Deep in the Woods

There weren’t always dragons in the valley. But when it was breeding season the valley was where they went, and the valley was where they stayed until their hatchlings could fly - usually about a month after birth. For those 4 months out of the year everyone avoided the area. Today was different however because Eden had to enter the valley. Overnight her pregnant mare, Ivy, had run off. Eden worried she was going to give birth. This would be Ivy’s first foal and she did not want the mare to be alone for her first birth. Ivy had followed her tracks directly to one of the most traveled pathways that lead down to the valley lake. Realizing the odds of this search not ending well caused Eden to falter. But she knew turning back would only lead to heartbreak. She couldn’t leave sweet Ivy to the dragons, especially in her vulnerable state. They’d smell the blood from the birth and reign down immediately.

When the dragons filled the valley, humans and animals alike evacuated. The silence of the forest was eerie, and deafening. Where you would normally hear birds chirping there was stillness. Off season you’d see the occasional deer or chipmunk scurry by, but today only dark and empty trails. Eden couldn’t understand why Ivy would travel this way, unless she was scared or confused. It was imperative to get Ivy out of the valley. But Eden worried that when she reached the end of Ivy’s trail it’d be in the heart of a dragon’s den. Eden steeled herself and walked on into the dark silent forest.

After some time of following the trail Eden was startled to realize she didn’t recognize where she was, which made no sense given she had stayed on the same trail. Typically she knew the forest like the back of her hand. She’d grown up there. Then Eden remembered, as if it was buried way deep down and she’d forgotten, Nana had always warned her to be careful in the forest during dragon season. In her head she heard Nana’s calming but gravelly voice “realities would melt together and it was easy to get turned around,” she’d always say. Eden had never gotten lost in the forest before and always thought it was just an old tail to keep the curious kids from getting too close to the dragons. But, this felt different. Ice was dripping down her spine as the thick air buzzed around her. Wiping the sweat from her brow Eden decided to take a seat and catch her breath. She felt like she was walking through water, every part of her felt heavy. As she tried to catch her bearings she took in the woods around her, hoping to make sense of where she was. The tree tops were so thick barely any light got through, but her eyes had adapted to the thick darkness. She could still make out Ivy’s trail, so Eden moved on.

Hours passed, Eden only felt like she was going deeper into the now completely unfamiliar forest, but she couldn’t turn back now. How had she not come across Ivy? She decided to climb a tree and see what she could make out above the treeline. At the top it looked like she was in a completely familiar and comfortable area of the valley, she could see the black mountains that surrounded the valley and even some familiar homes in the distance. Why was the forest so unfamiliar below? She carefully climbed down, wondering what her next action should be. At the bottom she pulled out her compass, something she rarely needed anymore. Only to see it was useless, the needle spinning continuously, never landing on North. She tapped on the glass, of course this didn’t have any effect on the needle.

Disheartened, Eden felt panic rising up in her. Even if she wanted to return home she wasn’t sure if the path she took would be the one that would lead her home, not with the high strangeness rampant. She was startled then by a small pained voice from behind her. Spinning around she turned to see a red elf before her. Alarm bells burst inside her head. The last thing she needed was to run into a red elf while lost in a valley full of dragons.

“Miss, I’m so sorry to bother you…” He looked frail and scared, but Eden knew better. Red elves are tricksters. Like the crows are tricksters. But where you can gain the loyalty of a crow by befriending it, red elves were tricksters who liked to steal.

“I know what you are, elf, I know your tricks. Stand back or I’ll call the crows.” Eden knew this wasn’t possible, she hadn’t heard a crow in hours. Her own crow, Nox, was in his cage with a wing injury so he couldn’t be called either. Elves are afraid of prey birds because they can carry them away, usually to be eaten alive. The elf winced at her words, he actually looked hurt which surprised her.

“Normally I wouldn’t ask for a human’s help either, but I was hit with a dragon’s tail. The scales sliced me open, and he launched me. I’ve been wandering around for hours trying to recognize anything. I.. I think I need help finding my way home.”

“Impossible, red elves have lived in this valley and these mountains for millenia.” But Eden wasn’t too sure about this, given her current circumstances. Was it possible even a red elf could get turned around in the valley during dragon season?

“I regret to inform you this is very true. I have the injuries to prove it.” The elf pulled up his shirt to show the deep gashes in his stomach. He then removed his pointed cap to show the deep gashes on his head. “Normally I could heal myself, once I got back home. But, I don’t know where that is.”

“I can’t be of any help either,” Eden paused, unsure if she wanted to let the elf know she too was lost, “I’ve always stayed away from elves. And was always taught to never join you in your home. Your food and drink will trap us in your realm.”

“I have a name human.” He said it with disgust, almost spitting it out. “At this point beggars can’t be choosers, you’re lost too.” Eden wondered how he knew, but figured it was in vain to ponder. Elves had abilities beyond humans in many ways. Eden nervously shifted on her feet, then pulled her first aid kit out of her knapsack.

“Let me help you clean those wounds. I’m Eden. I’m following the trail of my horse who’s run off into the valley.”

“I’m Cedar.” They sat in an awkward silence as Eden dressed his wounds. Eden had never been this close to an elf, and especially not a red elf. She realized as she cleansed the wounds that his deep red fur felt more similar to velvet. He had tufts of hair on the points of his catlike ears, and when he flinched as she doused his wounds in alcohol she saw his razor sharp teeth. He continued, “You do realize its dragon season, don’t you? Isn’t it a little dangerous to be chasing a silly horse into the valley?”

“Ivy is important to me, and she’s due to give birth. I need to get her back home. And from the looks of it you’re the one who didn’t care to worry about the dragons.” Cedar chuckled. She finished patching Cedar up. There was a nervous energy between them. Red elves and humans did not normally associate, let alone converse and dress each other’s wounds.

“Let me repay you. Let me help you find the horse. Now that my wounds are dressed and cleaned I can work my magick to heal quicker and to help you find Ivy! It’s the least I can do.” Eden was nervous. Accepting help from a red elf was something she was always warned against. But as the day grew darker and the forest became more foreign Eden didn’t think she had much of a choice.

“I promise, this isn’t a trick. You’ve helped me. It's a debt. We could keep each other safe from the dragons.” Eden felt her stomach growl, realizing it had been hours since she last ate, and she had only packed for lunch. Now she was without food. In the valley of the dragons. With a red elf.