The Whispers Of Trees

10. Elk-Son

As the grass grew longer, reaching around their waists, the grand structure of Amber Boughs grew ahead of them.

Made entirely of glass panes it sat glistening beneath the overgrowth that draped over most of it, hiding some of the glass room, turrets that gave it a second layer.

But even with the plant life covering it, the beauty and the end of it remained unwavering.

Orym wasted no time in marching towards it and the two sliding doors that he guessed was the entrance, Alimar begrudgingly following behind.

With no other option but to knock, he hoped that someone would hear him and answer.

But as he waited, he felt more and more foolish, of course no one would hear him, the size of the building made that impossible.

"Hello" a small called, which had Orym spinning around and peering down at a young girl, no older than two rings, who stood in front of Alimar with childish doe eyes.

It brought on a wave of severe yearning for Orym, the features of the girl similar to that of his beloved daughter. For Alimar, however, he didn't seem comfortable, especially as the child began asking numerous questions and tugged on his sleeve.

"What's your name then little one? Do you live here?" Orym asked gently as though the child would be as easily spooked as the wild elk.

"My name's Amanita, but I'm not little. I'm bigger than both of you" she said, placing her hands on her hips in a fashion that seemed uncanny to Faelyn's old movements when on the verge of a tantrum.

"Well Amanita" he began, dropping to a crouch "It's very nice to meet you. I do apologise for being so rude. Can you forgive me?" he asked sweetly, flashing her a warm smile that had always won his little Faelyn- who wasn't so little anymore- over and settle the brewing havoc.

Amanita tapped her finger against her chin before standing tall and looking at him. "I think so, but you have to promise one thing" she noted, her voice falling to a whisper that Orym matched.

"And what would that be?"

With childish giggles, she replied "You have to play teacups with me and my friends. Pappa's too grumpy to play"

Orym couldn't help the giddy smile spread on his face in response. "I'm sure we can manage a tea party. I need your help too, my friend and I need to come and talk to your village leader, but we don't know how to get in. Can you help us with that?"

"Obviously, I live here. You just go through these doors" she said, pointing at the doors he had knocked on.

"Can we follow you to him? We're very good at getting lost" Orym stated, which brought on more childish laughs that soon trailed away through the doors and into the glass house.

Turning to check that Alimar was still with him, he couldn't help but to prod at him and his bewilderment at seeing a child, he supposed, for the first time.

"Adorable aren't they?"

"In a way. They are severely naive" Alimar said as they began to follow the tapping footsteps of their guide.

"You're telling me, as my soul, that you wouldn't want children?"

"We as spirits, as your souls, cannot conceive. It is not a matter of whether I would want to or not, there is no use putting emotions into something that can never happen"

With naught to say in reply, Orym, beside Alimar, continued on after Amanita.

Down glass halls, lined with a multitude of plants, both colourful and green, either pressed against the outside window or crawling in through the rusted-open skylights, to dangle and dance in the subtle breeze.