Her Realm

ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 11 𝔒𝔠𝔱𝔬𝔟𝔢𝔯 20𝔱𝔥, 1986

Alexa had made up her mind to destroy her guitar. Not only would it save Kinoko's family, who she would love to call her own, but help her get rid of the bad memories of her father. She would finally be able to let go and be able to start a new chapter of her life. She sat with Hana in the front garden and watched as Hana taught her how to plant certain plants.

"All you have to do is listen to them, they will tell you their favorite spots and how much water they want or need." Hana explained picking up a pot with a white rose bush in it. She leaned closer to the flower and just sat listening to it. Alexa couldn't hear anything from the rose and just sat back in silence. Hana put the rose down and began digging a hole a little to her left until it could fit the roses. Alexa passed the roses to her.

"How did you hear them?" Alexa asked as Hana placed the roses in the ground. She handed Alexa the now empty pot then started filling the hole.

"I have always had a special connection with nature," She looked back at Alexa and smiled before continuing. "It does take time though. You must be patient with nature because even though beautiful and bold looking it is very shy." Alexa looked a bit confused at first before Hana went more in depth. "It is like meeting someone brand new before. You get nervous and with nature it has a hard time talking to people, especially new people." The two stood and Hana placed her hands on each of Alexa's shoulders. "Just give it a bit of time and be kind," She began walking back inside. She stopped at the door and said one last thing. "Because nature can be your strongest ally or your worst nightmare."

Alexa stood still watching Hana go inside and shut the door behind her. She kept thinking of what Hana had said then walked to the forest. Alexa sat by a nearby stream she had seen, it wasn't Tal's river but it was still calming. She sat by a bush that had small purple flowers and dark green leaves. It was right by the river, so Alexa sat down her legs crossed.

"It's been a hard month," Alexa began talking to the bush. "And I haven't even finished the first task yet, I'm running out of time." Alexa sighed then layed back onto the grass.

Snap!

Alexa whipped her head around to see someone there behind her. They had short brown fluffy hair with deer like ears instead of human or elf ears. They had more of a warm beige skin tone and freckles around their face. Their green eyes filled with terror as Alexa just stared at them. Alexa then calmed down and patted the spot next to her. The new person slowly walked over and sat over to Alexa.

'Could they be a doe?' Alexa thought to herself before the other person spoke up.

"No I am not a doe, I wish though." They laughed, Alexa stared at them for a second. "My name's Maxxie," they held their hand out for a handshake. Alexa held their hand and shook it then brought her hand back to her side.

"I'm Alexa, if you're not a doe then what are you?" Alexa asked.

"Well I used to be a doe, a well-known one to! My whole family was and they are still well known, me not as much." She paused and sighed before continuing. "I am non-binary and use they/them pronouns, but my family wasn't very accepting about it. They told me to leave the house and never come back. Then one night while I was sleeping my brother came and put this curse on me." Alexa's eyes went wide as she heard this.

"What curse? I am sorry for asking but I don't see anything wrong with you." Maxxie laughed softly.

"Well you know how does look, they have perfect skin and beautiful hair, overall simply perfect. The curse my brother placed on me was to take away any doe genes I had and make me look like a wild animal." They explained while reaching up to touch their ears.

"I don't know what you mean honestly, I think you look adorable." Alexa smiled as she laid back onto the grass. Maxxie's face warmed up as they became flustered.

"Thanks." They smiled as they just sat there. They sat in silence for a while before Alexa spoke up and asked a question.

"Well, where have you been staying?" Maxxie layed down beside Alexa and thought for a moment.

"I have been just wandering around the forest and going to the smaller secret shops to get food. I just try to find comfy grassy areas to sleep in." The two sat in silence. The wind gently blowing every now and then with the sound of the stream in the background. Alexa turned her head to face Maxxie, they were just smiling up at the sky.

"Does nature talk to you by any chance?" Alexa asked.

"Yeah, it kind of surprised me at first."

"How did you do it?"

"I honestly don't know but I guess with me spending so much time outside and talking to the trees and plants, nature warmed up to me." Alexa sighed. Maxxie looked over at her and held her hand.

"It takes time, nature just needs time to warm up to you." Maxxie smiled. Alexa smiled right back at them then looked back up at the sky. Maxxie then stood up and began walking toward the forests again. Alexa got up and turned to look at them.

"Wait-" Alexa called out, Maxxie turned to face her.

"Sorry but I should really go look for a place to rest tonight, it will be getting dark soon so you should probably go home as well." Maxxie smiled then disappeared behind the trees. Alexa just turned to her left and began walking back to the house.

By the time Alexa got home the sun was starting to set. She walked through the door into the kitchen and saw Hana and Indy sitting at the table. Alexa smiled as she passed them and sat in the living room with Kinoko.

"Where have you been?" Kinoko asked Alexa as she made space for her to sit. Alexa sat next to Kinoko then answered.

"I went to clear my mind and hopefully just get nature a bit more used to me." Alexa smiled. "I also met this one person names Maxxie, they said they used to be part of a well-known family of doe's." Alexa explained.

"What was their family name?"

"I am actually not sure, they only told me their first name." Kinoko just stayed silent, she then picked up a book from the table in front of her. The title was, 'The kings castle', Alexa had never read it before. Kinoko opened it up and began to read aloud. Alexa layed her head on Kinoko's shoulder and listened to her soft voice read out the story.

Alexa groaned as she sat up. She looked around the room then realized she was up in Kinoko's room. Alexa turned and smiled at Kinoko's still sleeping figure. She stood up and looked out the window and the dark starry night. Alexa sighed before leaving the room and walking out into the hall. She turned and walked into the guest room and took the old guitar out from under the bed. She took it down the stairs and slipped on her pair of shoes, that since her first day are now covered in brown mud stains.

She walked into the forest toward the stream where she had met Maxxie. The cold wind blew against her skin and she shivered. She continued to walk until she finally reached her destination. She stared at the river, gripping her guitar tightly between her hands. She took a deep breath before throwing it into the middle of the river which had a rock sticking above. The guitar snapped as it contacted the rock then flowed back down the river.

Alexa refused to allow herself to cry over the guitar, over the thing the person who caused her the most harm gave to her. She sucked back her tears and began walking back to the house. She pushed through the branches and walked through the mud. The small two floored house soon entered her vision and she quickly ran toward it. She took off her shoes and began to quietly get back into bed. She laid quiet, the only sound being Kinoko's soft breathing and the wind outside. She closed her eyes and soon drifted off into sleep.