The Sisters of the Woods Ch.3

Nic was a city boy. He’d spent his life among buildings, pavement, and nice straight lines arranged in nice, neat grids. Most of the greenery he’d been around in his life had been like the Worthington estate: pruned, hemmed, and arranged wherever space could be found for it to fit.

What surrounded him now was about as opposite of that as was possible.

The forest was old, dense in a way that only centuries of time could have created. Even the smallest of the trees had a sense of age about them, their trunks large enough that two people would struggle to join hands around them. The largest were titans by comparison, towering over humans, beasts, and their smaller brethren alike. Everything was lush and green, from the soaring canopy of leaves to the layers of moss and lichen that coated the ground like carpet. Both were so thick that they seemed to swallow light and sound whole, casting the entire forest into an ethereal twilight.

Sounds echoed from all directions around them, a cacophony of animals snuffling, hooting, hissing, and calling to one another all at once. The birdsong alone could have put orchestras to shame in both volume and complexity. Which was to say nothing of the sounds the trees themselves gave off. Though not a single leaf seemed to move, Nic could hear a strong wind whistling through the canopy, making branches whip about and clatter into one another. Ancient timbers creaked under their own weight, like a bunch of cranky old men complaining about their joints. The image amused Nic deeply.

Though he didn’t exactly have much time to enjoy it as his new gecko friend seemed hellsbent on taking him for a stunt ride. He rushed through the undergrowth like a fliting shadow, clawing his way up and around trees as if they were playground equipment. Nic could only hold on for dear life, lest he slide from the creature’s back as it scampered up the trunks, never going too high thankfully. Though that didn’t stop him from yelping when the gecko decided to start jumping, a sound his erstwhile mount seemed to delight in.

When not pulling death-defying leaps, the gecko would circle back to Orlin and Geniveve. Their mounts were far less rambunctious, the bear sounding as cranky as the old trees and the pegasus trying its best not to brush against anything. Their riders were likewise engaged, though Geniveve perked up when the gecko brought Nic alongside her.

“Having fun?” she asked.

“Sure, that’s one word for it,” Nic said, hauling himself back into his seat after his mount’s latest runabout. “I think he’s trying to throw me.”

“He’s not. If he wanted to, he would have already.”

The gecko chose that moment to buck his head, sending Nic listing to one side, saved only by his grip on the creature’s fur.

“Could have fooled me.”

Geniveve giggled, a sound that reminded Nic of tinkling bells. He couldn’t help but smile back, diffusing the brief quite that settled between them into something more manageable.

Unexpectedly, it was their mounts that broke the silence this time. As they continued riding along, the pegasus turned its muzzle to sniff at the gecko, shy but still clearly curious. The gecko did not respond well, baring its fangs and uttering a sharp hiss. The pegasus started, whinnying quietly as it backed away, Geniveve not falling thanks only to its folded wings holding her in place.

“Hey!” Nic shouted, lightly pulling the gecko away by the fur. “Stop that!”

The creature hissed again, though much quieter, and obeyed, moving a few feet away. Once he was sure it wouldn’t try that again, Nic turned back to Geniveve.

“You okay?” Nic asked.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine,” she replied, trying to pull herself up. She overshot and leaned too far, very nearly falling off anyway. Somehow, she managed to catch herself, though whatever she did clearly distressed the pegasus as it started shuffling sideways. The movement did nothing to improve Geniveve’s situation but eventually everything settled back into place.

“I’m fine,” she repeated at last.

“You’re sure?” Nic asked.

“Yes, yes…” she said, her tone not inspiring confidence. Nic went to question her further when Orlin’s voice called from somewhere ahead.

“Come along you two, we’re almost there.”

Nic looked ahead to see that his master had almost disappeared into the foliage. He tapped lightly on his gecko’s neck, not sure if it would do anything but the creature seemed to get the hint and raced off after the old bear. Geniveve followed, though at a distance as the pegasus seemed unwilling to get any closer. As they drew back in line with Orlin, Nic realized someone was still missing.

“Where’s Zephyr?” he asked.

“Elsewhere,” Orlin replied, sounding just the slightest bit annoyed. “He flew off some time ago.”

“Okay, why?”

