((Saljin speaks or thinks in indigo while Jaster and the story are in gold))

-------------------

While they moved down the path, Jaster was lost in thought. He didn't exactly know what Saljin was but each time he glanced at the creature, the boy was more certain he was supposed to be with him. And the more he thought about it, the more it didn't matter what Saljin was. Instinctively he knew that he meant no harm.

It was curious that he'd come from the orb. He almost looked as if a ghost of some sort. But not quite. That was as close to a description as he could come.

Saljin remained silent as they traveled down the dim path. The sunlight streamed through in various places at times making the undera look more transparent and other times more solid. Thankfully he wasn't a creature who needed the night entirely, but he took no note of that either.

Several times as they walked he glanced down at his hand. The marking on it meant something. He was quite sure that it was not in a good way either. It didn't hurt him, but there was just something about it that made him think he was being punished.

Punished?

Saljin blinked in surprise, stopping in the middle of the path. What was that feeling that had just passed through him? Why did he know that word? A scowl flickered across his face as Jaster stopped to stare at him.

"Saljin, is something wrong?"

When the boy got no reply, he frowned, his eyes narrowing as they darted about the area surrounding them. His eyes picked up nothing in the shadows and he frowned slightly, turning his attention back to the undera.

"Saljin?" he repeated, calling the name he'd given the creature. He wondered briefly if something was wrong with him.

The undera blinked in surprise, turning sideways to watch the boy. Wrong? Yes, but it was a feeling that slipped through him. Not anything he could understand for sure and no explanation was forthcoming with the words he knew and understood.

He shivered lightly and began moving down the path once more. It was obvious to him.

Saljin was being punished for something. He just didn't know what.