“Here, let me get that” I held my hand out for the empty plate my father was leaning over as he shoved the last mouthful of food in his mouth. There were crumbs still in his mustache after he carelessly wiped his lips with the back of his sleeve and gave me a cheeky grin.

“Thanks darling” he said as he handed the fragile porcelain plate over the table toward my outstretched hand. Dinner tonight had been pleasant—a slab of deer meat, roasted potatoes, and bread. We were coming out of the colder season, which meant soups almost every night, most without any meat. It was good to have some more sustenance after the long, chilly moons of winter and early spring.

“Are you going to the market tomorrow?” I asked as I carried the dishes over to the small sink in the corner of the kitchen.

“Yes. I’m heading to Loros this time. The market in Rexithian hasn’t picked up quite yet” his voice was serious, but he quickly added “Besides, there’s something special I’ve had my eye on at the Loros market. Something that would make the perfect gift for my sweet Arryanntheia’s birthday” he came up behind me and kissed me on the forehead before teetering off to the living space.

“You don’t have to get me anything, pa” I said, keeping my eyes focused on scrubbing the sudsy plate in front of me. I always loved it when father brought me home gifts from the market, but I also knew money was tight, and we should be spending it on other, more necessary things.

“Nonsense! You’re going to love it” he nearly yelled through the house over the running water. I didn’t respond, but I also couldn’t keep a massive grin from growing on my face either.

I watched the sun set through the tiny window above the kitchen sink while I finished the dishes. The bright purple and orange starburst was beginning to fade into a dimming sky, and the first sprinkling of stars was beginning to litter the horizon. It was my favorite time of the year, and I’d watched many summer sunsets through this very window. Sometimes I thought of my long-gone mother, other times, I thought of the adventures I’d dreamed of going on. Most of the time, I tried to memorize the beautiful scene so I could recreate it later with paints so I could remember the moment forever.

As the sky grew darker, I thought of all the secret nights I’d spent under the trees watching the star-lit skies. Those were the memories I really cherished, though they weren’t ones I ever painted. I didn’t have to—they would always have a place in my heart. Not to mention, they wouldn’t be secret anymore if I ever put them down on canvas. At the thought, a new smile grew on my face. Tonight, I’d have the chance to sneak away and make more of those cherished memories. I could already feel the anticipation growing.

Father was sitting in his old, green armchair by the empty fireplace in the living room now. I could just barely see him out of the corner of my eyes as I hummed to myself quietly. He was puffing on one of his old tobacco pipes again, something he did nearly every night after dinner while I cleaned.

While I didn’t mind the nightly routine too much, I also wished some things would change. Things like being sequestered to the family farm my entire life. Something told me I’d appreciate these homely nights more if I’d had the chance to experience a night without them.

I finished the last of the dishes and dried my hands off on the towel on the counter before grabbing my book and retiring to the couch adjacent to my father. I was so excited that I could hardly pay attention to the novel in front of me and I found myself re-reading the same page over and over. In an effort not to bring attention to myself, I numbly flipped through the pages pretending to actually read. I made a mental note to myself on what page I’d actually left off on so I could go back later.

My mind raced at the thought of galloping Gingersnap through the dark, forbidden forest surrounding the farm. I anxiously waited for father to retire to bed for the night so that I could finally sneak out of this stuffy cottage. It wasn’t something I did often, lest I get caught, but tonight was a special occasion. Tonight, I needed this desperately. I needed to forget who I was and lose myself in the woods for a little while.

I didn’t hate my father for keeping me locked up here. I knew it was only out of fear for my safety since he’d already lost my mother at the hands of King Aurthur. It was just frustrating. No matter how many times I told him that I would not share the same fate as my mother, he wouldn’t cave. He’d never let me set foot off the confines of the Calver farm.

What he didn’t know about my occasional nighttime adventures wouldn’t kill him. I was a young woman who’d never seen the world outside of this small farm. I was beginning to feel restless, trapped, desperate for an adventure. I wanted to be like one the main character in my novels—the hero of the story; of my story.

The moon was going to be full tonight, and what better night to sneak away than the eve of my twenty-fifth birthday. I knew father would make a good deal about my birthday tomorrow, and I was looking forward to a quiet night to myself doing what I really loved. I never knew when I’d have a chance like this to escape, and I wasn’t going to miss it.

