Jaden slowly lowered his hand from his eyes. The bright light had dimmed considerably, shedding a soft glow of its former intensity. And the source of the light...

"Anya?" he called out. There was something new in the room. Something strange and yet familiar. A bubble emitting a gentle light surrounded a figure curled up in the fetal position. The figure was humanoid in shape, but it was covered in rough bark; a myriad of shades of green and brown. The figure opened its eyes. Pale golden pupils revealed shock, intelligence, and boundless curiosity.

The figure winced as it opened its arms and straightened its legs. The bark skin cracked and flaked to the ground revealing smooth skin, pale jade in color, beneath. She started to bring her arms together to have a look at them; she was halted by the rough bark still covering her torso. She took a breath and sighed then closed her eyes. Minutes passed in silence. The bark on her body seemed to melt off. It noiselessly cracked and flaked off her body. Anya slowly opened her eyes when the last piece landed upon the ground. She moved her arms together, unhindered. Tracing her hands along her arms, she basked in the sensation. Her skin smooth and silky, she had an elegance about her that made her feel unapproachable.

"Anya?" Jaden asked again, he'd long ago averted his gaze from her bare, petite 14-year-old body.

"Mish Anya?" Emily poked her nose out from behind Jaden. Her azure blue eyes lit up like the sky as she rushed forward. Before anyone could react, Emily had entered the bubble, tackled Anya, and gave her a big hug. "I've wanted to do that forever. Your tree ish too big around."

Anya's mouth lifted into a bright smile as she returned the hug. Her pale golden eyes shining like the sun. All around them, the room burst into flower buds which quickly bloomed into gorgeous flowers. The air filled with a sweet fragrance. Anya blushed slightly, it seemed the plants responded to her emotions and put them on display for the world.

"Congrat...ulations..." a very meek voice stated in barely a whisper.

"Mother!" Jaden rushed to her side and peered within the cocoon. His expression soured immediately. Even unconscious, she's aware of her surroundings? Sasha. What is her health pool looking like?

Health Pool: 2/1000

On the bright side, that's progress. Sasha, that pool you mentioned in the forest. How potent is it's healing ability?

It is the best option available in this area. Taking Vivian there would be best, however... I really can't recommend that course of action until she's recovered further.

What would be the minimum to move her? Jaden asked Sasha before falling into thought.  I see, Mother.  You've always talked about how fragile life is, and now I get to experience it.

A minimum of 25 in her health pool would be required to move her without causing additional injury.  In her current state, if nothing is changed that would take several days.

Sasha, I want you to update my map.

What can I do for you, Creator?

Expand the map range as far as you can and then I want you to push against that limit.  I want no more surprises.  And add markers for my clan to the map, I want them visible at all times.  That includes Anya.

Jaden nodded in satisfaction as Sasha made his requests happen.  Meanwhile, Emily and Molli were playing dress-up with Anya.  The three of them finally settled on a flowery sundress that accented her pale golden eyes.  When she put it on, the frailest of grasses grew from her scalp giving her a pale green head of hair that looked ethereal as it draped past her shoulders.

Dryad(Evolved from Tree Spirit):  Anya Where to begin... This entity is an anomaly and shouldn't exist, to begin with.  An amalgamation of lost and idle thoughts brought together and congealed into a single whole.  Wisps might be better to refer to these thoughts, but that is equally inaccurate.  Touched by magic, nurtured in nature.  Vivian unknowingly stepped into the realm of the Gods for a fleeting moment when Anya was born.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Anya encountered spiritual energy within the sphinx.  A power she unknowingly craved.  Her attempts to acquire it were futile until the shackles of life were cut from the sphinx.

Jaden dismissed the information, his expression betrayed both shock and awe.  He looked over Anya again, a sense of pride engulfed him; his mother had created a new race.  He focused on his map, his good mood soured instantly.

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Evan looked between Bayne, who was downing drinks as quickly as they were provided, and Lulu who was watching him in shock.

"Bayne, haven't you had enough yet?" Lulu asked in concern.

"Nae till I... I done saw." Bayne was beyond comprehension, he poured the drink he was holding down his throat and slammed the empty goblet down, "Anyutha!"

"No more Anya, he can't even ask for another drink properly." Lulu shook her head.  What a sad state.

"Lo'ky hea, mar'm" Bayne hiccuped, "Ah'm prfktly foin."

