Akahsha backed away from the woman, crawling on his back. She simply stood and smiled. Her rose lips and pale skin looked soft. Her expression was also soft, as if not expecting much either. The staff in her hand had vines wrapping around it from its stem to its apex. Flowers grew on the ground around her bare feet, just as she was standing there. She extended her hand in an inviting manner.

“You need not fear me, child. I will not harm you, for that I can promise three times.” She spoke like a song, melodic and enchanting.

Akahsha reached for her hand, and as they got closer, a warmth went from his hand, through his arm, and into his body. She easily lifted him to his feet, and his head was at her waist. He looked past her bosom and they eyed each other for a moment. Her eyes sparkled as if she discovered something. “You speak Sylvan.” She stated, but kept her smile.

Akahsha nodded slowly, unsure if this was a good fact.

“I’m Ashera, a Wayfarer in these Feywilds. And you?” She said while she picked a white flower off of a tree. After she picked the flower, the tree grew another flower of the same type, almost instantly.

“I’m Akahsha Shariz. I think I’m lost. I’m supposed to be going home.” He looked around, and when he turned back his gaze was met with the flower.

“Obviously you’ve wandered far from the beaten path, but how far have you gone?” She smiled and turned. “I believe you came from this way.” She walked ahead of him, and he eventually started to follow her. The clouds above were moving in odd ways that he’d never noticed before. Trailing behind her, he could smell something sweet. Like honeysuckle and lavender, but he figured it was her scent.

“So you live in these woods?” Akahsha asked, his eyes on the sights around him. He stepped over a large branch that lie on the floor, which Ashera walked around.

“I am a residence of these Wilds, yes. The Feywilds stretch far beyond these woods, however. Of course from Evermeet to Karador, and even newer places such as Nolmondande. It is a sprawling land with creatures of all shapes and sizes. If there were ever a place to call paradise, I’d say it is here, but that is not always the case. There are many forces here that are trying to gain access to your realm, and if that’s not the case, they wish to take domain from the Lords of the Courts.”

“Lords? Like, royalty?” Akahsha asked innocently enough as to not give her the idea that he thinks she is of such royalty. He figured she knew a lot about this land, so he wanted to learn from her as much as possible.

“Royalty doesn’t exist in this plane. Power exists, and the kingdoms are held up by that which holds the most power. I’m sure it is the same in your land.” She spoke with a hint of disdain in her voice.

“I wouldn’t know. Father and mother told me that there are large cities held together by a system of government. I’m not sure, though. I live in a small village with a council of Elders. I haven’t met any of them.” Akahsha frowned and crossed his arms.

“Well, all beings want power. It is the source of different strengths, and there are many ways to obtain it. I’m sure you have some power in you. People don’t know Sylvan unless they are special.” Ashera stopped in her tracks and he did, too. “Are you special, Akahsha Shariz?”

Akahsha swallowed and didn’t know how to answer the question. That’s something that he was also unaware of, but wasn’t exactly sure if it was true or not. He searched for any words to say, but when he hadn’t said anything for long enough, the woman laughed.

“You’re certainly special. The special ones aren’t self-aware. Only fools think they are special.” She continued along, and the landscape changed from the forest to a cliff’s edge. They exited the treeline and were met with a breathtaking view.

The land was an explosion of color. Mountains in the distance were yellow, and the grasslands below were red. The river waters were an ever-changing mixture of greens and purples. The cliff had a waterfall that was a clear crystal color. Birds of large sizes that he’d never seen before flew overhead. He was taken away by the spectacle before him.

“What do you think?” Ashera asked, standing next to him, also looking out into the lands.

“What do I think? I think it’s beautiful.” Akahsha admitted. He smiled and tried to soak in as much as he could. The smell was still this woman’s fragrance, and he couldn’t help but feel happy.

She leaned in and whispered to Akahsha. “What if you could live here, forever?”

He turned towards her with a surprised look. He fought to get words out. Anything that would convince her that he didn’t belong here. This wasn’t his home, and his parents were worried sick for him.

“I-I don’t think I could. I mean, it’s the greatest sight I have seen. But I can’t stay here.” Akahsha looked back to the gorgeous landscape.

“I’m sure you could. I would keep you safe.” She opened her pouch with the hand that wasn’t holding the staff. She pulled out a small symbol, in the shape of a leaf. The leaf was made out of a hard stone that he’d never felt or seen.

“This is mine, but now, it is yours. Consider it a gift from me, as gifts are what friends give each other.” She nodded slightly and gave it to him, which he held in his hands. “Now won’t you come this way with me, we’re nearly - Oh,” she moaned in an annoyed way. ‘You’re waking up.”

“What do you mean I’m waking up, I’m right here aren’t I-” Akahsha said, and the Feywilds disappeared from around him, and he was thrust back into consciousness.

Gelmana’s hands were the first sights his eyes opened to. Akahsha was against a tree, and his father, his friend’s father, and his mother were before him. Gelmana was crouched in front of Akahsha, with her hands lit green, the energy flowing into Akahsha. Salahkah had his hand on his sword, and his eyes gawking to and fro. Ronaldo was writing down what he saw, furiously, in fact.

