dZanzaraandRagno,whosquabbledalldayandthrewnutshellsandstohebirdsandsquirrelspokingaroundourhiddenhoard.Iwasboredandcoldandlonesomeforadventure.

    Onagraym,Igelhimselfchosetostaybehindtowate,andasluckwouldhaveit,myfriendSmaolachkepthimpany.Theybreotofteafromdriedbarkandpeppermint,andaswewatchedacoldrainfall,Ipressedmycase.

    "Whywontyouletmegowithalltheothers?"

    "Mygreatfearisthatyoullrunawayandtrytoreturnwhene,butyouot,Aniday.Youareoneofusnow."Igelsippedhisteaandstaredatapointfaroff.Afteradetinterval,lettinghiswisdomsinkintomymiinued."Oherhand,youhaveprovedyourselfavalu-ablememberofour.Yougatherthekindling,husktheas,anddiganewprivyholewhenasked.Youarelearningtrueobedienddeference.Ihavewatchedyou,Aniday,andyoodstudentofourways."

    Smaolachstaredintothedyingfireandsaidsomethingilan-guage,allvowelsandhardsonantsfullofphlegm.Igelponderedoverthatsecretsentehenchewedonhisownthoughtsbeforespitti.Then,asnow,Iwaseternallypuzzledoverhowpeoplethink,byrocesstheysolvelifesriddles.Theirsultationelresumedhisstudyofthehorizon.

    "YouretoewithLuchógahisafternoon,"Smaola-formedmewithaspiratorialwink."Wellshowyouthelayofthelandaroundthesepartsassoonastherestofthemgetback."

    "Youbetterdresswarmly,"Igeladvised."Thisrainwillgeoversoon."

    Ohefirstsnowflakesstartedmixingwiththeraindrops,andwithinminutes,aheavysofall.Wewerestillsittinginourplaceswhenthefaerytroopmeanderedbacktothecamp,chasedho