“Pack your things,” Roquewei said, looking down at a stunned Sofia. “We leave at dawn.”

Faliona stood and calmly approached the blue-haired elf.

“Sofia has only just recovered from the attack. Give her at least one more day to fully recuperate.”

Turning to her, Roquewei replied, “I have been tasked with finding the Living Tree and collecting its leaves to protect our land from the Ymplerim. But the Chief will only give me the map after this woman is returned to Talamh. I don’t want to waste any time.”

Her eyebrows high in surprise, Faliona smiled and placed a hand on Roquewei’s arm with a twinkle in her eyes. 

“Your mother has asked you to find the Living Tree? Roquewei, you’ve dreamed of this for years! This is your chance!”

Mother? thought Sofia. 

Roquewei softened slightly at Faliona’s touch, but quickly hardened again. “Exactly, which is why we must leave as soon as possible. I cannot fail our people and Lyfay.”

A look passed between the two that was incomprehensible to Sofia. Then, stepping away from Faliona, Roquewei turned to leave the tent. “Don’t be late,” he sneered at Sofia.

“At least make it mid-morning so the poor woman can have a decent breakfast,” Erae chimed in, still standing at the tent’s entrance. “A hearty breakfast is important for a long day of traveling.”

“She can eat on the way,” Roquewei countered. 

“Oh, but one should eat before traveling, not during. To do that would mean two breakfasts and… well, that’s not the way of our people, Roquewei.”

Roquewei looked with annoyance at Erae’s stupidly smiling face.

“Lyna told me that she’s actually waiting on a pair of shoes from the cobbler,” Faliona added. “We should wait until those are finished.”

“Harton would like to see her before she returns to Talamh, I’m sure,” said Ujalam. “He will surely wake up some time tomorrow and would be very disappointed to not have properly thanked her.”

“By then it will likely almost be lunch, which is a proper time to have a second meal.” Erae threw his arm around Roquewei’s shoulders. “That way we can all leave with full bellies and high spirits.”

What is happening right now? Sofia thought to herself.

“Enough! The only people leaving tomorrow are me and that woman,” Roquewei said firmly as he broke from Erae. Looking toward Faliona, he sighed deeply and covered his face with his hand. “W-we’ll wait for the cobbler and then be off. If the Dlam isn’t awake by then, I’m sorry. He’s better off without her, anyway.”

With one last frustrated glance towards Sofia, Roquewei swung back the tent flap and exited. 

“Well,” said Erae, “now that Mr. Sunshine has left, we can all just…relax.” He took in a deep breath and released it dramatically. 

Faliona frowned slightly, but Itah, who had been silent during the entire confrontation, started giggling. Encouraged, Erae smiled and bowed. 

“I think that our new friend Sofia has been through quite a lot in one day,” he commented as he approached the women. “Don’t you think we ought to show her a good time before rushing her home?” Erae directed the question to Itah, who was blushing and averting her gaze, but nodded in agreement. 

Erae turned to Sofia and kindly held out his hand. “Come, I’m sure you must be famished.” 

Sofia took it, and rose stiffly. She looked back at Harton, willing him to wake up.

Erae looked at her earnestly and asked softly, “Are you sure you want to go back?”

Sofia turned sharply. “What? Of course I do! I have a job and responsibilities to get back to. A new place I need to secure and furnish… Besides,” she kept herself from turning back to the Dlam, “why would I want to stay here?”

Suddenly realizing that Erae was still holding her hand, Sofia quickly retracted it, glancing awkwardly around at the other women. “I mean… everyone in this room has been so kind to me, but… others have made it clear I’m not welcome. I-I don’t belong here.”

After a short silence, Sofia continued. “Thank you for trying to cheer me up,” she said to Erae and turning to Faliona, “and for standing up for me. I’m not excited about traveling alone with that guy but… I guess it would be best to find a gate home as soon as possible.”

“Roquewei is not as bad as he seems,” Faliona assured her. “He is quite pleasant to be around once you get to know him.”

“Does she want to, though?” interrupted Erae, a mocking expression on his face. 

“Not really,” Sofia scoffed. “What I do want to know is what exactly are these gates? I was sort of unconscious when I came through the last one…”

“The gates are passageways between our worlds,” replied Ujalam. A small purple and pink rabbit-like creature had appeared, delivering a batch of herbs and flowers that the Master Healer was placing into the tub of healing water with Harton. She resumed her massage of the Dlam as she continued.

