A small resort town, built primarily out of stone and other long-lasting materials, surrounded the hot springs. Some of the dryads and elves worked to piece together new stands or repair the old, dryads and sun elves working together to shape living wood into the proper shapes. Mouse wandered at random, not particularly motivated. I feel bad for the guy, mostly. Does a good deed, and ends up with a stalker because of it? Poor man.

Overhead, a shadow passed over the sun. Mouse stared upward. A flash of dappled wings passed by, then another, another, black wings, tawny ones, reddish and brownish ones. Avian after avian flew by, rushing off somewhere in the forest.

Mouse turned to one of the passing sun elves and caught his arm. “Excuse me, do you know where they’re going?”

“Hot springs. They’ve been checking to see if it’s started flowing for days now,” the sun elf chuckled. “Oh, youth…”

“Thank you.” Mouse released his arm and chased after the avians.

“It won’t start for another day or so yet! No rush!” the sun elf called after him.

Following the signs, Mouse found himself directed up flight after flight of stairs. Finally, panting and wheezing, he climbed the final set and found himself staring down at a series of empty stone basins. Steam hissed through cracks in the stone, but no water yet filled the basins.

Where’d they go? He looked around him, searching.

“Ugh! Those inferior commoners. They got my hopes up for nothing,” Toni complained.

Startled, Mouse jumped, then looked up. White wings filled the sky as Toni dropped down beside him.

Great, Mouse grumbled silently to himself.

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Toni settled down on the edge of the basin beside him, flaring her wings once, then settling them into place behind her. “This is why we only allow the elite to rule. The chaff are useless.”

The other avians circled by again. Ignoring Toni, Mouse cupped his hands to his mouth. “Hey! Hello!”

One of the avians swooped down and landed atop a nearby branch, bracing himself with one arm, gray-and-black wings shimmering in the sunlight. At the sight of Toni, he flinched, but he nonetheless bowed to Mouse. “Do you need something, Your Highness?”

“What are you asking him for? I’m sure I know better,” Toni said, affronted.

Mouse ignored her. “There’s an avian I need to talk to… white hair, dappled with brown, wings the same, but with a tawny base?”

“Eran?” the man guessed.

“Maybe? I only have a picture. It’s somewhat urgent, and for his own good,” Mouse added.

The avian glanced at Toni again, then nodded at Mouse. “I’ll fetch him right away.”

“Thank—” Mouse cut off mid-sentence as the avian vanished back into the sky.

Toni sniffed. “What on earth do you need them for? Nothing worthwhile, I’m sure.”

“Why are you here?” Mouse asked bluntly, tired of her. Are you standing here to amuse me by denigrating everyone around you? Because I’m not enjoying it.

“Can I not go where I please?” she asked haughtily.

Suddenly very tired, Mouse sighed and turned away. Between Sela and Toni, I’ve already had enough for today.

With a rush of feathers and a blast of wind, a tall avian settled before him. His pecs weren’t quite as defined as they were in Sela’s drawing, and his brows had less of a noble arch to them and more of a too-pronounced jut, but it was him, doubtlessly him. He bowed to Mouse. “For what has Your Highness requested my presence?”

“Did you once rescue a girl from a beach a while ago? Uh, greenish hair, gold eyes?”

Eran’s brows furrowed. “Years back, yes. Why?”

“She’s searching for you. She’s been following you with her fish for years. She’s a mermaid princess named Sela, and she’s… a little obsessed. If you aren’t interested, I recommend you get out of town, maybe hang out somewhere landlocked for a while.”

“Is she in town?” Eran asked.

Mouse nodded. “I can take you to her, if you want.”

Eran inclined his head. “I’ll let her down gently.”

“Ah, that… might not work,” Mouse muttered.

“But it’s worth a try,” Eran replied.

Why are you fighting him? You didn’t want to do this. Don’t put more effort into it than you have to. Mouse smiled and gestured for Eran to follow him. “Right this way, then.”