Legends of Noth-Saria: The Eve of Book One

The other nobbin repeated the movements.

Suddenly Dart gave a shrill cry and started weeping. Some of the birds on the higher cliffs heard and fluttered away in shock. There Dart sat with his face cupped inside his palms, shaking his head. Dango nearly dropped his clean bread onto the dirt.

‘What is wrong Dart? Dart?’ he said, drawing close to his companion. He put his arms around the sobbing nobbin.

Dart looked up and sniffed; tears rolled into his thick fur from his dark shimmering eyes. ‘I possess no more water. What am I to do now? I feel rather weary and desire a cool drink - but I have none!’ Then he broke out in weeping again.

A warm gleam passed in Dango’s eyes and he smiled. ‘I think you possess more water than you think. If you care enough to search a tad deeper into your bag, I think you would eventually find it.’

Dart slowly looked up. He turned to Dango and rubbed his nose. ‘If that is true, then where is it? I dug as deep down as I could and found all but water.’ He gave a stern look, but deep down Dango knew he was battered with joy.

‘Look deeper. Even these sacks of old could hold more than you could imagine. You are bound to find a refreshing drink, more than you suppose! Well go on then. Search!’

Dart immediately got to work like a rat scavenging for food. His whole head was buried deep in the sack until he gave another cry - this time it was a cry of joy. ‘Treasure Deep! Dango you are absolutely right. There are a dozen canteens of water here! May I have one?’

At once the nobbin laughed. ‘Of course! There is plenty to spare before we reach our destination. Take a drink now.’

Dart gulped down a large sip and sighed. ‘What a refreshing taste - though it is rather warm.’ He gazed up at the cloudless sky for a brief moment. He then smiled and put the canteen back into the sack. ‘Where did all this drink come from? I certainly never packed them. How foolish of me. Did you pack them Dango?’

Dango chuckled and patted his friend’s shoulder. ‘Perhaps I did. I thought you would be pleased. Now we must eat and drink with speed. There is only a few more hours until dusk. Then the darkness will bring great fear and tremble upon this very spot, according to some. Sadly we won’t make it to Ameth today. Our trail must be postponed. We’ve lingered about in this part of the land for far too long and already noon is riding by. So let us eat and enjoy ourselves until it is time to head off again.’