Disaster Welcomes a Wanderer

Cherrie ran back to the camp to look for Sybie but found a boy running after the funnel. She grabbed his arm, "What are you doing? Stay away from it; it has already got my friend!"

The boy’s face seemed to twist with surprise, "Oh no, what have I done? I created it!"

"Then stop it!"

"I-I don’t kn-know how." He said.

"Figure it out quickly!" Cherrie shook him.

He stopped and tried to breathe calmly. Closing his eyes the boy focused on stopping the twister. Suddenly the winds began to slow and the leaves began to settle back. He opened his eyes and smiled with relief.

"Sybie, where are you!" Cherrie began to search at once. A groan sounded from somewhere distant, and Cherrie began to run, "Sybie keep talking!"

Cherrie followed the sound and soon found Sybie lying beside a tree looking battered.

"Where’s Jolie," she murmured.

"We’ll find her, but first we must get you back to camp.

"No! First Jolie!"

"Jolie-," Cherrie turned and saw Jolie limping towards them, "Look she’s right there."

Sybie struggled to sit up and when she saw Jolie, almost cried. Cherrie helped Sybie back to the camp, though it was slow for Sybie was clinging to Jolie.

Back at the camp Cherrie was laying Sybie down when the boy appeared again.

"Go away, look what yoy did!" Cherrie exclaimed.

"No, I just wanted to apologize."

"It’s alright, no harm done." Sybie said, but Cherrie did not think so.

"No harm done? If only you could see yourself."

"I’m fine really. Just a few bumps and scrapes, that’s all." Sybie smiled and sat up, "What are you doing in the woods all by yourself?"

"Um, I uh,"

"He’s causing trouble that’s what." Cherrie glared at him mercilessly.

"No, I’m a mage!" The boy said proudly.

"A bad mage."

"Well, he has to be a pretty good mage to make that thing." Sybie said politely though she really felt quite the opposite.

"Thank you," he stuck his hand out, "I’m Rye."

"Nice to meet you Rye, I’m Sybie." Sybie said and nudged Cherrie.

"Cherrie," she said.

"Why are you out here alone?" Sybie asked.

"They think I’m weird." He said shyly and looked away.

"Guess you just haven’t learned to control…. What is your element?"

"Weather," Rye looked Cherrie right in the face.

"Figures," She said and brushed her hair behind her ears.

"Wow! You’re an elf!" He exclaimed then looked at Sybie, "You’re an elf too!"

"I wish!" Sybie said, "We’re just friends. We are going to Castle Gryphy. Cherrie’s really resourceful, elves are great travelers."

"Thank you," Cherrie said in response to the compliment.

"Oh, then I’ll come with you! I’ve always wanted to go there myself. Maybe I can find a mage, become an apprentice!" Rye was busily imagining what it would be like.

"Oh, no," Cherrie said, "He’ll do something like he did today, and we’ll never get there alive."

"No he won’t, right Rye?"

"Right, next time I’ll try harder to do it right."

"Well, then if you have anything, then go and get it." Cherrie said a bit abruptly.

"I have everything right here." He said patting his rucksack.

"Well, it’s still dark and I would like to get some sleep." Sybie said and beckoned Jolie to her.

"Whoa! There’s a wolf, don’t panic, wolves can sense fear!" Rye cried, shivering.

Cherrie laughed so hard at his fear that Sybie thought she would run out of air and faint, "That’s Sybie’s wolf, I hope you ain’t afraid of wolves because she’s going to be with us the whole way through!"

"I-I-I’m not af-f-fraid of w-wolves." Rye said and settled down a bit when he saw Sybie stroking Jolie and talking to her soothingly.