Chapter Thirty

After getting them both some food and drink, Nucamma and Atohmma, were now full. They had some of Atohmma's cookies for dessert and discussed her plans for the meantime. Atohmma knew she would prefer the elven village, but until she found out where it was, she had to stay somewhere else. She didn't seem to mind Nucamma's idea, but she was somehow a bit shy. She thought she would be seen as being weird or strange, like someone from another planet. She thought to herself, that at least she will be safe. So she agreed to stay with him for a while. Their minds were finally made up and off to his village they went. Along the way, Nucamma saw another elf, this one he knew, he called out to it and received a familiar response. There was no doubt in Atohmma's mind that, here, in Nucamma's village, she would meet an elf, who knows where the elven village is located. There was no urgency, but she was hopeful.

They decided to leave before dark. Atohmma had planned to stay at Nucamma's home so they walked all the way, stopped at a few stalls in the market and she made some new friends along the way. Nucamma's village wasn't much different from the one she just left. It seemed almost the same with cave homes and rocky streets. On this side of their world, the mountains were close by and could be found within the village. When they arrived at Nucamma's cave, Atohmma made herself comfortable enough to have a good night's sleep. She felt relief taking her hat off and freeing her ears. She even allowed herself to get used to it while in front of the mirror. Nucamma made his bed for Atohmma to sleep on for the night or nights and prepared the cot for himself. Atohmma sat a while and observed his village, a few natives passed by. She reminisced about her own home and the village. She thought about Venomma and Orgamma, what they must have been up to. Her mind went straying about the elemental shield and how it must have been changing form. Many thoughts crossed her mind. "I understand your silence Atohmma," said Nucamma as he sat next to her. "You must be wondering about everything at home," he added. Atohmma looked at him, smiled, and nodded.

"On the morrow, I think I'll try to meet some elves and see what I can find out. I think it will be better for me to go somewhere strange. Somehow I think the place where the intruder came from, will be the best place for my transition." she said. "I know what you mean Atohmma, but you don't need to make it all such a big deal. You will eventually look like the others around and fit right in, at least that much I can imagine," said Nucamma consolingly.

That night Atohmma had a dream. She woke up suddenly and realized, that she was at a house, not her own, but Nucamma's. After noticing where she was and snapping into reality, she laid her head down on her pillow, pulled her sheet, and thought to herself. "I wonder if everything is okay at home, the elemental shield, it was so clear in my dream as though I was there," Atohmma whispered to herself. She looked around the room she was in, her eyes blinking and shifting left to right from not being focused on anything in particular. Then, suddenly, she fell asleep again.

The following day, Atohmma woke up bright and early. That morning the sun was rising as she opened the window, and cool air welcomed her feet as she stepped outside, when she remembered she needed to find an elf today. She hurried out of the bed, brushed her teeth, showered, threw on her robe, and made her usual refreshing morning tea. She peeped in on Nucamma who was still asleep, while she sipped the hot tea she enjoyed so much. Outside the natives, there were up and about. She waved to some of them as they said good morning to her. Atohmma was confident today, that she will see an elf who knows exactly where she must go to find the other elves. There was no way she was going to miss the opportunity, as it was easy to identify them, among the crowd. Life here wasn't much different to that of her village, she thought. She was convinced that they were all related in some way, just living in different areas. She wondered who may have been the 'go to' in this village if there was one. She wondered if the oracle Cobra and the Shaman visited this village also. She even wondered if the elemental shield would protect them here as well. After all, it was a part of her world.

The weather affected every village and the natives communicated with each other in the markets. There wasn't much difference or none she concluded. A leader for her village may need to be the leader for the entire population of their world, she considered. "Hello, good morning, Hi! hello...," she called out to an elf. "Good morning my lady, are you speaking to me?" he asked her. Atohmma stumbled towards him with her cup in her hand, "Yes, I am speaking to you, please permit me to ask you, Sir, do you happen to know where I can find the elven village?" "Why, of course, I do!" he replied. "You do? I mean, that's great! I've been longing to meet an elf who knows. Please, tell me!" said Atohmma anxiously. "It's over at the western mountain, where you can find all the strange creatures. You just have to... "It's where? asked Atohmma, with her eyes opened wide as she cut him off from speaking." The elf continued..."It's a village behind the western mountain. To get there, you need to continue south of the western mountain, there you will approach a cave with an oak tree at the side of it. You have to then, enter the cave and keep going straight ahead until you see the other opening. That will take you to the village." "I never knew there was another village behind the western mountain. But I appreciate your help, thanks, thank you so much for this information. Is there anything else I should know?" Atohmma asked. "No, there is nothing hard to it, just follow the directions I gave you." said the elf as he turned to leave and continue on his way. "Have yourself a good day Sir! Thank you!" Atohmma shouted waving.