Lulu just looked pitifully at him, "And what would Molli say about your current condition?"

For the first time since he started drinking, Bayne looked remorseful.  "Ah, jus... Ah, jus..."

"You've had enough." she stated firmly, "Go sleep it off."

Evan watched Bayne rise and stumble toward the door.  He shuddered unconsciously and looked to see that his mother was glaring daggers at him.  "Mom?"

"You'd better not ever do that to yourself."  Lulu scolded.  "It's not manly, that's cowardice.  At any rate, help him get to his room."

And Molli's opinion of him was just improving.  If she saw him like this... Just what could he have seen that would make him drink like death was a welcome alternative? Lulu thought slightly before a blinding pulsing light filled the building, seeming to emanate from the building walls.  Shortly after the light finally died down, her vision was filled with every flower she'd ever seen, and a multitude of flowers she hadn't.

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Evan did his best to help Bayne, but the difference in size and strength made him wonder what made Lulu think he'd actually be able to help Bayne get to his room.  Still, for all the difficulty he did the best he could.

"Ah, Evan?" Bayne slurred as he leaned on the eight-year-old,  "Ye'r a good lad."

"What happened?" Evan inquired.  The path they were walking had filled with blooming flowers of all sorts, the air became saturated with a sweet fragrance.

Bayne's face turned pale white, he pushed Evan away.  Evan watched as a large portion of the drink Bayne had just consumed came up on him.  Perhaps... that wasn't the best time to ask?  Would there even be a good time I wonder?  Evan helped him back to his feet and took him to the bathhouse.  He helped Bayne inside, he needed a bath himself after that little ordeal.

"Anya, can you make sure he doesn't drown inside?"

That's... odd.  Anya's usually quick to respond.  I know only three people can understand her, but that hasn't stopped her from answering whenever we call to her.

"For the Horde!" Evan turned around to catch a glimpse of a club approaching his head, he slumped to the ground unconscious.  He was surrounded, lifted effortlessly, and taken away.

"I thought the King would put up more of a fight... are you sure we got the right one?"

"He's young now; shouldn't have the kind of power you're thinking of.  That's why we take him now."

"If he's weak why do we want him for our King?"

"This is why I'm the Brains and you're the Brawn."  Brains sighed as he looked at his companion.  He returned his gaze to the boy, carried rather ceremoniously by the Horde considering his unconscious state.

"Why didn't we take him sooner?" Brawn asked.

"This was the time, didn't you notice how easy it was?  We're not even being pursued."

"No, that's because you're marching towards me."  Jaden looked at them disdainfully.  "What do you want with that child?"

"We're taking our future King.  The one born on that fated day." Brawn stated proudly.  Brains smacked him upside the head, "Don't be telling that to everyone who asks.  I need better Brawn.  One that knows when to speak and when to shut up."

Jaden blanched.  They're after me?  And the future king?  Well... decisions.  Do I let them take Evan and see what happens in the future?  ... No, changing fates like that never ends well.

"Isn't that boy a little too old to have been born recently?"

Brawn flashed a winning smile, "Brains, I knew we had the wrong one!"

Brains frowned and shook his head.  "He's the second youngest, and we do not need two Queens."

"Valid points.  But, just for curiosity.  If he turns out not to be the king you're looking for, what then?"

"That will be for Queen to decide.  She always has fun and amusing ways to dispose of failures."  Brawn was giddy with the prospect of their current target being a failure.

"Brawn, you're talking out of turn again.  It's so hard to find good Brawn these days."  Brains scowled at his companion.  "I'm trading you off when we get back to the Horde."

"You're the brains, he's the brawn, and the rest is what...?"

"For the Horde!" they shouted in unison.

"...Brainwashed peons.  Got it."  Jaden weaved through the Horde and retrieved Evan with barely a wind passing by any of them.  "Your little venture is amusing, but I'll save you all some time:  He's not your future King.  Now I have some more pressing matters to attend to, you're all dismissed.  Go back to your Horde."

"Brawn." Brains looked at him slightly apologetically.  "You're not as dumb as I thought."

"Thanks, Brains, but what do we do now?  Going back empty-handed is worse than suicide."  Brawn slumped on a stump.

"How easily he took the boy. That was our King."  Brains mused, "Come Brawn, change of plans..."