It all seemed like a very good idea at the time.
The journey had started off well. Kikwi had left Falwood with a spring in his step and a song in his heart, and he felt as though nothing in the world could get in his way. Soon he would be in Elbion, and at the great College. Oh what wonders would they have? He had been told that they had entire castles full of books, and wizards sharing secrets to all who would have them! Yes, it was only a matter of time.
He had prepared for this trip for months, after all. He had no gold to spend, but he had bartered for supplies in whatever was he was able. His thick, brick red traveling robe was made special for him by the village tailor, and Kikwi had spent several weeks as an assistant. He organized the bolts of cloth, spools of thread, and very pointy needles and heavy hammers in the storeroom. He left the inventory more organized than when he started (and had written a very comprehensive inventory checklist), so the tailor considered himself well compensated.
Since this was to be a scientific journey, Kikwi knew he would need plenty of charcoal for sketches and quills for writing. He carried ink bottles in soft wool pouches, and of course had earned himself an especially robust notebook from the local scribe. Someone had to record all of the noteworthy town happenings, and Kikwi was more than happy to do so for a fortnight. Though it became apparent quite early that he did not truly understand what “noteworthy” meant, and wrote just as much on the ivy growth patterns in the street as he did on the markets earning for the day.
The final step was food, and in exchange for his help in the kitchen, Kikwi had acquired a leather sack full of the best travelling snacks. He filled his canteen from nearby streams and headed out.
The days in the forest were the best. Dappled shade and cool breezes dominated most of the day, and the night was spent peacefully in thick brush or in the cart of a benevolent traveler.
When Kikwi first entered the savannah, he was enthralled. This place was nothing like the forest! The grass was tall and sharp, and the trees grew hundreds of yards apart, not huddled together in the impenetrable tangle of the deep woods. He filled the first third of his notebook with sketches and notes on all the new creatures he saw. Grasshoppers as big as his hand, and field mice that ran in invisible tracts through the grasses. Mighty soaring birds and immense four-legged beasts!
”Hmmm…” he muttered, as he drew the outline of a red and orange caterpillar that he found on a blade of grass. He took out an empty ink bottle and used his quill to transfer the insect into it. ”Magnificent!” he squeaked, stuffing the jar back into his robes.
The wonder began to drain along with his supplies after the first week. Water sources had all but disappeared, and his canteen had run dry several hours ago. There was no shelter from the sun, and it beat relentlessly on the thick wool robes. Perhaps dark red had not been the wisest color choice. After eating the last of his food, Kikwi abandoned the large leather bag. It had become too difficult to drag through the grass.
The grass itself posed a problem. Near the woods it was thinner, shorter. Here it grew tall, and tiny Kikwi could scarcely see over it. Luckily he had found a road (actually a dry riverbed) that gave much better sightlines, so he had been following that for the past few hours, leaving tiny clawed footprints in the cracking mud.
Dry… so dry. Kikwi’s large yellow eyes were hooded as he stumbled along. His canteen hung loosely at his waist, long since drained. He was so tired… and the sun was too bright, perhaps if he just closed his eyes for a moment…
THUD
He tripped on a rock, and tumbled head over heels until he landed on his back in the dust, coughing. He squinted against the glaring sun. His stomach growled, and the light of the sun began to dim as fatigue swept him away. Is this how his journey ended? Would he never make it to Elbion? Why did he think he could do this alone?
It had all seemed like a very good idea at the time.
The journey had started off well. Kikwi had left Falwood with a spring in his step and a song in his heart, and he felt as though nothing in the world could get in his way. Soon he would be in Elbion, and at the great College. Oh what wonders would they have? He had been told that they had entire castles full of books, and wizards sharing secrets to all who would have them! Yes, it was only a matter of time.
He had prepared for this trip for months, after all. He had no gold to spend, but he had bartered for supplies in whatever was he was able. His thick, brick red traveling robe was made special for him by the village tailor, and Kikwi had spent several weeks as an assistant. He organized the bolts of cloth, spools of thread, and very pointy needles and heavy hammers in the storeroom. He left the inventory more organized than when he started (and had written a very comprehensive inventory checklist), so the tailor considered himself well compensated.
Since this was to be a scientific journey, Kikwi knew he would need plenty of charcoal for sketches and quills for writing. He carried ink bottles in soft wool pouches, and of course had earned himself an especially robust notebook from the local scribe. Someone had to record all of the noteworthy town happenings, and Kikwi was more than happy to do so for a fortnight. Though it became apparent quite early that he did not truly understand what “noteworthy” meant, and wrote just as much on the ivy growth patterns in the street as he did on the markets earning for the day.
The final step was food, and in exchange for his help in the kitchen, Kikwi had acquired a leather sack full of the best travelling snacks. He filled his canteen from nearby streams and headed out.
The days in the forest were the best. Dappled shade and cool breezes dominated most of the day, and the night was spent peacefully in thick brush or in the cart of a benevolent traveler.
When Kikwi first entered the savannah, he was enthralled. This place was nothing like the forest! The grass was tall and sharp, and the trees grew hundreds of yards apart, not huddled together in the impenetrable tangle of the deep woods. He filled the first third of his notebook with sketches and notes on all the new creatures he saw. Grasshoppers as big as his hand, and field mice that ran in invisible tracts through the grasses. Mighty soaring birds and immense four-legged beasts!
”Hmmm…” he muttered, as he drew the outline of a red and orange caterpillar that he found on a blade of grass. He took out an empty ink bottle and used his quill to transfer the insect into it. ”Magnificent!” he squeaked, stuffing the jar back into his robes.
The wonder began to drain along with his supplies after the first week. Water sources had all but disappeared, and his canteen had run dry several hours ago. There was no shelter from the sun, and it beat relentlessly on the thick wool robes. Perhaps dark red had not been the wisest color choice. After eating the last of his food, Kikwi abandoned the large leather bag. It had become too difficult to drag through the grass.
The grass itself posed a problem. Near the woods it was thinner, shorter. Here it grew tall, and tiny Kikwi could scarcely see over it. Luckily he had found a road (actually a dry riverbed) that gave much better sightlines, so he had been following that for the past few hours, leaving tiny clawed footprints in the cracking mud.
Dry… so dry. Kikwi’s large yellow eyes were hooded as he stumbled along. His canteen hung loosely at his waist, long since drained. He was so tired… and the sun was too bright, perhaps if he just closed his eyes for a moment…
THUD
He tripped on a rock, and tumbled head over heels until he landed on his back in the dust, coughing. He squinted against the glaring sun. His stomach growled, and the light of the sun began to dim as fatigue swept him away. Is this how his journey ended? Would he never make it to Elbion? Why did he think he could do this alone?
It had all seemed like a very good idea at the time.
