Etwas and the Long Journey, Part I

Once upon a time, Etwas the Elf was running through the forests of grass, under the canopies of clover and around the stems of tall flowers when she decided to take a longer journey.  She ran home and saddled up Rascal.  Then she filled a pack with dried berries and a flask of honey for Rascal.  She threw a blanket around Rascal's neck, lest the butterfly get cold on the journey.

"Hi, ho, Rascal," Etwas cried, mounted at last.  "Awayyyyyy!!!!!!!!!"

Soon the two friends were up over the mushroom and it disappeared finally beneath them.  Far to the North, the pair passed over Ingolfsfjall and turned West.  The ground rose and steamed when they passed over Hveragerdi and continued to rise.  Soon they were over the great reservation where mystical hills and valleys drained to the West.

For days the pair travelled and again and again, the landscape changed.  Suddenly the earth was dominated by human habitation and commerce.  The pair persevered stunned at the lights of the urban world and the aurora in the sky.  Occasionally they stopped and rested but not for long.  The pair were committed and continued even in harsh winds or piercing cold.

Finally, the two nestled for warmth near the waters of blá lonið.  "So," Etwas turned to Rascal.  "Where do you think we should go?"

And ever since then, Etwas always tries to find her destination before she arrives.