Ralph and the Pixie

Their town now had a name; Wel’adai, which was Elvish for corner of the wood.

There were few blemishes on their new life here, and in the beginning these were little noticed. The first of these was the mistrust of the Outsiders, as they called themselves. Despite well-intentioned attempts to draw them into the new community, they were reticent and suspicious by nature. A few even showed open hostility to the newcomers’ presence.

Ralph noted sadly that Nevana and her family had become estranged from one another. Of her family he saw very little, except the children, who were often seen playing, though because of their parents they became distanced from Rani and Zuic. Nevana herself had been taken in by an older couple who were troubled by the young woman’s bleak solitude, and did what little they could to alleviate her self-imposed isolation. But she seemed disinterested in everyone and everything, and spent much of her time wandering alone.

Deborah, too, had become another concern. Despite her apparent recovery she did very little, and like Nevana would wander far, apparently daydreaming; about what she wouldn’t say. Like Nevana, Ralph and Pran were forced to ask Birin to have someone to keep an eye on her, after she went missing for an entire day, and returned that night, led by some of the Pixie folk.