“What are you reading, hun?” My father’s voice caught me off guard, ripping me out of my daydreams. I felt guilt wash over me, but I refused to let it ruin the mood. Instead, I gave him a crooked smile over the pages of the book.

“Oh, nothing really. The same book as last night—it’s about a peasant girl finding a secret, magical world” I said, letting enthusiasm drip into my voice. It really was a good book; I couldn’t discount that. I was just a touch distracted tonight, that’s all.

“You’re always reading something. You get that from your mother, you know” he said. His eyes met mine in the dim living room and I caught a brief glimpse of sadness in the glossy shien of his gaze. I felt myself reflexively smile at the comment, though it made me feel sad as well. I didn’t remember much about my mother. I’d been too young when she died. I did know I reminded my father a great deal of her, and I wished I’d been able to know her the way he had.

“You should pick up a book sometime, pa; you might actually like it” I teased, closing the book and setting it down on the couch next to me.

“That was always more your mothers’ thing. I never could get into it”. His response was soft, and he turned his gaze away from me.

“Will you tell me more about her?” I asked, wishing he’d meet my gaze again.

He didn’t look at me for a long moment, nor did he say anything in response. I waited, hoping tonight would be the night he actually told me something substantial about her. He’d always been quiet and reserved about the subject, and I guessed it was because it still upset him that she was gone. Though it had been many years since, I could understand the pain he still felt.

Finally, he leaned forward and gave me a sympathetic look. I watching him intently, but quickly became disappointed when I saw which way this was going.

“Perhaps another time, Arry. It’s getting late, and this old man needs to get some sleep. Big day tomorrow” he said, avoiding eye contact again. I let out a sigh of both relief and sadness. At least he was off to bed. It wouldn’t be long now until I was under the cover of the stars.

“Sleep well, father” I whispered, looking away. “I’m not too much further behind you” my soft voice echoed as I picked up my book again and rested it open on my lap. It was my attempt at making it look like I had no plans other than sitting right where I was the rest of the night. I’d gotten too good at this whole sneaking out thing.

“G’night kiddo” his sleepy voice carried as he got up from his chair and patted me softly on the top of my head. He let his gaze hover for a moment longer than usual with a soft smile plastered to his face, before he disappeared down the dark hallway to the bedrooms. I watched his shadowy figure slip into his room and the door shut behind him with a soft thud.

I sat on the couch for another half-hour at least. The book I’d opened was still on the same page as when he’d left. My leg was twitching the whole time as I daydreamed about my adventures, anxiously waiting for the right time to slip away.

Eventually, father’s snores could be heard echoing down the hallway, and I knew it was time. I carelessly tossed the book on the cushion next to me and stood, brushing out my dress skirt. I silently slipped through the kitchen, making sure to lightly glide through the house on my tip toes so I didn’t make too much noise. When I reached the back door, I carefully pulled open the latch, holding my breath the entire time until I swung open the door without it squeaking. Success.

I didn’t bother with shoes—I never did in the summer. I liked to feel the earth when I ran through the forest in the warmer months. When my toes met the damp grass outside the back door, I couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief. I could already feel the call of the wild pulling me into its sweet embrace.

I stood there for a moment, enjoying the feel of the summer night breeze on my skin, watching the moon. Its soft glow was mesmerizing as its full body climbed to the peak of the sky. Slowly at first, I picked my way across the immediate yard surrounding the house, but once I was far enough out, I took off faster across the fields toward the barn and the hidden gate behind it; my favorite place to disappear unnoticed.

The feeling of the cool wind against my face was delightful, and I couldn’t wait to be flying through the trees on the back of Gingersnap. I could just barely make her out from where I was now, and I pushed myself faster toward the old, red barn where we kept the horses.

When I reached the metal fence around the barn, I slowed until I was softly dancing through the tall, green grass. I stopped at the gate and looked up at the barn. The fading wooden building had seen better days, though I hadn’t really noticed before how badly it could use a new coat of paint. The wood had even begun to rot in some places and could use some repairs. I scrunched up my nose. Despite the disrepair, I couldn’t help but feel joy at the sight of the building and the fond memories I had of growing up spending my summer evenings with the horses.

Several of the horses were still meandering about in the corral, despite the late hour. I wasn’t surprised that Gingersnap was one of them; she almost always had a premonition of when we were going for a nighttime ride.

