Chapter Four

Dead Fae Falls, Faerie

Fawn

It was strange how the scenery didn’t gradually fade into another. No, it cut off as if a line had been drawn.

We came upon a cliff at the edge of the forest that descended hundreds and hundreds of feet and looked like it went on in either direction for miles. There was a narrow trail that ran along its side, gradually descending for us to traverse. I wanted to protest and ask that we go another way. I was terrified of the drop, but I decided to grip my reigns and get through it.  As huge as it looked, taking another way around it would probably take days.

We slowly and carefully walked our mounts down the narrow decline in single file, with Fallon on his mount Eos in the lead. There was so much growth and jutting rocks everywhere. It looked beautiful but so extremely dangerous for us to maneuver around.

The waterfalls were massively loud, and we couldn’t have heard each other if we tried to speak. It was all green plant life and grey rock faces. When we finally neared the bottom, I could see the face and hands of a woman on the side of the cliff, and the waterfalls made up her hair and poured along with her hands. It was beautiful.

We came upon Temple ruins at the bottom. It was on a raised platform in the middle of the lake, and there were women and men made completely of water frolicking in the lake. They seemed curious about us and kept popping out of the water to watch us. One of the women smiled at Fallon and crooked a finger beckoning him. He smiled at her, shook his head no, and kept moving.  A man popped up near me, and Fallon growled loudly. The man winked and disappeared back into the water making me laugh.

I was completely in awe of it all, but the water sounds had been working on my bladder, and I really needed to go to the bathroom.

I trotted up beside Fallon, and he turned to me.

“They’re water sprites.”

“Oh,” I replied.

He laughed, “yes, oh. You like to say that don’t you?”

I blushed, “Yes, I suppose I do. I’m sort of in awe of everything here. I wouldn’t know how to put any of it in proper words.  So “Oh” might be my response until the shock wears off.” I say and let out a short sigh.

“It’s cute, faeling” He said with a gentle smile.

“I was actually wondering if we were going to take a short stop soon?" I hedged.

Fallon read my face and grinned.

“There’s a small cave just ahead. We’ll stop there so you can use it. Can you make it? It’s only a few more minutes.”

“Sure, that works for me.” I was a little embarrassed that he had guessed my problem. I had never been around men much, and it felt strange to ask him for a potty break.

The cave was beautiful. Was there nothing ugly in this realm? Well, besides the shades, I mean. Poppy and Tilly escorted me to the cave and hovered.

“Girls, I appreciate the support, but I think I can tinkle on my own. I never had a lot of girlfriends and never did the bathroom girl group thing. So I don’t think I can do this with you hovering there.”

“Okay, well, let us check it out first.” Said Tilly and they flew around the cave looking for anything dangerous.

“It looks okay but be quick,” said Poppy and they flew away.

I realized then that this was the first time I had been alone in a while, and I got lost in thoughts about the craziness of this dream as I did my business. It felt like I’d been holding it for hours. I was lacing my pants back up when I heard wings fluttering. “I’m coming, girls….” I trailed off because that was not Poppy and Tilly.

No, these pixies were black with red eyes and sharp teeth. I drew my daggers and tried to fend them off, but there were so many of them, and they were little bloodsuckers. They latched onto me everywhere, sinking those sharp teeth into me. I was covered with them, from my face to my feet.

Screaming, I tried shaking and grabbing and slapping. I threw myself against the cave wall, but it was no use. There were too many.

Then I saw a bright golden light and saw Arryn, horn out and glowing, gallop into the cave. I felt pulses in the air, and the shade pixies screamed and exploded. Then I felt my vision go black, and my body hit the ground hard.

Fallon

I knew something was very wrong when Arryn’s magic alighted, and she took off toward the cave where Fawn was. I hopped on Eos and chased after her. Then I heard the screams, and my blood went to ice in my veins.

Arryn was already in the cave by the time Eos and I caught up, and I rushed inside; I could feel my heart pounding and my body changing, becoming bigger, faster, and my fangs were filling my mouth. I saw the two pixies lying just inside the cave bleeding, but they were alive, I didn’t stop. I had to get to Fawn. The fact that the screaming had stopped frightened me as nothing else could.

She was lying unconscious, and Arryn was snuffling at her hair and body. “It’s okay, girl, let me check her out.” Arryn was visibly agitated, so I tried to calm her even though I was far from calm myself.

I squatted down and turned her over, brushing her bloody hair out of her face. She was covered in Shade pixie bites. Blood was everywhere. She was bleeding out from so many wounds. Wise walked up behind me, and I heard his sharply indrawn breath.  “Wise, this is serious. She’s still mortal right now, and even a fae could die or become shade from this much venom. We need to get her to the castle now.”

“Bring her outside, my King. I’ll get her there as fast as I can. Grab the pixies and put them in Arryn’s saddlebags. I’ll go let my Elk go back to the forest, and I’ll be ready.”  He then ran off to see to it.

 I noticed a faint glow underneath her and moved her over. On her left lower back, where I had noticed a strange birthmark earlier, it was glowing. Then a tattoo formed. It was in the ancient symbols, so I didn’t know what it could be.

She still wasn’t moving, and her breathing was getting shallow. I carried her out of the cave where Wise was in his giant form, waiting. He picked us up and started running towards the castle—Arryn and Eos hot on our tail.