Into the Forest

Hazmureth

     The female bölog, Val, came running into the room. "I was told something's going on. What's wrong?" She looked up from her friends to see me. "Oh, you again." Was she upset to see me? All the rest seems concerned, excited even. But her? Just sour teenage angst, as usual.
     Rolygh, the male bölog, tapped the seat next to him, indicating she could sit there. She did.
     "This is everyone, then," I stated. "Let us begin."
     The kulsentii to my side cleared xyr throat to address the fae gathered before us. "Well, there's really no easy way to go about this... We're at war. The rest of Walo will be alerted later."
     The looks of the fae grew sickened; it was clear none of them thought this day would come so soon, if at all. In fact, the reality of it had still not fully hit me.
     "Indeed," I assured. "The world as we know it is compromised. Ready or not, we must fight - or die." I looked down, facing the ground. "The barre already murdered the other faalä. I am the last of the First. The barre has fully charged its power, and is now on the move. It is far yet, but on a path here."
     Mikotto cut in. "From what Hazmureth has seen, the barre is on a clear path, going from hold to hold which opposed the dohl Khyla. Though it is still far, there are a shocking few holds which never sided with her, neither for protection or in agreement with her ideas."
     I nodded. "If any of you feel you're prepared to fight, I'm gathering an army; Mikotto will ask all the other fae in this hold to join at dinner tonight; those who can assist will be transported to the hold needing our aid the day of the battle. Chrysanthemum, you will have to remain out of harm's way for now." The girl looked disappointed, scowling and pouting a green lip. "If you are hurt, all is lost."
     Rolygh, Juniper, and Thylo all agreed to go. Becca volunteered as well, but Mikotto reminded her that she was still learning to use her new prosthetic arm and should focus on that for now. I thanked all for their assistance, though I had seen Becca in my visions and knew she was ready to fight. Perhaps I would discuss things with Mikotto later...
     "Currently, the barre is in the human country of Canada; it will then work its way down into the United States, where we are, and into Mexico and so forth. The hold it is currently attacking is a lost cause; there is no helping them now. Its army will be in southern Canada, bordering Washington state, soon. That's where the forces I've gathered will come in. With luck, we can hold it back."
     "And what if we cannot?" Juniper asked. "Is it safe to go fighting a fae more powerful than so many of us combined?"
     "The barre has been staying back and only showing its face if its troops successfully weaken the hold. If a hold shows perseverance, the forces move elsewhere. From what I can tell, the barre is wanting to preserve itself for a larger battle. It's testing us all right now; the weakest are crushed outright, while the strong live to see another day. To me, it seems like the being is toying with us all."
     "If it's not there, why can't I go?" blurted Chrysanthemum. "I've been kicking ass in my training, and it won't even be there!"
     "I'm sorry to do this to you, but no. Please don't take it as a personal attack on your abilities. I know that you are more than capable of holding your own, but again: If any harm comes to you, we all die. You're too important to risk you getting hurt or killed to appease your ego."
     The girl quieted and mumbled among her sisters. She did not raise the issue again, seeming to be content with being of such high importance.
     "What about those of us who can't do anything right and have no value?" Val asked. "I can hardly fight, I can't really use magic. We might as well use me as a sacrifice to draw the barre out!"
     The vitriol in her voice caused the room to grow silent. "Val," I said, careful to not make her attitude worse. "You have a purpose here, just like the rest of your friends. You'd not be in this meeting if fate did not have a plan for you. Everyone here is special, essential in this war. You all serve an important role in the survival of life as we know it. Some of you know your purpose, others yet do not, and shall not. I even play a role here greater than I may suppose. If any of you are doubtful of your strength, keep your past struggles in mind. You've all overcome your own obstacles, and they've grown who you are as fae. Don't forget who you are."
     Mikotto chimed in again, seemingly to break the ensuing silence. "If you're not yet ready to fight, fret not! As your kulsentii I'm here for you all no matter what. Seriously, let me know if any of you need anything. Advice, guidance, help practicing magic - whatever it may be. I inherited this title, and I fully intend to take it seriously."