I watched her slender blonde body gallop toward me. The contrasting brown spots that grew up on her legs added character, making it look like she’d just run through a pool of mud. It fit her personality quite well, I’d always thought. The moonlight bathed her mane as it flew out behind her, making it look like silver fire. She was beautiful, and the only horse I’d ever bonded with despite us having many.

I didn’t always take her on my adventures, in fact, I mostly liked to go on foot. I didn’t get as far, but it was sometimes more satisfying to have nothing with me but the clothes on my back. I always took her on the first adventure of the season, though. I studied her wild eyes as she grew closer, and I could already tell she was as desperate as I was to run through the forest tonight.

I slipped through the dark green rungs of the gate and into the corral. I lead Gingersnap to the stables so I could get her saddled up, though I contemplated going bear back in an effort to leave sooner. I quickly scrapped the idea—she was too frisky for that.

“How’s it going, ol’ girl?” I asked, running my palm down her nose as I approached her. She whinnied softly, nudging me in greeting. “Didn’t think I’d leave without you, did ya?” I jokingly teased, heading toward the open barn doors.

The inside of the barn was dark, the only light coming from the moon through the tiny open windows at the top peaks of the barn. Some of the horses were bedded down for the night and let out soft nickers when I entered. I ignored them, beelining toward where the saddles and other equipment was stored. Gingersnap waltzed in behind me, buzzing with excitement. It put a smile on my own face knowing we were both looking forward to an adventure.

I pulled down one of the saddles that was sized for me, feeling the worn leather as I did. I’d grown up riding horses, and it was something I’d always enjoyed. I enjoyed it even more when Gingersnap and I were able to leave the confines of the farm and really let lose, even though it wasn’t very often.

I rested the saddle on her back now, adjusting it to make sure it fitted accordingly. While I adjusted the straps, I could feel soft fur rub against my lower leg, and I looked down to find our barn cat Pudders looking up at me. She was a large black and white, long-haired cat who had been destined for the wild. She’d refused to come into the house with us and preferred to spend her nights on the farm or with the horses in the barn. I supposed I couldn’t blame her. In fact, I was quite envious of her freedom. Ha! Imagine being jealous of a freaking cat.

I leaned down and patted her on the head, rubbing behind her ears just the way she liked, before turning my attention back to preparing Gingersnap. I didn’t have all night, and I needed to get out sooner rather than later. I hoped father was still snoring away, oblivious to the fact I was not tucked away into bed like I should be.

I let out a sigh, getting ready to climb up into the saddle. When I reached up to grab the pommel, a deep spasm ran through my entire body starting in my arm and traveling down to my feet. Then, my knees buckled, and I started to tremble as I fell to them in the dirt.

I sat there for a moment, my shaking hands propped on the ground in front of me as I tried to take deep breaths. I wasn’t in pain, at least I didn’t think I was, but whatever had just happened hadn’t felt right. It was almost like someone had ripped a cord out of my body; an extension of myself; a tether holding me together.

Slowly, the shaking began to ease, and my breath returned to a steady rhythm. I couldn’t explain what had just happened to me, but I knew one thing. Something had fundamentally changed inside of me, and I didn’t know what.

Whatever it was, it was gone now. It was almost like it had never happened, but that odd hollow feeling inside of me told me I hadn’t imagined it—that it had actually happened. I held my palms out in front of me, turning them over and examining my arms. Everything looked normal, though it didn’t feel like it. The strangeness of the whole thing had me on edge, but I wasn’t sure if I was losing my mind, or if something monumental had just happened.

I looked up, letting my eyes adjust to the dark barn. It took them a moment longer than usual, but eventually my eyes sharpened, and I felt steady enough to stand up again. The animals must have been affected too because they’d grown restless, making uncomfortable whinnies and moans before slowly settling down again. All of them except my father’s oldest and favorite horse, Alastair. Alastair was making loud, almost aggressive sounding snorts. She anxiously paced around her stall, her eyes darting back and forth in fast, sharp movements as if she were about to make a run for it at any moment. I watched her with concern, but even she started to calm into a dulled silence after several minutes.

Once everything was silent again, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. Perhaps it was a weird magical flare. It was a full moon after all. Though, those only tended to affect magically afflicted beings. I shook my head, to clear it. It didn’t matter. Whatever it had been, it was gone now.

