Cernain

Cernain tried lifting his hands up to stop the helmet from hitting him, but he was simply too late. It was a pretty strong blow, momentarily dazing him. Cernain shook his head, clearing away the sudden haze, and glanced at the one, who had kicked the helmet at him: Wyvern. Cernain was never quick to anger, but this lizard had tested his patience one too many times. He was just about to confront him about it, when in a brilliant flash of light, which strangely reminded him of Morneanna, Wyvern disappeared. Cernain bent down and picked up the helmet. There was a small dent on it, where it had hit him. Must not be too good quality, he thought to himself. He remembered Morneanna's request. Cernain turned to face the closest lizard, who happened to be Scaleeroy. "So...what are you going to do in your master's absence?"

Bringing in all of the heavy equipment took Wyvern's crew actually twelve days instead of the six the journey would have normally taken on foot. Cernain did not trouble them, hoping they were leaving the forests, and travelling through them was just the route they needed to take. Cernain hoped that Wyvern had taken his warning to heart, hoped that he would not have to conflict with the lizard again. Unfortunately, when the construction crews started unloading their equipment right next to his favourite waterfall he knew that his hopes had been in vain. Wyvern was determined to build his Almost Dragonic Brand Environmentally Unsound Megamall™. Walking barefooted over the slightly damp forest floor, Cernain made nearly no noise as he approached the foreman of the construction workers. Undoubtedly a minion, who did nothing but follow the orders of his master. "Why have you come?" he asked in his soft voice, startling the foreman with his sudden appearance behind him.

Wyvern felt a strong grip take hold of his wrist and a hand removed the lighter from his. Above them the tree had started moving as if blown by a non-existant wind. "I wouldn't play with that if I were you. Who knows what forest spirits you could anger. The forests are a dangerous place for those like you, lizard." Cernain threw the lighter to Gurpu. "I trust you can take care of this?" - he asked. Gurpu nodded and scurried away. Cernain let go of his vice-like grip on Wyvern's wrist. The reptilian Elder could now turn and see who had spoken to him. The man standing in front of him seemed to be in his thirties but with his fair hair and blue eyes it was almost impossible to tell. Cernain put a soothing hand on the tree, and placing his lips on the bark whispered in soothing tones to it. As he spoke the movements of the tree's branches lessened, as the tree calmed down. "Don't worry, I won't let him hurt you." Cernain turned back to Wyvern. "Go back to your construction site and leave this forest in peace." - he whispered to the lizard, and with not another word he disappeared among the shadows of the trees, but Wyvern could not shake a feeling of being watched by that pair of blue eyes.

Six days the bright point of light travelled, crossing vast distances, before it found Cernain. The druid had been bathing in the crystal clear waters of the pool at the bottom of the waterfall. The ringing sound of the water, falling from a height of about fifteen feet, had never ceased to be a pleasant sound to his ears. Swimming in these waters had been a favourite pastime of his for many long years, and whenever his duties allowed him, he tried to come here. This was the place where he had found peace, where nothing troubled him. A golden butterfly gently fluttered past his head, its shiny wings refracting the rays of the sun into a thousand, miniscule rays of light. Cernain lifted his hand, and the butterfly sensing the empathy emanating from Cernain, landed on his hands, momentarily suspending the rapid movement of its fragile wings. Cernain whispered soothing words to the small creature, he could sense was tired from a long flight. As if reinvigorated the butterfly sprang up, and flew off towards whatever goal it was pursuing. Cernain sighed, content at the small beauties this forest offered him. Just the other day he had seen his favourite herd of deer peacefully grazing in a magical little clearing to the north, and had been surprised at spotting a new-born calf, shily following around its mother, his spotted fur marking him clearly from the rest of the group. A small spot of light, reflected in the cool water in front of him, brought Cernain out of his daydreaming. He had never seen anything like it. It's brightness could have even eclipsed a sun, yet he could watch it without damage to his eyes. A gentle voice drifted from the point of light, which Cernain had no trouble in recognizing, even though it had been a long time since he had last seen Morneanna. Cernain listened intently to the message relayed by the bright star, and then nodded to himself. He whispered back, sending Morneanna a message in return. Once he had watched the point of light until it disappeared above the trees, Cernain reluctantly had to end his late afternoon bath. He had work to do, but he was looking forward to it. Morneanna never proposed anything uninteresting, far from it. Cernain allowed himself to dry in the sunlight, and then dressed, his mind intent on the task at hand. He would try not to disappoint his friend.