1 The Bligh

It had been a long time since I had seen anything but the typical changes. The spring would come and flowers would start to bloom. Summer would come and life would flourish then fall it would wane and winter it would sleep.

I had not left the center of the forest. I had spent most of my time around a small spring. You could call it my home, but there was nothing resembling a house here. Why would I need that? Dryads love the rain and the sun. Having a house would only lessen the strength I get from the sun and the rain. It has been a about a hundred years since the water sprite of the pond became self aware. It was still too young for it to have a human form but we spent most of our time together. After a few years she had decided to call herself Mist.

The only other visitor here was Faun. She was the Animal spirit here in the Laurel woods. She spent most of her time watching over the animals in the woods but from time to time she would come and relax near the pond.

"Faun, how are our little friends doing this spring?"

"Good to see you Laurel. Things are sure lively. Just like every year. Everyone one is trying to find love." Faun was in her typical form right now. Rich golden brown hair with a slight tan on her skin and beautiful brown eyes. She could almost be mistaken for Human except for the ears and tail. Right now they had a form a of a female deer.

"I have been wondering for a while now, why do you like that form so much? Deer are such a nervous animal."

"They are the one of the only ones that stay awake through the winter. Even you and Mist sleep through most of the winter."

"That cannot be helped. I get my strength from the plants in the forest and almost all of them sleep in the winter."

"Also my pond freezes over and I get stuck under the ice." Mist bobs over sounding slightly indignant.

"You could be a badger. They stay awake?" I said with a smile.

"Should I start acting like one too? I could just start snarling at everything I see." Faun Rolled her eyes at me. "Laurel you have so many fir trees in this forest, even in the winter time you are still the strongest spirit I know."

"I am nothing compared to that Nyad in the great river."

"You mean Mother Sea! Why are you even comparing yourself to her? I think the only one older than her is Mother Earth."

"Well who else am I supposed to compare myself to? The other woods have shifted far away and I have not seen another Dryad in such a long time. I can't just go wandering around anymore. There are too many Humans now. My green hair stands out a little. I don't think I could pass for a human."

"From what I have heard from the birds you are the largest woods that any of them know of. If you really want to find another Dryad you could go in the fall when your hair turns red, and just wear a long coat with a hood those those elves are fond of."

"Would that really help me?!"

"Probably not." Mist said. "Didn't Faun say thathumans are fascinated with elven beauty? If they think you are a female elf it might cause you even more trouble. Also let me know if you go to the elves, I might wonder where you went in a few years. When you are done with the elves come show me the coat before you go to the Humans. Anyway, since when can we trust birds?"

Faun and Mist started to laugh at that. "I can see it now." Faun said, "Laurel walks into their village asking for a cloak. Half the elves would pass out in delight and the other half would bow down to you and start worshiping you. You would then be forced to a never ending banquet in your honor. 'Oh mother Forest!'"

"I was thinking they might all strip naked right there and give her all their clothes."

"It is not much better when you go there Faun. Cut me some slack." I protested. "I also agree with Mist you can't trust birds they are too flighty."

"Did you really have to go there." Faun said. "De we need to start counting bird puns again?"

"Am I not allowed to repeat the same joke every couple hundred years?"

"Only if it is good," Mist interjected. "And I am only 100 years old and I still did not think it was good the first time. Also you might get in some trouble with the humans if you slept under a locust tree. You go to bed with hair the color of red maple leafs and wake up with yellow hair."

"My favorite is in the summer when Laurel rests under the silver poplar."

"Your right Faun, she does look really good with silver under that dark green."

"The cherry blossom pink is good."

"What about in the fall and the weather is just right and her hair turns purple."

"Bright red like the burning bush."

"The dark green of holly in the winter."

"I know! I have it, the all time best--" Faun paused for emphasis. "The blue lilac tree."

"Yes! That is the one!" Mist was bouncing up and down with excitement.

"CAN WE PLEASE STOP TALKING ABOUT MY HAIR."

The other two started to laugh even harder at that. It was hard not to be light-hearted in the spring. Especially for us who were tied to the life of the forest.

Trying to change the subject away from the color of my hair. "So have any new animals moved into the forest in the last few years?" I asked Faun.

I know once I got Faun started talking about animals it would be hard to get her to switch topics. It sounded like several animals for the South and west have been trying to expand the range. This of course leads to fighting with the the animals that were already there. Faun will pay attention to these things but does not interfere. This is part of life. Even if it were her favorite, the deer, at risk she might not act.

After a few minutes Faun put on a serious face. "I have heard strange rumours from the eastern edge of the forest. The animals do not want to go over there if they can help it. It is causing more overcrowding than normal.I think the Humans might be up to causing trouble again."

"I have also felt that something was off." I said with a frown. "I can tell the plants are sick but from this far away I am not able to determine the cause. Should we go check it out?"

"I will go and do it." Faun replied. "The Elves are 'protecting' this 'Holy Spring' and it will be hard for you to get past them without a big stir."

"I'm A 'Holy Spring'!" Mist said in the background.

"You go in and out without a fuss."

"I just turn into a deer and they let me be."

"Well then I will just merge with a sapling and you can carry me out."

"Who has ever heard of a deer carrying a tree?"

"You do have a point there." I frowned.

"Do you really want to leave the spring that much?"

"Not really I just don't like feeling like I am in a cage. I know they are keeping the Humans and curious elves away from this place but sometimes it feels small."

"Don't worry about it. I will go and look around and let you know what is happening and we can figure out what to do then."

"Call out to me if you need help. Please bring me back a sapling so I can figure out what is wrong."

"You really just want to see a deer carrying a sapling." Faun smirked and waved to me as she walked away. With a shimmer of light Faun walked off in the form of a beautiful female deer.