I grabbed the pommel again and hauled myself up into the saddle, adjusting my skirts up my thighs so I sat comfortably. Gingersnap had returned to her normal self, though I could tell she’d lost some of the excitement for our adventure. She’d feel better once we were out of the barn and running through the forest. We both would.

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

With that, I used the reins to quietly lead her out of the metal corral and through the old wooden gate behind the barn that was never used. In just a few moments, we were in the forest moving with increasing speed. The light of the moon was barely visible through the thick canopy above. The previous premonitions of fear were gone. Now all I felt was safe and happy.

As we raced through the trees, I thought of all the times we’d done this together. My favorite memory had been the first time I’d ever snuck out of the farm nearly tens years ago. I remembered the day almost perfectly.

It had been a wet and cold spring, and I’d been majorly moody that year. I couldn’t help it—being a sixteen-year-old girl came with mood swings and drama. My poor father never had a chance. I’d grown rather irritated with being locked up on the farm by this point, and I had no problems letting him know this, either.

I remember asking him if I could accompany him to the market the next day, desperately wanting to see anything else the world had to offer other than the homestead we lived on. I had begged and begged, telling him it could be my birthday present that year. He always said no. It didn’t ever matter how many times I groveled. I’d spent days trying to convince him and was heartbroken he hadn’t cracked. He’d even grown rather harsh when I didn’t accept no for an answer. That was the day I knew he’d never let me leave the farm. I’d be stuck there forever if I let him have his way, which I mostly had still to this day.

That night, I’d waited until he went to bed. I’d been restless the rest of the afternoon, drowning in pent up anger and frustration. As I watched the moon rise to the peak of the sky, I decided to run away under the cover of darkness. I was so angry with him, I never thought I’d forgive him, and all I knew was that I couldn’t be locked away any longer.

I saddled Gingersnap and together we left the farm in a mad dash through the same back gate. I was honestly surprised he’d never caught me; I wasn’t trying to be quiet. I was an emotional teenage girl who’d been wronged; I didn’t care who I upset or what the consequences would be.

We galloped faster than I’d ever been before. I think Gingersnap enjoyed the rebellion and freedom just as much as I did. I was so in awe at the landscape just outside of the farm. Everything I’d heard of or seen from afar, but never been able to touch. Things like pine trees, and large ferns the size of my whole body, even a small glowing river that ran through the trees. I’d never felt bark under my fingers, nor did I know that pine needles had a soft earthy smell to them. Oh, the smells! I hadn’t realized what I’d been missing out on. There was only one word to describe the experience. Magical.

We stopped at a grassy meadow for some time so I could explore. I’d taken off my boots, and the feeling of wild, crisp grass in my toes for the first time was a sensation I’d never forget. It was the very reason I rarely wore shoes anymore—I’d been chasing that feeling ever since.

Gingersnap meandered around the meadow, happily munching on fresh grass and flowers she’d never experienced. She’d get the occasional burst of excitement and gallop around the meadow with her mane flowing wildly behind her, chasing butterflies and other glowing creatures we’d never known existed.

At the center of the meadow was a pool of water that collected in a large divot in the ground. It was surrounded by stones in natural formation that had me in complete admiration of its structure and beauty. I was surprised to find after dipping my fingers in that the water was warm. This wasn’t a pool after all, it was a hot water spring! I’d read and heard about them, but never thought I’d get to see one with my own eyes.

I’d stripped my clothes off almost immediately and crawled in, letting the warm water seep up into my chilled bones. It had been so long since I’d taken a bath in water this warm. It felt so extraordinary that I couldn’t believe I wasn’t dreaming it. All I knew was I never wanted to leave. I stayed like this for a long time, leaning on my back and letting my body float at the service of the hot water while staring up at the sky.

I watched the stars twinkle. Occasionally a comet would even streak across the expanse above my head. I made wishes, looked for constellations my father had taught me, and just lost myself in the thrill of it all.

After that, I closed my eyes and listened to the exotic sounds of the unknown forest. Leaves whooshing with the breeze, animals sneaking about. I could even hear the little chatter from small creatures who’d made their home in the trees surrounding the meadow. I could have fallen asleep like that.

I very well might have. Before I knew it, I’d looked up and it was almost dawn. I’d been out all night, and even Gingersnap had bedded down with her eyes closed not too far away. I began to panic, crawling out of the spring and quickly dawning my clothes despite my wet skin.

