Saige returns to the town...

“Miquella!” Her shout is the only warning she gives him before Saige tackles Miquella into a bear hug.

She backs away and takes a deep breath before beginning, “Oh my gosh I have so much to tell you about! I have so many new friends and they’re so cool, they’re all really strong and they really like my rocks and my stories and the candy that I took them, except one of them didn’t really like the candy because it was too sweet but I really love candy and don’t think anything can ever be too sweet, but then something happened in the woods and there was something attacking, they’re probably fighting right now and I’m kind of worried about them to be honest, but they have really cool names and…“

Saige excitedly rambles on for a minute before having to breathe again.

Miquella analyzes her words and then ponders. “You said your friends were in danger. Who exactly are your new friends? Any friend of yours I will assist if I can, but there is a lot going on here as well Saige. You missed a lot in just this past month alone.” He says as he looks down to the ground and back up to her again. “I am happy you are safe though.”

Saige suddenly looks like a kid with her hand caught in a cookie jar. She looks down to the ground, fidgeting with her hands.

“Okay okay, so you know how that one time I said that the orcs might not be so bad even though they like, killed us and everything? And then you guys said it would be dangerous to try and talk to them? Well I went to find them anyway…”

She shifts on her feet, looking up and raising her hands in reassurance.

“But don’t worry! They’re actually really nice, they’re my friends now, they protected me and even brought me back to a patrol group when the fighting started! I thought it would be a good idea to try and talk to them about why they attacked in the first place, so I brought them some presents, and we were going to have a party and I was going to talk to their leader, but then fighting started getting really close and they circled around me and we’re all like, ‘don’t worry, we’ll protect you!’ and now I feel really bad because like, what if they got hurt or something? I mean they’re really cool and strong so I don’t think they would get hurt but I also don’t know what they’re fighting, whoever was attacking had swords and the orcs only have sticks, I couldn’t even give them my sword because I didn’t bring it.”

Miquella starts to pace back and forth while rubbing the back of his head, “Listen, Siage. I have no doubt that they are nice when they want to be. The issue is if they asked for help maybe we could have, but they choose to steal and kill the citizens of this kingdom as well as target us…..however, I am willing to help them if they are in trouble. Especially if they protected you as you said. Now there is only one issue. Others may not…like the idea of working with the group who caused so much havoc.” He take a moment and stops to look at her. “They must learn to coexist with the citizens of this kingdom and its authorities. Do you think they will be able to do that?”

“I really have this feeling like something else is going on, that’s why I wanted to talk to their leader, so I could ask. Bad things happen when nature gets off balance and it may or may not be their fault. Maybe whoever was attacking them is pretending to be us. Or!” Saige gasps with a realization, “What if the drake that they had put them under some kind of stupid mind control magic, and so now they’re friendly because the drake is dead!”

She looks at Miquella hopefully, and shrugs.

“I just really think we should figure out what’s going on first, and give them a chance. I mean, if my dad hadn’t given my mom a chance, I wouldn’t be here, and she set his house on fire, so.”

Miquella eyes widen when he hears about Saige’s parents. “I will give them one more chance. However, we will need to convince others. They could help us with our current issue.”