Cherry was having a pretty good day today. The fawns were playing in the tall grass that filled their hidden meadow. Marcia for once wasn't a snappy grump in the morning, and there had been a beautiful sunrise this morning. Cherry walked around contently, gathering rocks she found on the way, she had a bit of a habit of collecting rocks, which she then would make into necklaces for her friends or Dallas. She bent down and picked up a white rock that had stripes of jade in it. She put them into a pouch she carried on her side as she walked through the less-used paths of her home. She stopped to pick up a daisy, sniffing it. She heard the birds chirping above her as she trotted happily along.
'Marcia would like this...' She thought, putting the daisy in her satchel with her rocks. She hoped it wouldn't be crushed.
She decided that was enough for today and turned around, heading back to the meadow. She passed through the forest, smiling as she arrived home, seeing the fawns still playing under their mothers' watchful eyes. She saw the nursing or still pregnant fawns collecting berries, the unpregnant females built the various structures, while the bucks did their various jobs. She went to her treehouse and smiled seeing Marcia was cleaning. "Hello Marcia," She greeted, handing her the daisy.
Marcia smiled and turned to her, planting a brief kiss on Cherry's lips. "Welcome back."
Cherry smiled and walked off, setting her satchel aside. She smiled at her and stood by the table as she got onto her knees, relaxing as she began to whittle the stones.
"I just cleaned that table." Marcia pouted.
Cherry chuckled warmly and turned to her. "I'll make yours look really nice."
Marcia sighed and sat by her lover, looking at her as she did her stone working. She enjoyed these peaceful moments.
"So, what do you think about having kids one day?" Marcia asked.
Cherry turned to look at her. "Rather sudden to ask don't you think? There wasn't even any build-up." she sniffed.
Marcia shrugged. "Does there need to be any?" She asked, looking at Cherry.
"Well, it wouldn't be as sudden." Cherry sighed. "But I wouldn't hate it."
They worked for a few hours before Cherry smelled smoke.
"Do you smell smoke?" She asked, looking at Marcia.
Marcia nodded and both girls rose to their feet. Marcia hopped on Cherrys back as Cherry ran out.
Cherry saw smoke rise into the air and raced forward, yelping as she was blacked by fire. Marcia adjusted her grip and looked up, terrified.
"Move Cherry!" She yelled, pulling on Cherry's hair gently as if it was a pair of reigns.
Cherry took off running, gathering up what fawns she could. "Come on, we have to go!" She yelled. She stopped seeing a fawn trapped under a tree. She raced forward and tried to lift the tree, but it was much too heavy. Even when Marcia helped, it was too heavy. Cherry felt her eyes water as she gently pet the small fawns hair. "I'm sorry.." She sobbed before racing ahead once Marcia was on her back again. She did her best to drown out the fawn's cries.
Once safe, she sent for a hawk.
Dallas walked around the palace, attending to his daily duties for the day. He wasn't sure where Tim was, but he wasn't very bothered. He flew around, observing his lands contently. It had been a fairly calm day so far, no drama, no politics for him to deal with, it was just him, the air, and some paperwork to do later.
He landed as he saw a messenger hawk flew to him. He held his arm out and caught the bird. He gave it a treat as he untied the parchment. He frowned reading over it.
'Dallas,
Hyln is on fire. The whole forest is burning. We need prompt assistance."
-Cherry
Dallas went to find Tim quickly, finding him with Nectar and some water fairies. "Tim, we have to go." He said quickly.
Tim was surprised to see Dallas come so quickly, but he hopped on his back and Dallas rose into the air.
"What's up?" Tim asked, keeping his arms around Dallas.
"Cherry's land, the forest of Hyln, is on fire," Dallas said.
Tim frowned. "Not to sound rude...but why do you care so much?"
"Well, one it's polite. And also I grew up with her for a couple hundred years." Dallas replied.
"So she's your sister?" Tim asked.
"If that is what you want to call it," Dallas said.
Tim stayed silent for the rest of the flight, admiring Dallas's strong wings and just how fast they could carry the two of them.
They arrived in Hyln after a few hours.
Tim coughed. The sky was almost pure gray smoke.
"How can you see anything?" He asked.
Dallas didn't say anything. He landed and saw the deer and nymphs just staring at the forest.
"Cherry.." He said, stopping to let Tim off before Cherry pulled Dallas into a hug.
"It-Its all gone...' She sobbed softly.
Dallas wrapped his arms and wings around her human half. "It's okay." He said softly. "Do you know what caused it?"
Cherry shook her head. "It just started...I was making my necklaces and then I smelled smoke..." She wiped her face as Dallas pulled away.
"I'll go look," Dallas said. "You stay here."
Tim walked to Cherry and sighed. "I'm sorry," he said softly.
"Don't be. Fires happen. It just is cruel it happened when not all the fawns are able to walk." Cherry said. "It is odd, given it's not fire season..."
Tim looked around and checked over all the babies that survived. Some had broken legs, or other limbs broken. He looked over and saw a small collection of the dead, most of which were young children. He looked away and helped who he could.
Dallas flew through the forest, looking around for any reason for it to start. He looked around, seeing bare, blackened trees that should have been filled with lush green leaves. he saw bare spots where normally there would be tall grass and wildflowers. The forest just looked so dead. He came to the tree he had played on when he had been younger, around 400 or so. it was still standing, but its bark was black and its leaves gone, nothing more than charcoal now. He ran his hand tenderly across it, pulling his hand back and seeing a black, dusty stain on his fingers. He cleared it off his hands and sighed before continuing along.
He came across a fallen tree that had a small baby under it. He knelt down and checked for a pulse, sighing in relief when he felt a very faint thump. He used his nature magic to lift the tree so he could get the fawn out. He held the small fawn in his arm as he continued through the forest, looking for any sign of what may have started the fire.
He stopped when he saw a torch that was made by a rare purple branch that only grew in his father's land. He growled and grabbed it, flying back to Cherry and showing her. he gently set the fawn down with the others that Tim was tending to. Had the situation not been so angering, Dallas may have found it sweet.
"There...there is your cause, Dark elves," he said, tossing it aside.
"Dark elves...is he trying to start a massive war?" Cherry asked, concerned.
"Possibly," Dallas said. "You all are welcome to stay in my land."
Cherry nodded.
Tim gently looked over the small fawns, giving the ones that were awake some water. He brushed his hand over the fur of the small one Dallas had brought out of the forest. he was asleep and probably dehydrated and hungry, but Tim figured waking him up would only stress him, which was the opposite of what the poor thing needed. Tim smiled as a young girl laid her head in his lap. He ran his fingers through her soft hair. "Get some rest little one," he told her.
Ponyboy was walking around the village when he saw another, smaller human.
"Uh...hello?" He asked slowly.
The human looked up, startled. he had messy caramel hair with soft hazel eyes. He had pale skin. "Uh...Who are you?" He asked. "Are you an elf?"
"Yes," Ponyboy said, staring at the human. "Oh, my name is Ponyboy."
"My name is Curly." The human said.
