Today was different

       The forest was eerily still. Among the massive trees not a single woodland creature stirred. A gloom hung through out the damp forest air. It was nothing new, this dark, dank feel the penetrated every fiber of the enchanted woods.  The Forest God was weakening.  

       ~What's going on, Father? I've rarely seen the forest so still.~

       ~Change, my daughter... Now be alert, I hear something up ahead.~

       Astride a large white elk with one horn protruding from it's forehead, rode a young woman. Strapped to her back was a polished staff finely carved and decorated. She wore a vest covered with tiny pouches, thigh high boots over thin leather pants. Strapped around her right thigh was a wicked dagger and four more tiny pouches. Worn as a cape over her clothes was a thick white animal fur. She was bent over the elk’s neck, searching, two long, thin braids of blue hair dangling from her mass of thick auburn, sun-bleached hair.

       ~There," up ahead, do you see it?~
    
       She looked up, long elvin ears twitching as she examined the forest ahead. There was a movement among the trees, slowly and steadily heading north. The woman adjusted her fur cloak, hiding her long Elvin ears and pulling a white half mask over her face. ~Human… Let’s go!~

       The Elk leapt in to motion, making little sound as he shortened the distance to movement among the trees. The Elk and woman soon had a clear view of a young man walking with a determined stride. His strawberry blond hair kept falling forward into his face, and he brushed it away irritably. His eyes made a quick sweep around. The girl ducked, and the elk stood stark still. The young man continued walking, appearing quite unaware that he was being tracked.

       ~He smells strange, Emmelyne. Not quite like a human...~

       ~A half breed like me?~
  
       ~No, not Elvin, nor elemental, though there is an elemental residue around his scent.~

       ~Well, lets get him out of the forest before he is eaten. He'll taste the same to a wolf whether he's human or not.~

       ~There is something strange about this one, daughter.~

       The girl laughed, hugging the elk's neck. ~Don’t worry! I'm always careful, dear father! Now lets go.~

       The elk leapt into motion again, his hooves touching upon the ground silently. The girl adjusted her position and let out a long wailing cry. The young man quickly scanned the forest, soon pinpointing the source of the sound. The Elk and girl were no longer hiding themselves. They bounded towards the man; the Elk reared up on his hind legs, brandishing sharp hooves before him. The young man stumbled back a couple of steps, moving away from the great beast. Emmelyne screeched again. The Elk spun around, and leapt back into the forest but not before the man had grabbed a piece of his rider's cloak, pulling her to the ground. She landed hard on her rear, but was immediately on her feet again. A knife appeared in her hand. She crouched, making a few sharp jabs at her assailant, catching clothing, but not skin.
     
       The blond man avoided her blade and danced out of her reach. The girl screeched again and reached into one of her pouches. She blew it's contents into the man's face. He wiped the stinging powder from his eyes. Emmelyne darted away, keeping low to the ground. She searched for a hiding place before the man regained his vision, but it was too late. Before she knew it, he had advanced upon her and well-aimed kick sent her tumbling into the bushes. She lay there for a moment, stunned, which was just enough time for the man to disarm and catch her. He took the rope from her belt bound her hands behind her back. His grip was firm, and as hard as she tried she couldn't wriggle loose.

       ~FATHER! I've been caught!~  Her heart pounded in her chest as an old panic gripped her. Emmelyne looked up at her captor, who stood nearly a foot taller than her. He removed her mask and stared hard into her eyes.>

       "I don't know who you are what you were doing, but you'd better start explaining." He demanded.

       "Guiding..."       It felt strange to use her real voice. She rarely spoke aloud.

       "Guiding?"

       She nodded. "Guiding you from the forest before you get eaten."
     
       "Attacking me with a unicorn is your idea of guiding me?"
    
       Unicorn? she wondered. He must mean father. She looked around for any sign of the great white elk.
     
       "And what is going to eat me out here? I have been walking for hours and it's been completely still. I saw not a single creature until you."

       "Why didn't you run from me?" Emmelyne asked, still striving to free herself.
      
       He laughed."After all that's happened today, nothing can surprise me."

    "Everyone always runs..." She made one more fierce tug against his grip and freed herself. Her hands were still bound, but she put a good deal of distance between them. She spun around to watch him while she worked to get the knots loose.

