Walking through the forest, the creature guided his two cubs back to their den after collecting some fruits. His wispy blue mane blew in the wind as he stored the fruits in the back of the den and walked out to his mate. She rubbed her head against him and sat down to watch their two cubs play: the cubs red and purple manes billowing playfully.

  He had watched them play like this for about an hour before he heard a loud cry echo from the forest. He couldn’t figure out what had made the noise but figured it was some type of bird of prey. He didn’t think much about it. A few minutes later he heard the same call but fainter. He was starting to wonder what the noise was but didn’t go. The third time he heard it was hard to hear. Standing up he went to go look for it.

  After walking for about half an hour, the creature searched the forest floor for whatever was making that sound. Looking high and low, he found nothing. He was about to head back to the den when he heard a soft cry. Following it, trying to walk as quiet as possible with the noisy underbrush so he wouldn't scare whatever away. Hiding behind a large redwood tree he spotted a little human. He had seen humans before, but they were normally large and noisy, carrying large weapons that they used to trap the forest creatures. But this human was different. She was small and scared, weak and quiet, with a look of fear in her eyes, rather than the fierce look of a hunter that he saw on other humans.

  Slowly walking into her line of sight, he made his presence known to the little girl. Upon seeing him, the girl scurried back and bumped into a tree. This movement startled him, but it showed him that she was scared of him. Normally the humans he saw walked up to beasts without fear in their eyes and captured them. However, she looked at him like a scared lost cub. He could tell that she was different. Crouching down he slowly walked over to her and gave her a closer look, she had brown fur sprouting from her head that reached her shoulders, wearing a blue cloth tied by a silver piece around her. But the strangest things about her were the small two gray wings poking out from under her cloak and her eyes.

  One was a dark chocolate brown while the other was a mystic blue.

  “Go away!” the girl screamed in fear, blocking her face with her arms and flaring her wings. The creature rose back to his full height and took a step back. This seemed to calm the girl down a bit, she wasn't as tense as before. She met his gaze, her eyes meeting his blue ones. She hesitantly rose to her feet and took a step towards the creature, reaching her hands out and practically sliding her feet across the mossy ground she approached the creatures. He showed no emotion of moving and so she gently rubbed her hands across his nose. Closing his eyes, he let the girl rub her hands on him.

  The girl started laughing with joy and he opened his eyes to find her looking through a bag that was hidden by her cloak. She took a book out and started flipping the pages until she found what she was looking for,

  “A Nemoth! I knew it!” she said jumping up and down, the tips of her wings twitching with delight. Talking to herself she said, “it says here that only the males have antlers on their heads and based on your size I'm guessing that you are the father of your family.” she turned back to him, “That's it!

  Father, that's what I'm going to call you.”

  Father seemed to like the name, and the girl walked over to feel his mane. “It’s warm,” she said astonished, “I had always thought it would be kind of cold or wet.” Father rose to his feet and motioned for the girl to hop onto his back. She stared at him guessing how she was going to get up sense he was twice her size, eventually she boosted herself with her wings and grabbed one of the branch like horns on his back and pulled herself onto his back and positioned herself into a comfortable position. “Ready!” she told Father, and he rushed through the forest.

  . . .

  Bounding through the forest Father made his way back to the den with the girl grabbing tightly to his mane. Arriving at the clearing that the den is in, Father slowed down to a stop and let the girl off his back. She kept a tight hold on his mane as they walked to the den where his mate was grooming the cubs.

  Upon seeing him she let the cub she was working on go and went out to meet him.

  She didn't see the girl that was clutching onto him until she was closer and when she stopped in her tracks. She looked at father with question in her eyes, in response Father nuzzled the girl forward with his nose into clear view. She was shocked to see the human girl, but she also knew that Father wouldn't bring something that would hurt the cubs to the den. So, she walked around the girl eventually stopping at her side, opposite of Father. A large smile showed on the girl's face, she reached a shaking hand out and ran it through her wispy purple mane. This was a one-of-a-kind experience for the girl, who had always dreamt of meeting a Nemoth.

