Guardian of the Meadow

Thick deciduous trees draped with hanging vines conceal the perfect meadow at the center of Fey Forest. Wildflowers form a rich carpet of color that ceases to bloom only on winter's harshest nights. Faeries with near transparent wings weave cottages from the springy grass while dryads make their homes in the branches of oaks and maples that have weathered centuries.

At the heart of the clearing sits Froseti, Spirit of the Meadow. The crown upon his brow is formed from blooms that will never wilt. Like most forest spirits he has a talent for green magic and a deep connection to Mother Earth but there is one thing that sets Froseti apart. Froseti has no attachment.

It is normal for a newborn spirit to attach to the first natural object they see. They may make their home in a hollow tree, a clear pool, or a seashell abandoned by its former owner. They will take the shape best suited to the home that calls to them.

Froseti was born in a moment of great turmoil as the forest around him burned. He could hear the cries of wolves in the distance, keeping pups on tired feet moving in the right direction and calling encouragement to brothers and sisters struggling not to be left behind. There was nothing substantial in the dry brush and smoldering trunks of trees being consumed by greedy fire. Froseti took the form of a wolf, desperate to escape the heat and stench that surrounded him.

He ran for hours, never slowing until he felt the first soothing drops on his nose. His thick white coat was excellent for keeping the moisture at bay but not even a forest spirit can run forever. He slumped down in a pile of grass, sick at heart that he had no place of his own.

The field faeries found him lying atop the great meeting hall, its pebble benches and twig podium scattered the length of the meadow. They could not find it in their hearts to scold the miserable spirit. They brought him great leaves filled with berries and worked the knots from his fur with gentle fingers. In time their kindness won him over. The meadow had no point of attachment but it was his meadow all the same.

His mind turned away from dark thoughts as a dryad named Fleetleaf reported the news from the southern border. A new family of squirrels had moved into the tree beside her own and their kits were a lively bunch. The blueberries were blooming in abundance and would give her plenty of food for the winter if the birds were not too greedy in their selections. She paused, scuffling a tiny green foot against the branch she'd chosen as a perch. She was no gossiping starling, but she had heard rumors about the bare land and just yesterday she had seen a strange black fog rising high into the sky. Surely there was nothing left to burn in the distant lands once inhabited by humans.

Froseti perked his ears. There was always some rumor going around that the humans would return though none had been seen in over two hundred years. Of much greater interest was the possibility of smoke. The spirits were quite good at calling rain when needed but their range was limited within a few miles of their chosen home. If some old human structure was burning, it could very well cause problems for the creatures of the forest.

"I will send Flick and Juneberry to scout the southern border. If some human thing has fallen to time, we will see to the protection of our homes but I am sure we have nothing to worry about. The humans left many dangerous things lying around that will put up a fight before returning to nature. They are much like their makers."

His regal voice reassured those attending the gathering. There had never yet been a threat that the noble Froseti could not protect them from.

Juneberry was by far the fastest fairie in the forest. She shot into the trees, sticking her tongue out at her brother Flick as he hurried to catch up. Nothing could prepare them for the sight they witnessed. A column of thick, oily smoke billowed into the air, produced by a horrible white creature with glowing yellow eyes.

The faeries both huddled in Froseti's fur upon their return, too overwhelmed to speak. He enveloped them in a vapor of calm until their trembling had ceased. The other fair creatures formed a solemn ring around Froseti as Juneberry spoke up in her reedy voice.

"There is a monster in the bare lands, one that growls with the ferocity of a bear and stalks that fatal black ooze like a panther. Its eyes are orbs without the brilliance of the moon yet they hold your gaze like a snake before the strike." She shuddered. "This is no force of nature that makes the black fog. Man has returned."

Every voice was raised in a mixture of disbelief and outrage. The humans had brought themselves to extinction. Every fairie knew that. They had turned their backs on the cries of Mother Nature until the dear earth's pleas turned to commands and finally to violence. Even if some small tribe of humans had escaped her wrath they would be in no condition to return to their selfish ways.

Froseti stood, giving his head a shake to clear it. "I must take a look at this strange sight."

Seven brave faeries volunteered to accompany him while the dryads sent word to their kin through the branches overhead. Juneberry clutched the twigs of his crown, pointing the way with gentle tugs of his fur.

He walked with care, avoiding all places where mud threatened to spatter his paws and settle in clumps. He hated dirt. The smell, the feel, even the color was repulsive.

He paused at the edge of the trees, exchanging polite greetings with Amuril, a tree spirit shaped as a squirrel and attached to a small grove of birch trees. They peered out together across the black expanse that no spirit was willing to cross.

The column of smoke continued to rise, releasing poisons that had already dropped a flock of canaries unaware of the danger. Their small bodies littered the field, vibrant yellow feathers smeared with soot. Thunder rumbled in the distance though the sun was overhead and the sky clear.

Froseti backed away with a snarl, feeling sick as if the poisons were already in his body. Amuril twitched his nose and flicked his tail in agreement.

Froseti's tail drooped. "I'm afraid we must seal the forest. Any creature in the distant lands is beyond our help now."

Amuril's chattering was a curse too rapid for any but a fellow spirit to follow. "Think of all the lives that will be lost!"

"You know it pains me to make this decision, Amuril. There are so few shelters for the fair folk left. If the humans truly do rebuild and the faeries are eliminated, all creatures will die. We must act now while there is still a chance."

He ran the distance to his beloved meadow with his head hung low. He could feel the uneasiness of his passengers. There were so many animals that dwelled in bogs and mountains, sea caves and grain fields. All of these would be left to deal with these new humans as best they could. Once the forest was sealed, only the fair folk would be able to cross the borders. Humans are animals, though they refuse to accept their status. The spell could only work if it blocked all mortal creatures. The image of the dead canaries weighed heavily on Froseti's mind as Juneberry spoke from her perch on his back.

"We will be able to reopen the borders someday, right Froseti?"

He slowed to a walk as the ring of trees around his beloved meadow came into sight. "I don't know, Juneberry. I just don't know."

Froseti began the chant that was raised by every forest spirit. The faeries joined their voices to his, their bodies glowing with inner light that turned the floor of the meadow red.

♥ by User not found: vicious

Story by Pureflower