Several days of relative peace had passed in Seingen. Corin and Nanaua quickly settled into the pace of a sedentary life.

  “Uncle Corin!” A voice called outside his door.

  Nanaua moved to the entrance and opened the door.

  “Hmph!” Nanaua said as she opened the door. “What trouble are you looking for today?”

  Melina ran into the home and gave Nanaua a large hug. Nanaua easily picked the small gesherin girl and brought her into the house. Corin was occupied with finishing an item as they came.

  “Uncle Corin is it done?” Melina asked excitedly.

  “Almost.” He said.

  He promised Melina a surprise the day after arriving and had gotten straight to work on it as soon as he could. He did not think it would take him this long.

  “Can I see?” She asked as Nanaua got ready to put her down.

  Corin put his back between himself and Melina.

  “Wait! I don't want you to see it until it is done!” He said as he struggled to block the girl's view.

  “Nanaua distract her for a while!” He urged.

  Nanaua too was curious. Her and Melina started to inch toward Corin.

  “No!” He shouted. “Back! Back!”

  He covered the table he was working with his entire body.

  “It is almost complete!” He urged. “Just a bit longer!”

  “Oh alright.” Melina agreed begrudgingly. “But if you take too long I will come right back here!”

  “Now go!” He repeated. “You will not regret waiting!”

  Once Nanaua and Melina stepped out, Corin began to furiously work on finishing his small project.

  He was soon almost complete and all he had to do was to string the equipment. He grabbed the piece of wood he had been working on and bent it between his legs. He placed the string and it was now taut.

  He pulled on the bow and let it go.

  “Not bad there.” He said as he smiled.

  He remembered when Simeon taught him to make his own bow.

  “That old man sure knew his craft.” Corin whispered to himself.

  Corin peeked his head out the door. Nanaua and Melina quickly turned to him.

  “Is it done, Uncle Corin?” Melina asked.

  “Yes, close your eyes!” Corin asked before stepping out.

  Melina obliged and covered her eyes. Corin walked over with the bow in hand and stood in front of Melina.

  “Open them now!” Corin urged Melina.

  Melina opened her eyes and was left speechless.

  “Well what do you think?” Corin asked as he held the bow in front of her.

  “This is for me?” Melina asked. She could not believe her eyes.

  “Well you said Daum was going to teach you how to hunt. I figured you would need a bow eventually!” Corin replied.

  “A fine tool Corin.” Nanaua said. “Simeon would be proud.”

  Corin smiled at Nanaua.

  “Can I try it?” Melina asked excitedly.

  “Hmmm?” Corin mused out loud. “You want to go test it out?”

  “Yes! Let's go into the forest!” Melina replied excitedly.

  “Oh the forest?” Corin thought. “That should work well.”

  Corin handed her the bow and gave her a quick introduction.

  “Alright let's head out!” Melina said as she led the way towards the forest.

  Corin had traversed the forest near Seingen so many times that he felt he could go from one end to the next with his eyes closed.

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  “One of the most important things to know about hunting is to know the terrain you are on.” Corin said. “I know you have spent a lot of time in these forests. Do you know what kind of animals live in this forest?”

  “I've seen foxes, squirrels, deer, all kinds of birds, and I even saw a bear once!” Melina excitedly replied.

  “I hope you ran back to Seingen when you saw the bear.” Corin said.

  “Luka wanted to get close to it but I told him that if he did I would tell Jeinna on him and that made him run back to Seingen.” Melina replied.

  “Smart girl. A bear is to be respected not toyed with. They are majestic but dangerous.” Nanaua chimed.

  “Another important thing to know about the terrain is places to hide in.” Corin said. “You can spend a long time waiting for an animal to show up, but that could mean nothing if you do not have a good vantage point. Without a good vantage point you might miss lots of potential prey.”

  “You mean like the cave?” Melina asked.

  “What cave?” Corin replied.

  “There's a cave near the river bend.” Melina replied. “Have you never seen it?”

  Corin sounded surprised. He had walked through this forest countless times and had never come across it.

  “I don't believe I have.” He added, sounding surprised. He thought he knew this place better than anyone in Seingen.

  “I'll show you!” Melina replied excitedly.

  Without waiting she dashed ahead of Corin into the forest.

  “I guess we're learning from her now.” Nanaua added.

  “Did you know there was a cave?” Corin asked as they followed Melina.

  “I've heard of the children talking about it. But I had enough of enclosed spaces in our adventures.” She replied.

  Corin stopped for a second.

  “Even Nanaua knew of the cave?” He muttered to himself and continued on.

  Corin and Nanaua followed the sound of the giggling Melina throughout the forest. They made it to the edge of the forest near the river bend, but could not see the small gesherin.

  “Wasn't she just in front of us?” Nanaua asked perplexed.

  “I thought I just heard her only moments ago.” Corin replied.

  “Here!” Melina shouted somewhere near them.

  Corin and Nanaua followed the noise.

  The sound seemed to be coming from a thick bush.

  Corin and Nanaua both peeked into the bush but saw nothing.

  “Melina, where are you?” Corin yelled.

  “I'm in here!” Her voice came through the bush.

  Nanaua grabbed the hedge and moved it aside. Right beneath it they could see a small hole.

  “Interesting.” Corin said as he spied the hole.

  “I will wait for you both here.” Nanaua replied while standing to the side.

  Corin pushed aside the brush and crept into the hole in front of him. After making it through the entrance he found himself within a deep dark cavern. The only light came in from the small hole he came in through.

