"Halt" a soft voice cried out to Tehlko and Hyacinth as they approached the river. It was a slightly echoing voice that could be heard perfectly dispite all the noise from the river."I cannot help you pass this river as i could before" Hyacinth approched the river side slowly and bent down near the water

"Hello sister" she spoke gently to the reflection on the river's surface "Dont you remeber me? I came through here not so long ago from the other side. I was bringing some things in a small basket with me. Remember me now?"

The reflection of Hyacinth began to move its mouth to form words Hya's lips were not muttering. This was the elemental speaking to her "Oh, why yes. You're that little girl who came from the direction of Quilthanas. I remember now"

Hyacinth cleared her throat "Excuse me miss...but im almost three hundred now and im not a child anymore" Hya tried not to sound snobbish as she said that

"Three hundred?" Tehlko butted in "Well you dont look a day over two fifty" he winked at Hya with his elfish grin. A grin that could have ment curiousity, deception or devious planning. Tehlko grinned often.

"As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted" Hya threw a side glance at Tehlko, then looked back at the water "I need to get accross sister. It is important that I do"

"I am sorry young elf, I cannot let you pass. There is an inbalance in nature now. We know not where it comes from, we only know it exists. It is because of this that I cannot help you as I could before by order of my masters. You must cross without my help"

Hya jumped back as a small splash of water came near her eyes and looked at the ruffled mirror image of herself on the river and back at Tehlko. He'd just thrown a small rock into the river as the elemental denied helping them cross.

"We dont need her help" Tehlko simply told Hya as he walked up to the river and looked around "Who needs to be associated with anyone that works for fairies anyways. We can get along just fine without them"

Hya looked up at Tehlko with a slight frown watching him jump a few inches in the air and disappear only to reappear on a branch above the river edge "You know you are the only elf I have ever seen that doesn't commute with natures spirits. We are brethen and you deny your right to be among them"

"Ya, well," Tehlko spoke as he tried to balance himself on the branch and start to move accross it slowly "just think of me as the removed cousin no one wants to know about little girl"

"For the last time I am not a little girl!!" Hya screamed at the acrobatic elf

"Now listen here, Ive just about had it with your constant whinni..." as Tehlko turned around abruntly to face Hyacinth and continue to pour his heart full of content for her he lost his balance, slipped, and came crashing down into the water along with the branch. At the edge of the river Hya broke out into a loud laughter as Tehlko's head popped out of the surface of the water and gagged for air. He looked at Hya laughing so hard she had fallen back on the ground and flushed a deep red. Just as he was about to open his mouth to utter words he would not regret later, he found himself falling through air to the bottom of the river and bumping hard against the rocky surface. Tehlko got up, rubbing his acking behind, and looked around astonished by the sight of a parted river creating a dry path right through it. He could literaly see the fish swimming by in the water and could touch them by poking his hand into the water wall. Hyacinth's laughter ceased to a chuckle as she hoped down to the small path as it parted. Looking at a drenched Tehlko, she could hear the elemental's voice speak to them.

"My masters, the fairies" the elemental spoke "have granted you the right to pass. They say the young elf has amussed them and to repay him, I shall let you pass" As she finished, many small giggling voices came from all around the trees near them; the branches around them seeming to light up the slightest bit. Hyacinth walked past Tehlko with a grin and kept walking to the other side of the river as Tehlko looked up into the tree branches, frowned slowly and yelled at the top of his lungs.

The following day

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