“Oh, you poor thing” a voice said as I groaned softly, reaching up to my temple as my head was pounding, “Alright, alright…just sat down a little.” A very kind and soft voice said, my brain was still too scrambled to pick a lot out of the voice, but the voice was kind and warm. I opened my eyes to find myself…in a grove of some sort, from what I could see through my peripheral; all of the houses looping around it were carved out of house sized mushrooms and other plant like pieces; windows and doors set into stalks with tiny chimneys made out of smaller mushrooms that grew out of the house sized one’s caps, soft warm light filled the area and the smell of honey, delphiniums and jasmine was rather strong. There was a rapid beating sound like a bug flying into your ear as it faded into footsteps as a figure came into view as I looked over; an older fairy woman, maybe four feet tall, heavier set and full, round soft features, lavender-gray curly hair twisted back into a bun with a pink scarf tied around her head with white spots on it, orange slice earrings and dressed in a yellow house-dress with an orange, white and yellow striped apron overtop, colorful wings folding themselves back along their back as she set something down. “Are you alright, deary?’ she asked

              “Where…where am I?” I asked

              “I was gathering some herbs in the Licorice Woods when I heard you coughing and found you unconscious, luckily those of my grove allowed me to bring you back. Did you accidently come into Glimmmerstand?” she asked as I softly nodded. Her hand rested on my arm as I pushed myself to sitting up a little, finding myself lying back on an outdoor sofa carved out of a massive walnut, acorn end-tables to either side and in this large circular pavilion, soft thick moss making the base with dark grass past it as stone pathways lead to the various homes, thin posts wrapped in vines with glowing flower string lights. I noticed that there was a blanket wrapped around my shoulders as I looked down at it as she reached over and wrapped it tighter around me as she picked up the teapot she had that was patterned like a strawberry, pouring an intensely herbal smelling liquid into an acorn mug as she handed it over to me. “You’re ill, please…drink this” she said, my knowledge of knowing not to take food or drink from the fey was overtaken by the idea of having some hot in my stomach, so I reached out with both hands and took the rather small mug.

              “Apricot, is he awake!?” a voice called out as a circular window on one of the mushroom home’s opened

              “Yes, Liri” she said quietly, the window closed before the door opened and a rather young looking satyr bounded out of the home, goat legs covered in thick black wiry fur leading to pastel pink painted hoofs, upper body dressed in this diaphanous wrapped shirt of brightly patterned and colored silks, horns painted mismatched colors and covered in flowers.

              “Oh, thank goodness, we were worried about you” he said, I looked at the two a little confused before taking a drink of the tea or potion, whatever was in the mug, the intense herbal smell was the same as the taste, it wasn’t unpleasant, but it was still quite obviously something medicinal. The warmth that filled my chest and stomach however was something that I cannot recall when I last felt and that feeling alone was enough to make me take another drink.  

              “We’ve not had any travelers in quite some time too” the older woman, Apricot said, “We’re relatively close to the minor gate in the woods, so we do feel something when someone comes through too”

              “Luckily, Apricot here was close enough that she got to you as quickly as she could.” The satyr man, Liri said, resting a hand on Apricot’s bac as she smile.

              “Why…why are you helping me?” I asked before motioning to my horns before holding my arm up a little, “I’m a hellkin.”

              “Oh please, you’re far from the strangest person here” Liri said with a shrug before whistling

              A door to one of the tree homes opened as an older woman floated out, held up by a few vines that ceaselessly churned around her legs, skin that looked like she was made of moss, long hair made of bright white willow fronds, wrapped in leaves and flowers, bright pink eyes and a staff in one of her hands. The vines swirled as she soon stood on the edge of the plaza, she sat herself down on one of the wicker chairs.

              “How are you feeling?” she asked

              “My chest still hurts” I said as I rubbed my sternum with one of my hands, she nodded softly as she flicked her hand and the vines around me bloomed with softly glowing flowers as soft motes of glowing pollen floated over towards me, leaving small casts of gold light against my skin where they landed.

              “Dahlia, did Fisloan call his grandson to see if he could help?” Apricot asked the dryad woman who nodded

              “He wasn’t surprised to hear from all of us” she laughed, “he should be here in a few hours”

              “What…what are you talking about?” I asked

              “Well, we assumed that based on the state of you when we found you and your things that, you are…running from something” Liri said, I nodded softly.

              “I am…I have been trying to hide from them for years, I didn’t mean to stumble into here or anything, but I’ve been taking it as it comes because there’s not a lot of places I could go that’s further from the mortal plane.” I shrugged softly, “Once I realized I am…kind of stuck here, I’ve been…trying to take it as it comes.” I said with a soft smile that I was forcing on.