You keep going, wondering how many of these wonderful creatures you'll meet before you go back to the main path. Slowly, you walk, trying to make sure you don't trip over any of them, like Secrouch.
But the next leagus you meet is flying towards you. Her mane has a glossy color to it, and her body is solid black. When she lands, you are allowed to see her colors, which look like the heavens at night. It is quite astonishing.
"I wish my prey would be as taken with me as you," she says, happily. "Then it would be easy hunting."
You realize that you mouth is hanging open, so you shut it and smile. You introduce yourself, still feeling slightly foolish.
"Oh, how delightful!" she says. "I am Astralboe."
Her shape and color gleam with the light coming through the trees. Without thinking, you ask her about having run-ins with mages. She doesn't seem to happy.
"Well, if you've spoken to Skyflare I can't see why you wouldn't be curious about that. She always makes it seem like we barely get away from those mages, when it really is nothing." She shakes her head. "We have met only one true mage, Fri-on, in our times here. He has recently acquired an apprentice, too, I am afraid. But we've met Fri-on more than twice and his apprentice three times. He came through here looking for magical fungi and flora."
"What kind?" you ask.
She smiles. "Well, had he known this Wood better, he would have known not to come here. None of the flora or fungi in this Rainforest have magical properties, although some can be poisonious to certain species. He was in quite a temper when he left not being able to find anything he needed. I suppose no one told him the Valley is the place to go for those things. Now be off, wanderor."
