Elrodan having crossed back from the Crescent Isle now headed into the Moonveil forest. After the Deadwood and Hanutwood, this was back to the real joys of a forest. Several people had said about the village in the centre of it and as he flew high to get a slight hint of the area, he could notice in the distance what looked like mushrooms. Descending back down he could smell how alive the forest was even before he was into it. Revelling in it, he just let himself glide in. Landing in a tree and brushing his fingers on the leaves and bark he gave a little laugh of glee. 

After many hours of chasing birds, scampering and weaving through the trees, Elrodan at last settled for his dinner, having forgotten which direction was which to get to the village. He'd have to get a few more supplies when there, but for now the bits he had on him would do. After eating he nestled up into a comfy crook of a tree trunk and fell asleep. The morning came, sunlight tripping over the edge of the world and tickling the tops of the trees. All around him, birds were singing and tweeting their greetings to the world. With a stretch, Elrodan once again set off for the heights and not needing many for he could see the roofs of the village in the distance. He rolled his eyes and headed for it. 

Once in the village, he headed for the market. Though early, the stalls were already buzzing with life and Elrodan had to go slow enough to see past them all. As he did, he couldn't help but make out fragments of comments, "...Another fairy...", "...like the other...", "..no bucket though ahah...". 

Elrodan couldn't concentrate. They were talking about another fairy. Spotting a stand with some appropriate supplies he asked for a few bits and handed over most of his change that he had left. He'd need to find more at some point. The stallholder was quick to take the money and then push the goods to his hands, a curious look on his face. In any case, this fairy now had a purpose, to find the other fairy that could be around. His grey wings, with two small hints of blue and green whirred behind him as set off.

Hylltywyll tossed and turned in the little nest he had made for himself under the shelter of one of the smaller, but still unusually large, mushrooms in the Moonveil Forest. He was never much of a morning person. Or a noon person, or an afternoon person. He very much preferred nighttime, when the streets of the village were less crowded and he could sneak around in the darkness more easily.

The little Dark Fairy finally gave up on trying to sleep in a little longer and scurried through the gap between slightly dug out ground and the low edge of the giant mushroom cap. He stood up, a bit groggy, and stretched with a yawn. He glanced around for any potential dangers. Finding none, he set out on his usual morning trip through the forest to find some food and water before heading for the village, darting from shadow to shadow, where he would get up to his usual hijinks.

Sitting atop an overlooking building, he watched the people going by. No hint of a fairy to them. Where would I be, if I wanted to hide from people? He let his gaze wander. On a far set of roof tops was a flock of birds, it was enough to give him the thought. They don't play in the market, so neither would the fairy. He turned around and crawled to the other edge of the roof. Yes, far less busy. Not quite as bright with the sun behind him but light enough.

Don't be silly Elrodan, if they want to hide, they won't be in the village at all. He looked out at the surroundings, forest and giant mushrooms. Either likely candidates. This would be tougher than he thought. He wished he had done way too detect other fairies. He'd heard others talk of sending when the undead of such were about but he couldn't, nor would he expect it to be for fairies either.

He stood up, he needed a new plan. 

Hylltywyll slowed down as he cautiously crept up to where the trees of the forest gave way to the small fields and old fences of the village. Hylltywyll glanced around at the fields, deciding what he was in the mood for.

A few villagers tended their crops, unaware of the lurking fairy. One of these farmers stood in a tall corn field, harvesting the fully grown ears and dropping them into a nearby basket, wiping the sweat from their forehead with a towel before putting it back around their neck and adjusting the straw hat on their head.

Hylltywyll smiled and darted through the sunlit grass as fast as he could to reach the shade between the corn stalks. His form was hidden as a mist-like darkness started to form around him and make him appear to just be another shadow between the corn stalks. He crept up to the farmer's basket and peered inside. The farmer must have started their harvest only recently, as the basket was mostly empty. Only a mere 3 ears were lying at the bottom of the basket.

