The Fairy Diary Day 616 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

This has certainly been a day for hearing voices. 

Upon reaching the passageway which Dunfallon was warned against entering yesterday, the voice from his ring declared that it was now safe. We three fairies having come in the boat with Dunfallon and Gibley took off to fly on ahead. 

Not long after a voice come out of the darkness in front of us, calling Noralei’s name. Then, to our great amazement who should rush into the light from my pendants but our friend, Nora the water horse. 

In his excitement he splashed all about, circling the boat – thoroughly drenching the pixie and the goblin. Then remained still while Noralei landed atop him. 

Through their excited chatter we learned that Nora had been trapped down here for quite some time. He had been exploring where a stream led and chanced upon a tributary that emerged from underground. He swam up against the flow and was fascinated by all he saw – until seeing some blue fairies. He went to talk with them, but they spurned him and chased him and sealed him up in this vast complex underground. 

And he was so glad that we came to rescue him. 

He beckoned us to follow him – down to what seemed another dead end.  But we all heard voices coming from the other side. Then, from high above our heads, a stream of tiny figures emerged from fissures – lead by Emminie. 

The Sprites swarmed everywhere while I met with their chief. Ever since they returned to their village they have been exploring what the Frost Fairies had left behind. Their trail led all the way to here (and perhaps beyond, for they are not yet finished). 

I asked him if they could break through these obstructions to free our friend. This they were glad to do – and added that they would have to be careful not to bring down the contents of the lake above. 

To this I wholeheartedly agreed and said the the Dromadil king would be very thankful. 

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The Fairy Diary Day 408 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Last night we arrived on the banks of the river. It was a wild sight. Immense and roaring. We moved back from it, the better to rest. 

The river looked even wilder in the morning light. We sat down to think through our options for getting over. We knew we fairies would be able to fly across, our only concerns were for Gibley and the hatchling. 

Dunfallon announced that while we talked it over, he was going aloft to look for narrower places to cross. So our pixie was not around when we heard a voice call out from the river. 

Noralei was the first to spot him – it was Nora the waterhorse. He skipped through the rolling torrents, hallooing all the way over to our side. 

It was a joyous reunion. 

Noralei explained our predicament to him, and he volunteered immediately to carry each of us across the raging river. I, for one, did not mind saving my wings the exertion. 

Nora was a little skittish about carrying the hatchling, but Noralei convinced him that when wrapped around its special staff she was as docile as a lamb. 

And after we explained what a lamb was to Nora, he took Gibley over first, so the hatchling could focus on him. 

By the end of their crossing the two – Nora and the hatchling – grew quite fond of one another. 

Dunfallon arrived back just in time to join us in thanking Nora and bidding him goodbye.

The Fairy Diary Day 267 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

We have not sighted any of the ambulatory plants. So we decided to take advantage of that and move on. Rumble had the thought that with the collapse of the barrier they may be adversely effected. 

I for one certainly hope that is the case. 

We came to a point along the stream where we decided to depart from it. Which also meant saying goodbye to Nora. (He was very disappointed and that more than anything saddened us too). We promised one another undying affection.  And I felt that we would be encountering one another before long. 

Noralei consulted her compass and was puzzled by the movement of the red ashes. Instead of pointing in just one direction, now there were two. 

It was easy to surmise that the eastern group was due to the black plants, especially the walking ones, in that direction. That left the other as highly likely to be were our enemy is headquartered. 

I wrote the High Fairy to fill him in on our discoveries and to ask for the latest from him. 

We are all pleased with our progress at last.

The Fairy Diary Day 266 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Immediately after Nora ferried Dunfallon and Noralei over, the pixie set to work. He found the second stream larger than the first. By the time the waterhorse returned with Rumble and me, Dunfallon had completed his first foray. 

He was excited. He had destroyed every black plant in the vicinity and believed that the opening in the barrier along the stream has increased enough to allow us fairies to pass through too. 

Soon the four of us were hard at work on the other side. Noralei harvested the red seeds from the plants while the rest of us followed behind and made sure they would not grow and mature into the walking variety. 

I kept a vigil towards the east on the lookout for those we had seen from above near the fishing village. 

Such was our focus in that direction that we did not notice that Nora had joined us. We turned at the sound of his hallooing and splashing about in the stream. 

It was a welcome indication that the barrier was failing. But by the same token I fear it might spur on the arrival of the walking menace.

The Fairy Diary Day 262 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

The impasse continued. While still awaiting the return of Nora, we determined to retrace our steps of yesterday, though this time we will trade off the areas so fresh eyes can be brought to bear. 

Dunfallon suggested that instead of accompanying Noralei, he would comb the perimeter of the barrier, much like the Dromadilians were reported to have done. And perhaps turn up a crevasse he could crawl through. This was agreeable to all. 

I dashed off a note to the High Fairy to inform him of our progress (or lack of it), and ask about how the Dromadil scouts penetrated the barrier up there. 

By day’s end we gathered back at the harbor as agreed. Rumble, Noralei and myself had completed our tasks (nothing new to report). Dunfallon had only covered half of the perimeter with nothing to report- so there remains more to check. 

And of a slight concern Nora has not yet returned from his exploration of the bay.

The Fairy Diary Day 261 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

We are still in the deserted fishing village. All attempts to take either of the roads out of the town failed just beyond the last buildings. We encountered a barrier, much like the one described in the reports concerning the area around the black crystalline tower. 

So we concentrated on the village itself looking for clues or any explanations for this enchantment. 

Dunfallon and Noralei checked out the east end, while Rumble and I went down to the harbor quarter. Rumble continued on the road to the north with the intent to work his way back from there. 

I entered several of the buildings – both shops and homes – they were all neat and tidy. It was as if they were expectant of the soon return of their owners.

I turned my attention to the harbor. It was different there – the ones out by the harbor mouth – which we had passed on the way in – only had their masts showing (probably more than anything that sight is what had spooked the captain). But the ones tied up along the quay seemed gray and fuzzy. Upon closer examination I realized they were covered in hornets’ nests. 

But no hornets. 

That is when Nora happened by. He saw me too and came over to talk. I asked him if he had seen anything of interest in the bay. And at the same instant I added “were there any rivers or streams emptying into the bay?”

This tickled the water horse’s curiosity and he set out to explore. 

As we gathered this evening all our observations were similar and we all await eagerly to hear from Nora.