  “Is it alright if I call you Mother?” she asked the female beast. Mother nodded her head and the girl squealed in delight and wrapped her arms around her mane. Mother then motioned for her to follow them into the den where the cubs were playing. The girl was a bit hesitant at first but as soon as her eyes spotted the cubs she ran inside laughing.

  The cubs hearing the laughter immediately stopped wrestling and stared at the approaching girl. Seeing the cubs alert she slowed her run to a steady walk so she wouldn't scare them, she eased herself into a crouch and carefully placed one foot in front of the other carefully so she wouldn't make any noise that would startle the cubs.

  Mother recognized this crouch and sprang up to her feet. This was the position that the hunters used before they killed an innocent creature. She was about to race to her cubs when Father stopped her. He motioned with his head for her to just watch what the girl was doing, but she could see that he was tense as well. Reluctantly she sat back down and watched still alert.

  The girl was still crouching in front of the cave mouth and reached behind her into her bag and pulled out something from her bag, still using slow movements. Mother couldn't see what was in her hand, but she saw the cub's ears perk up.

  The male cub slowly approached the girl's hand and stuck his nose into it to sniff the contents in her hand. After smelling it, he called his sister over and ate one of the fruits.

  The girl grabbed some more fruits into her other hand and held it out for the female cub.

  “So, you guys like cherries huh? After the cubs finished the fruits, they started licking the red juice off her hands. “Hey,” she said giggling. “That tickles!” the cubs didn't care though; they kept licking her hands until all the residue was gone. Once her hands were clean, she reached up and scratched both on their heads, which they responded by leaning into her hands.

  “You guys need names!” she turned over to the male cub. Her hand sinking into his small red mane, “I got it!” the girl exclaimed, “Cherry, that's what I'll call you. Since you love these so much” Cherry made a purring like noise in response.

  Turning over to the female cub, she rested her hand on the cub's head. The cub didn't move but just closed her eyes with pleasure, “Violet.” the girl said immediately, “Your name is Violet.” Violet purred just like her brother.

  Standing up the girl headed back to where Mother and Father were sitting. Grabbing more from her bag she held them up for them to see, “do you know where I can find some more of these? Cherry and Violet seem to really enjoy them!” Mother bent down and tried one of the bright red fruits in her hand.

  Crouching down Mother motioned for her to get on. Once the girl hopped on and was grabbing tightly to her mane Mother bounded off into the forest, with her family right behind her.

  . . .

  After riding for some time, Mother slowed down to a walk and started searching the ground. The other Nemoths started to do the same. After a few minutes stopped and let the girl hop off. She was shocked at what Mother had found. It was a monkey with its foot caught in a snare.

  Reaching into her bag she pulled out her book and started flipping through the pages again, “It's a chimpanzee, a mammal, part the Hominidae family, known to live up to 45 years in the wild. It is also an Endangered species,” she read, closing her book she started to reach her hand out to grab the snare entangled on its foot. She quickly retracted her hand once the chimp swiped at her and screeched. She was confused as to who he was screeching at, but then she heard a commotion above her, there was a shrewdness above her in the trees making a commotion. It had appeared that they were waiting for the chimp on the ground to come back.

  The girl didn’t know what to do. When she looked back at the trapped chimp, she saw that Violet and Cherry were calming it down while Father was crouched by its leg. It appeared that the snare was coming off by itself but then she realized that father was removing it, he had Telekinesis. She pulled out her book again because she didn't remember reading about this. Nowhere in the book did it say that Nemoths had this ability.

  I'm the first one to see this ability! The girl thought. This makes sense why they are called the protectors of the wilds. They can free any creature from traps or collect things easily.

  After father removed the trap, the chimp stretched out its leg and was soon hopping all around the beasts. It also gave Father a small feather it had found. He gently took the feather in his mouth and nodded at the chimp who returned to its family in the treetops.