     "Those of you who agreed to join the fight early, come with me; the rest of you need to stay here and hone your skills. If you feel you're ready at any point, tell Mikotto. Xe has a way to directly contact me."
     Juniper, Thylo, and Rolygh stayed in the room with me; Chrysanthemum, Fern, Val, and Becca left with Mikotto. "Have any of you ever not used a portal?" I asked. The sensation could make one vomit if they'd never experienced it before, and I didn't want a sick fae on my hands. Luckily, they all had, and we left the safety for Walo for my home.
    
     "You're back already! That was quick."
     I smiled with the mouth on my neck, a gruesome sight. "Yes," I told her in her mind. "I couldn't keep you waiting too long."
     "Who's the human?" Thylo interjected. "Why are we in a human home?"
     "This was my mother in my most recent incarnation. She agreed to let us use this as our base, since the residence of the faalä was destroyed and is still unsafe."
     "This isn't even my house," she laughed, "but my aunt never uses it, so she'll never know. You all speak English, right?" All present nodded. "Wonderful! I'm Desiree. It's nice to meet you all."
     She went around to shake hands, and the three greeted her. Thylo simply nodded, as he had no hands. "Should we morph into humans?" Rolygh, whose head scraped the ceiling, asked.
     "If you wish," I responded. "It will neither help nor harm the situation, so do what you will. If it will make you more comfortable here, I will not object."
     The bölog looked to the other two and began changing his shape to appear human. The oako followed suit, claiming his many legs were a hindrance in the human world. Rolygh was now a tall, skinny, shaggy teen; Thylo a punk-looking androgynous human in his midlife. Juniper alone remained in her natural skin.
     "We'll be moving out tomorrow," I told them. "Mom, you'll be here for backup; if anyone is too badly hurt, I'll send them to you. You should all get some rest. Choose your own bed. The house is open to you all. There are two showers if you desire a cleaning; the pantry's full of a variety of foods; and there are various forms of entertainment here. Just no magic, either inside or outside the house."
     The bölog and oako walked off, eager to explore. Juniper stayed in the living room with Mom and I.
     "Are you not curious as to what human houses hold?" I questioned her.
     She shook her head. "Not particularly." She paused, starting at her feet. "I have never been in a battle before. What is it like? Do you think I will get hurt? I get visions in my sleep, yet I have seen nothing of my fate, or the future at all." She looked up to me, then back to her feet, as if ashamed.
     "Do not doubt yourself, young one," I reassured her. "What you're doing is noble. I've not seen anything either, but I have seen you in training and believe you're more than ready. Think of how happy Fern and Becca will be to see you, and how Chrysanthemum will look at you for your bravery."
     At the name of the changeling arydium the girl flushed a darker shade of green, hiding behind her hair. She acted like it was not happening. "I just want things to work out and for everyone to be safe. I came with you to help protect those who cannot protect themselves, but what happens if I get hurt while we're helping others? Fern is so young she would be lost without me, and..." Tears began falling from her large yellow eyes. "You are old and wise, Hazmureth. Do you think I am doing the right thing?"
     "Experience tells me you're in the right, Juniper. Do not worry. If you're harmed, you'll be sent back to this house. It's safe here; we're outside the fae realm and the barre is too busy to come looking for me, and too ignorant to check the human world."
     She nodded and walked over to hug me, careful to avoid touching my wings. "Thank you," she mumbled. "You are a good friend."
     'Friend?' I thought, 'Have I ever had a friend?' The other faalä were not exactly friends, more like siblings or coworkers. We had a mutual respect for each other, but were we friends? "It's no big deal," I told her. "Why not go join the others, see what they're up to?"
     The two male fae came down the stairs as if I'd summoned them. "Hands are amazing," Thylo commented; it was clear he'd never taken on a human form before. "I don't know why oako don't give ourselves hands more often. We messed up when we evolved into beasts. The shape most fae take on works so much better in both realms!"
