The rain was still goin’ when Hem, Bram, and Crawley finished their repast. They huddled ‘round the fire a bit more, gettin’ every last bit o’ warmth they could from the dyin’ flickers before they shouldered their packs and hucked it back out there in the Autumn Storm.

Wasn’t too bad now on account of the trees above blockin’ most of the wind and water but you gotta admit a forest in the rain still ain’t the most pleasant place. Still Hem had it in his mind to see this Nurmermer Canyon that Glen wouldn’t stop ramblin’ about.

“Your da know you’re out here, eh?” Crawley asked Hem. All three of these fellas knew of the rigid systems Hem’s da Hem had put in place.

“What da don’t know da don’t need to know,” answered Hem as he stamped through the wetness.

“Aye,” said Crawley.

“Canyon’s due on,” said Bram after a quick consult of the compass. Bram’s favorite thing was this compass and he brought it everywhere. This time it was needed so it’s not unreasonable that he WOULD HAVE IT.

The rain kept on droppin’ as the three friends hauled on through the Fleep Fleep forest and into the Plains of the World. Assol had lots of names for the same places so this whole situation had a more official name most like, however Gilba Gilba drew their maps the way they drew ‘em and the Plains of the World WAS THIS.

The Madman’s Mountains were back there in the distance behind them, invisible in the gray cloudblasts. Ahead: more grayness but Hem pushed forward. The Autumn Storm had lessened and they took this as a hearty hardy hooooorrrorororayry sign.

Before long the Plains of the World thinned and the ground became cracked and dead, almost as though the grasses had no feelins’ for the space. That’s a right good description if you yourself ever seen how a long stretch o’ grass suddenly up and dies on account of its decision to do so. The rain fell in ‘tween the cracks and made everything a right ol’ thing of mud. They squelched through it like any old day!

“Seein’ somethin’ up ahead!” Hem cried. “Looks like a big ol’ thing!”

Indeed the thing was a vast expanse. INDEED the thing was the Nurmermer Canyon!

“Now to find a way down,” muttered Bram, lookin’ at his compass.

“Put that thing away, Bram,” chided Crawley. “Don’t need it for nothin’ now that we got the Canyon in view.”

“You say that,” Bram retorted, “but then you forget where we’re goin’ and then need it!”

Crawley shook his head at the nonsense and kept on walkin’. Okay so they were at the edge of the Canyon now. No more rain for the moment. That’s the way of these Autumn Storms: they just come in and come out and you never know what’s what. No sun though. No sun and that was fine.

“Aye, and now for a way down,” said Hem, forgetting Bram had said it already just a few sentences up and ignoring the weird exchanges of dialogue behind him. “Find us some Nurmermermaid’s jewels.”