Svarik and the company I :)

[VisAnastasis]

Though it was tiring for him to rush, Cernunnos, limping lightly, did his best to get them to the exit faster, to make sure they are safe. He paused at one point, and but leaned against the wall.

" This is as far as I am able to go, alas, king guests. " he apologized to them sadly, clinging his invisible chains, that were probably adjusted to make sure he can't get near exit. " But the door is right there, few meters around that corner. You must leave now... But I am glad I have met you. Please, take care, and lock the doors three times after you exit the castle, little ones. "

[Mirach]

"I will, don't worry," Svarik nodded. "We will see you in the morning again." He bowed his head in greeting and then went to the door and locked it after they passed.

[VisAnastasis]

Erdel also bid him goodbye, seeming sad for and compassionate to the old gentle creature. As instructed, he in silence followed king diligently, though, to the exit. When they were outside, he shivered slightly, for indeed, some shadow seemed to be cast upon this land already, from the glistening waters, and he was very sensitive to it. Xia as well felt it, and after she licked Svarik's face lightly in her version of kiss, she slipped to ground and transformed into a form with wings, circling around king protectively, wishing to get him to safety right away.

[Mirach]

Feeling the unrest of his companions, Svarik also wanted to get to safety faster. "Let's fly," he said, and took the animals from Erdel after climbing on Xia's back. 

[VisAnastasis]

Xia didn't need to be asked twice, and she flew back to the other side, and Erdel just jumped couple of times along the riverside, to reach them without needless slipping through the layers. There was something within waters that horrified and repulsed him, just as it made Xia restless, and he was relieved to reach other side, and both readily got back to the entrance of other fort, to seek for shelter there.

[Mirach]

Svarik knocked on the door as soon as they got there, not bothering to conceal Xia's form anymore now that he saw that the inhabitants of the fort were themselves descendants of a demon.

[VisAnastasis]

Priests were waiting for them, and immediately, the doors opened by one older priest, and by the lovely little Emil. As soon as their guests entered safety of the fort again, they were closed, and with chalk, Emil wrote some kind of protective runes over it, identical to ones Zephir practiced so diligently, just a different combination.

" It is good you are here, I was getting a little worried. " child said when that was out of the way, relieved to see their guests were okay, nobody really being surprised by Xia's forms, thought couple of people around them seeming to admire it. " It happened once or twice that people were too late... Please, come, kind travelers. It's chilly before night falls, I shall let you warm by the fireplace and make you some tea to warm your blood and bones. "

[Mirach]

"Thank you, that would be welcome," Svarik nodded. "It was a fascinating visit."

[VisAnastasis]

" I am glad to hear it. I hope to hear all about it when you get warmed up a little. " Emil waved away with his hand gently, indicating that's first thing first, out of the question. He brought them back to the big dining room, where armchairs were already prepared for them, and big fire was lit, so it was nice and comfy, and one priest was already on his way to bring them tea, while other was bringing blankets - this was probably best treatment to get away with chill when somebody stays too long outside around nightfall.

[Mirach]

Svarik accepted it thankfully and he made a nest from his cloak for Yiska and Sunshine close to the fireplace, so they could be comfortable there. 

[VisAnastasis]

Yiska was still asleep peacefully, but Sunshine got a little restless, and was thankful for the pampering.
Xia, once she sniffed around and made sure it's safe here, turned again into her childlike little form, and she climbed into Erdel's lap, seeking comfort there, as she was drawn to him as someone whom she perceived as her elder and whom made her feel protected.
Both seemed to relax visibly once inside and once they warmed up covered with blankets priests gave them, and though reluctantly, when Emil brought tea, vampire accepted it as well, as boy reassured him it's made from special plants that will make him feel better and soothe him - child also brought cute little mug for Xia.

[Mirach]

Svarik sipped his team quietly for a while, until he felt better and warmer. The he took out the book he got from the forest god. "Cernunnos borrowed me this," he said. "He told me you could help me with the runes..."