     "This place is pretty big," Rolygh said as he and Thylo entered the living room. "Not as big as Walo, but for a human habitation it's pretty nice."
     I nodded in agreement. "Find anything of interest?"
     "Just weird human stuff," Thylo said, wiggling an arm in the air.
     "How about we get our beds assigned? One faerie per bed," Mom said. "I will have to go back home soon. Your father will be worrying about me. Daronté, please be careful. I know you're not really my child, but I still love you as if you were."
     "I know, Mom," I told her, opening a portal to transport her back to her apartment. After the Cave sent me back to her, I'd not known what to call her. Desiree seemed too personal and disrespectful, so I decided to stick with 'Mom.'
     "Keep safe," Mom said as she departed, standing on her toes so she could kiss me on the cheek. "You're special in too many ways for the world to lose you." I felt a hole open in my chest as she walked into the portal and disappeared. I ended the spell, closing the portal.
     "Daronté, huh?" Rolygh mocked. "Humans have odd names. That's nowhere near a proper faalä name!" He laughed a little before seeing my expression and stopping, intimidated. Mom didn't have to call me by my true name. Whatever she had named me, that was my name, too. Her heart was too pure for me to break it by insisting she call me by the name I went by among the fae.
     We left each other for our rooms. Thylo insisted upon sleeping on the couch, stating, "It's the strangest bed here! I love it." Rolygh and Juniper both went upstairs, as did I.
     None of us spoke much after we chose where we'd sleep. Juniper and Thylo were quick to fall asleep, and Rolygh wanted time to think. I laid down out of boredom, shrinking into my human form for the sake of comfort in these small human beds.
     I dreamt of the events which had brought me here. When I had come back to Hlorr to find it destroyed, the Spirit of the Cave had driven me out. 'Leave!' it had pleaded. The barre had been there, killed my brethren, and left. The Cave, embodied by the spirit of an ancient faalä, had me leave to preserve our tribe. Faalä have always been void of romantic or sexual feelings - we've always been beings of pure logic, for the most part - so reproduction was rare in our tribe. All this I found out from Mom, whom the Spirit has sent me to.
     "You're the only one left," she had told me. "I don't know how it happened, but you're it. No more. Your kind have never been great in numbers, but you're it now. For that reason, you need to be cautious. Have you fully recovered your memories yet? Don't do anything rash, because faalä play more of a role in the fae world than most realize."
     She'd explained everything she knew to me, information passed to her from her mother, who gained it from her father, who gained it from his mother and so forth - but it wasn't enough. There were still so many gaps in my knowledge. I had regained all memory of the past thousand years or so, but I'd been absent for fourteen while I was in the human realm, and I needed those years filled in. I could now recall the kulsentii by the name of Koultho, but I remembered him as a good and just fae, and not the type to side with some fae like Khyla.
     Another vision began to form within my dream. The kulsentii in question, standing in a strange hall surrounded by strange fae. He was on a platform, and a small oako shuffled toward him. The oako got to the platform and the kulsentii stood, speaking with the young fae before him - it was Tiko. 'Why am I seeing him?' I questioned, before the kulsentii began to shift, morphing into an oversized piece of machinery. The barre! I knew he'd been hiding as a fae, and my suspicion that it was Koultho had proven correct!
     I woke in my excitement, panting. I knew how to proceed now, for the barre's location and identity were all I needed to complete this puzzle. Perhaps we could track it back to Koultho's group and eliminate it before it struck. The war could be stopped before it even began, if only we could get one of Koultho's group to talk.
     As much as I wanted to rouse the others, I let them sleep. We would still have a fight in the morning, so my newfound knowledge could wait until then.
     I lay in bed for over an hour. 'You're losing sleep, you fool!' I thought. I cast a spell of sleeping on myself and woke to daylight what seemed like seconds later.
     I could sense that the others were awake around me. I exited the room and padded downstairs on small human feet.
