"You..you knew my parents?" Följa asked, her voice trembled.

"Why, yes. It was a stroke of luck, really. That night, I was typhoon-hunting when your father found me. That would have otherwise not been the neck of the woods that I frequent.."

But Följa was not listening. "Does that mean you know why I am one-eyed?"

Mr Pronobo stopped mid-sentence. He pondered. "Unfortunately, I was never told why, my dear Följa. I am afraid I cannot give you the answer to this question."

Följa slumped a little in her seat, a look of deject.

"However..."

Följa looked up, not sure if she dared to hope. "However what?"

"As you saw what I did with the Hootles, I have done a little research over the years. I have a few educated guesses."

"The Hootles existed for as long as your people, the Almas has. They do not speak the language you and I do, but they have demonstrated a natural talent for listening and observing. This combination proved useful for their survival.

The Hootles were peaceful creatures. Legend has it one day, at a time before you and I were born, a group of Hootles had their nest disrupted by Almas. Among that group of Almas, was your father. The Hootles remembered. They sought to teach this group of Almas a lesson. The Hootles spoke with the Wind, and made a deal. The Hootles have to keep their wings and continue to move via flight. In return, the Wind would threw caution at that group of Almas for what they did: That all their offsprings would physically resemble their parents less in some ways.

From my research, I had come across Almas with pointed ears like an elf, a hairless Alma, and one with 5 fingers like humans, instead of 4 like all Almas. And now, I met you, a one-eyed Alma..

The good news is: It was a one-time deal. The bad? No one yet knows if your offsprings would continue to carry a little of your..un-Almas-ness. But that is something to worry about another day!"

Louie was reminded yet again, how this story sounded like it could be taken right out of a chapter of the books he read. "Do we know why Mr Åke and his friends attacked the nest?"

Mr Pronobo raised his right eyebrow. "Actually, we do!"