Welcome to my world.
I'll call this part 4.
Indirectly related to The River's Huntress, The Illusive Wind, and Cradled in the Dryads Tender Care
Enjoy. ^_^

Sally Rites sighed softly as she slowly made her way across the campus. She was seriously looking forward to the summer break. She was feeling particularly burned out lately and nothing sounded better to her then a few weeks off with nothing to do. She wanted to relax by the pool with a good book and forget every single trouble she'd had over the last few months.

Finals were approaching and though she'd spent all of her time studying, there was still that nagging voice in the back of her head, telling her she was going to fail miserably. It was hard enough when her major was in Social Science, but it had caused a sudden dent in her personal life. Today was one of those days she would try to salvage it.

Since driving would have been pointless, she decided to walk into town to meet one of her friends for lunch. One of her friends she hadn't seen in weeks due to her hermit like behavior in order to study.

The last thing she wanted was for her friends to think she was to good to see them anymore but she did need the alone time to study. Any distractions would throw her off and she'd end up not learning a thing. Understanding the natural origins of the world was a lot harder then it sounded. When she was little all she wanted was to be able to discover some great secrete, now all she wanted was to pass the damn classes she needed to get to the secrete discovering.

Sally glanced at her reflection in the window or a store as she walked with a frown. Her shortish hair had turned a copper colored orange since the dye had faded over the last few months. It was nice looking despite the roots showing but all she saw was a mess. She was taller the most woman and because of that she was unable to wear heels. For some reason, that was always her first thought when looking at her reflection. Having three sisters, all of them much at least four inches shorter then her didn't have that problem and liked to remind her of it every chance they got.

She walked in, spotting Maria already seated and knowing her perfectly punctual friend she'd already ordered for both of them.

"You're late." Maria smiled, leaning her chin on her palm. She'd already scored a job at a law firm she hated passionately but it was good money. With that she only went to school part time.

"I'm not late when you arrived twenty minutes early." Sally sighed, slumping down in her chair, taking a sip from the glass that was already waiting for her.

Maria made a face and shrugged it off. "You need a little Sally time. A little drinky, and dancey time. You know, away from all texts books and fancy confusing papers."

Sally smiled slightly. "What I need is three days with of sleep and a massage. Sounds like an amazing time to me."

"I'll give you that. A nice massage by a hot guy who wants to be your everything. I got you a grilled chicken salad." Marie said, throwing in the last part as an after thought.

"Thanks and both sound delicious." Sally chuckled. "I'm gonna be tapped out before I even hit twenty-five."

Maria nodded slowly, not even trying to make her feel better about it. The only thing that kept her from commented further was the fact that their food arrived and they took a moment to sit in awe of how delicious it looked.

"You know," Maria started after taking her first part. "Not saying you shouldn't study, hell, I've looked at your texts books and I couldn't make sense of any of it. I know you need it and all, but you gonna turn into one of those people who are afraid to leave their house, or dorm in your case."

"Thanks a lot." Sally muttered. "Appreciate it."

"I know you do, deary." Maria chuckled. "I know after Travis you're not into dating anyone but that doesn't mean you have to, you know, hide from him."

Sally frowned. "I'm not hiding from him. I could care less about him."

"If that's what you have to chant in your head to believe, fine." Maria sighed. "I'm just saying, he's not the only guy out there. Not by a long shot. I know some guys—"

"No." Sally stared. "C'mon Maria, it's only been two months or something. I'm not looking to rebound with any of your friends."

"Closer to three." Maria said, taking another bite. "And a half."

Sally shook her head, "Don't care. He was an asshole. Everyone knew it, now I finally get it too. Nothing to worry about here."

"I'm worried because you only saw it after he cheated on you." Maria said, frowning the moment the words came out. "I didn't mean to say it like that."

Sally shrugged nonchalantly. "Shit happens. I'm not thinking about it."

Maria nodded and smiled faintly. "Then subject over. I'll pick a new one. Did you know Becky dropped out?"

Sally nearly choked. "What? Why?"

"Found someone to put a ring on that finger. Apparently she's gonna go back to school afterwards. Right now she wanted a job to be able to pay for all the stuff she wants." Maria mused, sharing a look with Sally that said they both knew what was really true.

"Yeah, right." Sally rolled her eyes. "That all you got?"

Maria smiled, being the keeper of gossip since eighth grade she always had news to tell and it was always somewhat of a mystery how she found things out. It was often how they spent their lunches together. They saw each other so rarely now that they spent all their time catching up.

"How much time do you have blocked out for me?" Maria chuckled as they walked out. "Wanna hit a few stores or something or do you have some fifty page paper to do or something?"

