

They had observed various scouting patrols in the area, each one checking out the routes up to the mountain pass. All have hastily beat a retreat back down to the plain.

Tomas went out on his own to see what was what. He brought back some unsettling news.

Dire warnings are posted on the roads westward. They warn that radiation is present at dangerous levels.

It must be why the army has not budged.

Day Six Hundred Forty Seven #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

A welcome time of rest and recuperation today. Tomas is bouncing back nicely, he may be ready to continue on much sooner than we first believed.

Elijah did not come back to the camp beside the caravan trail until very late in the day. He kept to the cave for what he tells us was an intense preparation for the hardships ahead.

I kept myself busy, trying to be helpful for everyone, shuttling back and forth between our camp and the cave. It was readily apparent that Elijah did not require any ministrations from me. So I did not disturb his peace, rather I was folded into it for the brief times I was present.

I had time to wonder.

Day Six Hundred Forty Four #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Through a mutual agreement Elijah and I kept an eye on our friend lest he do something rash. I kept him engaged in conversation and later accompanied him to the cave. There we prayed for Tomas.

Later upon our return, the sky to the south was filled with more lights than ever. The Captain asked Elijah how long it had been going on. His reply upset him. And the Captain demanded to know why we had not been fetched. Before he could answer, a string of flashes lit up the foothills below the high mountains.

There was no stopping the Captain at that point. But we managed to limit our travel backward to the amount of night left to us.

Day Six Hundred Forty Two #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Twenty-four hours have passed in our new location. It has proven a very pleasant choice. The Captain found a water well some distance from the caravan trail. It’s on a well worn offshoot from this main route.

The water is a bit brackish, but drinkable. Perhaps traces of minerals are leeching into it.

There was evidence that a group of travelers had passed through here recently. Ashes from cooking fires, and bits of garbage collected in a pit.

Elijah found a nearby cave, or rather an overhang just beyond the well. It is now our place of meditation.

But it has no view southward, so the Captain sticks to the caravan trail. He doesn’t want to chance missing Tomas.

Day Ninety One #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

An eventful night. And surprising. Stan and Lyle persisted in chasing down noises that rose from the back of the cave. Each time they returned empty handed and with no explanations. With the morning Stan had disappeared completely. We checked ahead down the path with negative results. Therefore we conclude he must have went deeper down into the cave. Fearing Stan may be in trouble, Lyle descended into the depths further than hitherto. All was silent as the tomb, not a single sound this time. We wasted the better part of the day looking for the young man with a beard.  Nothing.

Lyle remarked that the cave would be a good fallback position to keep in mind for future contingencies.