     "Oh, hey," Rolygh greeted me when I walked in. "You're a kid now, too. Cool." He was rummaging through cabinets. "Is there no cereal here? What kind of human doesn't have cereal?"
     I smiled and opened one of the cabinets he had yet to investigate; inside was a box of cereal. "Ha!" he yelled in excitement, grabbing the box and pouring its contents into a bowl. "Fae food is good, but sometimes I just want shitty human food, y'know?"
     Juniper had joined us in the kitchen at Rolygh's outburst. "I did not sleep well," she said groggily. "Human beds are not so comfortable as pine."
     "It's what we had to make do with," I apologized. "If I had my way we'd be back in Hlorr, where you don't even need pine to wake feeling rested."
     The three of us ate a human breakfast in silence. Thylo was elsewhere; he was awake and in the house, but did not seem to want to join us. Rolygh said he was in the bathroom with a grin that meant we should let him have his space.
     When the oako finally decided the join us, he looked rather exhausted. "Sleepy?" Rolygh laughed.
     "I have never had hands, Rolygh!" the oako shouted. "No one told me they were so - handy!"
     The two laughed; Juniper looked confused. "I do hope they are not speaking of what it seems," she said with a sigh. I nodded, certain of what was going on.
     Thylo ate half the food in the house before he was content to set out. "With luck," I told the group, "we'll get there on time. Back to fae form, all, so we do not confuse those we will be helping."
     Rolygh, Thylo, and I all transformed ourselves, becoming our true shapes once more. I opened a portal to the southwestern Canadian hold of Akuk, and we all stepped through.
     We came out into a chaotic scene. Fae were rushing in all directions trying to fortify the hold. Fae of every age and gender and tribe, all working together to save one another. The four of us stood, dumbfounded at the floundering fae, until a bölog approached us.
     "Who are you?" they asked. "State your business."
     "I am Hazmureth," I told them, "last of the faalä. The fae with me are here to aid in your fight, as am I. Could you take us to Ahal so we know where we are needed?"
     At the name of their kulsentii, the bölog relaxed. "My apologies, Hazmureth. I had not realized you were a guest of Ahal's. My name is Aurol, and I am lead bölog here. I will take you to Ahal immediately." They turned from us and barked orders at their underlings, then addressed our group again. "This way, please."
     We walked with the bölog for a short while before the kulsentii appeared in front of us.
     "Ahal," they said, at attention, "some help has arrived." The bölog presented us to the kulsentii, who nodded slightly.
     "Good," Ahal spoke. "The bölog should go with Aurol here; they will show you where you are needed. The oako will go with the the oako-dohl teams; we should still have an unpaired dohl or two for you to work with. The arydium will go with the other arydium and the thylasee; you'll be at the back of the attack, more auxiliary forces than anything, but just as important. And you," they said, looking at me, "will stick with me. Our battle is of a different sort."
     I nodded. I'd been in situations like this before; the two of us would hide somewhere outside the immediate fighting and cast general protection spells where they were needed. Only if it came to it would we fight.
     "We may have more on their way," I informed Ahal. I had not heard from Mikotto to see if xe had found more recruits, but I imagined xe had found at least a few fae to come help. "Rolygh, please go with Aurol here. I assume Juniper and Thylo's superiors will be here to gather them sometime soon?"
     The kulsentii affirmed this. "Thylo will be under Kafos, one of those in control of the oako; Juniper will be under Mayphis, a thylasee. They, or one of their messengers, should be here shortly to collect them. As for the two of us," they said, reaching for my hand, "we should begin our work. We still have much to do."
     I walked with the tall grey fae, leaving behind those I knew. They looked at me with nervous eyes, eyes which would hopefully meet mine again after this battle. Only one of them had been in a battle before, and I was certain this was nerve wracking for all three. We may not have been the best of friends, but they were all I had in this world right now besides Mom; I wanted them to be safe, not just for whatever their purposes were in this war, but for me as well.
