<So, just follow the plan.  Remember, you have to make it back out here to this spot without being seen.>

<This doesn't seem very helpful for anything.>

<Just try and have fun while you do it.  You can even laugh.  You just have to not be seen.  Being heard is okay.>

<Okay.  Here I go.>

The faerie flew into the workshop while Jelin remained out of sight.  As he listened to what was happening he tried to imagine it but couldn't be sure about all of it.  There some grunts, some confusion flowed through the link, then some more grunts, then the sound of a lot of movement, then some giggles, some more grunts, some more giggles, some more movement and grunts, then the giggling turned into laughter, then there was a loud screech that drowned out the laughter and suddenly he saw the faerie flying through the door and into the ground.

He called out to Conk and let her know that the faerie probably need healing as he stepped into the doorway to face an angry Scratches mid charge.  She barely managed to stop in time and he used the chance to give her a comforting hug.

<Sorry about that.  I told her to do it.  It was some training that both of you needed and letting you know what was going on would have made it pointless.  For her, it's part of teaching her without the help of the link.  For you, we both know you have a problem with getting a little too caught up at times.>

<I...hmm...fine.  I didn't like that, though.>

<I know.  I can't even say it won't happen again.  At least on my part it's not to be mean, though.  I'll tell you what.  If you haven't figured out the carrying things yet, I can give another hint.>

<Oh oh.  So you were talking about how to wear straps with the last hint, right?  I can't quite figure out how to attach the basket, though.>

<Hmm.  Here's a double.  One, what happens if you try and make a basket purely out of thin webs?  Two, who said basket and boxes are the only carrying things?>

<A basket out of only webs?  It...doesn't work, right?  Right?>

<Why don't you go try it and find out?>

After he had soothed Scratches he turned around and walked over to the faerie on the ground.  As he stood over her looking down, he noted that she had a crumpled wing and what looked likely to be some internal injuries.  He felt a little bad about putting her in the situation to get swatted down like that but steeled his heart for now.

<So.  I have a lot of my own observations but I want to hear what you think of how that went and what happened, first.>

<I...got beaten.  Now I'm dying...>

<I see.  Well, I can tell that you're definitely in pain.  You won't die, though.  So, other than you got beaten or that you hurt so much you think you might die right now, what are your thoughts about what all happened?>

<You made me piss off someone stronger than me and she retaliated.  This probably your way of punishing me for arguing with you or something.>

<I see.  Is that all?>

<Is there more?>

<That's what I'm asking you.  How would I know if you think there's more or not?>

<Well, sorry if I'm more focused on my dying situation and my ruined wing that means I may never fly again instead of whatever stupid lessons you're trying to teach!>

<Hmm.  Oh well.  She's almost here, anyways.>

<Who?>

Conk appeared with perfect timing and understood enough of the situation to start her healing without even asking or being asked anything.  There was enough confusion in the link that he decided to let her know some of what was going on anyways.  Especially since he planned to repeat this a few more times and would probably need her help for most of those.

<Sorry, Conk.  I'm working on teaching her and it takes something a little different from all of you.  She's probably going to get injured like this a few more times.>

<Oh.  Well, it'll give me the chance to examine some of her body at least.  Do you think she'll let me test some plants on her?>

<Probably not.  She still doesn't fully trust us.  I don't fully trust her either.  I already caught her trying to take our cores once.  I moved them somewhere else for now so she can't sneak them away as easily.  If she starts to seem more trusting after a few days I can ask her for you if you want, though.>

<Please.  I think she should be healed now.  I put in a little extra to make sure.  Let me know if she feels hurt anywhere, still.>

<Hey.  You should be healed now.  The mantea here wants to know if you still hurt anywhere just to make sure.>

<Uh.  No.  I feel a little tingly all over, but...>

<That's normal.><She said she's fine now.><Okay, since you seemed so worried about your wings why don't you do a test flight and we'll have a proper review this time.>

<I should fly away now before you try something else.>

<If you want to believe that.  Of course, then you'd never learn about why I had you do that and why I didn't stop her from knocking you into near death.>

<Fine.  I'm staying out of range of your reach, though.  Why hasn't she left?>

<Conk, she wants to know why you're still here.>

<Oh.  I want to learn to fly so I'm watching her to see if I can learn anything.>

<Oh.  That's smart of you.  Good thinking.><She's watching you fly because she wants to learn how to fly, too.>

<Flying's great!  I don't think she can ever fly like me, though.>

<Maybe not.  Don't underestimate what knowledge can do for you, though.  Right now we have something else to talk about, though.  Let's start with the easier to understand part.  Why didn't I keep the arachne from hurting you?  Let me instead ask you some different questions for you to think about. 

Have you ever actually been hurt before?  Have you ever had to fight for your life?  Have you ever faced a high likelihood of death?  The closest it seems you've ever been was either just running away from everything in the dungeon or when you were forced to help the humans against the fox who seemed like the type to not attack you back.  So, do you think you could ever be even close to the strongest if you've never even had to deal with a life or death situation?  After all, all the strong ones like to fight other strong ones.  Getting really strong means that others that are really strong and learn that you're strong as well will try to kill you.

All of us here have faced death several times.  We're the ones that survived.  We all know that surviving when death wants you makes you stronger in ways that only certain others can recognize.  Think on it for a while.

Now for the main part.  I'm sure you'll long remember how things went wrong near the end and how.  That's for you to review by yourself and I don't care.  It's not what I wanted you to get out of this.  Honestly, I'm disappointed that you didn't understand the important part that happened.>

<Which part?  That I didn't make it out without being seen?>

<No.  You laughed.>

<I laughed?  So?  Who cares?  It doesn't mean anything important.>

<No.  It was the most important part of it all.  It means you were having fun.  It means it's connected to your type of strength.  It means you have a way to figure out how to become really strong.>

<Just because I laughed?>

<Yes.  You'll have plenty of chances to think about it all and try to figure it out.  We're going to go do something similar to everyone else except the mantea here because she has to heal you when you get smacked down again.>

<So I am going to get smacked again.>

<Probably.  Unless you learn how to dodge better, at least.  Just so you know, that arachne is probably the weakest of everyone as far as smacking strength so you might want to be more careful with the rest or you might die.  Let's go for the other mantea first.>

He actually wanted Claw to try and find something for the faerie to fight that would either be a hard win or close loss needing a little help.  Getting the faerie to try and prank her now was a good way to get both things done at the same time.  Claw should also be hard to prank compared Scratches.