“They are like tears in the fabric that contains our worlds. Lyfay may seem dramatically different to you than Talamh, but many things are the same. Yet Lyfay and its people are not used to being easily accessible. For centuries, the fabric between our worlds was thick and sturdy. As the imbalance in Talamh became more drastic and Ymplerim more powerful, the fabric was made sheer, fragile. And as any tailor knows, the sheerer the fabric, the more difficult the repair.

“Tears are infrequent,” Ujalam continued, “and appear at random, often meaning there is something on the other side that needs our help and attention. Afterwards, they quickly shut on their own. They will only remain permanently shut, however, if sealed with the leaves of the Living Tree.”

“So, that means that there is no way of knowing when a gate will appear or where exactly it will lead to?” Sofia asked. 

“Precisely,” said the Master Healer. Turning to the rabbit, she asked, “Reppoh, would you mind gathering a few more of these flowers?” 

The creature nodded, and hopped out the back of the tent. Ujalam watched Sofia’s gaze follow the animal as it left and then return to Harton.

“Go rest now, child. Enjoy your evening. You have a long day ahead of you tomorrow.”

Turning to her apprentice, Ujalam continued. “Go along, Itah. Have the rest of the day off. Help Faliona and this silly man show Friend Sofia our best Lyfayan hospitality.”

The girls each grabbed one of Sofia’s arms and walked off giggling, calling síocháin to the Master Healer, as Erae trailed behind. 

Reppoh soon returned with the requested flowers and laid them by Ujalam. 

“Thank you, my compánach.”

Deftly lifting Harton out of the tub, she laid him on a mat by the fire and dried him off. Taking the flowers, some oils, and a couple of herbs, the Master Healer slowly ground everything together with a mortar and pestle to create a paste.

Ujalam smiled gently as she placed the poultice on Harton’s wounds. “A talmhan, Dlam?” Chuckling to herself, she said softly, “What an unexpected surprise.”

The next day found Sofia outfitted with new elven shoes that felt both sturdy and light, and a new woven pack to carry her belongings. It had taken, as Erae had hypothesized, until about lunch for everything to be ready. 

Sofia had been grateful for the extra time in the morning - she had barely slept since she could sense Lyna’s angry aura the entire night and felt that Melião was keeping all too keen an eye on her. She awoke stiff and unrested, and had the urge to hide from Faliona’s cheery morning attitude.

Lyna disappeared as soon as she woke up, alleviating some of Sofia’s stress. But her anxiety about the coming journey sat like a pit in her stomach. 

Roquewei had tried leaving after breakfast, but Faliona insisted he wait for the cobbler, and so he departed again. The cobbler, an older elven gentleman with long white hair, finally arrived just before the lunch hour with the shoes and the bag.

“One of my granddaughters works for the clothier and noticed all the things you had to carry. She mentioned how small the pack you brought through the gate was, and decided to weave this for you yesterday. She asked that I deliver it to you.”

Sofia was touched. She passed her hand along the bag, noticing its texture. This must have taken her the entire day… “P-please thank her for me.”

She had been sitting and enjoying her lunch with Faliona and Erae when Roquewei suddenly appeared again, determined now to depart.

Turning, she noticed that he had changed from earlier in the day. Roquewei’s hair was now in two braids, and he was wearing a dark green, flowing robe with tassels across his chest and back, a wide belt cinched around his waist, and knee high boots. There were gloves on his hands and under his long sleeves she could see strong, defined arms. His left shoulder was covered by a leather-like pauldron and a sword was on his back. 

What caught Sofia’s attention the most, however, was the delicate chain around his neck that held a red stone speckled with blue and green and entwined by veins of gold.

“My, you went full warrior guardian mode,” Erae whistled as he stood to better admire the outfit. Faliona’s eyes were filled with a different kind of admiration.

“Of course,” Roquewei replied, sourly. “I have to be ready for anything. Especially with her around.” Shooting a glance at Sofia he continued, “We can’t wait any longer. Get moving.”

Frustrated with Roquewei’s attitude, and not at all looking forward to being alone with him, Sofia took her time getting up and putting on her bag before saying, “I’d like to check on Harton one last time. He still wasn’t awake when I last went.”

Roquewei’s expression revealed his thinning patience, but before he could respond, Itah arrived at the cooking ring.