     Ahal brought us to a room shielded with magic. Until a wave of Ahal's hand, it appeared as just another wall. We entered, and sat at the table inside. Cobwebs and dust clung to every surface. I cleared them away with magic, making the room much more comfortable. It had clearly been a very long time since Akuk had seen a fight, and I hoped dearly that this kulsentii had what it took to manage the horde heading our way.
     "I assumed you've done something like this before, correct?" Ahal asked. I told them that I had. "Wonderful. Then you'll need no explanation." They slipped into a coma-like state, leaning far back into the wide chair in which they sat. 'Good,' I thought. 'They're comfortable melding with their hold. I have little to worry about.' I followed their example, and felt myself become one with the hold.
     The magic to do so was no more complex than telepathically contacting other fae, yet only faalä and head kulsentii were permitted to use the spell per the ruling of the Code of the Civil Fae. It was too easy for those weak in discipline to get sucked in and become one with their hold; the Spirit of Hlorr was one such unfortunate being, a faala far older than myself whose arrogance as a young fae caused them to forever be trapped.
     The lives of all resident fae began to pulse around me. The magic worked in such a way that enemy fae would feel different, but putting this feeling into words was often difficult. Out of curiosity, I searched for the fae I knew; all three were safely preparing for battle. Their signatures were not quite the same as those living here, but did not have the negative feel our attackers would. All of them had been given armor to wear, which mostly fit loosely but would protect them from both physical and magical attacks. They'd also been equipped with whatever weapons they'd need. It appeared as if Mikotto had sent a good thirty more fae from Walo, as well; they, too, had been given the armor and weapons to prepare them for what was to come. A gentle prod from Ahal's consciousness reminded me of our task.
     I projected myself to one side of the hold and Ahal to the other, and we began weaving a spell of protection around the perimeter of the mountain which made up Akuk, moving clockwise to avoid running into each other's progress. The spell would take a little time, but the threat was not yet here; with luck, we would finish soon, before they decided to arrive. Once the perimeter was sealed, we began to fortify within the mountain. Walls and armor and weapons came first, and we eventually moved on to helping the fae themselves. Those on the front lines were aided first, as they would take the most damage; then came the strongest of those further back in the attack, and moved down through the ranks. I was happy to see Rolygh was one of those with high enough skill to get a good amount of protection and additional strength.
     An alarm sounded at some point; from the peak of the mountain of Akuk, an arydium was blowing a horn. Consciously, yet unconsciously, Ahal and I assessed the threat. A portal had opened just outside the territory, and fae forces were piling through. We boosted our defenses once more before the opposing force charged.
     I withdrew into the mountain's interior. Those on the front lines were prepared, ready to attack.
     Magic battles are a tricky and dangerous matter. There are many fae who are struck by their own friends, either by accident in the confusion of it all, or with an exploding or far-reaching spell. Additionally, many fae would carry physical weapons, which could either be brandished as is or enchanted to become more powerful.
     The enemy was at the mountain's base now. Ahal and I sent up a jet of flame around the entrance to defend it; the opposing fae took a step back, but then protected themselves and ran on. The distraction bought those inside more time to enchant weapons and armor and cast spells of protection.
     The fae of Akuk charged, clashing with the enemy as they clambered through the mountain hold's wide opening. Lightning and fire and water surged along the entrance as different fae cast different spells. Those casting wind magics came last, whipping the fires up into the faces of the enemy. Electricity dissipated as single-fae attacks began. Fae on both sides began falling where they were struck; the fallen from our side were transported to the infirmary by Ahal and myself, where they would either be mended if still alive or cremated if dead to avoid potential reanimation.
     The battle struggled on, moving into the dining hall. All furniture had been removed to make way for the battle, and the room was now filled with fighting fae. We worked from our hiding place, constantly improving defenses, and spiking offense in whatever fae needed it. From the mountain top, arydium fried enchanted arrows onto the enemy fae trying to breach the mountain's mouth; of those in the attack was Juniper, whose passion for Chrysanthemum gave her strength and speed beyond what either of us knew she had.
