Children...

15th of Othen, 2734

I spent much of today sitting and contemplating the words of Frinly from yesterday. The way he spoke to me was more than unsettling, but I need to be able to understand it. Anyway, it won't do for me to go randomly walking around asking people about Daw. Most likely it will just turn future information away from me. And so I contemplate.

At this very moment I sit in the clearing where he was just a few days ago. Smelling the air, looking at the grass. I find myself doing the most ridiculous things. Though I am no tracker, I have been staring at the grass looking for some sort of sign that activity happened here. I touched most of the clearing with my bare hands, to see if I could find remnants of the moat that surrounded the hut. Alas, it is in vain. I can find nothing that would implicate his existence at all. Oh well, I already have my proof. You cannot fake the true horror that was in Frinly's eyes. I suppose I should not find this exciting, that a young man just had the manhood scared from him... but I do...

Just to be NEAR Daw would be more excitement than I can bear...

I digress.

I understand, I think, why he picked this spot. It's quiet, motionless, calm, and insatiably beautiful. The way the sunlight rips through the top line of branches to eek through softly, it's quite elegant. Even if there are hunters all through this area... Though non have come by here since they heard of the sighting.

It does not keep children away though. For quite some time now they have been watching me. A few children from the town. Inquisitive lads. Every once and a while I will hear their whispers, their movement among the trees. I am trying to find a good time to turn to them, but whenever I do, they move away from my gaze. I must model their curiosity in my studies as I try to find him. They are persistent, and their gaze is so intent, I can almost feel the presence on my back. Ah! A cool breeze! For all this glade's wonder, the stillness does make it rather hot..