Nathan was quite taken aback when Kikari started to mess about with his pockets.  He did not exactly mind, but it was odd.  He was also amused by her flood of questions, though she did not give him time to answer them before she was onto the next question.  As it was, he decided sticking with her was the safest thing to do, overall.<br/><br/>When she asked him if he was ready to begin their journey, he simply nodded, unsure of how to answer the other questions.  They traveled through the forest for about an hour, following mostly overgrown paths.  He noted that the woman moved with a grace and confidence in the woods, which he was hard pressed to match.  There were many strange plants and trees, but he did not pepper her with questions.  She avoided some innocent enough looking plants, but he assumed that they weren't so innocent after all.<br/><br/>After a time, they came to a little house in the shape of a giant mushroom.  The windows and door were rounded and the top was a cheery red color.  A small stove pipe chimney sent smoke up into the forest.  Chopped wood stood in a pile, with an axe still embedded in the last piece.  A few chicken ran around the small clearing where the hut was, though they seemed to mysteriously top at the edge of the forest, as if there was an invisible fence.   Nathan did not feel anything entering the clearing, but he felt sure that some magic was at work.<br/><br/>A small figure sat in a rocking chair, in the yard, knitting away at a scarf.  He was only about four feet tall, and as gnarled as a rotting apple.  He had clear blue eyes, in his wizened face. Wispy white hair was atop his head, sticking up in unnatural ways.  He was dressed in laderhosen and pointed shoes with curling tips.<br/><br/>He looked up and paused his knitting, before speaking.  "Ah, Kikari my dear.  Who have to brought 'round to see me, hmm?  Not from around here by the look of him."