"The hell just happened?" Becky whispered as she and Rosa took Mason's arm instead of Calypsa's.

"Goblins," he answered. "Dead now. Don't worry."

"I 'ain't worried, just confused. All I saw was trees and bloody mist and then I heard screamin'."

Calypsa vanished, but Mason paused as he went to touch the tree. "You girls alright? Any...concerns before we go inside? You, uh, know what they're like."

"Yes, we know what they're like," Becky said, flushing a little. Then after an unreadable glance at Rosa. "We should...avoid all that."

"Avoid it. No problem." Mason let out a breath then gestured for Streak to come closer before taking the prompt and vanishing them all inside.

As usual the warm moisture of the nymph grove and the smell of fresh life brought him calm. Thea stepped instantly from her pool with a wide grin to greet them, first embracing Calypsa with a sort of European kiss on each cheek. Mercifully, she was entirely covered in a leafy green dress.

"Welcome, druid. And to your mates as well. Oh I do hope you've come to stay for longer this time."

Some kind of 'they're not my mates' comment seemed completely useless and basically not true anyway. Mason just smiled politely, aware of the considerable amount of feminine energy and beautiful women now surrounding him.

"Sorry, but no. We were hoping Calypsa could teach Rosa what she knows of poisons, er alchemy...OK I don't actually know but whatever the hell Thea mentioned last time. And I have some questions."

"Oh, my apologies druid, I've not even invited you in. Please, come and sit and drink and eat, you must be tired."

After much protest and assurance they were in fact all fine, and no didn't need to disrobe and bathe in the pool, thank you, they managed to sit in magic plant seats and drink the always refreshing grove water.

Then Calypsa took Rosa aside and did some kind of magic brain download that lasted quite some time. Thea sat with Mason and Becky and crossed her very shapely, exposed legs.

"So," Thea smiled and bit into a grape in a manner Mason could only describe as...lewdly. "How can I assist?"

For a second, Mason forgot entirely.

"Uh, this." He drew the acorn from his pocket. "I've cleared another great tree. It gave me this."

Thea's eyes focused slightly and she maybe pulled her chest in...a little. "Incredible," she said, standing to come closer. "Is that...? May I?"

Mason really hoped she meant touch the acorn. He held it up and, fortunately, she took it. The thing glowed with a pale green light, and Thea made a kind of laughing snort before covering her face and getting teary eyed.

"What had they done to it?" she whispered. "The tree?"

"I don't know, exactly," Mason answered in a serious tone, sensing the nymph's change. "It was goblins. From some kind of mountain guild. The same ones that we..."

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Thea made an almost growl and threw her arm, spraying green mist as her eyes flared and ripples formed on the water. Plant life burst into action all over the grove as if sensing a threat, vines curling down and grasping as thorns grew from their sinewy limbs.

Thea closed her eyes and held out a hand, and the waves and plants calmed as quickly as they'd angered.

"I'm sorry, druid," Thea said sadly. "I know you don't understand." She came back and took her seat. "This acorn...is the final gift of a great tree. It means...it means it has been damaged too much to renew itself again. One day it will die."

"It..." Mason frowned. "It seemed to be healing when I left it. It felt like things were getting better."

"Oh they will," Thea smiled. "It may live for many years. Centuries, even. But the spirit of Gaia that renewed it as it renews us is lost. One day the tree will die like any other living thing."

Mason felt a horrible sense of loss he couldn't easily explain, like he'd found out a loved one had cancer. Rebecca seemed to notice and put a hand on his thigh. "Is there nothing we can do?"

Thea shook her head, but seemed more at peace. "Life and death is the way of things. There are many great trees in the world, not just in our forest. And with this acorn, we could grow another."

Mason sighed, relieved at what he'd hoped was the case. "Good. Then let's do it. Any ideas on where?"

Thea's eyes only grew more watery, then she looked at the floor.

"Before we...I have to tell you, druid, growing a new great tree is not the only use for such a gift." Mason lifted a brow and the nymph sighed. "The magic of the acorn can be used in many ways. I don't know them all. But, many powerful beings seek such things. It might be...consumed for power. Used with great magic. Or to create an artifact."

"I see," Mason said, feeling slightly more uncomfortable. Using the acorn for any purpose except growing new life felt vaguely...wrong.

On the other hand, he wasn't here to grow new forests in a world filled with bloody forest. He was here to protect the people he loved. To ‘win’.

"And can you help me do any of those things?"

Thea shrugged and handed Mason the acorn. "To consume it is simple. You need only boil it in water until it glows, then drink. What will happen will depend on you, and the great tree you took it from. But you could expect to be made stronger in some permanent way. It can be channeled to make a spell more powerful, but only once, if you use it just like you would any other focus item."

"That seems...incredibly wasteful," Mason said. "A single spell? For such a rare gift?"

Thea turned her head as if she didn't quite agree. "There are many spells in this world with lasting consequence. With the power of the acorn, I could..." she looked away, clearly excited at the prospect, "I could make life to protect our grove from almost any threat." She smiled and glanced at Mason shyly. "You are still young I know, druid, but one day you may find a powerful spell to augment."

Mason squinted. "Can you teach me? More magic, I mean. Right now all I can do is shoot lightning, basically."

"I..." Thea pulled back as if surprised. "Of course I can, druid. But...it would take considerable time and practice. Months, certainly, maybe years."

Months? Years? Well, that was out. Mason didn't seem to have days of free time, especially not now. He smiled politely, trying not to imagine a life of peace and learning and banging nymphs in a magic forest instead of his current life of blood…

"One day, maybe," he said. "I think for now I'll just keep the acorn. There's no rush. Maybe I'll find the perfect spot to plant it."

Thea smiled, then they all flinched as Rosa cried out and sagged into Calypsa's arms. The nymph frowned as she looked at them.

"I gave her too much.” She shrugged. “She will need to rest and recover for some time."

Mason glanced at Becky, who took a deep breath and took a bite of fruit before glancing at her boots. Thea was smiling and coming forward, dropping to her knees before both of them.

"If your mate wouldn't mind terribly, could we ask for a gift of magic? Since...you're here...and need to stay awhile..."

Thea tossed her hair and ran a hand up both Mason and Becky's legs, green eyes shining. And Mason was starting to wonder how ‘accidentally’ Calypsa’s little blunder with Rosa was.

He practically groaned but patted Thea's hand. "Unfortunately I'm not going to stay. Becky and Rosa will. But I've got a giant to hunt, and a druid to save. Taking too long already cost us the life of the great tree. I don't want to make that mistake again."

Thea smiled sadly. "I understand, druid, thank you. We'll see you when you return."