  Once the shrewdness was out of sight, the Nemoths continued their search for the fruits. The girl stayed behind and studied the snare. It was covered in monkey hair and the rope was tightly weaved to make a small cord. It was an ingenious trap, but deadly. If an animal was caught, it would be impossible to get out of, because the more the animal struggled and pulled the tighter the knot got. She followed the rope to the opposite end and pulled it out of the ground. She wrapped it into a ring and put it in her bag so no other animal would be trapped in it.

  Hearing a low roar to her right, she stood up and quickly ran in that direction. She could see the family all gathering around something, walking up to Father she saw what they were looking at.

  “A whole field!” she exclaimed. Cherry and Violet were already eating the bright red fruits off the low hanging branches on the trees ahead. She walked down with Mother and Father and ate one of the hanging fruits. She reached into her bag and pulled out a small green gemstone on a leather cord out.

  Violet and Cherry walked over to her and watched as she tied the cord around her wrist. She held it out for them to see.

  “It's a carrier stone.” she explained, “It was carved by the stoneworkers, and it was created by the Aerial Mages of my home. The Mages powered it so that it can carry a few items at a time so that when you're traveling, you're not carrying too many things. Watch!” she held her hand out, face down, and closed her eyes. Cherry sat in confusion while Violet watched with curiosity. The girl’s face started scrunching in concentration. Cherry looked at Violet and was about to nudge the girl when there was a bright flash of green light and when the cubs opened their eyes, they saw a brown basket hanging from the girl's hand.

  She opened one eye at a time and squealed in delight. “I did it!” she exclaimed, bouncing up and down, “I wish Amari was here to see this.” Looking longingly at the basket and a few tears fell down her face. Cherry walked up and rubbed against her leg in comfort. She reached down and gave him a scratch on his head. she appreciated the gesture. And loved the feel of his bright red mane on her legs.

  “Alright you two, let's pick some cherries,” she called Father over and asked to ride on his back. Once she was on, she asked him to go to one of the taller trees. When he stood next to the trunk, the girl stood up on his back and unfurled her gray wings. Crouching down she boosted her jump and grabbed one of the studier branches and pulled herself up.

  Father called from below when she was climbing onto the higher thinner branches of the tree.

  “I’m alright, see?” she called down to Father, “I can stand on them just fine! Being half bird helps!” She climbed a little higher before calling back down, “I’m going to throw some down and you're going to catch them!” Father roared back with the cubs in approval, and it started raining cherries.

  . . .

  After filling several of the girls’ baskets, the group headed back to the den to unload their haul. The girl rode on Father’s back in silence with Cherry on her left and Violet up ahead with Mother. When

  Cherry looked up to check on the girl, he saw a distant, sad look in her eyes and her wings wrapped around her. Cherry figured that she was like this because of that other name she said, Amari. They walked in silence for a while until the quiet was broken by the girl.

  Her crying grabbed the attention of the entire family, so they stopped for a break. They set the baskets down and formed a ring with the girl leaning up against Father.

  They stayed like that for a while until the girl started speaking. “I just miss my family,” she managed between sobs, “Yesterday was my seventh birthday and they took me to a meadow just outside of the forest. We were having a great time till I saw a cool looking creature and followed it into the forest to get a better look. I followed it deep into the forest until I couldn't tell which way I came in from. I tried calling for my family, but I wasn't loud enough. So, I stayed there for the night, then I tried calling them again today, but I couldn't get my cry out so I stayed there hoping someone would come and find me.” Cherry walked up and laid his head on her legs. She responded by giving him light scratches and continued, “That's when Father found me, and I've spent the day with you.”

  Father looked at Violet and she went over and grabbed one of the baskets of cherries and placed it in front of the crying girl. One of the red fruits lifted out of the basket and landed into the girl's hand. She smiled and plucked off the stem and plopped it into her mouth, spitting out the seeds. She dug a small hole in the ground and placed the kernels into it covering it back up and poured water from a flask onto the ground where it was buried.

