Chapter Two- Caolan and Cavell

I just stood there, eyeing the little man in the doorway. He seemed horrified, as if I was a giant who has come to crumple his home down. I watched him turn around and walk back into his home. Then when he was back in the doorway, another figure stood behind him. The second figure was taller, maybe my height. He ducked under the door's frame and walked quickly towards me. I watched as he, too, became soaked. Once he reached me, his face turned to shock.

"Your human, aren't you?" He asked. I stared blankly at him. The question came as a shock to me. Of course I was human. What else would I be?

"Yes." I replied, my voice shaking. I hadn't realized I was cold, and my arms were shaking. He wrapped a heavy cloak he had been wearing over my shoulders.

"Come with me, before someone sees you." He said calmly. He grabbed my arm and I was quickly led to the little home.

The inside of the home was much more inviting than the outside had been. The room was well lit and made completely out of wood. The floor and walls were the color of oak. A table, coming up to my waist, stood in the center of the front room. The table was a deep brown, and a red and brown cloth hung over the top. Two chairs were placed on either sides of it. I could see a little fireplace in the far right corner, and a large pot was hung over the orange flames. There was a door on the far left wall, towards the back of the home. The second I entered, I felt better. It was heated well.

"What do you think you are doing!" The sudden voice made me jump, and I looked down to see a scruffy man, a foot higher than my waist. "Do you want the Binaji to discover you? you would be killed!" I didn't know what to say, so I just stood there. I was very confused, and I wanted to leave, but the taller boy stood between me and the door.

"Caolan." The boy said behind me. "Calm down, Caolan. She doesn't know." This seemed to work. The scruffy man stopped yelling.

"Oh. I see." He replied. He turned around and walked to the fireplace to tend to the source of the amazing smell that filled the room. "We will have to tell her now, won't we."

"I suppose so." I head the boy say. "And I will have to give her some warmer clothes. She looks freezing." With that he led me to the table. A chair was pulled out, and I sat down. "Don't leave." He instructed, and walked through the back door, into a second room. He returned not too much later with a small pile of clothes in his arms. He handed them to me, and I dressed in the second room.

The second room contained two beds, one larger than the other, and two dressers. All four were well used and showed signs of old age. the walls and floor were the same as the room before. This room was dimly lit, with only a few small candles.

I dressed quickly, and when finished I glanced down at myself. The clothes didn't fit too badly, because the boy was about my size. He had given me a white, long-sleeved shirt and loose tan pants. Although it was weird being in a stranger's clothes, it was more comfortable than my soaking jeans and sweater.

I renetered the front room to see Caolan still at the fireplace, and the boy in the opposite chair I had been in. When he saw me he stood and when he reached me, took my wet clothing. He layed them out on the mantel above the fire to dry, and the returned to me. Motioning for me to sit, I ragained my place in the warm chair, and he sat across the table from me. Caolan didn't move.

"What is your name?" The boy asked me. I just sat there for a little bit, unsure of answering, but realized nothing would happen.

"Sophie Pintley." I replied quietly. He smiled at me, showing beautiful white teeth. His messy brown hair went to the middle of his ear before cutting off and his brown eyes watched me carefully.

"Well, Sophie. Your in quite a situation." He told me. "I'm Cavell. I'm sure you have loads of questions. I'll let you start"

"Oh." I said. I was slightly scared to ask them, but for some reason I felt I could trust Cavell. Caolan not so much, though. "Why did you ask me if I was human?" I asked quietly, unsure if he could hear me.

"Well, lets see if I can explain this. You have heard of fairytale creatures, right? Dwarfs, trolls, fairies, many more." I just nodded. "Well, they do exist. My friend Caolan, here, is a dwarf. Don't hold it against him, though. He is very strong." I looked over at Caolan. He was pouring a chunky liquid into three white bowls. When finished, he grabbed three metal spoons and came to the table. He handed a bowl and spoon to Cavell, who thanked him, and one to me, keeping one for himself.

"Thank you." I told him.

"She's a quiet one, isn't she" Caolan told Cavell, and he chuckled in a deep, low voice.

"Yes." He looked over at me, now. I was eyeing the soup. I had never seen, or smelled anything like it before, and was debating wether to eat it or not. Cavell must have seen my concern. "Its rabbit stew. Very good, I might add. When I first came I wasn't sure about it either. Trust me, it will fill you up." I looked up, and he was still watching me. His eyes kept locking with mine, and it took effort to break it. I picked up the spoon and sipped a little of the soup. It tasted surprisingly good. I ate more, not realizing I was that hungry. When we were all finished Caolan took the dishes and washed them in a bucket.

"Now, Sophie. I guess there is no more delaying. I'll have to tell you everything, I suppose." This time there was no delight in his face. He was serious, I could tell, and I knew this was nothing to joke about.