Thornweaver Elder

Andy had always felt that following Nak to Razorfen wasn't quite right. Nak seemed a little dim-witted, but Andy couldn't guarantee that all the Quilboar were just as foolish. The older Quilboar in particular might recognize who he was. He had never heard of any bad blood between the Quilboar and the elves, but to the Quilboar, he was still an outsider.

"Uh, big brother Nak!" Andy said politely. "I think we can skip that. I should be able to find my way back to my tribe by dawn."

"Look at you. It's bad enough that you look strange, but why are you so stubborn?" Nak hopped down from the rock and dusted off his backside. "You don't even know which tribe you belong to. How are you supposed to get back? Come with me and I'll ask around. Maybe some tribe's lost a member, and we'll find yours."

Nak picked up the torch and walked a couple of steps. When he turned and saw Andy still standing there, he snapped, "Why aren't you coming? What do you have to worry about if you stick with me?"

Andy didn't dare refuse Nak again, or the Quilboar would surely get suspicious. He followed behind him. Nak continued his patrol, singing what he called a song, and they didn't catch sight of Razorfen until the sky was just beginning to lighten.

"Good, we're almost there!" Nak said with a grin, pointing at the rolling hills in the distance. "Razorfen's just ahead. We'd better pick up the pace. I need to report in early, then go back to sleep. I've got a lovely wife waiting at home."

Andy got goosebumps all over. A lovely wife? Wasn't that just a female boar? But he didn't dare show his reaction. He only nodded and quickened his pace.

It wasn't until they got closer to Razorfen that Andy could see what the place looked like. At the foot of a cluster of hills, caves of all sizes were scattered about. It was morning, and Quilboar were coming and going. Above the caves sprawled a vast patch of wild brambles, even the thinnest vines as thick as a man's arm. In this barren place, only the brambles seemed able to grow so lushly.

The two of them walked through a gateway built from massive brambles. The Quilboar who were up early stared at Andy in astonishment.

"Nak, what sort of thing have you brought back?" a middle-aged-looking Quilboar called out.

"Shut your mouth, Jack!" Nak roared. "Can't you see he's a Quilboar too?"

"A Quilboar?" Jack's mouth fell open in an O of astonishment. "What kind of Quilboar is this? Why's he so tall? Are you sure he didn't trick you?"

"Trick me, my ass! Can't you see his pointy ears?" Nak shouted. "He was wandering around the wilderness alone last night and can't remember which tribe he belongs to!"

Andy nearly threw up. By Nak's logic, any creature with pointed ears was a Quilboar. The most infuriating part was that Nak had decided Andy was a problem child with amnesia.

"I'm back!" Nak called loudly as he entered a cave.

"Oh, you're back." A slightly hoarse voice came from deeper inside the cave. The cave wasn't very tall; Andy had to duck to keep from hitting his head on the ceiling. It was divided into two rooms. The one in front contained a small wooden round table and several stools made from stone blocks. A Quilboar with six spikes growing from his back walked out from the inner room.

"What's this?" The Quilboar jumped in fright when he came out and saw Andy.

"He's a Quilboar too!" Nak said. "I found him while I was on patrol last night. He's forgotten his tribe's name and gotten lost!"

"Andy, this is Elder Thornweaver, Sonata! He's the leader of our tribe." Nak had learned Andy's name when he returned the night before, and now he introduced him.

"A Quilboar?!" Sonata clearly didn't believe what Nak had said. "Have you ever seen a Quilboar this tall? And he doesn't even look like one!" Clearly, Sonata was a little smarter than Nak, but only a little.

"What are you, really?" Sonata walked past Nak, stood in front of Andy, and glared at him as he asked.

"I really am a Quilboar!" Andy had no choice. To save his own life, he had to swallow his pride. If this whole bunch of boars went berserk, he'd be in deep trouble. "It's just that my tribe looks a little different, and I'm the only one this tall!"

Sonata rolled his eyes, then turned to Nak. "Fine, let's say he's a Quilboar. But since you brought him back, you're responsible for keeping an eye on him. Don't let him cause any trouble!"

Nak hurriedly nodded and led Andy out of the cave. Just before leaving, Andy glanced into the inner room and couldn't help smiling. He had a feeling that when Sonata finished speaking with him, he'd nervously glanced toward the inner room, as if afraid they might discover something.

"All right, stop looking," the Monster Spirit said. "Your instincts are right. He's hiding a woman in the inner room. Uh, a female Quilboar!"

Andy smiled and replied in his mind, I don't care what female Quilboar he's hiding. Even if he really had a human woman in there, I wouldn't care. I just want to get out of here as soon as possible. If I stay here too long, something's bound to happen!

"Don't be so impatient. Nothing's going to happen for now," the Monster Spirit said. "They've already decided you're a Quilboar, so that makes things much easier. Especially since Sonata is the Thornweaver Elder. He's the leader of the Quilboar, and his word is law. He's decided you're a Quilboar, so in their eyes, you'll be a Quilboar for the rest of your life."

Andy suddenly felt like dying. Then a saying came to mind, and he modified it a little: Once a Quilboar, a Quilboar for life!

Why is my life so miserable?!

After meeting Elder Thornweaver, Nak dragged Andy around the tribe, saying he wanted to help him get familiar with the place.

Andy had no choice but to let Nak drag him around, showing him every corner of this giant pigsty.

"All right, Andy. Come with me. I'm going to sleep. They might send me on patrol again tonight. I'm sick of it!" Nak grumbled as he led Andy back to his cave.

"Wife, I'm home!" Nak shouted as soon as he came in.

"You're back. Go wash up and get some sleep!" A female Quilboar came out of the inner room.

Andy ducked as he entered the cave. He only had to glance at her for the expression on his face to turn strange. Could this damn well be a coincidence?

The female Quilboar wore simple hemp clothes, but the most incredible thing was the little flower on top of his head. The sight was indescribably ridiculous.

Nak briefly introduced them, then went to sleep in the inner room. Andy hadn't slept all night either, but he was in no mood to sleep. His mind was filled with thoughts of how to get away.

"Why didn't you tell him?" the Monster Spirit asked.

"Don't stick your nose into other people's business," Andy said coldly. "If you have time for that, start thinking of a way to get me out of here!"