Inside the North Gaian Forest, many dangerous monsters and animals roam within the deepest parts of it. Occasionally said beasts would move to the outskirts, near the edges of the forest. A short distance within the woods, a group of adventurers were hunting.

"The tracks of the white deer are heading this way. Tracks are fresh. We should not be far behind it." A person dressed in leather armor said, looking at deer tracks.

"Well then, let's take it down. Miss Violet cast a tracking spell." A man in red armor ordered a young woman with obsidian hair and eyes like amethysts. She did not seem too happy with him but cast the spell.

"Search: Deer." Her magic activated and spread out from her.

She picked up a signal north northwest of their position. "Got something. Three hundred feet that direction."

The man nodded, and they headed that direction, the tracker in the lead with his bow.

A few minutes later, the tracker stopped them.

"There it is, just up ahead. I have a clear shot." The tracker said.

In the distance, a deer with silver horns and fur as white as snow was eating from a bush in a small clearing.

"Alright, take the shot." The man in red armor said. The tracker readied his bow, but Violet stopped them.

"Wait! Let me do one more search for predators first!" She whispered in a panic.

The man ignored her and had their tracker take the shot. The arrow pierced the deer through the heart, killing it.

"Good shot!" The man in red armor said, smacking the shoulder of the tracker.

"You idiot! There might be a predator nearby!" Violet angrily complained.

"Like there would be any predator we would not be able to handle. Aren't you a genius spell caster?" The man in red armor mockingly said.

Dammit, I should have listened to Gona and not taken this group's offer to join them on this job. Violet thought, massaging her temples in frustration.

They headed out to the deer corpse.

"Alright, Bruck, you carry it." The man in red armor ordered.

The other member was a large man who picked the corpse up quickly, slinging it over his shoulder without a word.

"Alright, let's-."

The tracker called them to alarm just as a giant monster pounced out of the brush toward them.

It looked like a mangy gray wolf the size of a horse snarled at them. Its eyes were seemingly driven by madness.

"Dammit! This is why!" Violet called out, readying her short staff.

Bruck dropped the deer and pulled out his large shield and mace.

"Dammit, it's a Dread Worg! We have to run! Bruck! Do it!" The man in red yelled.

The big man tossed his shield to the man in red armor and turned to Violet.

No… Violet didn't have time to react as the large man grabbed her, before she could cast a spell, and threw her over the Worg like a small laundry bag.

She landed at the wrong angle, breaking her leg and spraining her arm. Her staff flipped away from her injured grip.

"AHH!" She screamed in pain while clutching her leg. She turned to see that the Worg had turned its attention to her. Violet looked beyond the worg in time to see the group that used her as bait run off.

You bastards… I will haunt you… Gona will have your heads! The pain was so much she felt her consciousness fading.

The Dread Worg stalked toward her, its fangs bared, salivating.

Just then, another beast dropped from above, landing atop it, driving a single long claw through the Worg's skull, killing it.

Heh. Law of nature. Survival of the fittest. The new predator turned its black-furred head toward her and reached out to Violet, just as her consciousness faded away.

Mm. That smells good. Violet stirred and opened her eyes.

"Where? Wait. I'm alive?!" Violet sat up, looking around herself.

Violet noticed that she was in a vast room, but more pressing, inside a cage with all of her equipment missing.

Well, my leg and arm are healed. But I'm a prisoner? She stood and looked around a bit more.

At the far wall, it looked to be an area that was hidden behind a wooden screen. Violet thought she could make out a massive bed behind it. Along another wall was where multiple tools and weapons hung. One, in particular, was a beautiful-looking, giant green hatchet with jewels inlaid the head. The pillar in the middle of the room looked like a giant ladder that went up to an area she could not make out. Everything in the place was too big for a human. Violet could also see a large opening leading to another location that she could not see into.

"Where am I? Everything is so big." Violet turned to face a dark green-haired girl with a beautiful set of bug-like wings.

"AHHHH!" Violet felt backward, her scream startling the girl.