     The battle had moved further in, going down to the dohl and oako level of the cave, and up to where the rest of the fae resided. Down below, Thylo aided a young dohl in attack; despite just having met, the pair worked like they'd known each other for years. In the hall, Rolygh and many other bölog held the majority of the forces outside.
     Fallen fae lay everywhere, and soon the entrance was clogged with the bodies of the enemy. The bölog there began to use these to block entry into Akuk.
     Outside, the enemy began to scale the mountain, though unsuccessfully. Few escaped the arrows of the arydium, the wicked winds of the thylasee, or the thick, boiling, tar-like substance of the mekar. Those which avoided all threats proceeded to enter small windows further up, or proceeded to the summit itself. Most were quickly dispatched, often tumbling back down the steep slope and crashing into their fellow Pythans.
     We thought the battle was all but won and considered pulling back into our bodies when a rift opened in the center of the upper level housing. The enemy was now above us, one of them having slipped by our watchful eyes and made their way there to invite there fellows through a portal; and, as they had the high ground, were beating us back. The stairwells were clogged and soon became too destroyed to stand upon. The Akuk fae had to retreat, leaving the enemy to the upper levels.
     Bölog and other fighters were stationed up to level six, but after that there were only weak fae and, at the second to top level, the infirmary. The enemy was quickly fighting off the bölog, who were vastly outnumbered. Without a word, Ahal agreed that I should address this, and I left the safety of Akuk for the hidden room, which I then left for the fray.
     No fae here could withstand my power. I took out tens at a time, and none could overpower me. Quick I was to dispose of those threatening this hold. Most realized they couldn't best me, and let me pass without a word; this, surely, damaged their pride, but I hadn't the time for hurt egos.
     I teleported to the infirmary to find a horrifying scene: necromancers had somehow gotten up there as well, and were reanimating the dead who had yet to be cremated. The very fae many had been friends or kin to were now off to murder their own; despite being friends in life, they were foe in death, and I incinerated them, as well as the vile fae responsible from bringing the dead back to life.
     A quick look over the hold showed that some of the same had happened on the lower levels. The Akukian fae we're doing a good job of holding down the mountain, but the corpses of the enemy had a strength the living did not: no fear nor feeling of pain. I destroyed them all in a fiery act of vengeance, not stopping until every last one had turned to ash.
     When my attack stopped, I noticed an unnatural stillness. Looking around, all the fae were sitting or leaning around the hall, trying to catch their breath or stop a wound. Ahal surfaced moments later, proclaiming, "They withdrew. Our hold is safe!"
     Those in good enough shape cheered the good news, embracing one another in their joy. Word was spread to the rest of the hold; the dead and injured were sent to the mountain peak, and by sundown all still alive and mostly uninjured were gathered in the dining hall to feast.
     Juniper, Rolygh, Thylo, and I had to leave eventually, heading back to our sanctuary to rest.
     "That was exhausting," Juniper sighed when we got back. "How much more of that do we have?"
     "Too damn much!" Rolygh grunted. He and Thylo had eaten two whole boxes of Pizza Rolls, despite feasting shortly before with the Akuk hold; both were nearly comatose.
     I laughed a genuine laugh for the first in a long time. These fae were truly becoming like my family; I found I was growing to care for them deeply. "There will be many more battles," I let them know, "but we will all make it through so long as we don't do anything too foolish. If you want to go home you can, but I think you three have what it takes to help me in this. Though you're but three, you made a difference today."
     We slept well that night, and well into the next afternoon. There would be no fighting today as the enemy tallied their dead and made plans for another attack; all we had to do was rest.
     The real battle loomed overhead. The battle in which we would all have to fight to uphold the world which countless fae before us had worked so hard to secure. For now, we could relax and laugh; but I'd already seen it. The bloody fighting. The mountains of bodies. The crying. The heartache. And the victory, if just a single player could keep herself alive.