  She stood back up and walked up to a redwood tree and looked up to its branches. Her wings made tiny flaps like they were itching to be up there, but the girl did not fly up, instead she placed her palm against the tree and sighed. Turning she walked past the family in the direction towards the den.

  Mother and Father looked at each other with worry in their eyes for the girl. They had assumed that she was alone from the start like the hunters, but they just learned that she had a family just like them.

  Cherry watched her go for a few moments before bounding after the girl. Violet wanted to follow but Mother stopped her, so that it was just Cherry and the girl.

  The pair walked mostly in silence, the only noise was the girls’ sniffles and the soft padding underfoot. Then the girl whispered

  “Where are they? I'm scared, Cherry,” she said softly to the cub, sitting at the base of a tree, “No matter how many times I call for them they won’t come. My mama told me that mama birds always hear the cry of their young, but I don’t think mine does.” Cherry gazed at the crying girl, gently he wrapped his mouth around her hand and forced her to her feet. He started dragging her into a spot in the forest.

  It took them a while to travel to the spot, because Cherry would not let go of her hand. And although he was a cub, he was the size of a Great Dane. After what seemed like miles, Cherry finally led her into a large clearing with the largest redwood tree the girl had ever seen in the center, over two thousand feet tall. Tangled into the branches was the largest treehouse she ever saw. It looked like an abandoned castle in the treetops with vines and plants growing all over it. She could see monkeys swinging through windows, birds flying every which way, and even some magical creatures she had only read about.

  She was amazed at what she saw. Cherry trotted along to the base happily and used his

  Telekinesis to move aside some vines and plants that had grown over what appeared to be a lift system to bring flightless to the fort. Stepping with caution onto the platform next to Cherry, she closed her eyes and braced herself to the ride up.

  Instead of feeling a sharp upwards jolt, she didn't even notice they were moving till she opened her eyes. When she did, she gasped at the sight that she saw. They were moving as fast at the lifts in her city, but slow enough to take in the view. The mossy treetops filled with animals and insects buzzing, chirping, and flapping with joy. The creatures on the ground, going about and caring for their young. The bright blue sky filled with fluffy white clouds and the brilliant sun filled it with wonderful light.

  The girl relaxed and sat back on her hands, watching the magnificent sights before her. She wondered if this what flying felt like, she spread her wings to feel the wind in her feathers. Soon the ride was over. Cherry hopped off the lift first and waited for her at the end of the hall. She was quick to jump off and sprint towards the cub, before she reached him, he sped off towards the northern hall. Then ran like this for a while with Cherry stopping at the end of each room or hall, and the girl chasing after him. In some rooms she would stop completely to admire art works or nests of creatures or just to simply look out the window. After running in a few more halls, Cherry finally stopped in an old looking bedroom. She could tell this was once a magnificent room fit for royalty. Now, time had caught up with it. Dust littered the floor along with various plants and vines sweeping up the walls, the four-post bed was broken, and it looked like the canopy above was made into a nest for sunbirds where a hole in the roof shone a perfect beam onto.

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  Cherry didn't pay any mind to that stuff. Instead, he went into the closet area, the girl following close behind. She wondered what he was walking towards but when she saw she nearly screamed with excitement.

  “Is that an egg!?” She quickly grabbed her book and started flipping the pages wildly. After she found what she was looking for she approached the egg with caution. Holding the book open next to the egg she quickly started searching to find what type of egg it was. “A Songbird,” she read when she found the page. “These birds are known for their lovely music and long colorful colors. They grow to be about the size of a pineapple. Depending on where it lives it can have different songs. Although each species knows the same song, each bird has its own unique melody.” Putting her book away she gently took the egg in her hand. It was no bigger than a strawberry and was a gorgeous shade of midnight blue.

  “It looks like it's gonna hatch soon.” she told Cherry, who got an excited look in his eyes. “I think is about two weeks.” Holding it carefully in one hand she gathered soft materials they found around the room into a makeshift nest for the tiny egg.

