Falling from the sky part 22

The sugary white sand of the trail squeaked and chirped under the wizards high topped boots as he strode through the ancient Forest.1

Deep in his own musings, he scowled slightly, though he was unaware of it.2

There were altogether too many unexplained happenings going on for his liking. That was all very well, and par for the course in the life of a wizard besides....still...he was much fonder of answers than he was of questions. With a muttered oath, he realized that darkness was fast approaching. So deeply had he been immersed in contemplation that he'd failed to register the passage of the day. The first stirrings of the various nocturnal creatures that called this enormous tract of forest home3

had finally impinged upon his consciousness. Off in the distance he could hear the first trillings of the Spring Peepers, tiny tree frogs that abounded in this sort of topography. Their numbers would, he knew, increase as full darkness fell and their high pitched song of Spring would rise in volume until the Forest reverberated with the symphony of Life.4

Presently the path opened up into a fairly spacious clearing, nearly circular in shape. Tipping his battered old fedora back on his head, the wizard looked up at the sky. There were already a few stars to be seen, even though full dark had not yet fallen. The azure sky of what seemed only moments ago was quickly deepening into a dusky indigo. The wizard grinned as tiny bats flew overhead, dipping and diving, criss crossing the open area in their unceasing search for insect prey.5

Suddenly, the wizard became aware of a glowing light off in the depths of the rapidly darkening Forest. 'Probably fox fire, I suppose' the wizard muttered to himself, referring to the naturally occurring phosphorescence to be found in decaying wood and the like. 'Still,' he said 'The only way to find out is to find out' With that, the wizard strode across the clearing and into the deepening shadows of the Forest.6

The Full Moon was shining brightly overhead by the time the wizard began to draw near to the glowing light he'd seen from the clearing, scattered beams of Moonlight lancing down through the  canopy and illuminating the forest floor here and there.7

Directly ahead of him and just off the left hand side of the path was an enormous tree, so large in girth that two men with their hands linked would not have sufficed to encompass it. There...in a small hollow in the bole of the tree, was a sphere of softly glowing light.8

The wizard chuckled to himself. ' I might have guessed' he said softly 'I've been rather more preoccupied than I supposed, it seems.'9

Even as he spoke, the glowing orb emerged from the hollow of the tree and gently descended to the ground at the wizards feet.10

With a luminescent shimmering, the glowing orb transformed.11

What stood before the wizard now appeared to be a young child...no, not a child at all, but rather a woman of elfin stature, barely four feet in height. Pointed ears peeked through coppery red hair that fell over her shoulders in a fine, straight mass, and descended very nearly to her ankles. Her face was elfin as well, heart shaped and impudent. 12

A simple tunic of sheer white, cinched at her waist by a green leaf bearing vine was her sole raiment.13

Tilted eyes of emerald green glowed warmly as she smiled up at the wizard and extended her hand invitingly. ' Welcome, weary traveller, come! take your ease and refresh yourself on your journey.'14

By way of answer, the wizard tipped his battered old fedora back on his head and winking, he said: 'Hello, Xe'lenndria, long time no see.'15

The Tree Sprite's smile faltered for a moment in confusion, and then brightened sunnily in recognition. 'Greenman! Oh, how wonderful!'16

Squealing with delight,the tiny Dryad flung herself bodily into the wizards arms, wrapping her arms and legs around him before he had an opportunity to say another word and feverishly pressing her full red lips which tasted slightly of maple syrup against his mouth.17

The wizard had only just begun to attempt to disentangle himself from her embrace when she sprang away from him as if electrified.18

Her tilted emerald green eyes widened as the tip of her pink tongue19

glided questingly across her lower lip.20

'You...you...you're TAKEN!' The wizard bent over and retrieved his hat, shaking his head. 'Yes, I am...not that you gave me much chance to say so'21

he replied, irritably brushing leaf litter from his battered old fedora.22

The Sprite dropped her eyes contritely and taking the wizard's hand she held it to her lips and kissed it. 'I'm sorry...I didn't know..I mean, you haven't been here in the longest time...after all...I don't get out much.'23

At that moment her eyes fell upon the wizard's palm. She turned it upward, looking closely at the markings upon it. 'Oh....my....' she said in a quavering voice. 'She is of the Earth...she is of the heavens...she is of...' Her eyes flickered to the Hammer that hung always by the wizards side and she began to tremble. '...please....I didn't mean....I didn't know....it's just our way...how we are...'24

The wizard waved his hands in a placating gesture. 'Relax, willya?'25

'It's ok....you didnt know...now you do' He winked at her reassuringly.26

'You have done well, O Man' the Dryad said, regaining her composure a bit.27

'Great things await you, Human...you ARE human, aren't you?' she asked looking searchingly into his face. The wizard simply shrugged and winked again. 'Honestly!' she groused. 'You never change' The Dryad  reached up with a child-sized hand and traced the wizard's jawline with her forefinger.'Yes...yes...you ARE changing...it is good' He put his hands on her shoulders and looked into her upturned face and smiled.28

'You'll be going now, I suppose' she said resignedly29

'It is so good to see you, my friend...will I ever see you again?'30

'Oh, not to worry' the wizard said. He kissed her forehead and turned to go. 'I'm never very far' X gestured expressively to31

the towering maple behind her. 'I'm always...here.'32

As the wizard watched,the Dryad  was surrounded by a softly glowing light and transformed into a luminescent orb that rose slowly in the air at last coming to rest in the hollow from whence she had at first come.33

'Fare Well, my friend' the words seemed to whisper from the tree itself.34

'Until we meet again'35

The wizard grinned in response, then turned and continued on his way.36

TO BE CONTINUED37

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