The forest-guardian's arm simply popped off, and Sunny's jaw dropped. [color=yellow]"WAAA?! No way!"[/color] While Nyte spoke with the old man on the porch, Sunny (with Laphi still balanced, slumped, against her shoulders) rushed over to peer into the armor's arm-socket. [color=yellow]"You're empty!'[/color] she gasped. Sunny banged her knuckles on the hollow armor, mystified.

The old man, meanwhile, didn't react at all to Nyte's state of dismemberment -- in fact, it was doubtful he could see any more than the blurry shapes of his visitors.

"Heh? My armor? This hunk o' junk?" the old man called feebly. "Are you the ones who stopped my house?"

[color=yellow]"Definitely a mad scientist,"[/color] Sunny agreed confidentially with Nyte.

"I've been tossed and tumbled for four days," the man continued. "I just want off this crazy ride. It's not worth it. I don't care what my son says, I don't care what anyone says, I don't need any fancy tosser of a house. I like my feet on the ground. Can you git me down? Help me down offer this thing, you kin have the whole mess. I'm jess gonna walk home, I'd like ter walk home. My son made this thing and he gave it to me and he says it's some wonderful thing that'll make my life easy, never gotta leave my house, well guess what I'm leavin' and I'm not goin' back in that crazy thing, not if ya paid me, kin ya help me down and I'll gift ya the armor and the full pantry and the whole dang demon-house --"

[color=yellow]"Did you say there's food in there?"[/color] Sunny piped suddenly, after having tuned out most of what the old man had just said. With renewed interest she rushed over to Nyte. [color=yellow]"'Scuse me, forest-guardian? Would you mind holding onto Laphi for a minute?"[/color] She hefted Laphicet up for Nyte to take care of him while Sunny rushed and scrambled to assist the old man to the ground.

"If yer hungry," the old man went on while he leaned on Sunny, "there's salted fish and a couple rabbits in the bottom cupboard, and two new loaves of bread, and stacks of potatoes, carrots, plenty of beans -- have at it, you people as much saved my life, I never want to see this thing again, it'll be too soon if I never do..."