"Well, it's not a prank if they don't even realize it happened." he thought to himself as he glanced at the farmer to make sure he wasn't looking and reached into the basket. He grabbed all 3 ears and held them close to him, letting the shadowy mist flow over them and obscure them from vision too. He retreated slightly, staying close enough to see the farmer's reaction once he noticed the missing corn. It didn't take long, as the farmer glanced into the basket as he threw his latest harvest in and stopped.

"What the-!" the farmer shouted, attracting the attention of some of the other farmers nearby. "That darn fairy!"

The farmer, losing his temper, kicked the basket and sent the single ear of corn flying out. Seeing the perfect opportunity to add a little more insult to this farmer's injury, Hylltywyll moved and caught the flying ear of corn with a gleeful smile before adding it to the other ears in his arms and scurrying away as the farmer shouted angrily behind him, trying to chase after him, but not being able to follow the movement of a shadow among shadows. If he hadn't been shouting so much, he might have been able to track Hylltywyll by the sound of the Fairy's giggling.

---

Cloak of Shadows

Like a whisper on the wind, Elrodan thought he heard the word fairy shouted far off. Here was his new plan. Find that person who shouted, find the fairy.

Skipping, hoping, and flying along he made for the edge of the village and where he thought he heard the shouts coming from.

As he neared the last of the buildings, he could make out a couple of farmers in the distance being vocal and gesticulating about something. Why would they be upset about a fairy? Perhaps the fairy should have helped with something or such which they hadn't.

Regardless of what it was, he hadn't seen anything flying away. Had he been too long in reaching there? He looked out at the field, corn, lots of corn floating above their shadows. The sound of the wind rustling their stalks and laughing.... Laughing? He squatted down and concentrated with all of his might on where it was coming from.

Hylltywyll slowed down as he reached the edge of the corn field. He quieted down his laughter and nodded to himself, though he couldn't stop having a slight grin on his face. Afterall, he needed to be quiet to be sneaky. From inside the shadows just on the edge of the corn field, he glanced around for a sufficiently shaded path further into town to somewhere he could sit and eat his pilfered breakfast.

As he glanced around, he noticed something strange out of the corner of his eye. A small, winged figure floating above one of the buildings along the edge of the fields. He stared up at them, trying to take in as many details as he could from this distance. They weren't an Aviankin. He had seen a couple of Aviankin before. This figure looked more like a tiny human than one of the bird-like people he had seen. And this person's wings were insect-like instead of feathered. They seemed to be looking around.

Keeping an eye on the floating figure, Hylltywyll slowly moved toward a fence that was close to the corner of the cornfield. If he followed the shadow of the fence, he could get further into town to a small fenced in yard where one of the old humans likes to meditate in the afternoon, under the shade of a cherry tree. Hylltywyll like to eat under the shade of the tree and enjoy a few cherries from it, too. That human would also be busy right now with other things, so he would have their meditation spot all to himself.

But first, he had to cross a few feet of a sunny dirt path to reach the shadow of the fence. He stared at the floating figure again. Were they looking in his direction? Maybe they were looking at the farmer still angrily shouting in the corn field behind him. Well, they probably weren't looking for him specifically, right? No one in this town looks for him unless he'd just messed with them. And he didn't remember ever messing with this person. Still, he didn't like being seen, so he would do his best to avoid the floating person's eye.

Hylltywyll made sure the corn was secure in his arms. He watched the floating figure, waiting until they turned their head a bit away from him, and then dashed as fast as he could across the dirt path, toward the shadow of the fence.

---

Cloak of Shadows

The laughing must have come from a house or one of the farmers. He'd been too late. He thought about going to the farmers but they didn't seem hurt.

Turning, he walked along the roof tops for a bit enjoying the mesmeric sway of the crops. At last he snapped back to reality and chose to head back in town. There he may, if lucky, pick up more rumour about the other fairy about.

