Submission (#2895) Approved

Word count: 1,161
AP: Enmir
Elnin AP is for: Gwynceirw (https://worldofeyre.com/character/ELN1777)
Other elnin: Foxglove (https://worldofeyre.com/character/ELN1668) and Aisling (https://worldofeyre.com/character/ELN706)

     A dark furred elnin scowled over his journal, writing implement poised over the paper as he organized his words. The campsite was illuminated by the fire and a small lantern, the surrounding shadows filled with the flickering lights of fireflies. Clearing his throat quietly, he went over the morning check-ins, making sure each was correct before adding in the events of the afternoon that lead up to the kittom now sleeping by his feet.

6am, a little before sunrise. I caught one of the kits out of bed early again today. I have told them repeatedly to not wander off but they said they heard a noise and wanted to go take a look. Said kit was ushered back off to bed for a little longer after we ventured to the edge of the grove and took a look in the rotten log pile. He promised to stay in bed for the remainder of the trip, we will see if that actually happens.

7am, breakfast. Breakdown of camp went smoothly. Aisling received a notice bird with an additional pick-up in Il'durahn so we well be adding an extra day in the main city before returning to Faerindell. She is considering taking the Dartmouth River up to the coast and then swinging through the Palu'au Islands before heading to Dourado Harbour but I would prefer to travel along the Waot Marekaj and keep my feet on the ground, even if it skirts along the Shaedmoor. This depends on if the twins would like to stay together and if we catch the ferry in time so the decision will probably be made then.

10am, morning break. Travel has been progressing at a regular pace. We had a slow start as we missed the ferry but was able to catch up and reach The Fen with a little extra time to spare. The kits have behaved for the most part and there has been no incidents. We plan on pushing through lunch as we will be too close to Shaedmoor to stop and then take an early dinner at the village on the edge of Enmir before heading into the heart of Bellmoril. Supplies seem a little lower than normal so we might restock when we get there so we have enough to get back to the edge of Il'durahn at the very least.

     Gwynceirw smoothed out the paper as it ruffled in the night breeze, as his mind went back through the days events. He had taken over the driving to give Aisling a break, leading the small pony over the marked pathway as the caravan had started its way past the edges of Shaedmoor, the greener marshlands giving way to darker muddier bogs to their right. Already the drone of the insects seemed much thicker in the summer heat and not a peep came from the kittoms behind him as all were napping in the safety of the caravan. He had kept an eye on the surroundings as they traveled, watching out for any thing that might cause some issues. Broken trunks rose out of the sluggish water to the side of the raised pathway, the tops long rotted away and covered with mosses and green slime.

* * * * * * * * * * *

     Even in the bright sun, the trees grew so thick out of the bog that the brackish waters were shadowed and gloomy. Gwyn stared at a battered log that was slowly floating in the slimy water until he was sure it was just a log and not anything more dangerous. He settled into what he hoped would be a quiet leg of the journey. This was true for about 10 minutes...

     A clink came from the side bench about arms-length from where he sat. Gwyn looked over, holding his breath for a moment, listening intently. The clink came again, this time with a slight scrabbling noise as he noticed a foot peeking out from behind a sack Aisling kept up front for when she felt peckish. Letting a quiet groan escape from his lips, Gwyn tied up the reigns so the pony could continue with less guidance before slowly reaching out for the foot, using the irregular bumps on the road to hide his movements. He suspected one of the twins had woken up early and managed to sneak out without Aisling realizing and was prepared to scare the tail off them. However, when he swooped down and pulled the small kittom out by their foot he was alarmed to come face-to-face with a kittom who looked nothing like anyone they should have on board! The little thing was smaller than most kittoms and yowled at him, claws flailing with surprise as they dangled in the air. A shocked moment later saw the kittom righted up the correct way, sitting on the bench facing a stern Gwyn with arms crossed.

     "Tell me, what are you doing here? How did you get into the Caravan? Where are your parents?" He glowered over the small bright kittom as they hunkered down trying to appear small, as if hiding in the shadows. Without even waiting for an answer he ran a paw through his hair with a growl and frowned into the direction they were traveling, "I should probably let Aisling know. She would have a better idea of what to do with you. Drop you off at the nearest village probably." With another glance at the small kittom to make sure they were still there he relented slightly, "Stay put here. You are best off being within my sight. Less trouble at least for now."

* * * * * * * * * * *

     To say Aisling was surprised was an understatement. It took them a bit to gather any information from the stow-away kittom who couldn't, or refused, to say when exactly she had joined the caravan. When they got to the village for a late lunch, they did get a name, and that she had traveled from Bellmoril, but no parents or specific village. She said she wanted to go to Silveil, but had no address and no apprenticeship paperwork. Aisling asked around a few places before deciding to take them to the main city of Bellmoril to see if anyone would have a home for the young kittom as there was a registry there. This left Gwyn to look over the kittom as they slept at the campsite just outside the village, sharing his blanket as the caravan only had enough to support the eight kittoms they already had currently.

     Glancing again at the small sleeping ball of fur, Gwyn put pencil to paper and started writing again in his log book. He had hoped it would be an uneventful journey, it very much wasn't, in fact it was even more complicated than before. Heaving another low sigh he added everything he could remember about the locations they had been traveling through, trying to fill in any details he may have missed before, about the swamps, the marshes, any point that may have stalled their travel within Enmir which would have given an opportunity for a small kittom to slip into the caravan unnoticed.