       "Who are you and what are you doing in my forest?" She demanded, eyes narrowed.
      
       "My name's Raven, and I have no idea what I'm doing here." He stepped towards her and she shuffled back a few feet, glancing about like a cornered animal. "Now relax,” He coaxed. “I only tied your hands because you attacked me. I'll let you loose." She sighed and watched him cautiously for a few moments. He hadn't hurt her so far. And her father was no where in sight. She considered her options, then turned and put out her hands. With a quick tug on the rope, he'd freed her. She spun back around to face him.

       "My knife?" She put her hand out.

        He shook his head and chuckled.

       "Give me my knife, and I'll give you a place to stay for the night and then guide you out of the forest." The white elk appeared from the forest behind her. ~Kind of late, aren't you?~

       ~You had things under control before I could do much...~ Eldin replied.

       "How about I give you the knife once you've guided me out of the forest."

        Emmelyne swung up on to the elk's back. "Fine, let's go." She put her hand out to him.

       He looked up at her on her perch upon the large elk.

        "Come on, I'll pull you up. You don't want to walk, do you?"

       "Oh, no. That thing attacked me."

       Emmelyne snorted at his reaction. "This is not a thing," she replied, her eyes narrowed dangerously, "this is Eldin, my father. And you'd better show him some respect. He understands every word you say."

       "Your father? And what are you, Princess of the forest?"

       "Sort of, now get on before I make you walk!" Raven shook his head and took her hand. With a smooth movement, she pulled him onto Eldin's back.





"Nothing will be the same after this..."


       A small fire lit the dark forest night, casting a dancing network of shadows across the great trees. Emmelyne watched her guest warily in the glow of the flames. He was quiet, calm, and seemingly unaffected by the day's events. Not even the wild ride through the forest had cracked his calm exterior. Though she wasn't one to talk much, she simply couldn't stand it much longer.

        "So, ah, Raven," She managed to stutter.

        He looked up in surprise. She had hardly uttered a word to him since arriving at her ‘home’.  

        "How did you end up in my forest?"  She said.


       "I'm not exactly sure. It had something to do with this pendant." He reached into his pocket and held out a large round pendant. Emmelyne's eyes widened and she recoiled from the electric power that radiated from it.   

     ~Father! Look at this! The elemental power overwhelming...~ Emmelyne mentally exclaimed. The large elk appeared from the darkness, looking over Emmelyne's shoulder at Raven's outstretched hand.

         ~The Thunderbolt pendant. I've seen very few of these pendants. Perhaps this is why the forest felt so strange today...~

        "I found it in my parent's attic. My mother said it had chosen me... then I'm not really sure what happened. There was a council of Elders.... and then I landed in the forest." Raven continued, completely unaware of the silent exchange between the elk and girl.

        ~He's seen the Elders? What does this mean?~   

      ~This young man is more important than we had even imagined. I will travel to the Seelie Court tonight. Perhaps we can find some answers there. Until then, you keep him safe.~ Emmelyne nodded, and Eldin disappeared into the darkness once more.

       "Eldin went to the Elvin Court to find out more about your pendent. Until then, you are to stay with me... you'll be safe here." Emmelyne looked down at her hands. She felt uncomfortable in his presence. It was so rare that she spent so much time with anyone besides the Kodama or her father.

       "So, where exactly is 'here'?" Raven asked, pocketing his pendant once more.

       "You mean you don't know of the Forest of Illusions?" Then it occurred to her. "You aren't from Dragon's Breath, are you?!" She stood and began pacing. This was quickly becoming more complicated than she was prepared for. She ran her hands through her thick hair. I thought it had been just a dream... but all that the dream prophesied is coming true!

        "Don't tell me... you were raised on Earth, all the time being prepared for your destiny here. That's why you were able to disarm me so quickly..."

       "How do you know all this?" Raven asked.

       She shook her head and sat down again. "I thought they had just been dreams... nothing to worry about, but I too was contacted by the Elders. They told me you would come." Panic clenched at her heart as she realized that the life that she had known was about to end forever. "Nothing will be the same after this."



Destiny Awaits

        The night was long and sleepless for Emmelyne. The stranger in her home was the source of her distraught; the faint sound of his breathing, the small movements he made in his sleep, and the random thoughts of his dreams seeping through her mental barriers kept her on edge. She missed her father, whom she normally shared her home with. His thoughts were always still through out the night, and his presence was a comfort in the cold forest night. When sleep finally did take her, her dreams were filled with foreboding flickering images that spelt only doom.

