Dryad had fled the hilltop after the human girl walked away. Tears fairly flew from her cheeks as she streaked over the plains towards the White Forest when "Thwack! Oomph…" Dryad had slammed into Salamander.

"Huh…Dry? What's wrong with yo…" Salamander's words were cut off as Dryad disappeared from sight. "Wonder what got into her…better go find out."

Salamander hurried after Dryad, determined to find out what was wrong. As she ran into the soft underbrush of the forest, Dryad didn't stop to notice Vadice or Sierra, or any of the natural splendors of the forest. Dryad stopped in a clearing, light was pouring in through the foliage and a bird's sweet song lifting through the air. Dryad looked around, and, seeing no one and nothing around, sank to her knees and wept. The earth smelled wet and with each new tear that fell to the ground, a new plant budded into life.

Salamander had lost Dryad as she entered the White Forest. He scratched his head and dove into the trees. Salamander stared at the lush plant life and healthy animals that were abundant in the forest. He didn't know where to begin, maybe Vadice would know, or even Sierra. As Salamander set off to find the dragon and her dragoon, he passed a large clearing in the forest, and, sure enough, there was Dryad. Salamander stared into the clearing, admiring Dryad despite her sadness.

"She's so beautiful…I have to find out why she is so sad…" an expression of longing briefly appeared on his face, but the silence was broken as Dryad screamed.

A Wooding had jumped out of the brush and was bearing down on Dryad, her eyes were wide with shock and horror as it kept advancing.

"NO! Stop right there!!!" Salamander shouted as he leapt into the clearing, loosing a shaft of white-hot fire from his spear.

The column of flames seared through the air, causing the surrounding insects to spark and crackle. The Wooding grunted as it was driven backward by the flames, wood-like flesh flaking away as the flames licked greedily over it's surface. It groaned and screamed horribly as they traveled up it's body, reducing it to a pile of ash, but the flames persisted, burning down the ash until nothing was left of the Wooding and the earth had been scorched black.

"Ahh! No! Don't hurt…..me?" Dryad screamed, but when she looked, the Wooding was no longer there. "Huh?"

She looked up, the Wooding was no longer there, and in it's place, blackened earth. As she looked around the clearing, she saw Salamander standing sheepishly with an embarrassed look on his face.

"Huh? What happened?" Dryad asked.

"It was going to…and I couldn't let it…but…" Salamander managed.

"Why…" Dryad blushed, wringing her hands.

"Because I…I…erm..umm…love you Dryad.." Salamander looked at her.

Dryad blushed a deep scarlet hue and leaned on Salamander. She looked up into his eyes and saw the hope gleaming in their vibrant, orange depths.

"And I you…" She whispered lightly.

It was Salamander's turn to blush, and he tried to say something else, but when he found the words, he couldn't talk. Dryad's mouth was covering his. She was kissing him! Salamander's knees gave out and he stumbled back, landing on the ground with a dull thud. Dryad lay across him and settled into his arms. He looked down…

"Huh?"

She was asleep! Salamander laughed and closed his eyes, falling asleep in seconds.

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w00t! Sala/Dryad Romance!!! Woo!!!