“Something about chasing his cousins or some other such nonsense.”

“Did he say where he was going?” Geniveve asked, finally drawing level with them.

“Have you ever known him to, Miss Croire?”

“Well, no,” she said sheepishly. “But there’s just some new places he probably shouldn’t go.” She waved her hands in a wide gesture. “Because, well, you know, the forest.”

“He’ll be fine,” Orlin assured. “Even he can’t get into trouble that quickly.”

“HALT INTERLOPERS!”

The command cut through the ambient quiet of the forest, sounding tinny and laced with static. All eyes turned to look for the source, quickly locating it, though it was about the last thing any of them were expecting.

Stood upon the trunk of a fallen tree were a cluster of small creatures, humanoid in shape but only about three inches tall at their largest. They were thin, waifish creatures, their skin tones ranging from blue to green to dark red. Each had a pair of delicate insectoid wings on their backs, some using them to hover in midair with twinkles of glowing dust. A few wore ragged clothes crafted of leaves, furs and bark, though most simply went naked, their bodies androgynous and flawless, free of scar or blemish.

All of them were armed, carrying an assortment of sticks and rocks fashioned into crude weapons. Spears the size of cocktail skewers, shields that looked more like saucers, a few bows that Nic probably could have held in his palm and closed his fist around. Not the most intimidating but the creatures certainly seemed to think they were, each of them holding their arms with menacing intent.

Zephyr sat in the center of them, surrounded by a ring of tiny spears, though he seemed aggressively unbothered. Instead, he bounced excitedly, reminding Nic of a cat that had just brought something dead to the front porch.

“Hi Orry!” he called. “I found friends!”

“Silence cur!” one of the creatures snapped, bashing the little sprite with a club. Zephyr barely reacted to the blow, only tilting slightly as if shifting into a more comfortable position. His attacker looked rather put out, raising and lowering its weapon several times as it debated trying again.

The struggle was lost as another of its band drifted forward, making sure it was visible to the three techne. It looked no different than the others, being the same size and only a slightly different shade of red. About the only distinguishing feature was the vibrantly pink ribbon it wore tied around its waist, trailing behind it in a long tassel.

“Who dares trespass in the lands of the pixies!” they demanded.

“Uh, I-I do?” Geniveve said before clearing her throat. “I mean, I don’t trespass, I’m pretty sure.”

“By what right do you claim this!?”

“Uh, I live here?”

The pixie made a dismissive noise, pointing at Geniveve with what Nic got the feeling was a very rude gesture.

“Lies! Her Divineness claims these trees for her own, none may enter without her permission!”

“But I don’t, I-” Geniveve stammered, seeming at a loss.

“Don’t indulge them, Miss Croire,” Orlin said. “You’ll find nothing but frustration.” He tapped the bear’s neck, who carried on after an annoyed growl.

“You will halt!” the pixie shouted. “Or you will be halted.”

“And you’re going to do that how exactly?” Nic asked, making no effort to conceal his mocking tone.

The pixie said nothing, instead casting a wide grin that gave Nic the sudden feeling he’d made a mistake. Raising its hands, the pixie clapped twice before flying back to its fellows. Nic just had time to wonder what that meant when something struck the ground next to him.

He jumped, the gecko doing the same and nearly bucking Nic off. More objects fell, raining from above in a pattering rainstorm of projectiles. Rocks, Nic quickly spotted, most of them hitting the ground but a few getting lucky and striking him.

“Ow!” Nic exclaimed, instinctively raising his hands to shield himself. He looked up to discover there were more pixies in the trees, concealed within the branches. They were well spread out, clearly having prepared this ambush in advance, producing even more stones and spears from hidden caches.

“Ah!”

Nic turned towards the sound of Geniveve shouting to find her being pelted with a concentrated attack. She had been entirely unprepared for it, only able to cover her head as rocks rained down on her. Not helping was her mount, who was well on the way to panicking as several rocks struck it.

Spurred on by the sight, Nic leaned forward against the gecko, urging it towards them. Sadly, it didn’t seem to get the message and instead turned towards the airborne pixies with a strange gurgling sound. Nic cursed under his breath and leapt off the gecko, stumbling as he landed but keeping his feet. He rushed towards Geniveve’s side, fingers already flying to key in a spell. A ward appeared in the air above them, basic but enough to stop most of the projectiles. Though it did very little against the pixies that suddenly swarmed out of the trees and charged around it with spears raised.

