Dryad

New friend

I was taken to their part of the forest and placed among the roots where I could hide from view, but that wasn't going to help me much either. There are more of them in the herd than I expected and some know that I am here. I had to peek out from time to time to study them, they are so interesting to me and I love horses, but I was scared when I saw the old centaur approaching me. He came all the way to the hole where I tried to hide and sat down looking at me as if he wanted to ask what I was afraid of.

I took out the third and last apple I had from the jar and put it in front of him. I am a fine creature. I attack only those who light fires in the forest and come outside the hunting season. The little centaur immediately ran up to us and took the apple because why would anyone else take it and curled up next to me in my hole. I was so interesting to him that he had to grope me with his curious little hand and it was not clear to him where the rest of my legs were.

I quickly got tired of his touching and stretching, and from my place I managed to climb the tree, though very clumsily. He clearly has the fingers of his herd members and their lack of respect for personal space. The little one got upset and didn't understand why I ran up, and then he tried climbing himself. Needless to say, he failed in his intention which only made him more upset and started complaining and demanding his father to do something. He's so small and scrawny that it's impossible not to laugh at his angry appearance, but I don't want him hoofing me when I go down.

Horace came back soon after and saved me from a fussy kid who couldn't understand that I wasn't up to being his research subject. He can complain as much as he wants about how he saved me from certain death and possible rape, the child will not mistreat me like this:

-Did the child scare you? You know he just wants to play? It's better than being bullied by some of the adults.-well look who is telling me that.

I climbed down from the branch onto Horace's back, and the little guy scrambled up on his hind legs trying to reach me. Not today. Not this time. Horace did not prove to be of any help, so I had to rely on myself and my legs. I set out to escape through the forest and save my life from a wild child.

There was no luck and I couldn't get rid of him. At one point he even sat on me just to stop me from running away from him. I love children, but this child loves to touch and pluck. In the evening, I just managed to escape from him and hide next to Horace. Traitor. Just like that he let me struggle:

-I know he is spoiled and annoying, but we don't have any other children here. He has to play with someone.-comfort for my soul.

I sat on Horace's back and took in his hair and beautiful ornaments. He is so beautiful for a horseass:

-I can bring you shells from the stream if you want some. There are also stones and glass. But you don't have that much hair yet.-he remarked, but he would have brought them to me anyway.

I stretched my arm over his shoulder and hugged him around the neck, holding my pot with the other. I fell asleep on Hoarce's back but didn't notice when he moved me. I felt little hands poking and patting me and dust irritating my nose:

-Klarissa! Wake up!-Celestina called me and tried to bring me to consciousness:

-Do you know what I had to go through because of you? All those centaurs! I told you not to touch him!-she pouted before letting me finish the words:

-I can take you back, but you have to listen to me.-when was I a disobedient child?

Celestina almost beat me when I finally decided to get up, but we didn't achieve anything. The little centaur called out and hopped over to me, and Celestina hid under me. I received the same treatment as the day before – curious grasping hands and many questions that I do not understand. He tried to get me out of my hole where I'm perfectly fine, but he didn't have much success. Horace appeared soon after with shiny things in his hands and scolded the wild child:

-You will have to wait for your hair to grow, but you can make a necklace.-he instructed me and put everything in my hands.

I put my gifts in the pot so they wouldn't get lost on my way, but I unintentionally caught Celestine's eye. She peeked out from her cover and tried to see the shells and stones and gave herself away. The little centaur was the first to notice her and was amused, and then Horace also became interested in her:

-Keep your hands away from me!-she took offense and blinded the child who immediately started to sneeze, but Horace caught her before she attacked him too.

I jumped up and bit his hand to make him let go which surprised him, but I released my fairy:

-You violent little savage.

-Who let you touch me?!-Celestina pouted and hid in my arms:

-I can make her bite you again!

-I brought her so she belongs to me.

-Try to stop me! She's coming back with me!-she threatened and hugged me around the neck. And she said that she will not take away my name and free will. Maybe she couldn't resist adopting me after all.

I tried to explain to her with my hands what I wanted to say, and she didn't seem completely satisfied with my decisions, although she doesn't lose anything in the process:

-She wants to go back to our meadow, but... she wouldn't mind going back to the forest once in a while. Surprisingly, she sees you as something beautiful.

-Why doesn't she say what she wants? Who knows what you translate to others?

-She is mute, you horseass!

-Is it? Or you took away her voice?-do fairies do that too? Can they be so jealous that they will take anything away from someone just so he won't be better than them? Am I asking stupid questions?

Celestina threw some dust in his face to irritate him and distance him from herself, which did not calm him down or brought reason into him at all. How do fairies make deals with humans if they all act like this? I can only assume that they picked up these manners from their king:

-You little savage.-Horace complained as if he had never seen a fairy in his life or tried to screw with them.

The little centaur protested but didn't get his way and Horace agreed to take me back on the condition that I would never bite him again. A reasonable request. An apple to the head still hurts less, and who can say that he got the chance to ride a centaur?