“Akahsha,” Gelmana said and hugged her son tightly. Akahsha didn’t know how to react, and he certainly didn’t know how he got here. The sky was dark, and many clouds were overhead. The surrounding area was along the path back to their house.

“You crossed over into the Feywilds again,” Gelmana sighed, ceased hugging her son, and rested her hands on each of his shoulders. “How many times have I told you, you have to be careful. It’s easier for you to travel over because you’re more attracted to it. We were lucky to have found you when we did. Did anything happen while you were there?”

Akahsha was dazed; of course he remembered everything, but the travel took a lot out of him. He wondered how long he had been there.

“I met a woman, and she gave me something,” Akahsha looked at his palm and opened his hand; the same leaf stone was in his hand. Gelmana softly requested it, lifted it up, and inspected it. She’d seen some things like it before, but wasn’t sure who it could belong to.

“Akahsha, you must be very careful. We won’t always be able to find you like this. You have to exercise caution when you’re alone. With no one to watch your back, you’re always at a higher risk.” Gelmana looked him in the eyes, but did not lose her temper. “The world is a dangerous, insidious place. You must remain vigilant.”

Salahkah kept his eyes on the woods around them. Eventually when they were done, they walked to the trail.

Ronaldo saw this family of three and thought how strong they were, but how sad that the world was out to get them. It was poetic to think that they’d endured such hardships in such a short amount of time. Comparatively, things couldn’t have gone any better for Ronaldo and Wanda. They had a beautiful girl, a stable income, and a home in a village to the West, like Wanda had always wanted. Ronaldo cleared his throat to gather their attention.

“We still have to see Orgadesh.” Ronaldo stated, with some melancholy in his voice.

Gelmana, Salahkah, and Akahsha all looked to each other. Their expressions varied, from Akahsha’s disinterest to Salahkah’s grimace, to Gelmana’s look of disappointment in their attitudes.

“I agree, I think we should see him.” Gelmana replied with a smile. Both father and son groaned with frustration. “Need I remind you that there are three of us, and we’ll be in the middle of town. If anybody starts anything, we’ll quickly dissuade them.”

They walked into town late at night, around seven o’clock. The townsfolk were mostly asleep, but the tavern was rowdy. The inhabitants were getting disorderly inside and outside of the Gilded Fern. The family could actually see Orgadesh with a few farmers, some who were familiar to both Salahkah and Gelmana from that fateful night. As they grew closer, the rabble began to die down as all attention was turned onto them.

Orgadesh stopped laughing at a joke Randall said when they caught his eye; he’d been waiting for this all day. His son told him that the Feyfucker’s boy had beat him and the others up, just because they were talking to the Writer’s daughter. Orgadesh stood up, placed his brew on the table, and walked to meet the eyes of Salahkah.

“What’re you doin’ back here?” Orgadesh spat, his stump arm down by his side with his other hand fashioned into a fist.

“I’m not here to fight you. Your son and friends were beating up on Winona, so Akahsha had to intervene today.” Salahkah said with cold eyes.

“Bullshit - am I right guys?” Orgadesh turned to the table outside with three other men, who choir called back with an affirmation. “This Feyfucker thinks he can just bend the rules because they’re not like us. Well I’ve got something to tell you. You think you’re so tough, but you only cut my arm off. I’ve got a bunch of other body parts left, and other men who are willing to die for me. Right guys?” This time, the table was rather quiet. He turned back to Salahkah and his family.

“We’re actually not here to fight,” Gelmana stepped forward, and pushed herself between her husband and this half-orc. “We’re just here to tell you that you need to tell your son to behave more, as we have told ours. Akahsha is willing to apologize to you and your son, if your son will apologize to Akahsha and Winona.”

Akahsha looked at his mother with a slight look of confusion and complaint. She turned to him and gave him a corner of her glare. He straightened his act and stood as tall as he could.

“I am sorry, sir. I only meant to help my friend.” Akahsha bowed and said in a most earnest way. “I’ll say I’m sorry to Grimden whenever I see him.”

Orgadesh wasn’t impressed. This is the son of the man who cut his arm off, and he was constantly beating on his own son. Somehow though, Orgadesh and his son were the monsters? No, not in front of the whole townsfolk. He wouldn’t accept that this is how the Shariz family would treat them.

“Go home. I don’t want your apologies.” Orgadesh turned around and walked back over to his table.

“Only cowards don’t grow,” Gelmana said with venom. Orgadesh didn’t turn around, but he did stop in his place. “They never admit to their mistakes, and they almost always believe that the other person is wrong. Do not blame us for your son’s behavior. I do not blame you for Akahsha’s behavior - no, we take care of that ourselves. I don’t blame you, either. I’m just saying to take responsibility for it. Let’s leave.”

Gelmana turned around and left, the family with her following behind. Ronaldo kept up with their pace. They eventually reached the Warez home, and Ronaldo said goodbye to them. He was thrown off to how the night actually went, from Salahkah and Gelmana getting battle-ready to find their son, who had somehow slipped over to the Feywilds, to the encounter with Orgadesh. He had a lot to write about and to tell Wanda.