Given the size of the place, he thought he'd take the scenic route. With a big stretch, he started to walk along the very top edges of the buildings arms out pretending to balance as he walked along. With the last step he gave a springing jump into the air and circled back on himself. As he went along, he noticed the top of a cherry tree and thought about having a snack... Later, it would make a nice dinner.

There was too few people about on the edge of the village, and what few there were seemed occupied by their own tasks and not engaging in Isle chatter, though if there was a conversation going on he did try to listen in. The talk of the weather, Mr Bungrew and his turnips, or a leaky hen house didn't hold his attention long. So gradually he moved in a street at a time.

Hylltywyll crawled through the hole in the fence hidden by some flower bushes and entered the little meditation area. He glanced around, making sure the owner was away. He also looked up at the sky for the floating figure he had seen by the fields, but they were also nowhere to be seen. He let out a small sigh and smiled before leaving the bushes and walking over to the cherry tree, the dark mist fading and revealing his form again.

Plopping down in the cool shade, he started peeling the corn and munching away. He had to hand it to that farmer, they knew exactly when the corn was perfect to harvest. It was at peak freshness, juiciness, and deliciousness. He ate all the corn, throwing the finished cobs randomly into the yard for the old man to find later. With a small burp, he lied down on his back in the soft grass with one hand under his head and the other on his full stomach. Maybe that fourth corn cob was a bit too much. He wouldn't be able to eat a single cherry with how full he was. Maybe he would still steal a few for later, though.

With only mild regret, he relaxed in the shade, watching the clouds move in the sky and listening to the leaves of the cherry tree shifting in the wind. He daydreamed about his next prank and who to pull it on. After he was finished digesting, of course.

Elrodan moved closer to the centre of the village. The people there were too noisy. It was an utter frustration. Clearly there was no hope in staying here. Then there was a waft of a most delicious smell. A steak had started barbecuing things and their gentle char was making him salivate.

He wanted nothing more than to go and tuck into the food there but he knew he should save his money for something that was really needed. He knew he wasn't that hungry and just wanting to eat because of the smell. The best bet was to return to the cherry tree and have a few of those, maybe even taking a few for later.

He took a couple minutes to head back in the right direction but he was able to get there before his need for food subsided. As he flew the final bit to the tree top he thought he spotted a cat out something lazing out in the shade below. Maybe it wasn't a cat but it was sprawled out and he was keen to try the cherries. Landing in the very top branches and looked for a nice couple of cherries to pick.

After taking some time to laze about in the grass, Hylltywyll decided he should move on. That old man might be back any minute and he didn't want to get hit with a broom again. He stood up, yawned, and stretched a bit before looking up into the cherry tree. He should have enough time to grab a few before the old man came back, right? In his lazy, slightly sleepy from being so full state, he hadn't noticed a small figure flying overhead and landing in the tree.

He walked up to the base of the tree and started to climb, small claws finding handholds in the bark of the trunk. He took his time, learning from his failed attempts. After finally reaching the lower branches he climbed out to the nearest bunch of ripe cherries he could spot and started plucking them from the branches and tangling them into the thick fur on his legs for safekeeping.

Elrodan had taken the best of the crop that was on the surface. Pushing aside branches to reach at freshly seen cherries, he climbed down through the twigs and leaves.

Pushing a few bunches into pouches or on his belt between mouthfuls he felt he had rather been lucky with this find. Needing to move to a fresh patch he looked down to find another branch to stand on but he found more he could see more than the tree. There was a creature also plucking at the cherries. He studied them, they looked to be the same size as him, equally happy to be eating cherries but that's about where the similarities ended. No wings, a form that wasn't 'human', and well... What were they? "What are you?" he said, possibly a little too loud.

He considered climbing both down to get them and introduce himself as well as climbing up and flying away, or at least to a distance he could watch them from. 

