Chapter Ten: The Homesick Elf.

Once upon a time, there lived a little elf in the land of Gatto.

Now then, this little elf grew up in a sheltered little glade, where she was surrounded by her family, and never had to worry about having enough to eat or a roof over her head. She had too a little carriage that would bring her to where she wished to go, so as not to tire her little feet. And so she grew up as a sheltered child who knew nothing about the world.

As the days passed, the little elf grew bigger, and soon it came to a time where she was told that she had to leave home and travel to the city of Fango, for that city was the biggest city in the country, and there she could learn a trade in which she could make herself useful. And so, after her 19th birthday, she set out for Fango, riding on the back of a dragonfly who had promised to bring her there.

Poor creature, who had never lived away from her family for long , she was filled with a peculiar mixture of dread and wonder as she contemplated the thought of having to live on her own, in a strange city, and among strange people. But there was nothing that had to be done about it; she had to go.

Ah, but then, she discovered, the city of Fango was not such a cruel, frightening world as stories would have her believe. She made new friends with whom spent time daily. Her new-found friends taught her to ride on the buzzing beetles that scuttled about the city carrying their tiny passengers where they wanted to go for a penny or two. Here also did she see for the first time the great centipedes whom the city's people had tamed to be ridden to far off distances,. Good it was, and she began to enjoy living in the city and settled to learning her trade. Not long after, she met and made a dear friend, Canard, and they often played together, learning their trade, and going about the city together.

Now then, after living a year and a half in Fango, the little elf was told by the teaching master of her school that she would have to go to another city, for learning at a desk in school was not enough. Ah, woeful was she, for she had wanted to go home and stay with her family for a spell, and play with her pet white rat. Still, she consented to go, and packed her things into a neat little bundle.

And so, she was sent to the city of Montagna, where she was put to recording down the things that happened around her, so that the people in the city could read it, and know what happened amongst them.

Strangely, contented was she, for she had a little room above the shop where she worked, and was allowed to leave early, for the work was not heavy. Yet, oftimes she felt as though time hung heavy on her hands, for she missed her family, her pet white rat and her dear friend dreadfully.

Shall the weeks be long, or pass by in a flash? Ahh. Woe is me, for how time flies, and yet oft it sits heavy upon one's brow when there is naught to do.