  Stepping back to admire their work, the pair set the egg down and headed to the main area of the bedroom and sat on the bed together. The girls’ sprits are already lifted, but the little creature had one more thing he wanted to show her. Hopping off the bed, Cherry walked out of the room and waited for the girl. She quickly followed.

  They walked this time, instead of running, to admire the rest of the fort and meet some creatures. Soon Cherry led her to a winding stairwell leading to an upper level. Cherry let the girl go first and followed afterward.

  At the top was a wooden door that the girl slowly opened. The sight she saw was the best thing she had ever seen. It was a whole view of the continent as far as the eye could see. She saw Port City to the East, the Dunes to the North, the Ocean Cliffs to the West, and if she looked closely, she could make out some of the Islands to the South.

  “This is amazing, Cherry!” the girl breathed. Walking up next to her, the cub let out a roar. Its echoes filling the clearing. Once the sound faded Cherry motioned for her to do the same.

  “I don’t think I should.” She mumbled fidgeting with her feathers. Cherry wasn’t having it and forced her forward. She knew he wouldn’t let up. Taking a deep breath, she let out an ear-splitting screech! Several birds flew from their posts and cherry had to cover his ears. After they couldn’t hear the echoes anymore Cherry uncovered his ears and started heading back down.

  At the bottom of the tree, they ran across the field back into the forest. They didn’t stop until they could see the clearing that the den was in. The sun was setting when they arrived, and the rest of the family were waiting for them with various fruits and veggies in one of the baskets. As soon as Violet saw Cherry she ran up and tackled him in play fight, while the girl went up and sat with Mother and Father.

  She didn’t say anything but just watched as the cubs played until Mother forced them to stop and eat some of the berries they collected. When they had finished eating the sun had already set and the moon and stars were lighting up the sky. Mother forced the three into the den and Father pulled some vines over the entrance.

  The girl summoned a pillow and blanket from some green gemstones and laid down. Violet and Cherry, immediately, were on either side of her and laid their heads by hers. Mother and Father both curled around the three. Soon they were all fast asleep.

  . . .

  The girl was the first one to wake up. Looking around her at the family of Nemoths she quietly detangled herself and walked out of the den. The sun had barely risen, and she could still see some stars. She took off her cloak from her shoulders and spread her wings like she was about to take flight. She was aiming for a low hanging branch, crouching down, and sprang up pumping her wings wildly to get some air, but just like all the other times she couldn’t do it. She spread her wings to slow herself down but still landed hard. Banging the ground, she stood up and tried again with not much changing. This happened a few dozen more times before Father heard the commotion outside and went to investigate.

  The girl was covered in sweat and dirt and panting hard. She had taken off her cloak and jacket and there were a few feathers lying on the ground. Being careful not to make a sound, the beast took a claw and drew a small symbol on the ground. Moments later a StoneBadger trotted up to him and sat next to him. He was larger than normal badgers, being about a foot and a half, twice the normal size.

  Next, he drew another symbol next to the badgers and a large falcon came and landed on his back. Father drew in the dirt once again and drew ten lines in a large circle. Moving aside to let the Badger see he pointed to ten spots in the field to indicate where the lines were. The badger nodded and dove underground. About a minute later a large stone pillar rose to the right of the girl about ten feet in height. Next popped up a 15 foot pillar, then a 20 foot, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55. All in a large circle around the girl.

  Father and the falcon sat atop the 30-foot pillar soon joined by the StoneBadger. The girl stood in shock staring at Father as he kept from pillar to pillar in mighty bounds, looking as majestic as a king lion. He stopped on the ten foot one and beckoned the girl to join him. Once she was on the pillar the mighty falcon took charge. She showed her how to properly flap her wings to gain the most momentum without wasting energy, and how to position the feathers to capture wind currents to maximum effect.

  After the bird finished teaching her, it spread its wings and took off to the next pillar, the girl quickly followed. They went like that till the sun rose overhead, flapping from one pillar to the next and gliding back down to the lower ones. Father watched with the badger from the center circle throwing small pebbles as an obstacle whenever the falcon called.

