Dryad

Parting

As expected, a problem arose. I tried to leave on my own and return to Vadim, but Tarlow caught me before I could escape and took my behavior as an insult. I guess he thinks he doesn't take good enough care of me. Vadim appeared in person a few days later and was not happy:

-Klarissa!-he called me and I knew that I would get hit on the head with a book if I didn't answer.

I ran away from Tarlow and ran towards Vadim who caught me and picked me up. Why do I get the feeling that Tarlow feels betrayed now? It's not like I've sold my soul and don't want to hang out with him anymore:

-Where have you been so far? Are you so mad at me that you had to run away for a month? Uncle returned home and looked for you, but you weren't there. He says that I don't know how to take care of you.-he instructed me sternly and looked as if he would likely drown me in the stream now, but how could he hurt me?

I hugged him and gave him a few kisses, hoping that he would immediately forget that I had been gone for a month. Maybe next time he'll let me go on a trip with Maksim, so we won't have a dramatic parting and my day and night protesting and sulking:

-Is she yours?-Tarlow asked, barely restraining his impulsive nature and the urge to argue with him now:

-She disappeared when we were going through the forest. You would have saved yourself a lot of time and nerves if you had immediately reported that you had found her.

-To return her to you in such a condition? You could have torn something along the way, she's not damaged enough.

-She was injured when I found her. We treated her for months, but her skin remained the same. Whoever burned her did a good job. If only she could talk, we might be able to learn more. She doesn't even make sounds.

-She was never able to speak or did you make sure it was that way?

-She came mute, but she probably wouldn't have stopped talking if she hadn't. I see too much from her facial expressions. Fortunately, she knows elvish, so I can't say anything bad around her.

-Do you have to take her?-Pavel suddenly asked:

-She belongs to our house and guards the property from other humans. No one passed by her side alive.

-You teach her to kill.

-Her hatred for primitive creatures is innate. It turned out to be good for us. Someone has to do that too.-this sounds like I'm a cold-blooded killer who sits in front of the door the whole time, just waiting for someone to show up uninvited:

-Unusual for a dryad, but that's what you do when someone burns down your forest.-this is my first voice on the fact that dryads shouldn't be violent, but I can agree with him:

-Let's go home, Klarissa. You had enough time to sulk.-he directed me and took me on his horse.

I waved at Tarlow as we left and I couldn't help but notice the disappointment and anger on his face. He was saying so much that they had to take me back to other humans and set me free, and now it was so hard for him to let me go anywhere at all.

I couldn't wait to see Maksim again and I immediately ran to him when we got back. How could he be angry with me because I was on a trip? He was gone for three months and I don't bite him for that:

-And where did you go?-he asked me sternly, but he let me hug him:

-You started running away from home? Are we not taking good enough care of you?

-Tarlow was looking after her.

-He was never quite obedient to the authorities. It is his luck that he does his job well. And that his job doesn't require me to talk to him all the time.

-We should have sent him on an island.

-He didn't do anything to you, did he?-he asked me gently, but he didn't get a reason from me that this time he should go back to him and feed the trees with his remains:

-I brought you some seeds. You can plant it in the yard.-I feel special. Elves don't usually bring gifts to humans without asking for something in return like a blood sacrifice or a child. But then again, I'm a nymph, maybe they have some kind of privileges.