Molly spungle : The Secret of Red Stone
Chapter 6: Hoddi

Hating to leave the peaceful spot behind, Molly knew it was time to make her way back to the wounded young man. Her concern for his welfare mounted with every passing moment. The fairy began to head back the way she had come, clutching her soaking wet dress.

She had not gone far when she saw another sign hanging from a tree, partially hidden among the dense leaves. This one was written in the same type of letters.

The heart of red stone

Watches you.

Knows all you desire,

Knows all that you do.

Molly read the bewildering words several times, not understanding their meaning. It almost felt as if they

were intended for her alone. But how could that be possible? How many people had read those words and thought the same thing, she wondered, realizing that she was imagining it. They had probably been there forever, long before she came along.

Suddenly, to her immense surprise, she heard what sounded like running footsteps approaching. Her sensitive ears picked up the sound, even though it seemed far away. Frightened, not sure what she should do next, Molly decided to hide until whoever it was revealed themselves. She quickly ducked behind a short fat bush just off the path and waited.

The sound was closer now, and the young fairy heard branches breaking as someone or something crashed through them. Whoever it was, they were coming her way in an awful hurry.

In a few seconds, someone was upon her. She felt the sharp blow to the side of her head and, with a sickening feeling, lay dazed and sore at the side of the path. Molly fought the waves of blackness that threatened to overcome her, too weak to hide again.

Stunned and in pain, the fairy thought she heard someone kneel beside her. However, too weak to hold her head up, Molly lay in the grass, fighting the waves of blackness that threatened to engulf her.

Something cold and wet touched the side of the fairy’s head and she managed to struggle through the darkness and open her eyes. There was someone kneeling beside her. She had not been wrong. The young fairy felt cool fingers applying a soothing ointment to her head that had a wonderful fragrance. Immediately the pain disappeared and Molly heard a strange, high-pitched, squeaky voice, close beside her.

“You will be all right now, my dear. You must rest for a moment.” As her vision cleared, Molly found herself staring into a pair of eyes that were the color of coal. A strange looking creature, the likes of which Molly had never seen before, squatted beside her.

“So sorry for running into you but I could not see you in the bushes,” he said, his voice concerned.

Molly struggled to sit up. The blackness soon faded away and she felt completely normal. The young fairy was glad and relieved to see anyone at all in this mysterious place.

“My name is Hoddi,” he said, squatting back on his short legs.

The fairy smiled at the round face in front of her. He seemed genuinely remorseful that she had been hurt. “I am Molly Spungle,” she told him, rising slowly to her feet and holding out her hand.

Hoddi rose slowly, eyeing the wings that hung bedraggled and broken from the fairy’s shoulders. He stood about three feet tall with a large belly that protruded over a rope belt holding up his ragged trousers. He was shirtless and his broad chest was covered in thick black hair. Hoddi’s long feet were clad in sandals from which protruded three lengthy toes that ended in claws.

The creature’s very thin arms, much longer than his legs, touched the ground where he stood. He had three elongated fingers on each hand with claws that resembled those on his feet. Sparse wisps of black coarse hair sprung out of his head and ears. His coal black eyes shimmered with interest as he watched Molly.

A strange appearing fellow, indeed, Molly thought, as her gaze swept over him.

“Are you a fairy?” Hoddi asked, raising one eyebrow when Molly nodded. “A bit bigger than most,” he commented.

“A Spungle fairy. We are larger than a lot of others, yes,” affirmed Molly. “And you, what manner of creature are you?” she asked.

“I am but a humble and loyal creature, of strong hobgoblin stock, mixed with the blood of a half human mother. I am searching for a master to serve,” Hoddi informed her, a crooked smile lifting the corners of his mouth.

Molly stared at the creature as she rubbed the injured area, and said, “The pain has disappeared. Did you put a magic potion on me?” She was at least familiar with those.

“Just the fluid from those leaves of that bush over there,” he said, pointing to a short fat bush with large leaves.

Molly, her worry for the wounded man surfacing again, turned to leave. “I must be getting back,” she said.

“What is your hurry, my friend?” asked the strange looking little man.

“There is someone who is gravely injured I need to take care of,” Molly told him. The idea suddenly came to her that maybe this odd looking hobgoblin might help her. “Perhaps you could help me take him to shelter,” she said, her eyes wide and questioning. “I don’t think I could carry him there all by myself and I would be grateful for your help.”

The stranger looked at her shrewdly. “Who is this person?” he asked.

“He is a badly injured young man. I came upon him lying in the grass.” Molly pointed in the direction she was heading. “I do not know his name or how he came to be there.”

“I think I can help you. After all,” he said with remorse, “it is I who injured you and it is now my obligation to assist you.”

Without another word, Molly began to hurry up the path again. Her new friend loped along beside her, after first stopping to gather a few of the leaves from the same fat bush he had used to heal her own pain.