Arle’s Story – A Decision

Firzt made a commiserating rumbly noise in her throat as they moved swiftly down the hall toward the kitchen.

“Are you singing harmony with my empty belly?” Arle teased.

Firzt snorted, shook her in mock exasperation and bumped into Arle playfully, causing him to miss his footing and stumble.

“It’s a good thing we’re trying to get out of here without anybody knowing, or I’d teach you about manners right here and now,” Arle groused. “Come on Fumble Foot – let’s see what leftovers we can round up without causing a fuss.”

A short time later Arle and Firzt, their bellies full and rucka stocked up, slipped practically unnoticed out of the front door and into the night.

When they reached the limits of the Stead a decision had to be made about which direction they would travel in. In the distance directly before them rose the forbidding Vayled Mountains. To their right, just beyond the horizon lay the Ungarded Sea. On the left was the L’eyetshade Forest. They stopped to consider their options.

“What do you think, Firzt? Should we break our necks, drown or wander lost in the woods?”

In lieu of a reply Firzt lay down in the road, crossed her paws in front of her and laid her head on her paws.

“You know, since you’ve decided to come along, you COULD be a participant in this journey rather than an observer” Arle commented. “Is that too much to expect?”

Firzt blinked her eyes enigmatically.

“I’ll take that as a yes” Arle muttered as he took off his rucka and rummaged through it. “Fine then, we’ll consult the Pathstone and take its guidance. If I can just dig it out…here it is.”

Arle extended his hand, palm up, towards Firzt. In the center of his palm sat a multi-faceted coral stone. Firzt sniffed at the stone and rolled her eyes at Arle.

“You don’t think I know how to use this, do you, Firzt?”

Firzt snuffed her breath out in a manner that could easily have been interpreted to mean “Darn right you don’t!”

Arle grinned back at Firzt. “Thanks for the vote of confidence! Guess we’ll see in just a minute here exactly what I know. You haven’t heard of anyone being killed by a faulty Pathstone reading lately, have you?”

Firzt turned her head and closed her eyes with great deliberateness.

“Fine. Then here we go.” Arle stood up, holding the stone out in front of him. “Now which is it – do I circle first and then cast or do I cast and then circle? I can’t remember the exact Order of Rite for traveling decisions since I’ve never used it. After all, if you never travel, you never need to use that particular Order, do you?”

Firzt lashed her tail back and forth.

“Right then. Maybe I should start by setting up my altar and performing a cleansing. That would really be the right way, don’t you think? This is a momentous decision after all and I’d hate to muck it up. Of course, I’d have to sing the hymns as well if I’m really going to do this right. By that time the sun will be up and we won’t have moved a step past the Boundary. And then…”

Firzt brought Arle’s monologue to a halt by standing and stretching languidly. She shot Arle a LOOK and trotted off towards the edge of the L’eyetshade Forest.

Arle’s grin widened as he shoved the Pathstone into his pocket and threw the rucka over his shoulder. “Works every time,” he chortled as he hurried to catch up with Firzt.