Tobias takes a breath, steps out of the shadow, and walks into the warm circle of lantern light. The chalk scraping stops. The small figure turns — and he sees: skin the colour of ash bark, eyes like two small violet flames, and a cap of mossy green wisps above tiny pointed ears. The figure is barely the height of his hand, yet stands with a composure that makes Tobias feel the smaller one. "Who are you?" he asks, his voice coming out softer than he intended. The creature tips its head and studies him the way a bird studies a crumb — curious, unhurried, deciding. A smile tugs at the corner of its mouth, silent as a shadow. Then it steps aside and gestures, one small hand sweeping low, toward the chalk marks on the cave floor, as if the drawing ought to explain everything.