“Friend Sofia, síocháin. It seems you are about to depart. I’m afraid the Dlam has still not awakened.” 

“Oh, I see,” replied Sofia, obviously disappointed. She had hoped to speak with Harton one last time, to see that he was going to be all right and to say a proper goodbye. “Please tell him I wish him all the best.”

Itah nodded solemnly. “Síocháin, Friend. Safe travels.”

Faliona rose from her seat to give Sofia a warm hug. “It was a pleasure meeting you! There are so many questions I didn’t have the opportunity to ask but… I already have some wonderful ideas to add to my gallery and stories to keep in my heart. Síocháin, and may you get home safely.” She then moved to Roquewei to say a quick, quiet word of encouragement.

“Lady Sofia,” Erae took Sofia’s hand and bowed down to touch it to his forehead, “my one regret is that your stay was all together too short. I would have liked to get to know you better. Perhaps,” kissing her hand and giving her a wink, “we shall meet again soon.” 

Blushing from head to toe, it was all Sofia could do to not melt into a puddle. 

At this, Roquewei had had enough. “No, there will be no ‘again’ or ‘soon.’ We're leaving now so I can take her back, find the Living Tree, and close the gates to Talamh forever.”

He grabbed Sofia’s pack, turned, and started walking towards the edge of the village. Sofia, hiding her face behind her hat to regain her composure, trotted after him. 

The two travelers walked in silence for what seemed like hours through dense, rugged forest. Sofia was grateful that her pack wasn’t too heavy, since all she was carrying were her few personal belongings and some water, but being unused to this much exertion was growing tired.

My feet are starting to hurt. She winced with her next step. I wonder when he plans to stop for dinner. Speaking of… did neither of us pack food? What are we going to eat?

Sofia looked up and realized how far ahead Roquewei was from her. Ugh, you’d think he’d at least have the decency to not leave me behind if he’s so worried about getting me out of Lyfay.

She was about to call out to the elf when a sharp cry rang through the trees. Roquewei stopped and looked back at Sofia. Entirely uncertain of how to read his expression, Sofia froze and slowly looked behind her.

Suddenly a flurry of red and blue streaked passed her, screeching. Sofia screamed and fell to the ground, covering her head. 

She lay there, curled in a ball for several moments before mustering the courage to look up. On Roquewei’s hand sat a stunning bird of prey. Its red feathers seemed to glow like embers in the diminishing light, with hints of blue. Its beak and feet were also blue, and on its head it sported a slender, elegant crest.

The elf and the bird were speaking quietly to each other in serious tones. After a while, Roquewei nodded and the bird took off again.

“We’re camping here for the night,” the elf called to Sofia. “Get yourself situated. I’m going to find food.”

Noticing Sofia still huddled in a ball, Roquewei said, “You know if we had been in danger you would have been dead, right? Tch…” He walked off into the forest, leaving Sofia alone. 

The absolute nerve…! Sofia rose and brushed herself off in a huff. “You know if we had been in danger you would have been dead,” she mocked him. “Guess it would have saved him the trouble.” 

Sofia stood angrily, arms crossed, and looked around her. Did we even bring tents? Or blankets? Gracious, we’re really roughing it, aren’t we?

By the time Roquewei returned, he found Sofia in a small, moss covered clearing. She sensed a microexpression of something akin to his being impressed, and decided to try striking up a conversation.

“I’m not much of an outdoorsy person, but I was part of a troop as a child.” Roquewei ignored her and set down a full waterskin and an assortment of fruit. 

“I-I don’t remember a whole lot, but I feel like I at least found us a decent place to spend the night, right?” 

Without so much as a grunt, Roquewei tossed a piece of fruit toward her then moved to the opposite side of the small clearing, removed the sword from his back, and sat down against a tree. The bird of prey appeared again, landing on Roquewei’s shoulder for a bit before settling on a nearby branch.

“Is this… dinner?” Sofia asked. Clearly Roquewei was not interested in chit chatting.

“Mm-hm,” he responded, taking a bite into his own piece of fruit. 

“I thought you were hunting,” said Sofia. The elf and the bird both looked up sharply at her.

“We don’t eat beings here,” Roquewei said curtly. 

He reached for another piece of fruit and leaned back again into the tree. “Eat your fill and go to sleep. We leave at first light.”

Sofia frowned, and took a bite of the fruit as she hunkered down against her tree. I’m so ready to go home.