"Truffles might go around here but that is not what we are after." Helga smiles patiently but fondly at the boy. "You need not be so careful about where you step outside of the stream. You will be all right." She is hoping to ease some of the shelteredness out of him. That trait will do him no good in the outside world.

"We are looking for whatever mushrooms we can find today. We may have to go deep into the forest."