  The family came out of the den, Mother and Violet still looking tired, but Cherry was wide awake. At the sight of the little red furball the girl jumped from where she was on the 40-foot pillar and gently glided down and gave him a big hug.

  She thanked the falcon for the lessons as she flew off and the badger lowered the pillars into the ground but decided to stay with the group.

  The girl picked up her jacket and cloak and asked Father and the badger if they knew where a lake or stream was. Father laid down for her to hop on. Before they left, he grabbed a basket of fruit for them and walked off.

  . . .

  After walking for an hour, the girl could hear a small trickle of water up ahead. She hopped off father and took the basket from his mouth. She and the badger walked in the front of the group and soon the hard dirt ground turned into a soft, muddy texture. The badger walked ahead of the girl and raised a small stone platform to place all their stuff without getting it wet. The girl set down her cloak and jacket and took off her boots, she pulled out a canteen and walked into the river. She dipped the canteen under and waited till it was filled to pull it back out and place the lid back on. She was about to walk back when she saw the cubs run up to her and knock her into the water. Breaking the surface, she started bursting out in laughter and splashing the cubs back while Father, Mother, and the Badger watched from the stone.

  They played until the sun was directly above them, the three waddled out of the river towards the stone. The girl pulled an apple from the basket and some cherries for Cherry, and some black berries for Violet. They ate while enjoying the sun on their skin. Around an hour later the cubs ran back into the river with Mother while the girl pulled out a sketchbook from her bag and flipped to an empty page.

  Admiring the badger, she quickly sketched its shape onto the page using her creature book as a reference. It took her a couple tries to get its shape right but soon she was satisfied with her work and started coloring the lines down his head. It took time to finish her drawing, in which the basket of fruit was gone, and the cubs were taking a nap in the sun.

  She looked around to see that everyone was asleep except the badger, who she thought was sleeping but as soon as she put her book away its head lifted and looked at her. Slowly getting up the girl stepped off the stone onto the soft ground. The Badger followed her. She didn't know where she was going but she didn't care, the girl loved to walk. She walked around cities, markets, forests, deserts, she loved the thrill of adventure.

  She reached a small flower field hidden in the forest and wandered into the center and picked a handful of flowers. Grabbing a storage gem from her bag she placed the flowers into the small green gemstone, she continued this till the gem was full. The entire time the badger sat on the edge of the field watching her.

  When she got up, she started back towards the badger, when the two reached the river again the family was still sleeping soundly. She sighed to herself bored. Jolted by something poking her back she found the Badger moving a small rock against her back to grab her attention.

  “What is it?” she asked. The badger moved to the edge of the platform and extended it ten feet to her right. Walking over to it she saw the badger draw a small symbol into the stone. She recognized it as an earthen mark for rock. She wondered why he was doing this until a small brown rock came up from the ground where the symbol was. The badger looked at her expectantly then she realized, “you want me to try?” The badger simply nodded, and so the girl copied the symbol in some dirt.

  Nothing happened for a few minuets and the girl was growing impatient, but before she screamed in anger. A small gray pebble rose from the ground going unnoticed by the girl until the badger pointed it out to her. She picked up the pebble, it was nothing special, but it meant a lot to her. She could use magic! It was a rare gift that was passed down through special bloodlines. Neither of her parents had this gift, and neither did her brother. She had seen her great grandmother use ruins before a few years ago, but nothing more than that.

  For the rest of the day, she sketched down the earthen symbols and wrote down the effects. Then did this until it was time to head back.

  . . .

  The next day, she practiced the symbols that the badger had shown her. Before the badger left, he had gifted her a small rock with the earth ruin engraved into it. She had used it for motivation to practice even more.

  Around noon time, she and Cherry went back to the Treehouse to check on the egg and explore. Once again, they sat on the roof and called for the girl's parents, but like before no one came. So, they went back to the den.

  The girl lived with the creatures for a week and a half, everyday being a new adventure. She made sure that to visit the egg and call for her parents every day. She continued her lessons with the falcon and badger and could now fly up to 50 feet and summon stones about a foot in diameter.

