Enter Faerie Village

“Bubble can you see to it that the kittens float out about 150 yards and stay there until I call them back?” Tinkletoes asks.

“Yes sir.”

The kittens' bubble takes off, coming to a complete stop exactly 150 yards away and out of the direct path of floating traffic.

“They are not telling the truth about where Dobby is.” Tinkletoes says.

“I agree.” Writer Lady says. “Why? What is their motivation? As long as they don't tell us where he is then they are in trouble. Why don't those kittens want to get out of trouble?”

“That's easy.” Monitor Man says, without looking up from his note taking. “Dobby's the way cooler older brother with the keys to the family car. If they say anything, no more unsupervised fun. No more adventures.”

“Dobby hasn't been very nice.” She points out.

“This isn't about brotherly love.” Tinkletoes says. “Monitor Man's right this is about feeling closer to being Dobby's equal. It's about adventures.”

“But...” Writer Lady begins.

Tinkletoes raises his hand and holds up his index finger, “We're guys. It's what we do. You're going to have to let me take over.”

“And do what?” She asks.

“Laps.” I'm going to set the bubble down and those ankle chasers are going to actually have to move.'

Writer Lady rolls her eyes. “They're kittens. They run around all day every day and most of the night.”

“Then...the punishment is climbing.”

“Have you seen my furniture?”

“Yeah. I guess that they do that already. Would ya let me beat it out of 'em?”

She gives Tinkletoes her “Hell No” look.

“No. I just wanted to make sure.”

“I think that I might know how to find Dobby.”

“Okay.” Tinkletoes says. He looks at Monitor Man. “Girls are good at sneaky stuff.” He turns back to Writer Lady. “Watcha got?”

“It's quite simple.” She says, looking at the ceiling of her bubble. “Bubbles, take us to Dobby.”

“If the silver unicorn is extinct then why did we just see one?” Carp asks.

“That is a good question.” Black Buck says.

The pair continue making their way through the grassy meadow, their path runs parallel to the abandoned road. The rustling sound changes, Carp stops for a moment and looks at Black Buck. “Did you hear that?” He asks.

“Hear what?”

“The rustling continued after we stopped walking.”

“It was just me. I am walking on all fours.”

“This was after you stopped walking.”

Black Buck blinks and smiles. “You are still nervous about our visitor coming back.”

“If it was the silver one there would be snorting and the stamping of hooves. This was different.” Carp counters. “If you didn't hear anything then I guess we'll keep going.” He says.

The two continue walking through the meadow.

“If memory serves we should be entering a village soon.” The antelope says. “Some food and rest may be just what is needed.”

“That sounds good, Black Buck. That sounds good.”

A white unicorn appears several feet behind them. She follows the pair like a devoted companion and disappears moments later.

Less than a mile further down and over the next rise Carp sees his first Faerie village. The village begins at the edge of a forest. Unable to continue cutting through the land parallel to the road the pair move to the abandoned road. Most of the dwellings they see at first are small faerie houses nestled among the trees. Tiny pixie houses hang in the upper branches of those same trees. The faerie houses give way to more open spaces lined with thatched huts and fenced off yards with kitchen gardens. Families are in the gardens. Working together on the hoeing, weeding, and picking of their bounty. Carp and Black Buck hear the music long before they reach the center of the village which begins to appear gradually. The music is cheerful, like at a circus or festival. At first, there are a few random cottages with signs posted offering room and board. The cottages become inns, then restaurants, and eventually bakeries, cobblers, herbalists, and other businesses. Children shoot marbles and play games along the edge of the street, running in and out of a chocolate shop seemingly at whim. A young woman in a dress with a colorful and flowing skirt dances to the cheerful music at the far edge of the village while similarly dressed people clap encouraging her.

“You dirty humans are always making trouble.” Snort!

Carp turns to see where the sound has originated from. He sees a three and a half foot tall creature in full village garb. It appears to be a pig standing on its hindquarters.

“We are not trying to make trouble sir. We are entertainers.” A handsome young man stands next to the pig. “We are looking everywhere. Arienh and her sisters have been dancing for hours trying to call Leitis back.”

“Which is why unicorns should not be allowed to travel with humans.” Snort. “ They are prone to flights of fancy and make trouble for the rest of us.” Pig man says.

“We are doing everything that we can. I am sure that Leitis will return to us soon.”

“Someone in Faerie complaining about flights of fancy?” Carp whispers to Black Buck. “Aren't those a prerequisite?”

“Imaginations are a prerequisite for living happily in Faerie.” Black Buck says. “Pig people came to Faerie because they are so insufferable that no one else would have them. The natives do their best and through the generations the pig people have become less difficult but have never seemed to embrace their new home completely.” Black Buck gestures towards pig man with his head, “What this pig man does not understand is that unicorns don't embrace flights of fancy. They are magical creatures. They heal, they bring hope, and they assist those in need. If one wanders away it has located one who is in need.”

“You'd better hope that you find her before she finds her way into my apple orchard or the ogres will enjoy a fresh batch of unicorn steaks in the near future.”

Carp and Black Buck hear a snort behind them. A white unicorn appears where nothing existed before. Everyone looks at the unicorn and a smile crosses all faces. The merrymakers and the dancing girl cheer from a distance. All eyes turn to Carp and Black Buck. The pig man makes a dismissive gesture to the young man that he was talking to and walks away. The young man runs over to the unicorn offering a closed fist in greeting. The unicorn lowers her nose, sniffs, and offers her head for a gentle scratch. The young man reaches up and complies.

“It looks like you found your unicorn.” Carp says.

“Alas, she has found me.” He responds. “Aingealag, where have you been?” He asks, looking into the unicorn's right eye. “What am I going to do with you? Most importantly, where is your sister?”