"What are you?" Hylltywyll heard quietly from behind him.

Jumping and letting out a small "Ah!" in surprise while trying to turn to see who could have said that, his foot slipped from the branch he was on and tumbled out of the tree, landing in the grass with a soft thud. He sprawled out on his back, dazed. He let out a soft groan from the dull pain and felt the fur on his legs. At least the cherries were safe...

He stared up into the tree to try and see who had spoken to him, but before he could spot them he heard the back door of the house starting to open into the enclosed yard and quickly emanated the shadowy mist, once more concealing his form in the shade of the cherry tree. He stood up, doing his best to suppress his groaning from the pain in his back, and started slowly moving toward the bushes that hid his secret entrance.

---

Cloak of Shadows

Elrodan watched the thing fall, reaching out an arm that was all too far away. Clearly they weren't a bird, it didn't fly. Nor some breed of cat, that wasn't a graceful landing. What else would keep cherries on itself? Any creature he could think of that stored food, had pouches, in their mouths or actual storage sorts.

He was about to fly down, to make sure the creature hadn't hurt itself when a door opened. He cast his eyes towards the door then back to the ground. The creature was gone, and the shadow under the tree looked deeper and darker. If he didn't know any better he'd say the shadow was moving towards a bush. He had other issues more though, the person who had opened the door was now approaching the tree. He couldn't make out much of them through the foliage, his mind took to thinking of what options he had. Drop down and say hi, hmm no. Climb up and away, viable if he wasn't too rough and noisy which given how quick he'd have to be would be very tricky. He held his spot, this seemed to be the worst plan yet his limbs refused to move.

With confusion clouding his mind, he slowly watched the shadow under the tree lessen. He couldn't figure out what had happened but he felt a compulsion to follow after, into the direction of the bushes. Just as soon as he could move.

Before he snuck out of the yard, Hylltywyll looked back up at the tree. There, in the higher branches, he saw the same small figure he had seen flying above the houses near the fields. "Are they following me?" he wondered. He saw them glancing down at the man and then up, appearing to be thinking of what to do next, before just standing there in the tree.

Meanwhile, the old man approaching the tree looked around his meditation yard and noticed the discarded corn husks and chewed up corn cobs scattered around. "Agh, that damn Fairy! I swear, I'd rather just have a raccoon problem..." he started muttering to himself as he walked around collecting them. "Looks like Hubert's not getting his corn back" he said with a sigh. He put the remains of the corn into a bin in the corner by a flower garden that spread along the fence from one end of the yard to the other before walking back to the shade of the tree and preparing to sit down for their daily meditation.

Hylltywyll watched the man, glancing occasionally at the person in the tree. They'd be stuck there for at least an hour if they were waiting for the old man to leave. He decided to show a little mercy to this stranger. Maybe they'd return the favor. He looked at the door to the old man's house and used a little of his magic to make a loud sound of breaking glass come from within.

The old man immediately reacted to the sound, shooting up and running to the door. "What was that?!" he yelled as he opened the door and ran inside.

Hylltywyll looked at the person in the tree to see their next move.

---

Cloak of Shadows
Minor Trickery

As the man cursed fairies Elrodan gave a of confusion, he hadn't taken or eaten any corn! He was preparing himself to plead his innocence when a noise drew the man away.

He moved and sat on a lower branch while he thought about how to explain it wasn't him when he realised there could have been other fairies about as who would have seen him. He knew then he should just fly away as quick as he could before their return. Slipping from the branch with a final glance to the doorway, he flew as fast as he could over the fence by the bushes and dropped behind the fence. Landing on the other side he pressed his back to the fence, closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Phew!"

What should he do now? From that little map he'd seen, he knew there was a forest in the northern section, should he go there to avoid this scandal. Hmm maybe he should look in the mushroom forest first, that could be different. Then at last he came back to remembering that he could try and track down the fairies and opened his eyes. He wouldn't give up on that yet.