  Often, she and Cherry would go out on their own and explore or help a creature in need. She soon learned that the animals give the Nemoths small personal items as a thank you gift, that explained the feather the chimp gave Father on her first day. She was enjoying this time, but she was starting to miss her family more and more.

  One day, when they were at the den, the girl heard a familiar call. It was her family! She quickly sprang up, dropping the drawing she was working on and flew up to a higher branch. The family walked out of the den in a rush thinking that the girl was in danger because of her cries, but they saw her flying around the upper branches of the trees surrounding the den letting out loud cries.

  They were confused about why she was calling when she appeared to be in no danger, then they heard the reply. When the girl would let out a screech, a matching call would sound a few moments later. She continued to call until three large shapes could be seen. As they got closer the Nemoths could see that it was three humans with wings, just like the girl. The girl flew down from the branches back to the entrance of the den where the family was watching. The three humans landed in the middle of the field. To males and one female, both males had blue/gray wings while the female had red/gray wings just like the girl. They all looked older than the girl, the boy only looking a few years at most and the others were clearly her parents.

  “Ash?” the boy asked. When the girl nodded, they ran up to meet each other in a big embrace.

  “Amari!” Ash exclaimed, refusing to let go of her older brother. The two adults kneeled and hugged her too.

  “I’m so glad we found you, Ashen,” said the mother. She pulled back to check her daughter, “We told the council and everyone we knew to find you. We thought you made your way to Port City through the portal, but we couldn’t find you.”

  “Your brother thought he had heard your cry around noon every day, but we couldn't be sure. We stayed in Skyward until your mother and I heard it too yesterday. We set out this morning to find you,” said her father, clutching her hand like she was going to disappear again. “How have you been?”

  Ash’s eyes lit up and she explained her whole story in intense detail for her family explaining how Father had found her and how she meet the cubs, the cherry field, and the tree house with the egg. She told them about the lessons with the falcon and the StoneBadger, and the ruins that the badger taught her.

  As Ash explained the rest of the story, the Nemoths realized that this meant that the girl was going to go back to her home. They went back into the den and started to arrange her stuff to go.  When Ash went to show her family the den, her eyes immediately saw her stuff in neat piles with three little green stones in a neat triangle for her to place the bags into. Ash’s eyes swelled up with tears. Walking to the back cavern of the cave she saw the family standing around something. As she walked closer, she saw that it was Cherry. He was sitting with his back towards her, and his mane drooping, she could also see small tears running down his snout.

  Squeezing through the group Ash gave Cherry a massive hug around his neck, thanking him. Pulling back, she pulled out some red dust that the badger had given her and drew two ruins on the stone floor.

  Two little red stones appeared a moment later on top of the ruins. Ash held one out for Cherry to take.

  “It’s a cherry stone! A little trinket for you, so you never forget me,” Ash exclaimed. Holding the second one out she said, “Look I have one to, so we stay connected.” With that Ash said her goodbyes and her parents said their thanks. Holding onto her mom’s hand they took off into the sky.

  10 Years Later

  “Come on you slow pokes!” Ashen called from the sky to her friends on the ground running after her. Today was her 17th birthday and she wanted to explore with her friends. They packed up a picnic and headed to her favorite meadow. She was the first one there, so she unpacked her backpack and emptied the storage gems.

  Her friends got there a few minutes after her and laid out a blanket. Ash loved this meadow. She and her family used to come a lot when she was younger. Reaching up to her neck, Ash played with the little red stone hanging from her neckless.

  “Hey Ash!” Milo exclaimed to her, “You going to daydream all day or help us out a bit?” She laughed and helped finish setting up. Iva and Leo set up a pot and were stirring a fantastic smelling stew. While that was cooking milo pulled up next to Ash.

  “Still thinking about Them?” he asked in his, soft quiet voice, seeing as she was playing with the red stone. She nodded and stared at the forest. He grabbed her hand and kissed her cheek. “Well foods almost done.” Standing up, he headed to the other two to help with the cooking. Ash laughed to herself and pulled out a sketchbook from her bag.