Sally smiled faintly and sighed. "Nothing that needs my immediate attention, I'm at your beck at call for at least a few more hours, or until I get sick of you, whichever comes first."

"Aren't you a nice one." Maria mused, shoving her friend so she stumbled.

"I am, so shut up." Sally smiled, taking a dramatically large step away from her friend as they started walking again. "You should have brought Jaws with you."

"Yeah, cause no one would have minded having a Golden Retriever under foot while they ate." Maria chuckled. "No one at all, you're right, I'll bring him next time."

Sally's smile grew, ignoring the sarcasm. "Good, and don't be upset that he likes me better then you."

"Probably hates you now that you haven't come to see—" Maria trailed off, eyes staring ahead.

"You see something cute?" Sally asked, following her friend's gaze before getting slammed full force with what must have shut her friend up so easily.

Walking down the side walk towards them was a man that was by far to gorgeous to be real, or even available which was a let down for them both. His hair was midnight black and grown out so it hung around his face that only seemed to match his tanned skin. He was a fair bit taller then Maria and herself, though that thought alone was exciting. Being a little taller then average had made her accustomed to shorter men, or at least men of equal height.

All of his muscles seemed to be in his shoulders and arms and it made him appear dangerous. With his build and deadly swagger he was a new sight to be seen, at least by the two of them. He wore dark navy jeans and dark green tank top that left little for the imagination.

"Hooooly shit." Maria muttered softly, turning her gaze quickly as he passed so he wouldn't see her looking, not that it mattered. He didn't pay any attention to either woman

"Damn. I'd like to know where he hangs out." Sally muttered softly, turning to watch him walk away.

"Suddenly over your Travis woes, I see." Maria muttered, turning and watching the man walk away. She nearly hissed with joy.

"I'm a science nerd, doesn't mean I'm blind. Jeez." Sally muttered.

"Yeah sure, go get his number."

Sally made a face. "Yeah right."

"Then I will." Maria smiled.

"Be my guest. Wonder where the hell he's even going. Not much down there." Sally muttered, watching as he was headed in the direction that would lead him out of the city.

Maria chuckled. "Who cares?"

"I think he just dropped something." Sally muttered, seeing the trinket land as he kept walking. "Yeah."

"Don't be a super stalker, Sal." Maria said, jogging after her friend who had already taken off to pick it up. "What was it?"

"A necklace? Was he wearing a necklace?" Sally asked, holding the pendant in her hand and looking it over in awe. It looked like a blue color crystal and inside appeared to be tree vines. The vines twisted and turned into knots and patterns. "This is…incredible."

She examined the necklace over and over and still couldn't stop looking at it. It was almost hypnotizing.

"While your geeking out, he's wandered off." Maria commented, making Sally's head jerk up to look around. He was gone.

"Well shit."

"What's the big deal? You gotta pretty necklace from the hot guy." Maria shrugged. "Nothing to really worry over."

"Yeah, but I don't know what this is." Sally muttered, examining the crystal again. "I don't know what this is at all. It's just beautiful. It's gotta mean something to him."

Maria raised an eye. "You don't know something? Lemme see."

Sally held the pendent up and watched her friend's eyes sparkle. "No you can't have it. I'm gonna find a way to return it."

"How." Maria scoffed. "Put up an add at the dorm. Hey all hot guys, lose a necklace?"

Sally shook her head. "No, but…" she faltered slightly. I'll think of something."

Ridder trudged through the woods that surrounded the family estate. The thought of it was laughable, the elves, nymphs and faeries had resided in that area for centuries and now they needed tangible property to make sure it stayed that way. Their trees would always be theirs. They'd compromised enough with the surrounding developments and wouldn't tolerate it any further.

With every step Ridder felt as if he'd truly come home. There were times he knew he spent too much time around humans. It made him forget who he was—his purpose, his duties. He liked to mingle and be apart of the world, but it was merely because he was paranoid. He needed to know what advancements the humans were making so his people would never be caught by surprise.

He ran a hand through his midnight black hair that was long enough to cover his pointed ears when he was off pretending to be human. Finally able to let his guard down somewhat and even his eyes returned to their black color. He wanted to sleep and relax but there wasn't much time for that yet. There were things he needed to check on.

He wasn't in charge as of yet; he wasn't old enough for that despite being nearly a century. All the same it didn't mean he was without a title or rank. He was called the Devil Elf and was known for having an attitude problem. He could have cared less about being feared so long as he was respected.

"You're late again."

"Shove it, Paige." Ridder said, walking past the woman who knew better then to take one of his jabs personally.

