To search for the dryad queen

“I think my best chance is with the Hamadryad,” Lux says, after a bit of thought. “Do you know where she is?”

“Ooooh, yes.” Minn flits up and down in an enthusiastic full-body nod. “I know the way. Yeah, you’ll have some real fun there.”

Not sure she likes the sound of that, Lux turns to the dryads. “Sounds like that’s where I’m headed, then,” she says, as Minn dances with impatience to be already gone.

“We’ll get you what supplies we can,” Juniper says. She walks away through the trees. Willow hesitates behind, her wide eyes filled with anxiety and longing. Not for the first time, Lux finds herself wondering if it would be so bad to just stay in this world…

When Juniper returns, she is holding a bag made from the familiar white silk or gossamer, which she hands over to Lux. “Food, water, medicines, bandages,” she says. She speaks briskly, but Lux does sense a note of genuine concern there too. “Sorry we can’t do more. Watch your back out there. Minn sure won’t.”

“Hey! I’ll be watching, whatever happens! Now let’s go!” Minn dances off between the trees, light flashing in a series of different colours – whether as a way to be easier to follow, or out of sheer excitement, Lux can’t say. Lux casts a final glance to the two dryads.

“I’d better – ”

“Go.” Juniper says, while Willow can only offer a forlorn look.

Lux just nods, trying to look more confident than she feels. No weapons, no knowledge of what she’s going up against – no doubt this could be worse, but she’s not sure how. She ducks through the canopy of foliage to look for her garish guide.

Willow clutches her hands to her breast as she watches Lux hurry away into the woods.

“I could keep her here,” she mumbles. “Keep her safe and happy...”

“And watch her wither away, winter on winter,” Juniper says. “Mortals aren’t meant to be planted in one place forever, Will. She’s got a life to find her way back to. Besides.” A note of bitterness creeps into her voice. “We need someone to do our dirty work out there.”

It takes Lux a moment to catch up with Minn, who is still jittering with impatience and excitement. Back out of quiet sanctuary of the dryads’ grove, the dense trees and the mist once again close in to create an almost claustrophobic atmosphere. The two set off through the woods in a direction Lux has no name for – east, west, it could be anything with no sun to be seen overhead. It’s no easier to track the passage of time, but all together, in what feels to Lux like an hour or so of walking, they leave the grove well behind.

Keeping up with Minn nonetheless proves to be a challenge in itself as Lux struggles to avoid tripping over gnarled roots or catching herself on jagged branches. Minn, of course, soars past all such obstacles with infuriating grace, still strobing an array of bright colours. Lux curses as she scrapes her ankle on the edge of a fallen log, and somewhere overhead, an unseen bird breaks out in a song that sounds suspiciously like mocking laughter. All Lux can do is grimace and stumble to catch up with the bright, bouyant light that is her one hope of navigating this trackless wilderness.

As she hastens to keep her guide-sprite in view, she fails to notice a slight movement in the undergrowth…