Magic Undone

Chapter 3: Crushing

Right after school was finished, I was exhausted. so much had happened today, and I just needed some time to cool down. To have some time to relax and do my homework, I decided to go to my special peaceful spot in the forest by the school. I have been there before, and it is beautiful. So full of plant and animal life, and among the trees I feel a kind of peace I could never feel among beings. I text my mom and say that I'm going to my forest spot. Ok, I will be there to pick you up in two hours when I'm done with work. See you soon, love!

I let out a breath i I didn't realize I was holding, and silently thank Frah for letting my mother be ok with me going to the forest today. I don't always have time for the forest, so this was a gift. This will surely help my stress. I quickly run over to the edge of the forest, and just stand there for a minute to take in the sweet, fresh air. This is where I am meant to be.

I step past the first tree and let the beautiful, vibrant greens cover me in a blanket of dull warmth. I smell the scent of pines and grass, and hear the voices of the birds calling to one another across the thick canopy. I never would get lost in a place as perfect as this. I recall every detail and which direction I came from, and file any new directions into my memory. A wolf walked up to me and cautiously sniffed me. I got down on my knees and put out my hand for the wolf to sniff. The wolf sniffed my hand and looked up to me with an unspoken, instant trust. I consider myself lucky to be one of the elves who can easily befriend wild animals. I got up and started walking, and I heard the wolf delicately following after me. I could not get over the sense of peace this place gives me. It's like I have a direct connection to the earth itself.

I started jotting down some story ideas for creative writing while I walked, and everything is just flowing out of me. I even decide to (quite horribly) draw a jaguar in the forest. As I'm sitting and working on some class projects, I see some forest animals walk by me and simply look at me, with curious expressions drawn all over their faces. After some walking through the deep forest, I came across the clearing I always go to when I have a stressful day. There was a log in the middle of the clearing that I dragged there to sit on and do homework. The wolf walked over to the log and sat down next to me. I walked over to the log and sat on the slightly damp wood, closed my eyes and brought my face up to the sun. I felt the warm sunlight kiss my face, and saw the light bleeding through my eyelids. Sighing, I opened my homework calendar and got to work.

                                                                                    。。。

After one hour of homework, I checked the time to see how long I had until pickup. The forest always made me feel free and alive. All of a sudden, I heard something crashing loudly through the bushes. I got up quickly, and ran for the bushes across from the sound. The wolf followed in close pursuit. I ran lightly, hardly making a sound. That's too big to be an animal. I gaze across the clearing to see a male jahsly pushing through the bushes. He had red-orange hair, and a kind face. You'd think such a smart species would know how to be quieter. He looked at the log, and I realized I forgot to hide my homework. Shoot. I saw him suddenly crouch down and sneak toward my bag. Well, why couldn't you have been that quiet before? I was about to giggle, but I stopped myself. Before I could stop myself completely, I let some air out of my nose that may have just been the loudest noise in the forest at that moment. I saw the jahsly's fox-like ears twitch, and at that moment my heart dropped. The wolf tried to advance, but I silently held him back. Whoever this was, I didn't want to hurt them. Yet. I saw him whip his head to look in my direction, and I crept away from the bush. Still watching the clearing, I circled the jahsly and slowly advanced. However, he said something that stopped me.

"Mari? Is that your name? I read that name on this homework, so don't think I'm some kind of stalker. Also, I thought I heard you just now. If you aren't here, and I'm talking to nobody, then I guess that would be pretty embarrassing." He chuckled lightly. "I promise I won't hurt you. I didn't know anyone else came here." I watched him stare at the spot where I used to be. I don't know what came over me, but I stood up carefully and called, "That's what they all say." He whipped around with a shocked expression on his face. "How did you get there so quickly and silently? Jahsly have excellent hearing, and I never heard a leaf brush your skin. How..?" He trailed off in confusion. I simply replied, "Practice." I heard my little wolf friend start to growl softly at the jahsly. He heard it too, I saw his ears twitch in this direction. "Is... Is that a wolf? Following a human? Who are you?" I sigh. I can't tell him I'm an elf in hiding who can bond with animals, so I guess I'll go with the classic story. "I found him as a pup, and I took care of him for most of his life. I just recently let him go out into the wild, and we visit each other every now and then here." I reached down to stroke the wolf's head in an attempt to calm him down. "Go back to your pack," I whispered, and gave him a significant look. He made a sound that was like a scoff, and then turned around and walked back into the thick forest. Before he was totally gone, I saw him look back and growl at the jahsly. The jahsly flicked his tail in mild annoyance, but quickly stopped his tail when he saw me look over at it. Trying to hide your emotions, huh?

"You two sure have a bond." He said casually, as if we see each other every day. I scoff, and look at him closer, his eyes are yellow, but with some green tints here and there. "Hmm..." I mutter. His ears twitch. "What's that 'hmm' for? I don't like that. Now you got me worried." I give a half-hearted laugh and say, "I'm just deciding weather or not to trust you, that's all." He lets out a wild laugh and says, "well, you're the one with the little wolf sidekick." I chuckle and ask, "so, jahsly, what's your name?"

He looks at me questioningly, and says "Hmm..." I laugh openly, and through laughter, I manage to string together a sentence. "Ok, ok. I get it. You already know mine. What is your name?" He grins, and replied with a bow, "I'm Vosax Gravtal, but you may call me whatever you please. Vo, Vos, Sax, whatever works." With a bow, some funny words, and his name, he managed to win me over.

I smiled back, and said, "Ok, you win. Sit down and we can talk a bit more... Vo." I walked over to the log, and he followed me and sat next to me. I started packing a way my homework, and while I did we got to know each other a bit better. He mentioned how he comes here every now and then to think, and calm down a lot. Must have a rough life, if he is here to calm down often. Time passed, and I started to feel that same warm fire feeling that I experienced while smiling at Lukav. What does this feeling mean? After talking through my remaining hour, I stood up and grabbed my school bag.

"I have got to go. If you ever want to meet again, I'll be here in two days." I told him. Looking satisfied, he said, "I had fun. I'd love to get to know you more. See you then!" I turned away and softly pushed through the bushes. "I've got to figure out how she does that..." I heard Vo whisper. I chuckled, and broke into a run through the trees. I had mastered running through the forest without bumping into any trees when I first found this forest. When I finally made my way back to the school pickup area. I looked back, and thought about Vo. So many questions were running through my mind.

What was that feeling? Will I ever feel it again? But most importantly, why do I feel it for someone I just met today?

Thank You for reading so far already! I know my writing can get kinda boring.. 😂 

Thanks again! Please forgive mistakes,

-NJG 💕