"It's after sunset." She pointed out with a smile. The elf was his opposite in nearly every way. Her hair was long and blond and her eyes were sky blue. Her skin was also milk pale compared to his tanned complexion.

"Thanks for letting me know. I was wondering why the hell it got so dark all of a sudden." Ridder commented. "Never seen that before."

Paige scowled. "Bite me, okay? I'm doing you a favor."

"Yeah, yeah you are. Still waiting to figure out why." He commented, still walking along leisurely though the trees.

"Not trying to figure it out very hard, are you?" Paige raised an eye.

"Nope. Don't really care." He shrugged. Paige had been something of an assistant to him for years. At first she only tagged along behind him, but it turned into her watching his back. He appreciated it, but since it wasn't something he was accustomed to you, he still wanted for the day she tried to plunge a knife into it.

"Prick." She shrugged. "Frost was looking for you. Way early in the morning too. Guess she woke up and you weren't there."

"She leave?" he raised an eye.

"Yes."

"Mission accomplished." He smiled slowly.

Paige rolled her eyes and held back on making a more disgusted sound. "Olin also requested the presence of the devil for something he was holding at the estate tonight. Needless to say, you're late."

"Oh the tragedy. Excuse me while I go cut myself, won't you?" Ridder chuckled. Paige knew he honestly could have cared less. At least responding showed he was listening. That was more then she got from him at times.

"Try not to bleed all over the place, please." She sighed, flipping through her notebook she carried around with her so she wouldn't forget anything.

He nodded and suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. "I'll do my damnedest."

"Go check on the twerps when you have a minute. Okay? They've at least missed you."

Ridder wandered off instantly. He enjoyed his solitude and liked to keep the peace among those he looked after to ensure he got that solitude. No problems meant that he could be alone more often, whether it was to revel in the peace of their woods or to wander about the human world to entertain himself.

He stayed away from the main house as much as possible. It was mostly for the elders and newborn babies. A bit of luxury here and there but it wasn't for him. His home he build himself right into the ground. It started off as a tiny log cabin but over the decades the ground; trees and natural in general built up around it. It was the perfect place for him, but unfortunately, it appeared far to inviting to other inhabitants in the woods.

"Don't you nymphs have something better to do? Get outta here." He said, shooing off a group of girls who sat and gossiped by his house. They stuck out their tongues and laughed as the skipped off back into the brush.

He didn't mind the walk but there were certainly days he would rather not have so many interruptions. The main house was only a short distance away and he could see it between the trees from his home. It was obviously busy and filled with occupants and that was all the reason he needed to stay away. If anyone asked, he didn't see a thing.

"You're gonna get in trouble, Ridder." A little boy smiled cheekily. He was sprawled out on the roof of Ridder's cabin. For an elf a little over twenty years, the little brunette boy didn't appear to be much more then a human child of ten. His emerald eyes nearly glowed in the surrounding darkness. Normally he was a good kid but his sudden idolization of the older dark elf would sooner or later get him into trouble.

Ridder chuckled. "Shit, I hope so. They seem to forget how little I care about their little affairs. So long as the woods stay intact I'm perfectly fine. I don't need to know the latest gossip the nymphs have brought to the elder elves and immortals. Now what are you doing up there, Vidar?"

Vidar laughed. "Watching the sun set past the trees. You know how much I like to watch the rise and fall."

"Indeed." Not having it in him to scold the kid. "So I suppose you've been giving Paige a hard time in my stead?"

"I try but she doesn't listen to me. Kinda like how you don't listen to her." Vidar smiled.

"Ouch." Ridder mused.

Vidar smiled, leaning over the roof a little to look at him. "Yeah. Well hey, you promised to take me into the city with you one day. You did promise. You'll take me soon, yes?"

"When I feel like it." Ridder replied, hardly giving the boy his full attention as he examined the flowers the nymphs must have scattered around.

"You promised."

"I do that." Ridder commented.

"I'll go by myself then." Vidar pouted but winced, shrinking back the moment Ridder's black gaze whipped back to him.

"You will not." Ridder said calmly. "I will take you later."

Vidar feigned a pout and nodded slowly. He knew better then to argue after receiving such a look from the devil elf but knew all the same he wouldn't be harmed.

The last thing Ridder wanted was for the foolish little boy to get himself in real trouble around the humans. With a sigh he inwardly conceded to take the boy for a day trip into the city. It would be better for him to get used to at his age anyway.

"Where is Caitlin?" Ridder asked with a sigh. "Isn't she with you this time of day."

Vidar shrank back again, still peering over the roof. "She's with me most times of the day,"

Ridder looked back up at him and raised an eye. "Well? Where is she?"