       She awoke long before dawn, and went to the entrance of the small cave that served as her home. Pulling her fur cloak tighter around her shoulders, she watched as the forest slowly came to life. The feeling of unease still shrouded the air and she knew she must rise to meet her destiny. Who ever this Raven was, the Elders brought him for a reason. If guiding him would help save the weakening Forest God, she would do all she could.

        She looked back into to the cave at Raven's still sleeping form. I  hope you are ready for what's in store for you... She stood and gathered her few belongings together, then started a fire in the little clearing by the cave's entrance.  

       Raven awoke to the smell of eggs and mushrooms frying. Emmelyne smiled at him as he stumbled out of the cave, still groggy from night spent on the ground, his hair tousled from sleep.

       "We have much to do today, Raven. Eldin will be returning soon, then we will begin our journey." She handed him a wooden plate brimming with food. Raven took it happily. Emmelyne hadn't had time to collect food for dinner the previous night. After all that he’d been through, she knew he'd be hungry.

        Eldin returned with elvin gifts strapped to his back. For Raven he carried an elvin sword, more finely crafted than any sword Raven had the pleasure of using before. For Emmelyne he bore a new crossbow and quiver of arrows. Emmelyne unstrapped the packs from the elk, tossing the one with the Thunderbolt symbol to Raven. Her pack bore the mark of the Seelie. She dug into the pack with excitement finding what she'd hoped for. She pulled out three bundles of elvin clothing and new boots. Being a half-breed, she knew well the treasures of the Elvin, but rarely had the pleasure of actually owning elvin-made wares. Several maps, a spell book, travel rations, and a pouch of coins, along with various other supplies were nestled in the pack.

       ~The Seelie Court sends their blessings...~ Eldin's mental voice held overtones of sadness. Emmelyne stroked her father's velvety nose. ~I am to take you to the edge of the forest but I can go no further... ~Emmelyne flung her arms around her father's neck.

       ~I know.... You cannot leave the forest.~ She stepped back and looked into Eldin's dark violet eyes. ~I'll be back as soon as I can. You know I could never bear to be far from my forest for long.~

        ~Just be careful Emmelyne. The world outside the forest is nothing like you've seen before. Humans can be crewel, and there will be many dangers to face along the way. If you are ever in trouble, remember you can call on the Seelie Court.~ Emmelyne nodded somberly.

        ~I love you father.~

        ~I love you too, Emmelyne. Now, let us be off. Your destiny awaits.~

        Fighting back tears, Emmelyne turned to Raven who was still admiring his elvin gifts. He grinned at her and tossed her the dagger that he had taken from her earlier. She caught it deftly returned it to the sheath strapped to her thigh. She looked to him questioningly.

        "After all this, I doubt I still need collateral." He told her.

        "Are you ready to go?" She asked, putting her new bow and quiver into her pack. She carefully adjusted the strap holding her staff.

        "Sure... just a sec." Raven strapped the leather scabbard he'd found in his pack over his shoulder and sheathed his sword. He'd also put on a new black shirt, the old one quite tattered from his trek through the forest and Emmelyne's blade. Emmelyne smiled.

        "You are starting to look the part of the warrior..."

       "Starting? For someone who was caught as easily as you, I hardly think you are one to judge." Emmelyne crossed her arms and glared at him.

        Maybe that wasn't such a good idea. Raven couldn't help but think. She is my only ticket out of here.

       "Are you ready?" Emmelyne repeated, and swung up onto Eldin's back. "We have a long way to go." Raven took her outstretched hand once more and swung onto the great elk behind her. Eldin stepped off in at a quick pace. Emmelyne leaned forward, burying her face in the elk's thick fur. If it wasn't for Raven's hands placed lightly on her waist, she could almost forget he was there, and pretend that is was just a day like any other.

        As they made their way through the massive trees, tiny green and brown skinned people materialized in the forest all around them. Emmelyne could no longer hold back the tears as she watched the Kodama waving tiny four fingered hands. Raven watched the flickering forest spirits in awe, but too aware of Emmelyne's sorrow, he held back his questions.

        ~Good bye, my woodland family. Keep the Forest God strong. I will return soon.~