"You're finally awake. One second, I'll go get her." The girl flew off out the window above the bed area.

Violet could hear voices but could not hear what was being said. A couple of minutes later, a giant woman, around fifteen feet tall, wearing black-furred hide armor, with a black liger head for a hood, entered the room.

Oh, my gods. C-Could it be?! Violet's heart began to race.

The giant woman removed her hood, her crimson hair rolling down. Violet's eyes widened while looking at the big woman, "Beautiful." Her thoughts escaped her mouth.

"Thank you." The giant woman said with a soft smile. She pulled up a chair and sat down.

Wait… I'm up on a table! Violet realized the location she was.

"I saw what happened with your party. Humans can be… quite cruel." The giant said with pain in her voice.

"T-True. But most humans are good, decent people." Violet said.

"Not from my point of view. You are not the only person I have seen abandoned or murdered by your own." The giant said coldly.

"Um. My name is Violet. Do you have a name?" Violet asked, trying to change the subject.

"I do. My name is Melody."

By the gods... It's her! "Four years…" Violet said.

"Four years?" Melody asked, tilting her head.

"We've been looking for you for four years! We've had minor sightings of you when you crossed from the north forest to the south, but that was it! The last major sighting we had of you was during, during…." Violet trailed off sadly, not wanting to bring it up.

"Probably when I carried my mother to her grave," Melody said, unbothered.

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"She was your mother? I am sorry for your loss." Violet bowed her head.

"It is fine. My mother's wish was for me to live strong and free. So since that day, that is what I have been doing. Now that you are awake, tomorrow, I will take you to the edge of the forest, closest to the city. It is quite late now, and you would be in danger in the dark." Melody informed her.

"My equipment?" Violet asked.

"I will give it back once we go our separate ways. Sorry, but I don't trust humans that much."

A voice called out from the side room. "Melody! Can you help me, please?"

"Coming, Haelga. Anyway, Miss Violet. Rest and recover. Tomorrow you will be taken home." Melody stood and headed to the side room.

Violet tried to talk to Melody more, but she was ignored.

Dammit! I need to talk to her more! That's when she turned again, meeting the girl with wings being right next to her, even closer this time.

"WAH! Okay, that was on purpose!" Violet complained.

"You seemed to want to say something to Melody. What was it?" The girl asked.

Ah! This might be my chance! "Okay, oh right, I don't know your name."

"Maple. I'm a Fairy and Melody's bestest best friend!" Maple said with pride.

Fairy?! Those are supposed to be only a myth! Violet quickly got over her shock, "Um, well, nice to meet you, Maple. I'm Violet. Anyway, a little over four years ago, when Melody was still young, she saved a group of humans and a very close friend of mine. All this time, we have been trying to get in contact! Most adventurers had given up, but those of us who were most affected by her actions have kept up the search! We want to thank and welcome her to the city!"

Maple's eyes narrowed angrily. "The last time she approached the city, she almost died."

"Then forget the city! We just want to thank her!" Violet pleaded.

Maple eyed Violet suspiciously, "Hmm. I don't know. I guess I can mention it. But the choice is up to Melody. I will not try to argue for you." Maple said and flew off to the side room.

Well. It's something, I guess. Violet let out the breath she didn't realize she was holding.

An hour had passed, and Melody and her friends exited what Violet determined to be the kitchen.

Melody sat down at the table after helping an elderly woman up onto it. Several larger than regular brownies also appeared on the table, bringing several plates and bowls of food. An older-looking brownie appeared inside the cage with Violet.

"How's your leg, Miss Violet?" He asked, setting a tray of food down for her.

"Huh? A talking brownie? I didn't know you guys spoke the common tongue." Violet said, thanking the old man for the food.

The man laughed. "I am not a brownie. I am a Forest Gnome in service to Melody. The others are also Forest Gnomes. My name is Pappy."

A Forest Gnome?! Another being of myth… What is with this household?! Violet thought.

