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He reaches down to pluck a pair of leaves from the plant near his feet, being careful not to reap too much of the precious herb, so the plant may continue to grow.
?Ahh, this should do nicely?, he says to himself, ?Just one more ingredient.?
After slipping the leaves into his vest pocket and gently patting it twice, he stops to listen carefully. At first the moans of creaking trees, rustling leaves, and the howl of gusting winds dominate his perceptions. Once the wind settles, the gentle sound of water trickling over a stone is heard in the dintance.
A smile creeps its way onto the Halfling?s face.
?Music to my ears.?
He scans the area and quickly finds a deer trail that meanders towards the source of his last needed item.
Upon reaching the stream, he briefly enjoys the beauty of a small, innocuous bird quenching its thirst a stone?s throw away before wading into the crystal clear water. He takes another moment to enjoy the feel of the silt seep between his toes before scooping up a handful of the nutrient-rich soil.
?Well, back to the scene of the crime.?
With determination clearly stamped on his face, he trudges back through the forest, back to the cause of this latest mission.
Following his own tracks back to the small clearing, he spots the sapling, broken in half and only hanging on by a thumb?s width of its grayish bark.
?Tsk, tsk, tsk. Such carelessness.?
The leather-clad Halfling plops the mud from his hands down at the base of the tree, wipes his hands in the grass nearby, and removes his pack. He begins pulling various leaves and berries from his pockets and smashes them into a poultice. While gently rubbing the mixture into the wound of the tree, he utters, ?This should keep the parasites away long enough for you to make a quick recovery, my friend.?
After straightening the tree back into its proper position, and splinting the wound with some dead timber and fibrous plant-bits, he removes the delicate silver chain from his neck and hangs it from a branch. He positions himself so that the small golden acorn at the end of the chain catches the most light, kneels, and begins to quietly speak.
?Shiallia, I know you do not spend much time in this forest, but if you happen to pass by, please give this tree the strength it needs to recover so that it may become the mighty giant it deserves to be. I ask no more of you than I know you will do anyway, and I..?
?WHAAAA! MOMMY! DADDY! WHERE ARE YOU!?!??
?Do you mind?!? and irritated Milo says, glaring at the little girl in the tattered dress standing nearby.
?I?m lost!? she pleads.
The Halfling rolls his eyes back and huffs, ?I know. You told me that already.?
?You pwomised *sob* that *sob* you?d *sob* help me.?
?I also said I would help as soon as I finished this task.? Raising his hands towards the injured tree he exclaims, ?Does it look like I am finished??
She places her index finger to her lips looks down at her feet and innocently nods.
?I most certainly am not!?
?But you were just sitting there?, *sob* The twee was stwaight again.?
Milo?s face twists into a picture of rage and confusion. ?You seriously cannot tell when someone is praying? Maybe it?s a good thing your family forgot about you and left you behind you unobservant little..?
?WHAAAAA!?
?Alright, that?s enough. You?ll attract every goblin in the area with all that wailing?, the Halfling scolds. The scared little girl steadies her resolve and holds back another sob. She wipes a tear from her ruddy cheek and flashes Milo a pair of fawn-like brown eyes, silently begging him to help. Under the beckoning gaze that only the most heartless of individuals could resist, he quickly returns to the tree to gather his things and replaces the chain around his neck. He gives an apologetic smile to the human child, pats her on the back, and affirms, ?Alright kid, come-on, let?s go.? The two start their journey through the forest with the Halfling in the lead and the girl in tow.
?Ahh, this should do nicely?, he says to himself, ?Just one more ingredient.?
After slipping the leaves into his vest pocket and gently patting it twice, he stops to listen carefully. At first the moans of creaking trees, rustling leaves, and the howl of gusting winds dominate his perceptions. Once the wind settles, the gentle sound of water trickling over a stone is heard in the dintance.
A smile creeps its way onto the Halfling?s face.
?Music to my ears.?
He scans the area and quickly finds a deer trail that meanders towards the source of his last needed item.
Upon reaching the stream, he briefly enjoys the beauty of a small, innocuous bird quenching its thirst a stone?s throw away before wading into the crystal clear water. He takes another moment to enjoy the feel of the silt seep between his toes before scooping up a handful of the nutrient-rich soil.
?Well, back to the scene of the crime.?
With determination clearly stamped on his face, he trudges back through the forest, back to the cause of this latest mission.
Following his own tracks back to the small clearing, he spots the sapling, broken in half and only hanging on by a thumb?s width of its grayish bark.
?Tsk, tsk, tsk. Such carelessness.?
The leather-clad Halfling plops the mud from his hands down at the base of the tree, wipes his hands in the grass nearby, and removes his pack. He begins pulling various leaves and berries from his pockets and smashes them into a poultice. While gently rubbing the mixture into the wound of the tree, he utters, ?This should keep the parasites away long enough for you to make a quick recovery, my friend.?
After straightening the tree back into its proper position, and splinting the wound with some dead timber and fibrous plant-bits, he removes the delicate silver chain from his neck and hangs it from a branch. He positions himself so that the small golden acorn at the end of the chain catches the most light, kneels, and begins to quietly speak.
?Shiallia, I know you do not spend much time in this forest, but if you happen to pass by, please give this tree the strength it needs to recover so that it may become the mighty giant it deserves to be. I ask no more of you than I know you will do anyway, and I..?
?WHAAAA! MOMMY! DADDY! WHERE ARE YOU!?!??
?Do you mind?!? and irritated Milo says, glaring at the little girl in the tattered dress standing nearby.
?I?m lost!? she pleads.
The Halfling rolls his eyes back and huffs, ?I know. You told me that already.?
?You pwomised *sob* that *sob* you?d *sob* help me.?
?I also said I would help as soon as I finished this task.? Raising his hands towards the injured tree he exclaims, ?Does it look like I am finished??
She places her index finger to her lips looks down at her feet and innocently nods.
?I most certainly am not!?
?But you were just sitting there?, *sob* The twee was stwaight again.?
Milo?s face twists into a picture of rage and confusion. ?You seriously cannot tell when someone is praying? Maybe it?s a good thing your family forgot about you and left you behind you unobservant little..?
?WHAAAAA!?
?Alright, that?s enough. You?ll attract every goblin in the area with all that wailing?, the Halfling scolds. The scared little girl steadies her resolve and holds back another sob. She wipes a tear from her ruddy cheek and flashes Milo a pair of fawn-like brown eyes, silently begging him to help. Under the beckoning gaze that only the most heartless of individuals could resist, he quickly returns to the tree to gather his things and replaces the chain around his neck. He gives an apologetic smile to the human child, pats her on the back, and affirms, ?Alright kid, come-on, let?s go.? The two start their journey through the forest with the Halfling in the lead and the girl in tow.
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