Seren sat at the base of the tree and waited. Listening to the crickets chirping all around them. They swatted a few mosquitoes from around their face. Hearing the squeaks of the bats flying overhead, hunting for insects. Seren felt oddly at peace. You didn’t see the bats in the city. Only their distant silhouettes.

Finally, they stood up and brushed off their pants. Knowing they should stay in place so if someone was looking for them, they’d be found easier. But they didn’t want to. Getting the feeling this might be the only time for a very long time they’d get to wander the forest. Seren decided to take full advantage of it. They trailed their hand against the tree bark, wandering toward the sound of running water.

The moon lit the clear river and made it shine like silver. It fell along the rocks in tiny rapids. Seren watched the river for a few minutes. Trying to estimate how wide and deep it was. It was as wide as their room was long. Deep enough that if they pulled up their pants above their knees they could cross it.

Seren sat on the river bank, throwing blades of grass into the current to watch it drift away. They found a stick and tossed it in. Watching it spin as it drifted and fell down over the rocks. As Seren watched they noticed something else. A small, nearly translucent dragonfly-like humanoid flew around the river sprays.

Crouching down, Seren saw more and more of the thin wispy sprites appear. Gathering drops of water barely bigger than a dew drop. Then whizzing off through the trees. Seren watched, entranced by the behavior of the strange creatures. One looked up at them and froze. The creatures had blank white eyes that seemed impossibly big.

“Hi,” Seren whispered. “Sorry.” They stood up and crept away from the sprites. Who had all stopped to watch Seren in alarm. Seren crept away, wondering where the sprites had been taking the water. The curiosity got the better of them and they pulled up the pants and pulled off their boots. Stepping into the water and holding up their pants so that they didn’t get wet as they crossed the river. Aware that the little sprites were watching them.

Seren crossed and wandered barefoot through the trees until they heard a sweet buzzing noise. They crouched down and crept through the trees, making as little noise as they could until they saw a glowing ethereal paper wasp nest. Little sprites flitted about in a sparkling constellation. Seren’s mouth dropped in awe. It was beautiful. They sighed and leaned against the tree.

In a flash of light, the humming was silenced. All the sprites fell out of the air and hit the ground hard. Seren sat up in alarm. Lowering again into the bushes as a pair of ashen white fae walked out of the brush. They walked around the space, scooping up the fallen sprites and shoving them into white silken satchels.

“Find the queen.” The one farthest from the nest pointed to the wispy wrappings. Their companion nodded and went to the nest and began ripping it apart.

“Don’t!” Seren yelled before they clapped their hands over their mouth. They heard the paper ripping stop as the attention of the two fae now turned to where they were hiding.

“Who’s there?!” The fae closest to Seren called. “Come out!” Seren laid flat and held their hands over their mouth. Trying to will themselves invisible. Holding their breath.

“Keep looking for the queen!” Snapped the fae and Seren heard the grass freezing and then being crushed as the fae came closer. A thousand awful scenarios ran through Seren’s mind. As the fae grew closer, a chill came with it and raised the hair on their skin. They shut their eyes tight and felt the pressure building up. Their heartbeat was pounding so hard, Seren was afraid the fae would hear it. Their thoughts raced.

As the fae looked over the bush, Seren couldn’t hold their breath any longer and they gasped. The sound masked by the sound of an explosion.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

“What was that?!” The fae yelled as they fell back.

“What are the city-folk doing out here?!” The other yelled

“Come on! Let’s scram!” The first scrambled up to his feet. “Before one of those projectile things hits us!”

“I didn’t find the queen!”

“Forget her!”

Seren waited until the sound of the fae running away faded to silence. They sat up, their mouth was dry and their heartbeat was still pounding in their ears. The glow from the nest had gone dark entirely. Leaving the little clearing completely in shadow.

Stumbling up to their feet, Seren ran into the clearing to look at the damage. Wingless sprites were strewn all over the ground amid the scraps of paper that had made up the nest. The biggest part of the nest was lying at the base of its tree it had hung on.

“Hello? Are any of you okay?” Seren asked, keeping their voice quiet. Afraid to raise it. As they approached the bodies the wingless sprites melted into crystal clear water, soaking into the grass and dirt and leaving only small white delicate flowers where the sprites had been.

Seren felt tears filling their eyes. Unable to help feeling so sad surrounded by so much death. They shivered, feeling cold all over. Seren held their arms as they continued to look over what had once been a clearing of sprites but now was eerily empty. Seren shook their head and wiped the tears from their face. They fell to their knees and hung their head. Letting themself weep for the lost.

Through their tears, they noticed a small glow coming from the scraps of the nest at the base of the tree.

“Hello?” Seren whispered. Sniffling and wiping their eyes, they crawled along the ground to the nest. Gently moving the scraps of paper strips until uncovering a glowing sprite. Her wings were bigger than any of the others Seren had seen. With a beautiful iridescence and her skin seemed to change colors like a pastel rainbow.

“You’re beautiful, please be okay.” Seren whispered. Gingerly, carefully, Seren cupped their hands under the sprite and picked her up. Holding her close to their face, Seren held their breath as they waited for a sign of life. The little chest shifted, up and down. Seren let out the breath they’d been holding. The little sprite was alive, for now at least.

“SERENITY?!”

Seren jumped to their feet as they heard the sudden voice calling for them.

“Over here!” They called back. They looked at the sprite in their hands, panicking. They lowered their hands as if to put her back but then brought them back up. They spun around a few times before finally tucking the little thing gently into Seren’s vest pocket.

“I’m over here!” Seren called as they ran toward the sound. Holding onto their vest pocket so as not to jostle the little sprite too much. Seren emerged from the woods to find a pair of town guards with lanterns.

“There you are. Lord Asche demanded you be found and brought home.” One of the guards said. “He seems to be pretty mad too, so the faster you get home the better.”

“Oh yeah. I bet I’m late for dinner.” Seren hissed through their teeth. “Yeah we better get back inside the city.” The guards took either side of Seren and walked them back to the gates.

“Thanks!” Seren said but the guards grabbed their shoulder before they could run off.

“Sorry, but we’re under strict instructions to bring you straight home.” The guard said apologetically.

“Oh, okay?” Seren said, swallowing thickly. They’d had city guards tell them to go home before. But they hadn’t ever had the guards escort them home before. They stiffly walked home with the guards escorting them all the way to the front door and ringing the doorbell. The felt their stomach drop as the door opened to Mrs. Houper.

“Serenity! Oh thank the gods. Where have you been?” She grabbed Seren and pulled them into a hug. But Seren pushed away, afraid Mrs. Houper’s hug would hurt the sprite in their pocket.

“I just went out for a walk,” Seren said.

“A walk?!” She scoffed. She shook her head and addressed the guards. “Thank you two. Have a good evening.”

“Thank you ma’am.” The guards nodded and headed back off to whatever duties they had. Seren tried to rush past Mrs. Houper and to their room but she grabbed their collar.

“Oh no you don’t! Eric’s waiting for you in the sitting room.” Mrs. Houper pointed down the small arch. “You better go straight there and apologize like your life depends on it!”

“For what?” Seren asked.

“Where are your boots?!” Mrs. Houper asked, finally noticing Seren’s lack of shoes. “Just.. Just go. Go talk to Eric. He’s been worried sick.”