Rose trailed behind Gump as he raced deeper into the heart of the forest. The elf's youthful frame bounded over fallen tree and scurried among the briars and bushes.

"This way!" he exclaimed over a blast from the heavens. "Come, come!"

The girl did her best to keep up with the sprite. "Where are you taking us?"

Howling winds blew up a cloud of dust and earth. The tempest pelted the trio as they followed the thin trail farther and farther away from home.

Gump's words came in short bursts over his left shoulder. "We haven't the time now for small talk." He raced down a steep embankment that emptied out into a wide clearing. "All will be apparent soon enough."

As she galloped down behind Gump, Rose felt the heel of her left boot skid on something slick and wet. Trunks and ferns passed in tumbling blurs as she barreled the remainder of the way toward the base of the gully. Leaves and briars whipped her bare hands and face to shreds. The snapped end of a log flew past her right eye, missing impalement by mere fractions of an inch. Something cold and hard to her right knee, a thick stick to her spine, and Rose tumbled to a stop at the base of an ancient oak.

Toby trotted along sider her and extended a clammy hand into hers. "Are you hurt?"

Rose followed his strength to her feet and shoved his hand away in disgust.

"You fell," he said. "I only wanted to -"

"I need no help from you," she said, brushing off her leggings.

Gump hissed in their direction. "Quiet you two."

He shouldered his bow and crept one foot over the other into the huge ring of trees. The elf lifted his hands to his mouth and mimicked the call of a forest finch. One by one, blue lanterns flickered to life on the trunk of each oak.

"This way," he said, waving his hand.

As the two teens made their way into the ring of trees, a glowing cloud of yellow dots fluttered past and wove a wide circle around the enchanted grove. Rabbit, deer, bear, and swallow all found their way into the grove and congregated near its heart. Rose and Toby shared a glance of astonishment as they both watched the cloud of glowing fireflies materialize into fairies.

"Come closer," Gump insisted, curling his upturned hand at the couple. "Time burns its candle at both ends."

Rose waded among the fragrant weeds and flowers into the enchanted circle with Toby right behind her. Gump bent over at his waist and muttered something to the forest denizens. Each one popped out of existence in a line and was replaced by an elf.

Honeythorn Gump rose and addressed all within earshot. "Gather close, my friends." His gaze lifted to the swirling storms above. "We have much to discuss, and not much time left to do it."

One of the short, stout pixie's sparkling blue eyes widened as Rose approached in her golden armor. He removed his hat and bowed deeply. Soon, the others followed suit and fell to one knee.

Rose looked to Gump, wearing a guise of confusion.

"You honor us with your presence," a warm feminine voice said from over Rose's shoulder. A motherly figure sauntered into the gathering and lowered her head of light blue hair. "Thank you for joining us, Champion of Light. As Gump has said, we have much to discuss."

The elf replaced his hat and righted himself. "What news, Gump?"

"It's a sad state of affairs, Brown Tom." Gump pointed back in the direction from which they had come. "Emissaries of Darkness have already overrun the far northern reaches of the Realm."

Brown Tom's head twitched. "Sad, indeed."

"What's more," Gump continued, "is that the Overlord and his winged nightmare have laid ruin to the Baron's palace, and -"

One of the winged fairies scuttled closer. "Lady Lili?"

Gump's head fell. "Taken by his dragon."

The blonde fairy tried to cover her shriek with her slender fingers, but failed. "Not Lili."

The blue-haired figure strode to the center of their gathering. Her long dark blue gown drifted among the growth. "I am Naia, Keeper of Nature." Her golden irises gazed past Rose's thoughts and burrowed deep into her spirit. "Your mother is in grave danger."

Rose nodded in silence.

"Darkness has been released into our world once more," Naia said. Her hypnotizing gaze probed Rose for truths she never knew she possessed. "I fear that the worst is yet to come."

"Aye, Your Grace," Gump said. "The foul ones rampage across our homes, scattering in every direction."

Brown Tom clapped his worn hands. "I knew no good would come o' this!"

Naia turned to face her devoted followers. "They have the Indrik, and won't stop until they control all of this existence."

The fairy with flaxen hair stepped closer. "Then, we take it back!"

Rose sensed rage in those eyes.

"It's become more complicated than that," Naia said.

Gump's face wrenched in confusion. "In what manner?"

Naia crossed her arms over her bosom. "I sense an evil coming far more powerful than Darkness."

Several of the elves and fairies flinched.

"Far more ancient," she continued, "and more destructive." Naia's mystical eyes fell on Rose again. "This force will test you." She glanced to Toby. "Test you both, for that matter."

Rose's eyes fluttered to the boy, who did the same to her, and then back up to Naia.

"Its power will consume you." The wise woman rested a hand on a shoulder of both of them. "Your destinies rest in the hands of another."

A blast of lightening and the bray of unicorns startled Rose out of the trance. A clan of the majestic white creatures rode into the sacred ring of oaks and galloped around its perimeter.

"Something's wrong!" Gump raced to Rose's side.

Three of the unicorns slid to a halt before them.

"The enemy must be near," Gump said, hopping onto its bare back. "Come! We ride tonight!"