Eerie connections...

In the woods.

"Do you think it's a good idea?"

Tahni asked, her eyes locked on the vast expanse of the trees ahead of them. She didn't know what else to think but that question.

"He hadn't asked us to involve in war. He only said we should go and observe the main motive of the men. And the truth is that, he's your father. He sure would know and want the best for you. I've known him for quite a while, even though if it hasn't been forever. He has a good heart. But I sometimes wonder how the gods could had been so cruel to make such ill-tempered Prium come out of that coolheaded man."

Tahni looked at Ayla who had spoken. She didn't know which of the tossed facts to pick. Ideas seemed to elude her but she was holding her grasp on the necessary.

"You don't have the right to speak to my sister that way."

Tahni said finally, shooting Ayla the mean gaze. Though she knew she had feigned it but she wanted the Nymph to know that she was quite serious about it.

"I'm sorry."

Ayla bit the words then kept quiet. There was a brief silence for a while but Tahni was feeling guilty. She cleared her throat,

"But sometimes, I too wonder what intentions she has towards our father. It's awkward to think of it."

Ayla didn't say a thing, her sandal playing tricks on the dried leaves donated to the earth by the generous but lofty trees.

Tahni nudged Ayla, tipping her shoulder and muttered,

"Don't be like that."

Tahni added,

"I was only saying. Sorry for being rude."

Ayla looked at her and said,

"You don't have to apologize. I'm only to serve your father and do whatever he wants. Even if it falls to respecting his daughters and playing the fool."

Tahni drew closer to her till their sides brushed and ran her arm across the Nymph's. She pleaded,

"I'm sorry na. What again do you want me to say?"

Ayla looked at her and smiled. Then she said,

"Sorry, I'm not used to this. I feel uncomfortable."

"What?"

Tahni asked then realized. She removed her arm from the Nymph's shoulder and tried to control her enthusiasm and being carefree. But she couldn't hold on for long,

"How does it feel to be a Nymph? Better don't ignore this question, else I'll beat you to pulp."

Ayla looked at her again and smiled. Tahni was glad that the Nymph got the joke. She added,

"It's refreshing to see that you understand jokes and you're not all so serious like Aynea. She doesn't even know how to smile. I guess I've never seen her to do that. How are you able to do that? Since you're not a human. Why is Aynea so serious and you so adaptable?"

Ayla stopped walking as did Tahni. She held Tahni and spun her around. Then she said,

"Why do you ask questions? Isn't it to get answers? But why do you keep piling up questions without waiting for an answer?"

"Sorry."

Tahni pleaded, her gentle but cute face tuned, her eyelids flapping to the tune of her heart. Ayla said,

"You don't have to be. We should go."

She began to walk as Tahni joined. Tahni couldn't say how long more they would have to walk before they get to the village, but she hated void and silence. She was going to speak again when Ayla said,

"A Dryad is a creature of magic. I'm not. We were fashioned differently. But humans do not understand that. I hope you do."

Before Tahni could speak, Ayla had continued,

"The very life of a Dryad comes to its full form in a tree. It's inside a tree you'd see them go through several emotions. Even inside a tree, you'd see the true beautiful form they have."

"True form?"

Tahni couldn't help but ask. Ayla nodded her head and continued,

"The half-goat, half-human, is the cost of nature. Dryads are creatures bound to live in the trees. They are very beautiful. After Nymphs are they. But unlike Nymphs who could live in three elements, land, sea and sky, because of their services to the most sacred of all beings and gods. Dryads do not have that luxury. It's just as if, giving a thing a return. They leave their homes to see the outer world but pay with their beauty."

Tahni suddenly felt a great pity for Aynea at once. She only but said,

"I can relate with giving a thing to get another in return. I once had sex with a sorceress to know where my father was but he only scammed me."

Ayla chuckled and said,

"Scam."

Then she shook her head as Tahni pouted,

"Don't make fun of me."

Ayla looked away, still a smile lurking in her face as she said,

"I wasn't making fun of you. The word 'scam' was only strange to me. We call it 'Taiku' in the spirit language. But that wasn't what he did to you. Twas the sex he had with you that enabled you to find us eventually. And he was even nicer than you thought he was."

"What'd you mean?"

Tahni asked and Ayla stopped walking. She moved to the base of a tree and stood under it pressing her back to it.

"After the sex, he gave you a gift. The gift to sense omens. Twas the contact with the spirit realm that activated that dead sense in you. Every human has a spiritual sense which is dead in them. It must be awoken by magic or miracle."

Tahni gave a thoughtful gaze, peering at her. She nodded her head,

"Oh, that explains it then. I've been so worried about having such strange smell events. Thanks Ayla, for the truth."

Ayla smiled but then, Tahni hurried to her and hugged her. There was an electrical surge that coursed through her as she held unto the Nymph.

"What was that?"

She asked as she let go. Ayla held her two hands and said,

"Enough of the questions. Let's get to work. Close your eyes."

Tahni hesitated for a while then did as told. As soon as she closed her eyes, Ayla began to chant in an ancient tongue, probably the spirit language she had talked about.

And suddenly, there was a great tumult, like a sandstorm in the woods. The heap of dust encircled them and began to twirl them. But instead of the sense of distress and smell of dirt, all Tahni could feel was comfort and an alluring fragrance.

Then suddenly, there was gloom. Then they both opened their eyes.