[VisAnastasis]

" I am pleased he trusted you that much. He did not give away books for a long time. Last he borrowed a book to one trader,  with that man's promise of returning it one day, but the guy never got back, though Forest God waited for couple of centuries even, hoping it will find way back to him... He was really moody about it back then. He didn't borrow books to any visitors since. I hope you will appreciate the gesture. " Emil explained, pulling his armchair closer to Svarik's. " Yes, I know to read the runes, it will take a little bit, but I shall teach you, kind guest. "

[Mirach]

"Thank you. I will make sure that it returns to him even if I wouldn't be able to come myself, which I hope I will."

[VisAnastasis]

" I will be very obliged to you if you made sure of that, but I will believe you kept your promise only when the book touches my hands again, whether soon or who knows when. " child smiled a little sadly, before it proceeded to gently explain Svarik the rules of ancient writing system.

[Mirach]

Svarik listened carefully, trying to understand and remember it well until he could read in the book on his own, although slowly.

[VisAnastasis]

Emil lade sure he understood it well enough on his own, before he leaned back into his armchair.
" I think you got the way of it. Thankfully language stayed same over years, though the way you speak is a little bit funny. But since over centuries we got new priests here and there, we were able to keep our speaking tongue more-less up to date, I hope. " Emil explained. " If you come across something you have trouble to read while you remain in our care, kind guest, just ask, and I will help you with it. I am sorry it was a bit confusing - our Forest God was in lot inspired by previous armchair form of human language that he made more efficient, but he also enriched it with style of runes of his own people, so it is a little heavy for our human eyes in some instances, though it's pleasing to look at. "

[Mirach]

"I think I might get used to it after a few chapters when reading it. The book will be very useful to us..." Svarik said, and smiled at Xia a little.

[VisAnastasis]

" I certainly hope so. Cernunnos knows a lot about taking care of children of his kind. Be mindful to not take everything literally, and take explanations with pinch of salt, of course, for every person is reacting a little differently to same things, no matter what race they belong to. " Emil said gently. " But in growing better understanding of kin of your companions, kind guest, I judge it shall be very useful indeed. "

[Mirach]

"We are really lucky that we stopped here," Svark said. "We would like to stay tomorrow as well. We would like to teach Xia our lnguage, and Cernunnos promised to translate for us. But the other animals I would like to leave with you, so they are not exposed to his aura that long. Would that be alright with you?"

[VisAnastasis]

" I would be delighted to! " Emil said earnestly, with joy. " There's little to do here during daytime, and it's been very long since we had any pets! We used to have lot of cats and dogs, and wild creatures, because Forest God loved them and enjoyed taming them - but sooner or later ever since that attack, alas, they would skip our grasp and go outside and get eaten at night, and now we have none. I would be happy to guard your animals for a day, and your beds for staying with us tonight are already said. If it's alright, I took freedom to give you one room, kind guests, because I figured you may feel safer that way, and while staying in pair, it's easier to make sure light upon your room is lit and burns at all times. "

[Mirach]

"Does it have to?" Svarik asked. "Is it like the Long night then, and you have it here every night of the year? How far from here does that influence reach, and does it have clear borders or ends gradually?"

[VisAnastasis]

" Saying it is gradual is closest to truth. Sometimes wraiths reach further, sometimes closer. It depends how strong our God is at the moment. Sometimes, they reach further, sometimes, less far, and at good Summers, state is better. Cernunnos uses all his might each day to limit their movements. And fire doesn't have to be lit, as a must, but if it's not, specially during winter, you can grow sick and feel uncomfortable. " Emil explained. " Influence follows all the water both up and down the streams. We never went out to play with fire and test its reach at night... But judging by body remains we had found over centuries, my personal opinion would be... As far as this forest stretches. That's why most travels avoid us, you see - we have kind of a reputation, true reputation, when I think about it, of being cursed, kind guest. This is deemed a Cursed forest, and I am more thankful than sad for it, for once it started to be seen as such, we have much fewer visitors, but also fewer humans lost in nights to this terrible affliction. "

[Mirach]

"But you don't get many supplies and necessary things this way either..." Svarik noted. "Are you self-sufficient in everything?"

[VisAnastasis]

" We can't rely on outside world, so we have to be. We grow our own food, make our own clothes, dig our own salt from nearby mine, make our own tools... Pretty much everything. " Child explained patiently with little kind smile. " If there were more of us, it would certainly be bigger problem to keep up, I believe - but we live humbly, and we get by on what we have as humbly. All is worth it, for company and care of the Forest God. "