Night has already set. The moon cast light upon the leaves of the trees, painting them bright blue. A short silence loomed over the forest as the last explosion shook the trees. But the noises of the night have resumed. The crickets chirred, the owls hooted and distant growls echoed in the air.
Fluttershy was still gasping for air and shaking in fear. As if the loneliness wasn’t enough, she had to escape with inches of her life. The darkness didn’t help to shake the fear of death. She huddled up in the trunk of the closest tree and burst into tears. The fear and loneliness was just too much to take.
“Aw, don’t cry.” Said a strange voice from between the trees.
“Who are you?” Fluttershy raised her shaking voice. “I don’t grant wishes!” She looked behind her and saw a hunched over man holding a lantern with long tusks sticking out from under his upper lips.
“Oh, I know you don’t” Said the tusked man in a reassuring voice.
“What do you want from me?” Asked Fluttershy from under her tears.
“I do believe you’re the one who wants something from me, I just want to help you.”
“I don’t think you can help me.” Fluttershy said quietly, as she turned her face back to the tree.
The hunched man chuckled. “Now, I’m sure Hadrik sent you to me for a reason, Fluttershy.”
Fluttershy was taken aback by that response. She turned around and saw the man with the lantern smiling at her.
“You’ve found me!” The man reassured her and extended an arm to help her up. She tried to wipe her tears, but they were still flowing and stood up with the man’s help.
“Are you the one I’m looking for?” She said with a still shaking voice.
“Yes. But I expected you later.” Said the man. “You’re early.”
Fluttershy looked to the side, thinking of the circumstances that might have caused her to hurry.
“My name is Gabahn.” The man introduced himself. “And I’m what some may call, a grotesque elf.” He said with a warm smile. “Come, I’ll take you to safety.”
Gabahn took the still sniffing Fluttershy to his hut. All the lamps were already lit as he was expecting visitors. He offered her a sweet herbal tea and sat down with her.
“So what brings you here Fluttershy.” Gabahn asked in a friendly tone.
Fluttershy took a sip from the tea, which tasted very nice. She sighed and answered the question. “I don’t know. I was at home and suddenly I found myself in this strange place.”
Gabahn pondered for a moment. “Sounds like one of those randomly opening gateways that lead you to distant worlds.”
“Do you know how to get back?” Fluttershy asked.
“Well, I don’t. I’m not well versed with bending space itself.” Gabahn disappointed Fluttershy with his answer. “But I know someone who does.” He said slightly lifting Fluttershy’s spirit. ”He lives in the desert, far down south.” Fluttershy was even more disappointed, by the fact that she has to travel even further.
A silent moment has passed. “You look frazzled.” Gabahn broke the silence. “Let me help you with that.” He stood up and took a hairbrush. He started brushing Fluttershy’s mane, somehow not pulling it at all, despite the hairbrush looking very old.
“Your friends miss you very dearly, Fluttershy.” Gabahn said in a relaxed tone.
“How do you know that?” Fluttershy asked in surprise.
“Oh, if I had such a wonderful friend as you are, then I’d miss you too.” He said with a smile. “They’re really worried and they’re searching for you.”
“How do you know all this?” Fluttershy asked.
“I can see it in your eyes... You have a very strong bond. A bond nothing like I’ve ever seen before. The connection between you and your friends runs deeper, than just physical affection.”
Fluttershy’s tears started flowing again. She was thinking of her friends at home.
“And you also miss them dearly.” Gabahn remarked.
Fluttershy just nodded.
“You can stay here for the night. Wait as long as you need to.” Gabahn offered. “There is a long road ahead of you and you’re not in a hurry.”
Fluttershy dried her tears and took a sip from her tea. “Are you going to leave me too? Like everyone else did so far?”
“Oh, no. I’ll be there for you on your journey.” Gabahn said and took a talisman from the shelf. “This is a talisman of flukes. It will keep you from harm on your journey. No matter how bleak the situation may seem, with this, you will get out of it just fine.”
Fluttershy took a look at the talisman. It had a simple circular shape, with a jewel in its middle, that seemed to contain a smiling face.
“And I’ll remember you too.” Gabahn continued and took the hairbrush out of Fluttershy’s mane. “With this, your essence will remain here and continue to heal troubled souls.” He took the few strands of hair stuck to the hairbrush and rolled them up on a stick.
Fluttershy finally had the chance of looking around Gabahn’s house. There was only one tiny room, filled to the brim with many strange items. Some benign, some disconcerting, but they were all strange.
“Why did you help me?” She asked curiously. “Nobody I’ve met so far put any effort into helping me. How come you’re different?”
Gabahn chuckled. “I’m a witch-doctor. It’s my job to help those, whom fate has forsaken. It’s just what I do.”