Dryad's Revenge

Part 1

Climbing my limbs is one of my favorite things to do. I'm a Dryad, a Sugar Maple Dryad. A spirit of a tree.

I shimmy up to my favorite nook between two of my thickest branches. Tree climbing comes naturally to every Dryad. I pause for a second to gaze down at the ground- maybe 100 feet away. I look through my feet, which are translucent, just like the rest of my body. Even my loose silk dress is see through.

As I get comfortable, I accidentally snap off a small twig. I wince at the sting. The only way Dryads get hurt is when something happens to their tree. It doesn't hurt much, only about as much as a paper cut for humans. I know this because I am a human researcher for JSMS, or 'Justice for Sugar Maples Society'.

JSMS is one of the most important things that goes on in Hillbrook Forest. We are a group that fights against humans for the rights of Dryads. After all, the humans are the ones spilling our blood to concoct a vile liquid known as 'Maple Syrup'.

It is a little past dusk and it's time for the JSMS to commence. I scramble down from my tree and dash through the woods. I splash through the brook, causing the softly-glowing Water Nymphs to retreat behind a tree's roots.

I finally reach Dramada's tall, perfect Maple tree.

"Hello, Jade," Dramada sighs bitterly as she walks around the four other Dryads already congregated there. I rush to Sequoia, my best friend. "We were just going over the ancient rules of dryads." I hesitantly start chanting the rules along with everyone.

"1. Keep things just. 2. Do not seek revenge. 3. Maintain the forest. 4. Do not harm anything belonging to nature." Just those four rules, but we Dryads try to keep them all of them. Okay, sometimes we stretch number two, but we definitely obey one, three, and four, and 75% has got to cut it, doesn't it?

"Anyways, if you want to hear what you're doing tonight, I suggest that you shut up and listen to me," Dramada drawls on, standing on a stump nearby for added height.

I throw my long, green hair out of my face and set my face into a grim expression . I detest Dramada. The only reason I'm in this society is to keep things just, like the first rule states. Dramada made herself a tyrant over us all, just because she's the President of the society, and is concerned with everything that goes on in the forest. No decisions are made without her consent; only since most Dryads fear her.

"All we've ever done to the humans yet is dam the river to flood their property, and break their car windows," Her amber eyes glint mischievously. "But now it is indeed time to take a firm stand." She holds out a small box. "Using these, we will set fire to the humans' dwelling place!"

"She doesn't even know what she's doing," I grumble to Sequoia. She slightly nods, trying not to be noticed by Dramada. Sequoia would never dare stand up to Dramada. Sequoia is very sweet, but it can make her a bit timid as well.

"They're called matches and to set them we... we... strike them against a flint stone," Dramada instructs, obviously not knowing what she is talking about. Of course, since I am a human researcher, and not her, I have to correct her.

"No you don't, you drag them along the textured side of the box," I throw all the sting into my words as I can. It isn't often that Dramada is wrong.

"Of course, Jade. Why don't you just lead us all then?" She adds sarcastically.

"Happily. I'd do the job a lot better than you," I grumble. The other Sugar Maple Dryads look around uncomfortably. Most would say I needed to be "put back in my place".

"Shut up, Jade, I'm still communicating what we're doing," Dramada talks to me as if I am a young sapling. I feel Sequoia pat my shoulder.

"Anyways, before Jade so rudely interrupted, I was going to start organizing groups," She continues. "Each group will have two Dryads, and each group will get one match. We will approach the little house that's about a half a mile away, cross the stream, and surround it. Then each group will light their match."

"How is each group going to light their match?" I ask defiantly. After all, there is only one match box.

Dramada flares her nostrils as she tears the box into three pieces, each with part of the textured part on it. "Jade, you will be with me, since I need to keep an eye on you. Vines will be with Sequoia, and Boulder will be with Berry."

I cross my arms and wait for Dramada, but I see Sequoia approaching her. I step closer to hear what she is saying.

"I don't think I want to participate. Not only is it against the second rule," Sequoia lowers her voice to a whisper. "But I don't want to hurt anyone."

"Well, okay if you want to take the coward's way out!" Dramada turns away from Sequoia like a cobra.

"Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and choices," I defend. I beckon to Sequoia but she steps back. She really doesn't want to come.

I wave to her good naturedly, and jog back to Dramada. "You shouldn't be so manipulative all the time." She shrugs as she steps over a rotting log.

"Everyone, we need to go this way," She barks as we trudge along. She weaves her way through dryads, gives each group a match and a piece of the special textured area of the box, and lays the rest of the matches at the foot of her tree underneath a pile of leaf litter.