"W-well, it is nice to meet you, Mr. Pappy." She said awkwardly.

"Hehe. No need for the 'Mr.' part. Just Pappy is fine. Please eat plenty. Today's menu consists of fresh Peppy Mushrooms in a honey-infused sauce. White dear steak, lightly salted and peppered, seared on both sides, and slow-roasted for tenderness. The drink is a fruit juice made from Larber berries."

"What?! Those are premium ingredients! How do you get such good things!?" Violet asked, unsure of how many more things of Melody's household would shock her.

Pappy smiled and pointed a thick thumb toward Melody. "Thanks to Melody, we have access to a lot of things. She is basically the apex predator and guardian of the forest." He commented, pride in his voice.

Impressive, though I already know what my dad will think… 'We need her for the guild! We must do anything to get her to join us!' I gotta agree with him at this point... I don't know if we will overcome her emotional scars from so long ago… Violet started looking sad.

"Are you feeling sad, Miss Violet?" A cutesy voice called out from next to Pappy.

She looked over to see an adorable looking gnome looking at her with concern.

"It's nothing. I am just lamenting the mistakes of the past. Now, I need to enjoy every last bite of this… AH! The White Deer!" She cried out.

"Is something wrong?" Pappy asked.

"Ah, well, I was on the job to collect the horns and hooves of the deer. The meat and hide also sell for a high price because of its excellent quality."

"Hmm, I will ask Melody if she would be willing to part with those for your job. You were the ones who hunted it. We will take the meat, pelt, and organs as payment for her saving you, though." Pappy offered.

"Thank you very much." She bowed her head to him and took a bite.

"MMMM! HMM! MMM! MMM!"

Violet shivered and danced about in her seat at the delicious flavor of the meat.

DELICIOUS! SO DELICIOUS! She wanted to cry out, if not for her taking another bite.

Pappy smiled at her enjoyment before heading to a table nearby to join the other household members for their meal, along with the adorable gnome.

After ten minutes, Melody finished her meal. The members of the house looked at her expectantly for reasoning that escaped Violet.

"Anything?" Maple asked.

"Hmm, just the usual. Though it did raise one of my skills, so that is good. Pappy, another masterpiece." Melody responded with a smile that caused Violet's heart to skip several beats, and her cheeks became hot.

T-That smile… Is dangerous… Violet thought, trying to calm her rapidly beating heart.

Violet finished her meal while stealing glances at Melody.

"RooooOOOO!" Violet saw a large, wooly bison's head poke through a nearby window.

"That is a huge wooly… Wait… By the running trend, I am just going to guess that that is another rare or mythical being." Violet said flatly.

"What is it, Aroo?" Melody asked, approaching and petting the bison's head.

"Rooo."

"Ah, just wanted to say goodnight? Alright, goodnight Aroo, sleep well." Melody hugged the bison's head. Melody yawned herself as the bison left the window.

"Don't worry about cleaning up tonight, Melody. We can handle it tonight." Pappy called out to her.

"Are you sure?" She asked, to which he responded with a nod.

"You should get some rest too. You have an early morning tomorrow." Maple said to Violet.

"Oh, right. Thank you, Maple." Violet replied. The adorable gnome appeared and took Violet's tray with a bright smile.

Violet looked over at Melody, who had stripped off her armor, exposing much of her deeply tanned, flawless skin.

O-o-oh my… It feels like I am looking upon a goddess… Violet's heart rate increased, and her ears became hot as she forcibly turned her eyes away from her.

"You're strange for a human." Maple commented before flying over to Melody.

Maybe it would be best for her to stay in the forest… I don't know if people will be able to handle such beauty… Violet thought as she lied down to sleep.

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Maple cozied up a bit closer to Melody. At the same time, Bell, the adorable Forest Gnome with a blue cap, slept quietly, her breaths steady.

"Melody." Maple whispered to her friend.

"Yes?" She whispered back.

"What do you think you will do?" The fairy asked.

