It had been a while since [[Roam]] and [[Fawn]]'s encounter with Blikk. After returning, life in L'hatzif continued like normal. Depart and Retreat had come home bragging to the other nursery whelps, and their enthusiasm over Blikk's stories was soon infectious. Neither Fawn nor Roam had ever been that into telling stories, but with Depart and Retreat excitedly recounting some of the tall tales Blikk had told them, they were pushed into it by many sets of pleading eyes.

 

On one sunny day, while the nursery bustled with activity, a familiar figure appeared on the horizon. Blikk approached the colony, a large bag slung over her shoulder, and a warm smile on his face. The colonies whelps, who had been taking outside the nursery to play in the clearing, weren't too keen on the stranger at first, but that changed when a flash of recognition came over first Depart's and then Retreat's face.

 

As soon as this realization hit, the two whelps charged at him, nearly knocking him over in the process. "You found our hill!" depart exclaimed, beyond excited, quickly followed by Retreat "Isn't it great!" the two turned at the other whelps "Guess who's here, everyone!" the other whelps still seemed confused, not recognizing the stranger in the slightest. "Our friend, Blikk!" Retreat called out to the others.

 

Fawn and Roam had been sitting nearby, keeping a watchful eye on the whelps like always. When there whelps ha started crowing around Blikk, they gently ushered them away, giving the Belemoid some more space to breathe.

 

The whelps eventually calmed down, with promises from their caretakers that the visitor would maybe want to chat with them after resting a little. Blikk had smiled in gratitude, as most of the whelps sauntered off. Depart and Retreat had remained at his side, though, still excited to see their friend again. Sitting down with Fawn and Roam, Blikk moved the bag off of his back.

 

"I actually brought you guys a little something." Blikk said, smiling. Both whelps squealed in delight as Blikk dug around in the bag, eventually pulling a pair of colourful stones. One of them was a blue-tinted grey rock, polished to the point of being reflective. The other rock had a beautifully rich orange colour. Roam guessed that it must've come from Issiq.

 

Depart and Retreat's eyes widened with delight as they each received their gifts. "Wow, Blikk, are these from those hills that touch the clouds?" Depart asked, examining the blue stone. Blikk chuckled, "Not exactly, but they come from equally cool places."

 

Fawn and Roam were looking at Blikk gratefully. They spent a lot of their time making sure all whelps were happy, but they had had their hands full lately. The gifts would go a long way in the whelps young minds, which the two knew. The other whelps, drawn by the commotion, gathered around again, trying to catch a glimpse of the treasures Blikk had brought. 

 

"This rock," he started, laying his palm on the shimmering blue rock, "Is from one of the tallest peaks in all of Rekes! I had to climb up for three days to get it!" The whelps collectively let out an "Oooo!" before erupting in a mess of chatter. "And this one!" Blikk said laying his palm on the orange stone, interrupting the chattering whelps who all were adding their own bits to his story, "Is from deep within the caves in Issiq!" the whelps squealed with delight, climbing over each other to get a closer look at both stones.

 

Quickly, the whelps erupted in questions, all of which Blikk was happy to answer. Fawn and Roam decided that, for now, it would be best not to worry about the inevitable fights that would erupt over the stones; there only being two with 10 interested whelps was bound to get messy.

 

The rest of the day was filled with stories of the tallest mountains in Rekes, the desert in Issiq, and the endless fields of Mireh. The stories, Fawn knew, probably had a thread of truth in them somewhere but were also clearly dramatized for the sake of the whelp's interest.

 

As the sun eventually dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over L'hatzif, Blikk thanked the whelps, as well as Roam and Fawn, of course, for their hospitality. "It's been a pleasure visiting your hill, even if it doesn't reach the clouds," he said with a smile. Fawn nodded "of course. Remember- you're our friend. You'll always be welcome here."

 

Depart and Retreat, who had initially been pouting after being told Blikk would be leaving, clung to him for a farewell hug. "Come back soon, Blikk! Bring more stories!" Retreat exclaimed, her eyes gleaming. "And more rocks!" Depart added quickly. Blikk promised to return sometime in the future, and also promised to bring something even cooler than rocks, which of course got the whelps all riled up again.