It had been a long time since I had seen anything but the typical changes. Spring came with the buds opening and blooming. . Summer brought a riot of flourishing life. In fall, life seemed to wane with the chilly moon, and in winter it would sleep. 

 

For five hundred years, I had not left the center of the forest. I spent most of my time around a small spring. You could call it my home, but there was nothing resembling a human house here. Why would I need that? Dryads draw energy from the rain and the sun. Having a house would only lessen the strength I got from them. 

 

It had been about a hundred years since the water sprite of the pond became self aware. She was still too young to have a human form, but we spent most of our time together. After a few years, she had decided to call herself Mist. 

 

The only other visitor here was Faun. She was the animal spirit of these woods. She spent most of her time watching over the animals in the forest, but from time to time she would come and relax near the pond. 

 

“Faun, how are our little friends doing this spring?”

 

“Good to see you, Laurel. Things are sure lively. Just like every spring. Everyone is trying to find love.” Faun was in her typical form right now. Rich golden brown hair with a slight tan on her skin and beautiful brown eyes. She could almost be mistaken for human, except for the ears and tail. Right now those had the form of a female deer. 

 

“I have been wondering for a while now, why do you like that form so much? Deer are such a nervous animal,” I said with some amusement. 

 

“They are one of the only ones that stay awake through the winter. Even you and Mist sleep through most of the cold weather,” Faun said in a pout. “It would get lonely without company.”

 

“That cannot be helped. I get my strength from the plants in the forest and almost all of them sleep in the winter,” I said as I grew some maple leaves on my arm and had them burn to red and fall away. 

 

“Also my pond freezes over and I get stuck under the ice.” Mist bobbed over sounding slightly indignant.

 

“You could be a badger. They stay awake,” I said with a smile.

 

“Should I start acting like one too? I could just start snarling at everything I see.” Faun rolled her eyes at me. “Laurel, you have so many fir trees in this forest You know you don’t actually have to sleep. Even in the winter time you are still the strongest spirit I know.”

 

“I am nothing compared to that Nyad in the great river,” I said morosely. I did not like dealing with her, she was always trying to tell me what I should do. 

 

“You mean Mother Sea! Why are you even comparing yourself to her? I think the only one older than her is Mother Earth,” Faun said in frustration.

 

“Well, who else am I supposed to compare myself to? The other woods have shifted far away and I have not seen another Dryad in such a long time. I can't just go wandering around anymore. There are too many humans now. My green hair stands out a little. I don't think I could pass for a human.”

 

“From what I have heard from the birds yours are the largest woods that any of them know of. If you really want to find another Dryad, you could go in the fall when your hair turns red, and just wear a long coat with a hood those those elves are fond of,” Faun said with a shrug

 

“Would that really help me?!” I said. I was probably more excited than I should be at the idea.

 

“Probably not,” Mist said. “Didn’t Faun say that  humans are fascinated with elven beauty? If they think you are a female elf, it might cause you even more trouble. Also, let me know if you go to the elves, I might wonder where you went in a few years. Oh! You should come show me the coat before you go to the humans! And anyway, since when can we trust birds?”

 

Faun and Mist started to laugh at that. “I can see it now,” Mist said, “Laurel walks into their village asking for a cloak. Half the elves would pass out in delight and the other half would bow down to you and start worshiping you. You would then be forced to a never ending banquet in your honor. 

 

“‘Oh Mother Forest!’” Mist said, trying to bow. It was comical to watch her ballish form trying to bend it half. I could hear her mutter “I think I need to work on that.”

 

“I was thinking they might all strip naked right there and give her all their clothes,” Faun said disagreeing with Mist.

 

“It is not much better when you go there Faun. Cut me some slack,” I protested. “I also agree with Mist, you can’t trust birds. They are too flighty.”

 

“Did you really have to go there?” Faun said. “Do we need to start counting bird puns again?”

 

“Am I not allowed to repeat the same joke every couple hundred years?”

 

“Only if it is good,” Mist interjected. “And I am only 100 years old and I still did not think it was good the first time. Also you might get in some trouble with the humans if you slept under a locust tree. You go to bed with hair the color of red maple leaves and wake up with yellow hair.” 

 

“My favorite is in the summer when Laurel rests under the silver poplar.”

 

“Your right Faun, she does look really good with silver under that dark green.” Mist bobbed happily.

 

“The cherry blossom pink is good.”

 

“What about in the fall and the weather is just right and her hair turns purple?”

 

“Bright red like the burning bush!”

 

“The dark green of holly in the winter!”

 

I did my best to tune those two out while they continued talking back and forth about my hair color. I wonder if this is what the dress up dolls the little elven girls have felt like?

 

“I know! I have it, the all time best--” Faun paused for emphasis. “The blue lilac tree.”

 

“Yes! That is the one!” Mist was bouncing up and down with excitement. 

 

“CAN WE PLEASE STOP TALKING ABOUT MY HAIR.”

 

The other two started to laugh even harder at that. It was hard not to be light-hearted in the spring. Especially for us who were tied to the life of the forest. 

 

Trying to change the subject away from the color of my hair, I asked Faun, “So have any new animals moved into the forest in the last few years?”

 

I know once I got Faun started talking about animals it would be hard to get her to switch topics. It sounded like several animals for the south and west have been trying to expand their range. This of course leads to fighting with the animals that were already there. Faun will pay attention to these things but does not interfere. This is part of life. Even if it were her favored deer at risk, she might not act. 

 

After a few minutes, Faun put on a serious face. “I have heard strange rumours from the eastern edge of the forest. The animals do not want to go over there if they can help it. It is causing more overcrowding than normal.  I think the Humans might be up to trouble again.”

 

“I have also felt that something was off,” I said with a frown. “I can tell the plants are sick but from this far away I am not able to determine the cause. Should we go check it out?”

 

“I will go and do it.” Faun replied. “The Elves are ‘protecting’ this 'Holy Spring' and it will be hard for you to get past them without a big stir.” 

 

“I'm A 'Holy Spring'!” Mist said in the background.

 

“You go in and out without a fuss?” I asked incredulously, while internally already knowing the answer. 

 

“I just turn into a deer and they let me be,” she said with a smile. 

 

“Well then I will just transform into a sapling and you can carry me out,” I suggested.

 

“Who has ever heard of a deer carrying a tree?” was the quick retort that came back to me.

 

“You do have a point there.” I frowned. 

 

“Do you really want to leave the spring that much?”

 

“Not really. I just don't like feeling like I am in a cage. I know they are keeping the humans and curious elves away from this place, but sometimes it feels small.”

 

“Don't worry about it. I will go and look around and let you know what is happening and we can figure out what to do then,” Faun said, gently patting me on the shoulder as she stood.

 

“Call out to me if you need help. Please bring me back a sapling so I can figure out what is wrong,” I called after her. 

 

“You really just want to see a deer carrying a sapling,” Faun smirked and waved to me as she walked away. With a shimmer of light Faun walked off in the form of a beautiful female deer. 

 

“If they get used to seeing it, maybe I could come and go as I please,” I said to no one in particular, but I knew Mist was listening.