Ogres were ugly things, though not as bad as harpies. They were humanoid, with the same dark green skin as the goblins. Fangs jutted up from their lips, their large stomach shook when they growled. 

“In the cart, now!” 

Emelina tried to weave more grass as the wizards ran, but goblins spilled through anyways. She jumped in last, her white staff held high as vines pulled the cart. The grass lowered just in time, making a small ramp that caused us to jump into the air.  

I clung to Sora as we raced through the trees. Emelina was driving it but when we hit a hill, we were driving blind. Rocks caused us to jump as leaves hit our faces and arms. 

We hit a sudden halt when we crashed into a stream, the wood splintering and we spilled into the water. 

Thankfully, it wasn’t deep but we were all now wet. 

I stood, rubbing my knees which were now skinned. 

“This.” Sora ran a hand through his now white hair. “This is why I didn’t want to leave Home Tree.” 

“For once, I agree with you angel.” Ozani pulled off her robe as her blonde hair stuck to her face.  

Aratazz, just laughed, taking off her own and wringing her hair. If her black hair had been any longer, she would have looked just like one of those banshees.  

“Really, I thought you liked swimming.” 

“I do, when it’s my own choice, Arwen.” Ozani kicked some water at him, which he of course had to return. 

The wizards began a water fight which Sora and I were pulled into. Like a proper nymph, Emelina thrived in the water as she skipped and dance, water framing her like stars. Arwen stayed on the streambed as Ozani and Aratazz kicked. Sora left the water first, taking off his shirt to wring it out.  

My own clothes were now ruined, and I was grateful Marakin still had our bags. She was a creature of water as well, she happily floated just downstream to avoid our splash fight. 

“Alright.” Ozani splashed Arwen one last time. “I said, alright. We still could have some goblins after us, we can’t stay here.” 

The mood dropped and I looked uphill. I couldn’t see anything, but there was a reason why goblins hunted in forests; they blended in perfectly. When we would see the ogre, it would already be too late.  

“I guess we have to walk now. Come on, Zani. Let’s go pick some flowers.” 

The two skipped away, more like Aratazz skipped as she dragged the other. The rest of us took off spare clothing and wrung out our hair. Well, everyone except Emelina. 

She was rejuvenated by the water and the sunlight. Her skin seemed to glow as the flowers in her hair were brighter and her wet hair curled itself. With hands outstretched, it was like she was pulling the energy of Mistros into her. 

I knelt down, burying my hands in the grass. It was amazing to watch, but to actually feel the energy being pulled by her; I couldn’t describe it.  

“Do you want to get dressed or do you want to stay there all day?” 

I gave Sora a dirty look and he laughed, pulling out my clothes anyway. He grabbed his own and walked off, only waving as his goodbye. 

“He does realize that he is the target of all of these hunters, right?” 

I looked up to see Arwen standing over me. He had taken off his boots and undershirt, one hand in his hair as he watched Sora leave. Water from his shoulders fell down his body and I watched each one fall. He was slightly muscular with an even layer of fat around his stomach and arms. 

“Need some help?” 

His words interrupted my not-so-good thoughts about him and I grabbed the hand he had extended to me.  

“Um, Sora might have some clothes that fit you. If you are alright with them being made from the grass on Kirham.” 

He smiled and shook his head, flinging water from his hair. 

“I’ll be fine. The girls will be back soon, but this gives Emmy some time to rest. By the time everyone is done, I’ll be dry. Go ahead and change if you want, I can watch over Marakin and Emmy.” 

I gave him a smile, turning to grab my stuff. I kept walking until they were out of sight, clutching the flower to my chest. 

I really needed to control my thoughts more. Fine, I could say he was handsome, but things couldn’t go any further than that. I could handle that, I had to. 

Sora had ended up picking my favorite outfit. The top was made of a lavender-colored flower petal as a shirt that stopped at the top of my breasts, with vines holding it up by wrapping around my neck. It didn’t have sleeves or anything on my shoulders, but I did still have Arwen’s cloak. The skirt was made from a bellflower, tight on my waist and then blooming out just below my knees. I finished tying my shoes and made my way back; Sora had finished dressing too. 

He had this strange obsession with dark clothing with always bothered Chi Chi. It took forever to find dark blooming flowers either use as clothes or dye grass. Still, the exercise clothes did look good, showing off his muscles and loose enough to move and breathe in.  

“You like walking around half-naked, Arwen?” 

“Not when there is someone like you strutting around. You are shorter and younger than me, but you look as strong as a dragon.” 

“That would be thanks to me.” 

Both boys turned to me and I punched Sora’s arm. “Fairies aren’t warriors and Sora is obviously not a fairy, so I made my own bodyguard.” 

We were quite comical standing together. I barely reached his chest and I was the average height for a fairy. Sora was an inch or so shorter than Arwen and I did not enjoy looking up at all of these humans all the time.  

“Hello!” Aratazz sang out and waved. “We brought back gifts!” 

She only reached Sora’s chin so she stood on the tips of her feet to plop a flower crown onto his head. Aratazz dropped one on me before slamming another down onto Arwen. We all shared a laugh at how silly we looked, with crooked crowns and messy hair. 

“You must teach me how to braid like you do.” Aratazz reached out, only touching my hair once I nodded. “I have never seen such small braids. And they are long too, I don’t think I could grow my hair down to my butt. Short hair is my thing.” 

I pulled out my hair tie, letting my hair pour over my shoulders. “Chi Chi does my box braids, and they are amazing; even though it takes forever to do all of my hair.” 

“We should probably start leaving though.” 

Aratazz jumped away, grabbing Ozani's hand.

“Zani has a point. Goblins may be lazy, but they have a love for money that will make them do anything. Ready to lead the way, Emmy?” 

Emelina dropped her hands and gave us all a smile. “Absolutely. We just follow the stream.”  

She began to walk, the rest of us turning to follow when Arwen called out.  

“Em! This goes to the capital. Are you sure? Why would the rebels be so close to the dragons? It doesn't seem-” 

“Arwen, I’m not taking you to the rebels.” 

He brought his staff up as Sora stepped in front of me.  

“I can’t do that when you have an ogre following you. We will lose it in the water and then I can take you to the boss.” 

She skipped off; Sora turned to look at me. 

“Are we sure about this one, Mina?” 

I wasn’t sure anymore. Arwen had pulled out his staff, he hadn’t trusted her at that moment, and Arwen was confirmed as a helper on Sora’s journey.  

“Just keep an eye out and your wings folded in. It never hurts to be wary.” 

And then we continued walking some more. 

The stream was barely deep enough for Mara which was good because her feet weren’t made for rough rocky floors.  

We took turns riding on her back for a break; all except Emelina. Slowly the sun reached its high point and Emelina stopped.  

“Well, I think that should be enough, what do you guys think?” 

She didn’t even wait for us to answer, she just turned and walked back into the trees where we had come from. Sora groaned and left the river with the others. I went up to Mara, digging my fingers into her feathers. 

“You stay here now. I’ll call for you so you can fly, just keep an eye out for those harpies, dragons or whatever else there is that could attack you. I love you, and stay safe.” 

I didn’t like walking away from her. Without her, Sora was my only tie to home and he would end up staying here on Volar. I kept walking anyway, leaving Marakin and Kirham behind. 

Emelina guided us without words, weaving through trees and humming along. It wasn’t until the sun was setting on the trees behind us that she finally stopped and turned to us. 

“Welcome to the rebel camp!” 

Below us, was the edge of Volar and a death-causing drop to Nym.