Where The Wind Carries You/Part 1

It was a day in the Smurf Village following a hurricane that had swept into the forest, causing some level of damage but not anything that required major fixes. The village looked like a mess when the Smurfs got up that morning to see what effect the storm had, and as much as they didn't like the idea of having to clean up after a storm, the Smurfs immediately sprang forth into action to start the cleanup and repair work.

Empath went throughout the village to observe and inspect the work that was taking place after the hurricane, with Polaris Psyche walking beside him. "It looks like we came through this hurricane with hardly a problem, Polaris," Empath said. "We should have everything back to normal within a day."

"It is quite fortunate that the village has survived with minimal damage, given the construction materials for your residences, Empath," Polaris said. "Perhaps a remodeling to use materials and design features similar to those for the construction of Psychelia would be something to discuss with Papa Smurf and your fellow Smurfs."

"This smurf appreciates your ideas, Polaris, but this smurf feels that the other Smurfs would not be interested in turning the Smurf Village into yet another Psychelia as far as form and function," Empath said.

"But wouldn't that make a whole lot more sense to do so if the Smurf Village wishes to survive more storms like this in the future?" Polaris asked. "This one does not understand why apart from camouflaging it from humans that the village must be constructed to resemble mushrooms."

"It's simply because mushrooms are a part of Smurf culture, Polaris, that we just can't call ourselves Smurfs without them being part of what we eat and what we use for shelter," Empath said. "It's our connection to the world that we live in in the forest that make us as Smurfs feel like we belong here among the animals that also call this forest their home."

"That is a concept that this one is finding difficulty trying to integrate into this one's thinking, Empath," Polaris said. "This one still finds his identity being connected to the world of Psychelia and its creator, the Psyche Master, who believes that we can be the masters of our world and that nature is something that must be brought under our dominion as masters."

"That's what makes this smurf feel so out of place living in that kind of world, Polaris," Empath said. "Everything in Psychelia just feels so cold and impersonal, like it really isn't connected to its surrounding world."

"Nevertheless, it may be worth the consideration of your people to construct such a city that would withstand the various elements that would beset it, Empath," Polaris said. "This one would not want to see the day in which the Smurfs do not have a village that they could permanently remain settled in."

"Neither would this smurf, Polaris, but all the same, this smurf would rather not have the Smurf Village turn into another Psychelia," Empath said.

They soon appeared outside Tapper's Tavern, where its proprietor was busy doing cleanup and repair work around the premises. "Smurf o' the morning to you, lads," Tapper greeted. "I see that the village has fared well for the storm that has smurfed through the forest last night, has it not?"

"This smurf can see how fortunate we are in surviving through the hurricane, Tapper," Empath said. "How are things looking inside your tavern?"

"Oh, just some broken mugs and a few fallen pictures and some mementos and family heirlooms that are in need of repair, my fellow Empath," Tapper said. "But overall, it should be smurfing back in business very soon. I wager that your house hasn't smurfed much worse for wear for the both of you."

"Things inside our residence have remained stable for the most part, fellow Tapper, which this one appreciates your concern about," Polaris said. "This one senses that you have a story to tell about a storm like this in which you were in a rather dire situation with your fellow Smurfs."

"Indeed I have, my good Polaris, indeed I have," Tapper said. "You know my fellow Smurf Lazy was a major part of that story, and you know how he normally is when it comes to work, even during preparations of storms like this."

"This one is very aware that Lazy Smurf is not inherently productive in his work with his fellow Smurfs, that most of the time he would rather be sleeping than doing any work," Polaris said.

"Aye, and that's something that I'm always praying to the Almighty about, Polaris," Tapper said. "Nonetheless, he is a very important part of the story, which I would be happy to tell you and Empath all about, since this happened about two years before Empath smurfed home for good. Some of the details of this story were provided to me from Lazy himself and also from Narrator, but anyway here is how it happened..."

To be expanded on.