Now that I’d been out all night, I realized how stupid I’d been to think I’d get away with this. I had to get home before father found out and freaked out. Oh, I’d never hear the end of it!

Gingersnap and I tore out of the meadow, but I realized then that I had no idea where we were, or how to get back. I hadn’t been paying attention to our path the previous night, instead I’d been too distracted by all the beauty of the forest. Hot sticky tears ran down my cheeks and I had let out obnoxious sobs. I was lost, I remember thinking.

Lucky for me, Gingersnap hadn’t been as careless, and she confidently led us home. She had been a rather new horse to me then, but we bonded that night in a way that could never be broken.

We galloped so fast that morning all I saw was the colors of the forest flashing by me in swirls of green, brown, and gold. I remember feeling the warm tears dry on my cheeks as I let out belts of laughter, holding my hands out to feel the breeze on my palms as we zigzagged around the trees.

It was hard to stay upset when something so beautiful surrounded you.

We made it home with just enough time for me to slip into the house and into my bed unnoticed. Just moments after throwing the covers over my wet body, my father stuck his head into the room to check on me before leaving for the market.

I’ve been sneaking out ever since, only a couple of times each year. He could never know the joy I felt when I got lost in the woods, or he’d take it away from me. I couldn’t lose the only freedom I had.

I returned my focus to the present when Gingersnap let out a harsh whinny, pulling into a stop and shaking her mane. I hadn’t been paying attention—I’d been too lost in my own head—so I hadn’t noticed what spooked her. I looked around, but didn’t notice anything immediately.

“What is it, girl?” I asked softly, calmly brushing my palm down the side of her neck.

After a moment, Gingersnap settled enough so that we could move forward again. I brought her to a trot, keeping my gaze intently focused on my surroundings. It was probably just another animal, but I still had to be careful in case it was a larger animal like a bear or moose. We could outrun it, but only if I was paying enough attention to notice it before it snuck up on us.

As we slowly weaved through the foliage, I let my muscles relax and the anxiety ease a little. Even Gingersnap had completely calmed down, and I was growing more confident that whatever had freaked her out was gone.

Crack!

I whipped my head around the small clearing we’d found ourselves in, looking for signs of movement. I didn’t see anything, but an uneasy feeling descended down my spine. I took a deep breath, giving the clearing one last look over before urging Gingersnap faster. Okay, so not gone after all.

As we worked back into a gallop, I could hear the leaves rustling behind me. I looked back, but nothing was there. Regardless, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was out there watching me. Following me. I didn’t know whether it was an animal or a human at this point, but I didn’t care. All I cared about what getting the hell out of here.

I raced Gingersnap through the trees, trying desperately to put distance between me and our mysterious, uninvited visitor. I focused ahead, keeping my eyes pasted on the path in front of us.

I pulled the reins and led Gingersnap in a sharp turn to the east, trying to loop around and return back to the farm. As we made a large arc back the way we came, I still couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching me. It sent a shiver down my spine.

It dawned on me that I couldn’t go home until we lost whatever was following us, or all I’d do is lead it back to the farm. If it wasn’t just an animal looking for an easy meal, that could be the worst thing I could possibly do. I changed course and now urged Gingersnap to zigzag through the trees in a chaotic pattern, hoping it would be enough to throw off our trail.

The rustling noises behind us still followed suite, but after a few tricky maneuvers, they seemed to fall further and further behind until I could barely hear them at all. I still couldn’t see anything when I took the chance to peak over my shoulder.

Finally, after several minutes of this, I pulled Gingersnap to a stop. I cautiously investigated our surroundings until I was certain we were alone. Once I was sure we were safe, I leaned forward in the saddle and rested my head on my horse. I was breathing heavily, and goosebumps still littered my skin as I took a moment to catch my breath.

Gingersnap didn’t seem bothered anymore, which made me feel better. Whatever had been following us had lost the trail, and we could finally start heading back without worrying about leading something potentially dangerous right to the heart of our home.

I leaned back up and took the reins in my hands, still trying to recover. I looked up at the stars now that I had a moment to breathe, trying to reclaim myself before moving on.

“Hello there” a soft voice came from behind me. I almost fell off my horse in panic as I twisted my body around sharply, but I didn’t see anything at first. Not until the rather polite voice came again. “Down here, miss”.

