Black smiled at the little girl.

'His name is Pine, he named after the Pine trees.'

Fern walked next to Kaz. 'So you staying long or are you just passsing trough?"

"I like trees! Especially hollowed out ones. Like once I was playing and I found a tree, it's branches were really close together so I could climb it all by myself. I got all the way to the top and then there was this hole and I fell in and the hole went all the way down to the roots and--" Glitch continued her story while running around excitedly, trying to take in every detail of the forest. She'd come back later and explore if Kaz let her.

Kaz watched his sister as she ran around them all. It seemed she'd forgotten her shyness. "How long we stay in an area depends on how much she likes it." He said and grinned at Fern. "And from the looks of it we might be here for quite a long time."

Fern was not amused. This 'Kaz' person was grinning at him. And not in a nice way.
So he wanted to challenge him huh? Fine by him.

He grinned back. 'Well in that case we should surely make some time free to hang out together.'

Black gave a quick look back at the boys. He knew that tone of voice. It was the tone he used when he tried to chase somebody out. He only ever did that with arogant and mean sylesties before. Kaz seemed nice though.
He released a small grin himself. Ohh perhaps this was something different. Ahh to be young again. Those boys seemed to have found rivals in each other. Black liked that. Next to him, there was no other sylestie around that could give Fern a run for his gold. It wouls be good for Fern to have another boy like him around. Even if he himself did not feel that way.

He turend back to Glitch's story. 'You are a brave one aren't you. I can tell, I used to protect a King and worked with a lot of brave sylesties.'

As Glitch giggled at the compliment, Kaz felt the urge to quicken his step. He held back though, knowing that it would lead to a race. One he would lose while he was towing the cart.

~Later.~ He told himself.

The rest of the way he walked in silence, sizing up his new rival. Also aware that Fern was probably doing the same thing with him. At the same time Glitch was asking Black as many questions as she could about the king and the Sylesties he worked with. Kaz hoped she wasn't annoying the older Zolnixi.

Black kept track of the other younger ones. Looking back once in a while.

He saw Kaz looking at him. He winked at him. Showing he was fine with the little Glitch asking those things.

In the distance Black saw one of the old houses.
'Well, here is the first old house, it is the smallest one but should be big enoug for 2. It is a little worn but because it is small it will have the least work in patching it up. We can go look at the other empty houses as well if you like. We have about 4? Fern how much where there again?'

Fern answerd. '5 dad, that qitari family left a week ago, to live in the city nearby.'

Black nodded. 'Righ righ, good old Hummer, I hope he and his family will be ok.'
He turned to Kaz. 'Sorry about that, old age and all that.'

Fern snorted. 'Yeah right, your sharper then most of us. '
He leaned towards the little girl and whisperd in her ear (fake whisper the others would hear 2 but it makes kids feel good to be told something in secret xp) 'Don't be fooled by his goofyness, he knows and sees much more then he liked you to believe.'

Fern moved back up smiling. Then looked at Kaz. Fern had a look that says: 'What? I like kids.'

Kaz inspected the little house, looking for anything that could possibly be a danger to Glitch. All seemed well, the wood wasn't splintery, the structure was firm and there was just enough room for all their things.

"This should do nicely. We don't spend much time indoors so the size isn't really a bother." He turned to ask Glitch what she thought when he heard a delighted squeal from inside.

"It's red!" Glitch shouted poking her head out the window. "Can I have this room? Please? Red is my favourite!"

Kaz pretended to think about it, letting out a long "Hmmmm..." He could tell the suspense was getting to her. She was almost leaning her whole body out the window, eager to hear his decision. "Okay." he said finally. Had he waited any longer to answer she might've fallen out.

Glitch let out another squeal and tucked her head back inside. Now she had to decide how to arrange her room.

Kaz faced the other two males. "Thanks, I think she'll like it here. We'll spend the rest of the morning setting up." Then turning his attention to Fern. "Then perhaps a tour later?" he said with a hint of challenge in his voice.

Fern just smiled. "Sure thing, it's the least I can do for me new neighbour.'

Black looked amused at the little girl.
'Well, You can find our house if you follow that path over there, you will come across a small stream as well. If there is ever anything you need do not hessitate to find me. Or Fern.'

He added that last part just for fun. Heh who said adults could not have some fun sometimes as well.

'Well let's go Fern, they need to settle their things.'

And Black was walking off. Fern followed. 'See you soon, Kazzi.'

"Oh, I'll be looking forward to it." he replied. After the two were no longer visible, Kaz started unpacking the cart. He dumped the few things Glitch owned in a small pile in her new room and then got to work on the rest of the house.

After a while she came out, claiming she had finished. "Can we go exploring?" she asked.

"Sorry, little sis, I'm not done yet. If you're bored you can have a bit of a wander 'round outside but stay on the path, I don't want you getting lost our first day here." he told her then added. "Maybe you can play with Black's little boy. He did say his house was along the path."

"Okie-dokie." Glitch was happy even if she couldn't go right into the forest. This whole place was new to her.

Before she left she made sure to grab her lucky bandana from her room. It was actually just a torn piece of fabric she found. It used to be red but the colour had faded over time.

"On the path." Kaz reminded her.

"I will." and with that she dashed in the direction Black and Fern went.

Pine was playing in the corner when he suddenly growed bored.

'Mom can I go back outside please? It is such a nice weather.'


---

Meanwhile a hungry lost vorkid was moving trough the forest. It's pressence still unknown.

"Of course, honey." Celesta opened the door to let the boy out. "Don't go too far." she warned him.

---

Glitch was happily trotting along, taking in the scenery. A moment later she noticed a smaller dirt path that broke off from the main one, leading deeper into the forest.

She grinned widely, "Stay on the path." she said, repeating her brother. Knowing full well she was doing something naughty, she looked around to make sure no one was watching then quickly dashed into the forest.