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The Lost Stars ChronicleChapter 31: The Hermit And The Fellowhship
A man sat alone on a sled on a hill. Alone, that is, except for the hawk in his hood and the wolf at his feet. In his hand was a snow globe. Slowly he turned it over and around, watching the flecks of snow fly in dizzy frenzy.
Gib was deep in thought. He was thinking about the past. About everything that had transpired since the end of the war. He remembered how he couldn’t speak, at first, to Griffin, and how the Neverwood seemed to have changed when he returned. The way the trees seemed to die...and then, reemerge later as darker, gloomier trees.
He remembered the conversation he had with Lord Void at the ruins of the Fire Breathing Fortress. He remembered his brief encounter with the blue knight, and the lady. That time when Iondels attacked and he fell into the caves. How did he get back up? That was one thing he couldn’t remember exactly right. But Gib remembered what happened after that. He remembered how the Dragon Master and the LEGOlander had helped him, and how he had rode with them all the way to Port Josef.
Looking back on that time, Gib couldn’t help but realize how lost he had been. Bewildered at first, without his friends, then waylaid in the caves, and at last hitching a ride with another fellowship. But after he parted with their company...after he got the sled and the snow globe, it was like he knew just where to go. He found Grizzle, he found his mother. Gib began to wonder if perhaps there was some blessing on the snow globe that was helping him to find his path. It was a strange notion to be sure, but then it was a strange man who had given him the globe.
Now however, Gib felt lost. He was still numb from what had happened before. His family had rejected him and he felt terrible. Not that he could blame them. Why shouldn’t they throw him out? But now he was without a home. Not in Glestol and not in the Neverwood. Gib turned the globe again.
“I wish you could tell me where to go now.” he said.
Just then Gib caught sight of a wisp of smoke curling up from the woods below him. Jackal sat bolt upright, smelling the wind.
“You know, Jackal. I think that's a sign. Maybe it’s time to join another fellowship.”
Reno Regga was sitting by the fire, sharing his cloak with Shainya and wrapping his arm around her shoulder. There were a number of reasons for this. It was cold for one, and with the dark trees hanging overhead, it helped you feel safe to have someone there beside you. And then of course there was the fact that it was February 15th and Reno and Shainya were more then just smitten with each other. Yes, Reno sure felt lucky. After all, how often did a guy with the looks of a pirate get a girl with the face of an angel? Anyway, it was completely understandable of course, with all the warmth and safety and smitten, that Reno didn’t notice when Luxus began to wander off.
“Luxus! Where are you going?” Aros called.
Luxus was standing near the edge of the fire light, staring into the darkness.
“Quiet. Did you hear that?”
“Hear what?” Reno wondered.
Bjarn and Anarden were out there on guard. It wasn’t likely anything would have gotten past them. Reno looked over to where Dractor and Voolmark sat talking. They didn’t seem disturbed.
“Come back Luxus, it’s probably just Bjarn and An--”
At that moment, wolf jumped from the trees and landed on Luxus. With a cry, Reno and Aros leaped to their feet. The two brothers were all set to murder the wolf when something checked them. The wolf was licking Luxus.
“Hey, where ya been boy?" said Luxus, laughing, "I missed ya!”
Suddenly their eyes were drawn to another figure emerging from the blackness.
“Gib!” Reno cried.
Well, that didn’t go like I planned it. Gib thought. He had just been peering into the camp to see who was there when Jackal took off. Gib didn’t know it was Luxus, but Jackal did. The two had built up a strong friendship on their last adventure. But Gib wasn’t concerned about Luxus right then, because two Forestmen and a knight of immense size were coming at him, weapons drawn.
“Hold it there, stranger.” the gray-haired Forestman called, bow taught.
“Wait!” said Aros, “he’s a friend.”
“Gib, what happened to you?” Reno asked, coming forward, “The last I knew, you were possessed by that demon.”
“It’s a long story, Reno. Oh, mind the leg. It’s not feeling so good these days.”
Reno reached forward and helped Gib toward the fire, where Shainya rolled out a blanket for the old hermit. Gib sat down with an “Oof!” and sighed. Reno sat too and handed Gib a slice of toasted bread. Gib bite down on it and then tossed the rest to Jackal.
“My thanks, Reno, lad. Now, what are you doing here in Neverwood?”
“First,” said Aros, “What happened to you after you were possessed?”
Gib sighed. The memories were painful, but he knew they wouldn’t trust him fully until he had told all. As he told his tale, Luxus cuddled with Jackal and Bjarn and Anardan went back out to guard the camp. The rest listened to Gib quietly. At last when Gib was done Reno burst out, “So you were the one who killed BloodVaine! You saved Dametreos!”
Gib flushed. “Well, I suppose...I have never actually though of it that way…”
He stopped, then looked keenly at Reno.
“Now, tell me, what are eight companions ranging from the age of seven to goodness know what are doing in the camping in the Neverwood in the middle of the worst winters in history?”
“We’re here to save Dametreos, like you!” piped up Luxus.
Shainya coughed. “Well, it’s a bit more complicated than that…”
And so the three Regga brothers and Shainya told Gib the entire tale beginning when Bjarn was visited by Daner Pluto, and ending with the discovery in Classic Archives. When they were done, Gib was next to gaping.
“A temple...in the Neverwood...?”
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