The Woodlands

s—mainly humans—it was referred to as Dolar Woods. Named after the human who discovered

e and everything else was superfluous. The strange and wondrous beings of the mighty forest assumed there was nothing of value beyond their domai

e two forest spirits: nymphs and dryads. These beings heard the whispers of trees as the wind blew their branches and， under the utmost of exceptional circumstan

guishable from the females， with both genders appearing androgynous in the eyes of the other beings in the Woodlands. All nymphs had flowing white

h nymph. His name was Neem. Although he was like all other nymphs， future

o clothes were not needed for keeping warm. The only garment Neem wore was a loincloth—woven of white

finally interlocked with his bracelets. He had crafted the accessories himself， as was custom. All nymphs designed their own neck accessories

w， soft voic

staring back. He smiled when he recognised the mighty dryad looming over him. Althou

y and wrapped his arms around

bark rubbing against

low even darker bark. Her antler-like branches were so large that they became tangled in

?” Neem asked in a

uncertainty

asked， cocking her head to t

movement due to

d. “The trees have sensed it. It’s something… unn

The explanation onl

acta River. We need to warn as many other beings

es，” Neem t

. “Whether by choice or by the God

forest on rare occasion–but they were unwelcomed. What lay beyond the Woodlands did not co

wn trees from the forest to use as timber， but the dryads generally were

dryad said. “It is

asked in a panicked tone. “We must wa

deep into the forest， searching for fellow nymphs to help him get the word out about the unkno

xpected. If the thing continued to follow to the Nacta River it would be gone within a week.

ixie squeaked upon recei

an two feet—hardly a threat to a t

that，” Neem warned. “She will remove it h

rs drooped before it let out

me a famil

g toward him. It was his friend—

n his usual cheerful manner du

entaur drinking from Nacta where mermaid rock is. Lilac and Numi tried to get him to leave， but h

hat to do. Centaurs were always

t him，” he

her head

he for

t even reaches mermaid

es were clearly demonstrated in dangerous times like this. All of them respected the command

t as his legs could carry him. He was not sure how close the foreigner was to mermaid

like the kind of centaur who would be stubborn. Tail full of

，” Neem sa

t respond; he had

to be within kicking range of a startled centaur. The worst thing he co

r jumped when he saw the ny

witch as he talked. “I’ve had just about enough of you yo

the centaur woul

e centaur would hear. “A foreigner is coming right t

out a snort and

hem here. I’ll show th

abilities， but he’s not been blessed with magic

aughty for a moment to thin

tinued. “Get your drink there， but plea

relief. He was worried they would be bickering right up until the foreigner arrived and killed them. The centaur had turne

er; no dark clouds on the horizon signalled the trespassers arrival. He just wa

t his

crunching of leaves behind him. He assumed that old ce

e was in the middle of saying

t do anything as he stared at t

ad to toe in black clothing which was something no creature of the forest did. The hood

righten you，” the f

rds him he took three steps back and unwittingly fell into the river. Th

ed. Because he was certainly a human， but a human who

rabbed his arm. Neem could swim， but he had refused to resurface

Neem shrieked as he wa

instantly， obviously start

n his composure. He hoped no creatures of the forest had heard him sc

said I don’t want to hurt y

me water out

rse you want to hurt me

gner laug

I’m human?

inty ears

t welcome here，” he sta

bbing his hood with one hand， “would

for that matter. Peering through the strands of his black hair were equally dark eyes. These were not the traits Neem immediately took n

be more shocked， yet Neem only looked intrigued rather than fea

w seconds， the nymph

“You’re not welcome here， whatever

sing through. I will be gone soon enough. However， I must ask if I may have some

hook h

ot allow a foreigner

ve a disap

taking. May I offer you a little token with the promise that I will not take or

he man as he rummaged through his satchel. After a m

wellery purposes，” he explained while holding out the large shell. “After all， you seem like a…

eautiful shell， he really did，

the Woodlands. If the Nature Goddess co

es in this forest won’t harm me， just as I won’t harm t

em to take the shell. Th

you， but you must leave the

erst

off into the forest. His heart was beating so fast

e thought as he ran. How am I even alive

e trespasser gone as soon as possible but also wanted to learn more