The halls had just begun to clear out for the final class period when Karyn and Jon began their search.
"You know her better than anyone else," Karyn said, checking cautiously inside the janitor's closet. "Where's she usually holed up when she wants to duck out of trouble?"
Jon shrugged in response. "If I knew that, she wouldn't hide there, now would she?"
The furred girl shot him a sideways glance. "Don't get smart. We've gotta find her before the suits do."
"I know, I know. Or before she starts screwing with the rest of the world again."
The thought of being stuffed inside a classroom made Zoe physically ill. She wanted to be outside, needed to be in her element.
She made silent footsteps toward the end of the science wing, on guard for rogue hall monitors. It wasn't any big deal if she ran into one; with her new powers, it was easy doing to zap 'em with a quick spell and walk on past. Much to her chagrin, none attempted to halt her progress.
Zoe parted the double doors, and crossed the threshold gracefully into the crisp spring air. It circled through her strong lungs, fueling every cell in her fae body. She felt more elven than before, if such a thing was possible. It was exhilarating, enough to make her never want to go indoors again.
"Buildings? Screw 'em," she whispered, letting the breeze carry her tone. "The humans can have 'em."
Without further hesitation, she removed her Doc Martins and socks, stowing them into her backpack. Her bare feet seemed to disturb not a single blade of grass as she swam through the tended field that bordered the school on the south, adrenalized by the sunlight and suddenly friendly wildlife and just BEING.
She finally came to rest hours later on a fallen tree trunk deep within the woods behind the school. There was life within it still, and the young sorceress let its spirit mingle with her magicks, let it tell her the story of its centuries of existence.
She hoped it would never end. She then remembered that she could make it everlasting.
She retrieved the stone from her pack, this wondrous device. Closing her eyes, she grasped it firmly.
"I wish that as long as I am within any forest, no one except the animals will be able to find me, unless I wish them to or they wish to become like me."
She smiled, pleased at herself for giving her privacy. Her thoughts turned to the tree.
"You gave me a lot to ponder," she intoned. "Maybe I can give something back to you."
She closed her eyes. "I wish that this tree will grow back to its full height and splendor, and will be healthy forever. I wish that it will never petrify, burn, or be cut down. I also wish that anyone who lies down against this tree will feel refreshed and healthy. I wish that if they choose to attune themselves to the forest while resting at this tree, they will fall into a restful, protected, and dream-filled twelve-hour sleep, during which time they will undergo the Chrysalis and awaken as an elf of whatever subrace they choose to be."
She smiled at her wish, pleased at the sound of expanding bark and budding leaves. She stroked the massive trunk with gentle fingers, feeling the ancient resonance.
"You're welcome, friend."