When I cast my eyes down, I was startled. Peeking out of the bushes was a small creature that resembled a human with sharp pointed ears and translucent wings as large as its entire body. It was small enough I was certain it wouldn’t even come up to my knees if I were standing next to it.

He—at least I thought it was he—had golden curly locks of hair that glowed in the moonlight. His sparkling wings of iridescent rainbow colors twitched as he looked up at me with curiosity. Atop his head were two small brown curled horns that grew around his hair, and he was wearing hardly any clothes—only a dark cloth wrapped around his mid-section.

What do I do? I’d never talked to a stranger before, and especially not one that wasn’t human. I’d only ever read about creatures like this. I swallowed the lump in my throat.

“Hello” I responded, my voice shaking.

I didn’t know what this creature was, though I was certain I’d heard of it before. Had I read about it in one of my many books? Or just heard about it through legend? I knew that some magical creatures inhabited Righhan Tyebeith, but I’d never encountered one myself. I just couldn’t put my finger on what he was.

“I didn’t mean to startle you. I only wanted to talk” his voice was smooth and confident. Had he been the one following me all along? I wasn’t sure if he was going to cause trouble, or if he was dangerous, so I proceeded cautiously.

“Why are you following me?” I asked softly, keeping my hands glued to the reins in case I had to high tail it out of here in a moment’s notice.

“I think you can help me” he replied in a calm voice. I could tell from body language that he was anything but calm, though I was unable to tell what he was truly feeling. Or what his intentions were. He was doing a great job keeping himself together, I had to admit that.

“What are you?” my voice cracked as I looked around for any other signs of ambush or danger. The clearing was completely quiet, no sounds but the whistling of the wind through the trees and Gingersnap’s breathing as she ducked down and grazed on the grass.

“I’m a wood nymph. My name is Floryne” he seemed friendly, but I was still very overwhelmed. I had heard of wood nymphs before, and now that he said it, I noticed the resemblance to the little creatures from the stories I’d read growing up.

I hesitated before speaking again. I’d never talked to anybody besides my father, I didn’t know whether I should be scared or trust this creature. I bit my lip, contemplating how to proceed when it took a step closer to me, regarding me with interest.

“Can you help me?” Floryne asked, not taking his eyes off me. I blinked slowly with confusion.

“What do you need help with?” I didn’t know why he thought I’d be able to help him.

“Something very terrible has happened, don’t you feel it?” for the first time since meeting Floryne, I noticed the underlying tones of fear in his voice. The uneasy feeling I’d felt since I first learned I was being followed still rested in my stomach. I was contemplating running away as fast as I could and putting this whole nightmare behind me.

“No” I replied slowly, confused.

Floryne regarded me with curiosity, before he slowly walked forward so that he was looking up at me from below my horse.

“Magic has disappeared. I’m surprised you hadn’t noticed” he said, holding out a hand gesturing me to come down to his level. It was probably awkward for him all the way down there.

I ignored him, keeping myself firmly planted in the saddle so I could run at the first sign of danger. Though, his words had caught my interest enough to at least hear more of what he had to say.

“Magic? How can magic just disappear?” I asked, curiosity getting the best of me. I knew magic existed, but I didn’t know it existed in such a state that it could just ‘disappear’.

“I don’t know. I didn’t think it was possible either, but it’s happened. You have to help us get it back!” the nymph’s voice was shaking, and he fluttered his wings until he was hovering at face level. I was startled at first, but quickly decided that if he was going to hurt me, he’d have done it already.

“Us?” I looked around with anxiety at the prospect that there were more of them. Perhaps I was being ambushed after all and I’d been stupid enough to walk right into it.

“All the magical creatures of Righhan Tyebeith. You sound surprised” his voice was louder now that he was right in front of me. Why did he expect me to know so much? I wasn’t a magical being—how was I supposed to help?

“I’m only human, I don’t know what I can do to help you” I responded, growing agitated. Floryne cocked his head in confusion, regarding me quizzically now.

“But you’re not human” his response sent a shiver down my spine. What was that supposed to mean?

“I think you’ve got me confused with someone else” I said, shifting uncomfortably in the saddle. Maybe it was time I left; this was getting weirder than I could handle.

“I can smell the magic in your blood. Do you really not know what you are?” Floryne voice echoed in my ears. The magic in my blood. What was he inferring?

