The Story of Farryna the Swamp Raulf (vol I}

Once upon a time, well almost five years ago, a tiny little red Kaala was born.
While walking through the woods, the elf Bella heard a small "mew" coming from behind a fallen tree. Bella walked closer and there among the roots of the tree, was a tiny kitten. Her fur was red and matted.
Her eyes swollen shut. The kitten was in rough shape and needed help. It was a crisp autumn day and Bella had put on an small jacket before leaving her cabin that morning. Taking off the jacket, she carefully moved closer to the kitten. "I will help you little one" she said in a low, comforting tone. She gently lifted and wrapped the kitten in the jacket.
Walking beck to her cabin with the tiny little bundle, Bella started thinking. She wondered how this tiny being
had ended up way out here in the forest. She had seen more than a few wild animals in her adventures but this was no
wild animal. She had heard her sisters speak of the pets in Mara. She was fairly certain this was one
of those pets.
Nearing the cabin, the kitten once again begin to cry. Bella knew the baby was probably hungry
and that was why she was crying so. Inside, Bella added wood to the wood burning stove. She set the pot of stew
she had made, back on the stove to warm up. On the back of the stove was a pan of warm water. Bella opened a kitchen drawer
and took out a soft cloth. She dipped the cloth in the water and wrung it out. She laid the jacket on sofa and
gently unwrapped tiny kitten. Carefully Bella begun to clean the tiny eyes. While she worked, she sang an ancient
elven song. First the kitten's left eye o[ened and she could see Bella for the first time and begin to purr. Finaly the other eye opened. Bella spoke softly to her and stroked her tiny little head. "Well,
hello there. Nice to meet you."
Bella stirred the stew and then got a soft brush she had made of horse hair. She began to brush out
the tangled fur. There were quite a few mats, but Bella took her time and got rid of each and every one.The kitten was a fluffy little hairball. She purred and kneaded the jacket and curled into a ball.
Bella dished out a small portion of the stew and poured a saucer of milk. She set both in the floor and then set the kitten
in floor in front of them. The little one began to eat like she hadn't eaten in a week. Bella had a pillow she had made from goose down. she laid the pillow in the floor for her new friend.
It was about then the door opened, and her sister Binxie stepped inside. "Wow is it chilly out there today!" remarked Binxie. Bella replied with, "There's stew on the stove if you want some." Binxie started to the kitchen and saw the tiny newcomer. "What? You have Kaala? When were you in Mara and why didn't you visit me?" Bella told her about finding the kitten. "What are you going to name her? You are keeping her right?" Bella confessed she really had never thought about having any sort of pet. That was for the city dwellers.
Binxie gave a chuckle, "Well like it or not, you have one now. Bella smiled, "Well I guess she should have a name. An elven name at that!" Then Bella remembered a story her mother once told her about
a Goddess named Farryna and decided it was the perfect name.
As time passed, Farryna began to grow. She was learning English and the Elven language as well. Bella was in the kitchen one day, preparing dinner and Farryna came in. Bella smiled down at her and then Farryna said "I love you mom". It was the first time she had actually spoken. Bella dropped the spoon she was holding.
"You can speak? Oh Farryna how wonderful! I love you too little one."
After that, they made weekly trips to Mara for books, toys, gourmet foods, spells and anything else they could find that would make Farryna happy. Bella was what you would call "Well Off" because of her
family. As she was tucking Farryna in one night. Farryna asked what school was, she had heard someone talk about their last visit to Mara. Bella explained it to her. Farryna yawned and said "I wish we had a school." Bella kissed her on the head and told her she loved her, before going back to living room.
Bella sat with a cup of tea and thought about how her life had changed since Farryna became part of it. Farryna was funny and so very smart. She had already read hundreds of books and was always asking for more. Bella picked up the phone and called her sister. "I need to find a home in Mara"
The next morning, after breakfast, they headed off to Mara. Farryna thought it was just another day trip. Binxie met them in the town square. "I know of several places you might like." Farryna looked from Binxie to mom and back at Binxie. "Umm, what's uh going on?" Bella leaned down and told Farryna that she decided to make Mara their home for a while. Farryna's eyes grew large, and she began bouncing on her toes.
"Does this mean school?" Bella and Binxie begin to laugh. "School, Training, University, the whole kitten kaboodle!" Bella
relied.
They looked at quite a few places and then had lunch. After lunch, they looked at more. On the outskirts
of town there was a small farm. Beside the farm was a store. The store had closed some time ago, It was about a quarter mile from the school that Farryna would be attending. They talked to the owner of the farm. He was selling because he was moving far away. While they were talking, he mentioned he owned the store next door and would have to find a buyer for it as well. "Bella smiled and said, "I will take them both!"
That night Bella and Farryna stayed with Binxie in her home. Farryna played with Binxie's pets, and they ate three different kinds of pizza.
Bella went to sign papers the next morning and Binxie babysat Farryna. The farmer said he could be out of the farm by the next day. Bella then went shopping for new furniture. She was having them deliver the furniture in two days. She went by what would be her new shop. It would definitely need some major cleaning and some paint. Maybe she could talk Binxie and her other sister Rocky into helping her with it.
Bella headed back to Binxie's and told her about her day.