"She's—"

"Hi Ridder!" The five-year-old chirped happily, peeking out from over the edge of the roof by Vidar's side and succeeding in nearly giving Ridder a heart attack in the process. "Can I go to the city too? Can I?"

Ridder stared up at the two trying to shift through his sudden emotions to decide which one to land on. Though his attention was on the little girl he could see Vidar scooting back, already knowing the trouble he would be in.

"What the hell are you doing up there!" Ridder yelled, grabbing the doorframe and then the edge of the roof to haul himself up next to them before scooping the little girl up into his arms. His annoyed gaze shot back to Vidar, giving him a short pause, enough time to explain himself.

"Well—" Vidar started.

"The sun setting. We watched!" Caitlin smiled widely, looking overly pleased. The little gold eyed girl had accomplished what most couldn't, and that was sending the devil elf into a sudden spell of terror. The thought of her harmed ceased all of his proper cognitive skills until he was sure she was all right.

The little girl was half nymph and was fathered by one of the immortals though he had no idea which one. It was more then likely one of the Brawlers, but he never gave much of a damn. Her mother died from suspicious causes and since then she'd somehow come into his care. He actually had to persuade the immortal Elm to let him keep the child. Ridder still couldn't understand why he put up such a fight for her.

"Were you?" Ridder muttered dryly, slipping off the roof with her in his arms. She was the only one to bring out the tender side of him.

"It was pretty, Ridder." She smiled. "I like to watch. Vidar said it was the perfect place."

"Did he?" Ridder continued, sending a short glare in the boy's direction.

"Uh huh. It was pretty from higher up, but not hiiigh like from the trees." Her smile grew as she wrapped her arms snuggling around Ridder's neck.

He nodded and sighed softly. It was going to be hard to whap Vidar in the back of his head with Caitlin around. Vidar being the only one to play with her most of the time made her protective of him in her own way. Ridder couldn't get mad at the boy with her around.

"Ask me next time please." He said finally and she stared up at him with that look of adoration before nodding without argument. "C'mon, you want roam around with me for a bit before it's your bed time?"

Caitlin nearly squealed with glee, her arms tightening around his neck again.

Ridder glanced back up at Vidar with an amused look. The younger elf wasn't sure yet if he was going to be reprimanded or not. "Coming?"

"Of course." Vidar said, letting his smile slowly reappear before jumping down from the roof's ledge to join them. "We get to watch you go on your rounds? Making sure everyone's doing what their supposed to be?"

"Well…" Ridder shrugged. "Anyone related to us in some way. You know how much I hate talking to Elm and the other old timers."

Vidar nodded. "Elm was looking for you earlier. He didn't look surprised that you weren't around but he didn't seem to care the way Olin did. Elm just looked like he was amused."

"That's a drag." Ridder muttered. "Means they're up to something. I'm not terribly inclined to care though. They're always up to something. It's probably for the best that none of them could fine me."

"I think it's cause something going on in the house." Vidar said.

Caitlin looked up at Ridder with wide eyes already filled to the brim with unshed tears. "We're not gonna have to go to the house are we?"

"No, sweets." Ridder shook his head. "I've already promised you that many times have I not? You never have to go there."

She sniffed, laying her head back on his shoulder with a small nod.

Vidar tugged lightly at Ridder's jeans to get his attention. "When Olin came looking for you he brought a few of the other elders with him. They scared her."

Ridder nodded slowly, squeezing the girl lightly. Ever since she was born and more specifically since he'd taken her in, the elves weren't sure what to make of the little girl. The little half-breed nymph under the care of the devil elf could one day become problematic. They feared what she might become and were obvious with their speculations. Since then she had begun to fear them.

"We don't need to be around them, sweets." Ridder said, kissing her head.

"Your necklace." Caitlin said instead, feeling around his neck frantically. "The one I made you. Where is it?"

Ridder's hand went to his neck and it took all of his will power to keep his eyes from widening in shock and letting out a string of profanities. He hadn't known it was missing.

"I have it sweets, don't you worry. I'll put it back on in a bit." He smiled at her and felt beyond low that it was so easy to lie to the girl. She accepted the answer with a smile and laid her head against his shoulder again.

His eyes went to Vidar who had already understood and had begun to peer around the ground in case it had fallen. It was the first thing Caitlin had ever been able to make on her own and he cherished the damned necklace as much as the little girl in his arms. He had to find it.

Unlike the others before this, this isn't a one-shot. It will probably have 3-5 parts depends on the length of the next chapter.
See you in a week. ^_^
Please review.