Alea was tired. She had just got home from her grandparents who lived two hours away, and already, her mother was asking her to get some of the herbs that her mother swore tasted much better when they came from the forest. Alea couldn't taste a difference, but she didn't mind going to the forest.

Alea quite liked the forest. What she didn't like was how quickly it got dark in the forest. It was around 4, and a sunny day too, but in the forest, the sun seemed to set much quicker. Alea had been there for not even an hour and already she could swear it looked like the sun was nearly setting.

Alea saw some of the herbs her mother wanted her to get but she remembered the warnings given to her as a child, to never stray off the path when in the forest. 

'What's the harm' Alea thought shrugging, 'it's barely five steps off the path. What's the worst that could happen?'

"Hello"

Alea spun around in shock, there hadn't been anybody behind her a minute ago.

"Look up little human"

Alea looked up and saw, well she wasn't sure what she was but it was definitely humanoid.

"I am the guardian of this forest and you should not be here little human."

"My apologies."

"You may call me March little human. May I have your name?"

"You may not have my name guardian but you may call me Holly." Alea said recalling the lessons her mother had given her about what to do if you meet a fae. Alea also recalled thinking that those lessons were silly because obviously fae didn't exist, but she was definitely grateful for those lessons now.

"Ah the little human is tricky! It's been a few centuries since I've last met a human like you!" The fae, March said.

"Who knew not to give their name to the fae?" Alea asked.

"Yes" March said, not elaborating.

"May I inquire what your pronouns or gender are guardian?" Alea asked recalling what her mother had said about the fae choosing their gender when they came of age.

"You may use the pronouns ze/zem for me little human."

"May I return to my mother March?"

"Yes, you may return to your mother little human, and next time don't wander off the path. There is a reason you are warned. If you'd met someone else they wouldn't have been half as kind as I have been."

When Alea returned home her mother was frantic.

"What's wrong mother?" Alea asked.

"Sweetie, you've been gone for over eight hours. It's already midnight..." her mother said. "I was worried you had gotten lost or worse..."

Alea hadn't even noticed the sky had gotten darker, or the mood had risen while she was in the forest, and that scared her.

"Please don't worry, I'm fine mother, I really am very sorry for worrying you." Alea said, having already decided not to worry her mother about the encounter she'd had in the forest.

"Then why were you gone for that long?!" her mother shouted.

"I'm sorry mom. I saw some cool bugs and I decided to try and catch some for my bug journal and I guess I lost track of time while I was doing that..."

"Silly girl." Her mother said laughing, used to Alea losing track of time.

Alea gave a sigh of relief. Her mother had bought her story. She didn't know what she would do if she hadn't, but she was glad she didn't have to worry about that...