  She flipped through the pages full of all her other drawings. Turning to the next open page she sketched her friends. While she was trying to figure out the forest behind them, she saw a blue flash trough the branches of the treetops. What was that? She thought, probably some kind of bird. I’m going to check it out.

  “Hey guys, I’m going to go to the forest. I saw a new creature I want to draw!” she yelled to the others.

  “Ok be quick.” Leo hollered back, but she didn’t hear for she was already in the air flying towards the moving bird. Her wings, light and nimble, easily weaving through the forest branches.  Ash recalled her memories with the falcon. The swift bird showing her how to quickly weave through the branches and tight spaces. Overhead she heard a mighty screech and she let out one of her own.

  Memories of the treehouse followed. The mighty branches holding the magnificent treetop castle. Her days on the canopy letting out mighty screeches to call her family. Ash recalled the tiny egg; she could feel the smooth shell in her hands.

  She recalled the many creatures that lived there and in the forest. The many creatures she helped rescue from the smallest finches to the mightiest of bears. The badger that taught her the beginnings of magic.

  It was those experiences that helped her get to where she is now. Now she can wield Air and Earth magic. If it weren’t for this forest she wouldn’t be where she was.

  She started to recognize some familiar shapes. Bursting through the branches she marveled at the sight before her. The 2000-foot redwood tree in the center of a clearing, holding the massive treehouse fit for a king.

  Ash squealed in delight and started to fly up to the landing pad. When she was younger, she had found the magic source that kept the tree hidden from the rest of the world. As many times as she studied it, she always found new ways it worked.

  Landing gently on the platform, she walked to the door inside, her boots thumping against the wooden floors. Ash surprisingly still remembered the ways trough the castle. She walked through the halls of her memory gasping about how little had changed, and creatures she saw as cubs and chicks now grown and some had young of their own.

  Ash made her way up to the bedroom that she spent her time, opening the creaky wooden door. The Sunbird nest still resting upon the canopy and the dust reflecting the suns beams through the broken windows. Walking to the closet she looked for the spot that her makeshift nest was in and to her surprise the nest was still intact. It even looked better than she left it. Hearing heavy footsteps, she ran out of the room to the stairwell leading to the leafy roof.

  Stepping onto the canopy of branches she gazed out as far as she could around her. Ash felt a pang of sadness that he wasn’t here. She was about to take off when a majestic bird flew overhead and landed behind her.

  She didn’t look because she didn’t want to be disappointed in a common blackbird. Again, Ash was about to take off, then she heard a low warning growl behind her.

  Turning slowly to see what kind of creature was behind her, she expected a large bear type creature but what she saw almost made her cry.

  Four large paws that supported a massive brown body, the six branch like antlers sticking out of its back. It bared fangs showing her that it was ready to fight for his home. Two massive bone white branch like antlers pultruded from its head. The massive midnight blue bird resting atop one singing a song of warning. The fierce look in its eyes was the same striking color as its smoky mane.

  A bright red. It was Cherry.

  Ash took a few steps forward wanting to embrace him with all her might and never let go. Once she got closer, he let out a louder growl and bared more teeth.

  He thinks I’m a hunter. She stepped back and held out her hands showing him she wasn’t a threat. He must not recognize me. Pulling her satchel to the front she grabbed a small handkerchief and untied the small knot. Reviling five crimson fruits. She tossed one to the mighty beast. It stopped mid-throw and floated to the beast.

  Seeing what it was Cherry’s eyes grew as he looked between the fruit and the girl. Dropping the little fruit, he leapt toward Ash, but not quite in her reach. Ash held out her hand for him to sniff, and once he did, she pulled out the stone hanging from her neck and held it out for him to.

  When he saw it, he dropped a matching stone in her hand. This nearly put her in tears as she whispered Cherry’s name and with that the girl and the beast embraced for the first time in years. The two cherry-colored stones reunited once again…

  A group of chimpanzees