Dryad on Fire: Carnival of Mysteries by Nicole Dennis

Author:Nicole Dennis [Dennis, Nicole]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: FatCat Books Ink
Published: 2023-09-12T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 11

Glum about being stuck lying on the ground, Julian wanted to sink deep and disappear into the earth. He hated not being able to do anything to help save his grove. He hated the pain. The discomfort. The basic inability to not even get a full breath.

Useless.

Absolutely useless in his grove.

In his home.

In his life.

He detested this feeling.

“Oh my stars, Julian, you’re not going to believe this,” Solomon said.

When Solomon shifted around next to him, jostling his sore body, Julian moaned. Then Solomon gently inclined his upper body.

“Sol, no… leave… Close… to… ground.”

“Stop acting like a whiny brat. And you don’t have to be on the ground at this moment. You need to see this. Open your eyes. Look, my dear,” Sol said.

“Oh, yes, you need to see it. It’s a miracle, Julian,” Cicely said.

“What? No… new… tree… Would… felt… energy. Grove… still… sick.” Julian opened his eyes and looked over.

Instead of seeing his beautiful oak standing tall and proud, he saw the half burnt remains. He looked away.

“Yup. Burnt… oak… Grove… hurt… No… change.”

“Not the old oak, my dear, look at who’s coming and what they have with them. Look at what they’re carrying,” Sol said in an encouraging tone.

Looking back, this time he focused upon the small group walking toward him. One of them was carrying a large container with a… sapling. A tree. With a healthy mixture of green and red leaves. The red only showed in later seasons, autumnal seasons, unless they were sentient and sometimes the tree wanted to be more colorful and quirkier. The tree leaned a bit to the side and Casper’s face poked around the branches with a wide smile.

“Hello, Julian,” Emrys said. “Casper, place the container on his left side. Gently, please.”

“Hello, Professor Scarlett, I found this surprise. I believe this special little sapling was waiting to meet you,” Casper said. After lowering the container, he crouched next to it.

“Is it…” Julian touched the plastic with his good hand.

“A healthy young Scarlet Oak. A little over five annuals old and sprouting some scarlet leaves out of season. It’s eager, willing, full of magic, and ready for a new purpose,” Emrys said. “It’s up to you to see if you can connect with this tree or I go with the plan of using the acorn.”

“Sol, help… Up… more… Please… support,” Julian said.

“Of course,” Sol said and nudged himself behind Julian’s back.

Julian raised his arm with more of Sol’s help. He reached out and touched the tree’s thin trunk.

::Hello. Hello. Dryad. Oooh. You hurt. I heal. Hello. Special. Home. Home. Home. New realm. I like here. Not feel good though. Need help. I help. I like to help. I heal. You like?::

Julian smiled at the youthful enthusiasm. /Yes, little one, but you need to be planted and grow a little more before you can help heal me. Before we can protect the land around us. The druid will help. Then we can connect./

::Yes. Yes. Connect. Home. Home. Dryad home. Protect. Safe. Heal. I help.

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