  His feet felt wet and the only sounds that could be heard was the distant rushing of the river.

  “I told you there was a cave!” Melina’s voice came behind him. The small gesherin seemed proud.

  “I see. I honestly thought you were imagining things!” Corin replied. He looked behind her.

  “Does it go much deeper?” He asked in a concerned tone.

  He had good reason to feel wary about caves with unexplored sections.

  “No it only goes back a bit more and that's it.” Melina replied proudly.

  “Hmph, well I guess there is a lot I have to learn.” Corin replied.

  Melina smiled. She was proud she had taught something new to Corin.

  “How about we teach you how to use your new bow?” Corin asked her.

  “Oh that's right!” Melina replied giddily.

  Corin followed her outside and brought her to one of his favorite stalking spots. He showed her various sets of tracks and which animals leave which tracks.

  “And these ones are?” Corin asked Melina as they headed back to Seingen.

  “Hmm, a de-” she began but saw Corin's face.

  “Oh a fox’s!” She corrected herself and Corin grinned.

  “Good. When Uncle Daum brings you here, tell him all you've learned today. He'll be happy to hear it.” Corin told Melina as they walked into Seingen.

  “What are you telling me?” Daum asked as they approached the town. It seemed he had been waiting for them.

  “Uncle Daum look!” Melina showed Daum the bow that Corin had made for her.

  “Ah I see Uncle Corin finally got around to make you a bow.” Daum said.

  “A really good one as well! You'll be able to use that for years, he still won't show me how he's able to make these so well.” Daum said as he looked at Melina's bow.

  “I told you it takes a long time to learn!” Corin replied. “Now that I'm done with her bow. But now that I'm back I don't think I have anything else I need to do so I can try to teach you tomorrow.”

  “Well about that.” Daum replied. “It seems you have a visitor.”

  Corin stopped. He was confused.

  “I have a visitor?”

  “They asked for you and Nanaua by name.” Daum replied.

  Corin felt concern rise within him but Daum did not seem troubled at all.

  “Who is looking for us?” Nanaua asked.

  “A forest elf.” Daum replied.

  “A forest elf?” Corin replied. “Here?”

  “I couldn't believe it myself.” Daum replied. “I had never seen one in person, but Kereina has. The forest elf hasn't said much, she is waiting for you with Kereina.”

  “Does this mean you are leaving soon again?” Melina asked, sounding disappointed.

  “We will see.” Nanaua replied.

  Melina did not respond, she was somber as she looked away.

  “Why don't you go look for Jeinna, I'm sure she would like to know what kind of trouble you were up to today.” Nanaua told her. “I'll come play with you after we talk with this visitor.”

  Corin and Nanaua went directly to the large stone building in the middle of the town. Inside the large structure they found Kereina in her usual spot. Next to her Corin saw the forest elf.

  “I heard there is a visitor.” Corin said as he looked at the forest elf.

  The forest elf nodded and arose. Without speaking she walked over to Corin and reached out a hand. Corin reached out, unsure of what the forest elf wanted. The forest elf gently grabbed Corin’s hand and turned it over. She looked at the inside of his wrist.

  “Friend of the forest.” The forest elf said as if confirming something.

  “How did you know?” Corin asked the forest elf.

  “We were told about you. That is why I am here. For you and your companions.” The forest elf said as she turned to Nanaua.

  She looked beyond Corin and Nanaua.

  “I was told of five friends.” The forest elf mentioned in a puzzled tone as she let go of Corin's hand. “One of them, a female Onsiel.”

  Corin and Nanaua traded looks.

  “You have outdated information.” Nanaua replied.

  “My apologies.” The forest elf replied.

  “You came all the way here for us?” Corin asked the forest elf.

  “Yes, allow me to introduce myself.” The forest elf said. “I am Ciana, from the forest of tall trees.”

  “The forest of tall trees?” Corin replied.

  The forest elf nodded.

  Corin looked at Nanaua, Kereina, and Daum. They all gave him the same confused look.

  “Why are you here forest elf?” Nanaua asked.

  “A furtive came to us recently.” Ciana began. “A male human, a strange sight to those of us in the forest of tall trees. This furtive was very quiet and odd. He did not explain how he got to the forest, or give us any detail about him. All he said was that he did not have a home. But this was no issue for us, as forest elves are bound to help outsiders. This furtive spent some time with us until an attack by a Seidr. A failed Giant, this Seidr had recently become more aggressive. The Seidr had cornered all of us, including the furtive and was about to destroy us, but the furtive defeated it.”

  Corin looked at Nanaua. The look on her face conveyed disbelief.

  “Did your thicket assist him in defeating the Seidr?” Nanaua asked.

  “No. The furtive defeated the Seidr all by himself.” Ciana added.

  Corin had a hard time believing this.

  Perhaps they confuse this Seidr with a regular golem?

  “I see. I still don't see what this has to do with us?” Corin asked.

  “You see, once the Seidr was defeated something changed within the furtive instantly. He had been quiet and reserved but suddenly he began muttering something to himself. He would not stop and we tried to intervene. He warned us to let him be, that he did not want to hurt us, telling us that he didn't want to continue fighting. We tried to help him but before we could do anything to help him he escaped.” Ciana said.

  “So there is a strong unwell furtive on the loose and you need help from us?” Corin asked. “Is that why you came to us?”

  “That is not all.” Ciana replied. “The reason why I came here, the reason why the forest guided me to you, is because this furtive is an Onsiel.”