“Stay there you two!” Orlin’s voice boomed. “Zephyr, go!”

“A-kay!” the little sprite called back. He freed himself with a blast of wind, sending his captors flying with an ease that implied he could have done it at any time.

“You idiots!” the lead pixie shouted, still spinning through the air. “Get him!”

If the pixies had a plan to follow the order, they didn’t get the chance to execute it as something rushed past them. Not Zephyr but something much bigger, a blur moving so fast that it raised a sharp wind in its wake. It scattered the pixies in every direction, leaving them twisting through the air as the blur wheeled about. Nic could only watch in awe as, in just a few passes, the entire ambush had been disrupted, clusters of pixies left scattered and completely disorganized.

The blur came again, this time flying a wide circle about the warband to catch them in a vortex. Soon all of them were pushed into one big cluster, stumbling about drunkenly in midair as they tried to regain themselves.

“Retreat!” one of them called. “Run away!”

There was little argument from their number, the pixies swiftly making for the trees. Only their leader resisted, snarling after their retreating soldiers with pure venom in their voice.

“You cowards! Come back here and-”

Their words were lost in another blast of wind as the blur appeared again, finally stilling enough for Nic to get a good look at it. A person revealed themselves, a young woman in a blue dress and matching peaked hat. She hung from a rocket broom by only a hand and foot in a display of deft acrobatics, smiling confidently as she swung the about. Somehow, she ended up seated casually on the saddle, arms crossed as she stared expectantly at the pixie.

“What was that?” she asked, her voice as steady as stone and sharp as a needle.

The pixie somehow went even redder, blustering its way through three or four sentences before giving up and flashing the same rude gesture as before.

“Her Divineness will hear about this!”

“I’m sure she will,” the woman said. “Now off you go. Shoo, shoo.”

The pixie gave one last grumble before doing as told, zipping off into the forest and out of sight, the woman smiling after them before turning to face Nic and Geniveve.

“Sorry about that,” she said. “Anyone hurt?”

“ADDY!”

Zephyr rushed over, flying tight circles around the newcomer’s head, practically vibrating with happiness. She returned the gesture in kind, spinning around her broom in a lazy circle to imitate him.

“Hello Zephyr,” she said. Zephyr wobbled back and forth in utter delight, swooping in close to bump gently against her cheek. Addy, if that was her name, patted Zephyr’s sphere like a cat. “What are you doing out here?”

“I don’t remember.” Zephyr said. “Ask Orry, he probably knows.”

Orlin wandered into the scene, having dismounted the bear to walk beside it on the forest floor, still just as stoic as ever.

“Hello Adelaide,” he said with a nod.

“Master Greytower,” she replied, her smile only growing brighter. “It’s good to see you again.”

“Indeed.”

“Sorry about the pixies,” she said, gesturing at where they’d vanished into the trees. “They’ve been getting rambunctious lately.”

“Quite alright,” Orlin said, inclining his head towards Geniveve. “Your mother should be expecting us.”

Adelaide looked around, taking in all the people assembled, her gaze eventually falling upon Geniveve where she still sat on the pegasus.

“Veve, there you are,” she said, her tone bright. “We missed you at breakfast.”

Geniveve mumbled something that may have been an apology, attempting to hide her own broomstick with very little success. Adelaide narrowed her eyes, a questioning look coming across her face.

“What happened?”

“I…” Geniveve trailed off, her words vanishing into more mumbling.

“What?” Adelaide said, hovering closer. “What happened?”

Giving a little sigh, Geniveve held up her own broom, the damage obvious, especially when compared to Adelaide’s.

“I crashed,” she said.

“You crashed?” Adelaide pressed. “At Greytower?”

Geniveve nodded, her face going several shades of crimson. Adelaide chuckled, turning her own broom to face deeper into the woods.

“Well, nothing we can do about it here. Let’s get back to the house.”

She paused, turning to look over her shoulder at Nic with a look he found at once charming and deeply intimidating.     

“I’m sure everyone will want to meet your new friend.”

*

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