Melody thought for a bit. "Honestly, I am not sure yet. I do want to meet more people and make more friends. But, I am afraid of having my hopes being crushed once more." Melody's expression turned dour.

"Well, you could always try asking Pappy, or maybe Gaia?" Maple offered.

"Hmm, I'll try talking to Pappy in the morning while we make breakfast," Melody replied, smiling and hugging her friends close to her.

"Beeellll… Love… Every… one…" Bell spoke in her sleep at the increased affection from her friends.

Melody and Maple smiled at the little gnome's sleep talk and closed their eyes to sleep as well.

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The following morning, Violet woke to find Maple messing with her again by waking her up nose to nose this time. Violet freaked out so badly she fell out of her bed.

"We will be leaving after a light breakfast." Maple said, but as she went flying away, Violet stopped her.

"Wait! I'm sorry, but did you speak to Melody about what I talked about?" Maple turned to her.

"I did. You can hear it from her." That is all she said before flying to the kitchen.

I hoped to hear more… But at least Melody will talk to me again.

"WAAAAAHAHAHAH!" Violet was riding inside a specially made pack that Melody was wearing that allowed the giant to carry her.

Melody rapidly, silently, and skillfully traversed the forest like she was familiar with every tree, patch of grass, root, or rock. Maple was zipping alongside them as naturally as Melody moved about the forest.

"This is amazing! You're so fast, Melody!" Violet cried.

Nearly four hours passed, and Melody began slowing her pace.

"Oh, is something wrong?" Violet asked, sad that the wild ride was ending.

"We have arrived," Melody said plainly.

As Melody took off the pack lowered Violet to the ground, Violet felt a sense of loss at the end of the trip. Violet looked in the direction they were heading and could see the exit of the forest.

After a few minutes of silent walking, Violet stepped out into the light.

"We're finally out!" She cheered with a smile.

Violet turned to see that Melody chose to remain in the shadows of the trees.

"Um, you can come out too," Violet said.

"I am fine here. Here are your things." Melody gently placed a large bag down for her.

"Um, Melody, are you sure you don't want to come to the city?" Violet asked pensively.

Melody let the question hang in the air for what felt like hours before answering.

"I am not sure yet. But you mentioned people I saved… The children. I would be willing to meet them again." Melody replied with hesitation.

Violet felt happiness welling up within her. "Thank you! Oh, others owe their lives to you. The children were not the only ones you saved! You saved my mentor and friend, a dwarf named Gona, and his partner Ellen. Thanks to the healing poultice you left, Gona was able to save others. Could I bring them too, please?"

Another long silence hovered. "Yes. Two days from now, I will return to this spot at noon. Bring them then."

Before Violet could say more, Melody vanished from sight, back into the forest.

"I… Did it. I did it! YES! I finally met her! By the gods, I am so happy! This is going to blow their minds!" Violet cried out in happiness, dancing around.

She looked up toward the city that was about an hour's walk away.

"Better get my stuff and head back. They are going to be so happy!" Violet opened the bag and looked inside.

She noticed that her canteen was full, some smoked meat, and the horns and hooves of the white deer were added to her things. Violet smiled as she donned her equipment. She began her trek back to the city, a spring in her step, a piece of delicious smoked meat in her mouth.

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Melody and Maple watched as Violet did her silly dance of joy and headed back toward the city.

"What an odd human." Maple commented.

"As if you never did a happy jig." Melody jested.

"So, where to?" Maple asked, her cheeks turning pinkish.

"I... think I want to talk to mother about this. Pappy convinced me to give the people I helped a chance, but I am still apprehensive about the city itself. Maybe she could give me some more advice. Besides, I have wanted to visit her recently." Melody replied.

"Ahh, my wings are tired though, I could make it back home at least." Maple complained, hanging on Melody's shoulder.

"That was the plan. Aroo needs to stretch her legs, so I was thinking of riding her there." Melody playfully poked her friend's cheek.

"Oh, that sounds good." Maple flitted back into the air, and the two made their way back home.