“If I’m not human, then what am I?” My voice was shaking enough I could barely get the words out. Floryne let out a soft laugh, before zipping up on his lithe wings and settling in Gingersnaps mane. He kicked back, watching with me big brown curious eyes.

I was starting to get annoyed, but I kept it hidden. Wood nymphs weren’t tricksters, were they? Was this creature just trying to lead me along and confuse me, just to get a laugh? There was no way what he was saying was true.

“Well, you’re a Fae, of course” his voice calmed again, though he still had a smirk on his face. I had a feeling he was getting quite a kick out of this, though I still didn’t understand why he’d want to lie to me. I wasn’t necessarily convinced—I’d know by now if I was Fae, wouldn’t I?

“How is that possible? I know what Fae look like, and I’m definitely not one. It’s not like I have magic. I would know if I did I’d think. So, I don’t know what you’re trying to play at, but you’re wrong” my voice was harsher than I intended. Floryne flinched but kept the same expression on his face.

While I waited for his response, I remembered the moment in the barn when it felt like some invisible string had been ripped out of me. Had that been magic? Had I had it all along, and never noticed it? I didn’t know if what Floryne was saying was true, but what if it was? What if that had been the moment magic disappeared, and I’d lost it before I even knew I had it?

“Someone has gone through great lengths to conceal your identity. I’d assumed it was your attempt at staying under the radar. We both know how King Aurther is…but maybe I was wrong. Maybe someone is hiding you” Floryne’s voice was calculating as he watched me. I looked away.

“I don’t know what you want from me. Even if what you’re saying is true, what am I supposed to do about it?” This was not how I imagined my night going at all.

“You have to find a way to bring magic back. Some of us can’t survive without magic—it’s only a matter of time before we start getting sick and slowly start to die” his voice was sad. I still had too many questions.

“What do you mean? Magical beings can’t survive without magic?” I asked.

“Not all of them, no. Us smaller creatures can’t acclimate to a world without it like the Fae can. Like you can” Floryne’s voice became urgent, and for the first time, I started to feel bad for him.

“How am I supposed to save magic? I don’t know anything about it” My voice was barely a whisper as I let myself make eye contact with the nymph again. This was a dream, right? This wasn’t real.

“You’ll have to figure that out. You have more resources than we do, and we desperately need your help”. He regarded me with a desperate expression as he waited for me to answer.

“What if I say no?” This whole thing didn’t feel right. What if this was all just a farce?

“You must help us! You must, or we’ll be lost forever!” Floryne leaned forward as he talked, his voice growing louder. I felt bad for him, but this whole thing was hard to wrap my head around.

I bit my lip. How could any of this be true? Had I lived my whole life as a lie? Was this why King Aurther had killed my mother? Because she was Fae? I had to admit, it all started to make sense. Now I knew why father kept me locked away on the farm. He didn’t want anyone to know who or what I really was.

But how did they hide it? Why didn’t I look like a Fae? Why couldn’t I use magic?

The questions swirled around in my head, and for a moment, I forgot Floryne was still there until his voice interrupted my thoughts.

“Are you going to help us?” His voice oozed with desperation.

I didn’t say anything at first. I was too overwhelmed. I’d just found out that my whole life was a lie. Now magic had disappeared, and I was being tasked with figuring out what happened. Surely there was someone better for the job.

“Why me?” I finally asked.

“Because you’re the only one who can help us” Floryne’s voice was serious.

What did that even mean, I was the only one who could help them? I knew King Aurther had been apprehending any magical beings he could get his hands on, but surely there was someone more qualified than me for this. There had to be!

This was all starting to become too much, and I didn’t know what to do. If I really was the only one who could help, then I didn’t really have a choice, did I? I couldn’t let thousands of magical creatures die when I had the option to do something.

I wrestled with my emotions for what felt like a long time. I was conflicted—did I believe him, or was he tricking me? Did I have it in me to even do what he was asking?

I felt a tremor of fear run through my body. I’d never even been beyond this forest, how was I going to save magic? No matter how much I wanted to be, I wasn’t like the heroes in my novels—destined to save the world. That had only ever been a dream, and now that dream was becoming a reality.

Floryne still watched me with anticipation, and I knew I’d have to give him some sort of answer. I wasn’t sure I could do this, but I didn’t really see any other options. After a few deliberating moments, I turned to the nymph with a steeled resolve.

“I promise I’ll do everything I can”. I knew in my heart I meant the promise, despite my fear.