Let me tell you about Brenda.

[Raider4]

Sounds like a real hoopy frood.

[d_Guy]

She knows where her bath towel is, there's nothing else she needs...

An important point.

[fsn]

With the flaming Warspite forgotten, the expedition pressed on and within a few hours had reached the base of the monolith that was to be their new home.

Monoliths dotted the surface of Brenda. They were extrusions of rock that seemed to have been forced from the ground like toothpaste through a tube. Humans had discovered their interior was not solid, being riffle with cavities like a Swiss cheese. By burrowing into these monoliths, humans found a reasonably quick way to create living reasonably spaces safe from IPs, goats and pompoms.

One of the carts contained a chest in which lay a great treasure – chisels and hammers made from white metal. These could be used to quickly cut through the monolith, hollowing out living spaces for the community. 

What would this new community be called? The use of place names was a largely forgotten art on Brenda. It was said, by those who cared, that there was a place called "Three". The theory was it was the third place inhabited, but there was no signs of "One" or "Two" and, Arturis was born in a place that had been known as "Gunterstown" though no-one knew or had ever known someone called Gunter.

In other cultures, there would perhaps have been a ceremony or celebration to commemorate the new project, but these were humans on Brenda. One of the carriages was drawn up and a pair of men climbed on the roof and began hacking away a doorway with the white metal tools. Meanwhile, the goats were led away to be thanked and released.

Those not engaged in these activities formed a loose perimeter, for this was the most dangerous time. They were now immobile and making enough noise to attract ips.



By nightfall, those working on the doorway had not yet discovered a hollow, and had cut a disappointingly small way into the monolith.  Tired and disappointed the expedition camped behind the makeshift barricade made of the carts and carriages. Sentries were posted and they settled down for the night,


Arturius awoke. It was still dark, or as dark as it ever got on Brenda. He lay still, trying to decipher  what had woken him. He heard nothing. Slowly turning his head, he could not see anything but the sleeping bodies of his companions. He reached out with his mind and there, some distance away was something strange.  He rose, reaching for his spear.  Others woke and rose, silent, without questions, but grasping their weapons.

Damon ghosted up to stand by Arturius.
"You feel them?" he asked.
Damon's face twisted in concentration, then he nodded. 
"What?" Balinda had moved to join them.  She was elected leader of the expedition. Arturius pointed into the darkness.
"Two creatures – not human, not ip, not goat. There."

Balinda peered into the night. 
"They have gone!" said Damon.
"Good" said Balinda, turning to leave. Arturius stopped her with a hand on her arm.
"Not moved away. Gone. Just not there anymore." Balinda grunted.
"Then they are gone. I will warn the sentries."
"I will stay and keep watch." Offered Damon. Balinda nodded, and stomped off.

Arturius went back to bed.

[O Dinas Powys]