13
Gone“They're gone!” Riff said.
He pushed his way past the villagers who crowded around Gaidel. The news traveled quickly that morning and there had been a steady stream of villagers, both curious and concerned. At Riff's arrival, Gaidel broke off her conversation with Craluk, the village leader.
“What do you mean they're gone?” she said.
“Which word confuses you?” Riff answered in an irritated tone.
His chest was rising and falling, hair damp against his head. He must have run through the entire village. The sun was barely above the green boughs of the Deepwood, but the morning mists had long burned away and the day promised to be warm.
Riff slapped at one of the many insects trying to land on his face. He still refused to use the protective mud. The man was so stubborn.
She did
