(Id say I’m just lazy, but I just wanted something with nicer colors and the sketch would’ve been a huge mess. So, Chat GPT made me a messy raft.)
Freedom. That’s what going into the Everspring Hollow means. Char mused, her thoughts filling with visions of the verdant green forest and shimmering springs. Guards watched her step at every moment in the Vale. She hadn’t even been allowed to wade in the creek shallows.
Princess this and princess that haunted her dreams. If she wanted to do anything fun, it had to be in secret. Topher had been the only one to aid her in seeing anything of the world beyond the Ridge castle’s stone walls.
An ache gripped her heart. Had he healed? The doctors had been positive. Topher was strong.
What was going on at home? Did Dad continue pushing into the forest? Queen Esperanza and the Naiads would have made them pay for every inch.
Troubling possibilities arose. Brendan wanted to set the hollow on fire. Did they think Esperanza was holding her? Topher would have said something to Dad about her mission. But, would he have listened?
Once the creek filled, they would have known she’d succeeded.
Everything will be fine. Getting home quickly is the best idea.
Shadows spread over the orchard as the sun lowered. The oppressive heat of day lingered. Golden glows edged the trees.
It was so deceptively peaceful.
Char spread her wings, marveling at the difference the salve had made. The tears had mended.
Aria had dabbed salve on her sides. Her touch hadn’t hurt. Char had fallen asleep almost immediately afterward. And when she woke, all of her aches and pains had ended. The gashed had closed and mended into upraised pink welts.
“It will be okay,” Joaquin said, perched on a limb overhead. “You don’t have to fly. I can carry you to the raft.”
“I need to stretch my wings.” Char lifted them higher. A gentle breeze rolled over them, sending the tips fluttering.
“Very well. It’s not far.” He dropped onto the nest, beside her. “I’ll fly slow.”
“I don’t need you to do that,” she huffed.
“Follow the creek to the orchard’s edge.” He lifted off, his wings beating the air.
The nest shook. Char yelped, pitching forward. She tumbled out of the nest.
Aria’s laughter rippled through the tree. “Are you sure you don’t need to be carried?”
“I can fly!” Char huffed, balling her fists at her sides. She glided away from the tree, wobbling side to side on stiff wings.
He did that on purpose! She giggled, steadying into a straight line.
“Thankfully, you don’t need to fly all the way home,” Joaquin chided, swooping over her.
I could if I had to. Char smirked. Her aches had vanished. With each flap, her muscles awakened. Eager energy replaced her weariness.
And then the scraggly raft came into view. Sticks jutted out from beneath a mass of broken twigs and grass. Her heart plummeted into the depths of her stomach. Several Naiads waved from the water.
Joaquin and Aria landed on the bank, next to the raft. Char nibbled on a fingernail, circling overhead. Where were they supposed to ride? On top? In full view of anything flying over them?
“Land and we’ll get you tucked in,” Maren called out to her. He hopped onto the bank and grabbed the end of a trailing limb. Grass and leaves shifted, revealing an opening.
“Once we’re inside, we won’t leave until morning,” Joaquin said, flexing his wings. “That way, we’re hidden from prying eyes.”
“If there’s an emergency, you’ll be able to slide over the side and into the water,” Maren added. “We’ll take it from there.”
Char exhaled slowly, her gaze shifting from the sticks holding the raft on the bank to the swiftly flowing creek. It would carry them most of the way overnight. If any Shiftfae spotted them, they would only see a drifting pile of debris.
“What happened with Sylvaris?” she ventured, setting down beside Joaquin.
“We don’t know. He could be dead or recovering from his injuries,” he replied with a shrug. “We’ve only seen a scattering of Pookas, but there were certainly many survivors.”
“Pookas are such a nuisance,” Aria huffed, dropping her hands onto her hips. “But we could handle them if they tried to get into the Hollow.”
“Si. We could. But it won’t be because we were careless.” Joaquin planted a hand on Char’s shoulder. “Ready?”
I don’t have much of a choice, do I? She swallowed, staring into the opening. Nothing but grass and twigs would separate her from the pixies lurking in the oncoming darkness.
“You’ll ride in the middle,” Aria said, walking past them. She folded her wings and slipped inside, moving on her hands and knees.
“Remember, pixies don’t like water. They’ll avoid it…and us.” Joaquin prodded Char with the edge of his wing. “Sooner we board, the sooner we’re on our way and home.”
A shudder passed through her shoulders. Her wings trembled as she crouched to follow Aria. Grass crackled beneath her boots. Leaves brushed against her head, catching her hair.
“Make yourself comfortable.” Joaquin chuckled.
Green twigs formed a floor on top of larger, dry sticks. They’d been woven into place with rope and long weeds. Four shallow depressions filled with grass marked where they could sit.
Char sat beside Aria. She stretched her legs out, squirming into place. There was more than enough room to lay down if she wanted.
“This is going to be fun.” Aria wriggled her shoulders, shifting her wings aside.
Joaquin shuddered, sinking into the grass next to Char. “In another time and place, si. Fun,” he grumbled.
“Relax and enjoy it!” Aria jumped, wrapping an arm over Char’s back. “Tomorrow morning, we’ll have breakfast with mother. We can tell her all about how you’re going to stay with us.”
“I’d like to go home first and see what my dad says,” Char said, twining her fingers around a blade of grass. “He’s not going to be happy, but it’s better I talk to him, so he knows it’s my idea. Otherwise, he might think you’ve kidnapped me.”
“Si. Whatever you want,” Joaquin whispered, looking at the opening. “Ready?”
A lump caught in Char’s throat. She clenched her jaw and nodded.
“Hang on. It’ll be a little rough at first,” Maren said.
“Can we ride inside?” Fisher appeared next to Maren. Maya bounced at his side, waving her hands.
“We talked about this.” Maren growled, his wings rising. “This isn’t playtime. You need to stay in the water.”
“We’ll be quiet!” Maya squealed.
“And be still?”
“We’ll try!” Fisher huffed, thrusting his fists into the air as though fighting an invisible opponent.
“Get back.” Maren feinted grabbing for them. They laughed, scrambling out of his reach. His wings rose high, rattling. “When you’re tired, you can ride on the raft.”
Char giggled, the exchange lightening her heart. Until there was something to worry about, there was nothing to fear. That’s what Mother had often told her. She smiled, glancing at her friends. After all, that’s what Aria and Joaquin had become. The best allies she could ask for.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Progress: 70k written!
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Okay, I’ve dragged this ending on a bit, because there are some important things coming up in the wrap. That update should be next week. The final update to close out book 1. I’m almost halfway done with it. Obviously, this will read much faster in print form.
I’m tired from healing and recovery. Doing the best I can, but I will be slow.
TC Ross
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