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[Introduction] The setting:Cauldren Wood, a magical place where even the stones in the ground seem to shimmer with life and untold knowledge, all of which stems from the secret of the wood, which is a magical cauldren with a natural spring that flows with water so pure it shimmers and can cure what ails.
The issue:the inhabitants of the forest(woodsprites, faries, water nymphs, elves, animals, centaurs, unicorns, etc) are suddenly attacked by Man as man attempts to enter the woods in their belief of "emminent domain" and their confidence that their god has given them all land that is.The inhabitents see the encroaching Humans and realize what would happen if the spring ever fell into their hands, how the Woods would be destroyed and the cauldren would be defiled. This is the story of Man's first visit and the inevitable battle.

Character:Emeffyr Willowbaum
Species:Wood Sprite/Elf crossbreed
Description:tall, thin, waistlength brown hair, sparkling green eyes, pointed ears, a turned-up nose
Importance:Emeffyr and her centaur lover, Loyowill (part available to whoever takes it), are the only two Cauldren Wood citizens who have ever been out into the world of men

I roll over to stare at the vast expanse of clear blue sky, the small pinpricks of grass on my shoulders not bothering me half as much as the smell.
(it's such a familiar smell...why can't i place it...it doesn't belong)
"Loyo?"my voice trembles
(the smell is wrong...)
I can't see Loyo, but before i have a chance to worry, he responds. He trots over from the nearby spring where he had been drinking. It's not THE spring, but merely one of plain water.
"Loyo, do you smell that?"
(he'll know what it is keep me safe)
"I smell much my dearest love," his voice is o warm and comforting"I smell the trees, and the earth...and the flowers, and...and..."
His voice, which had been such a well-spring of safety only a moment before now trails off uncertainly.
"And what?" I prompted
"I don't know"
His doubt scared me more
(the smell is wrong so wrong)
than anything else ever had.

Name: SunStar
Race: Unicorn
Description: Pure white body fur, with golden socks on all four silver hooves. Golden mane and tail, and a golden star surrounding the golden horn atop her forehead. (geez, that's a lot of gold!)
Importance: Has a friend druid that visits her often. She never thought of him as human though...

I had just turned to say something else to Loyowill, when Yvonne and Kala burst out of the wood, a look of fear on their face.
"what's wrong? why the rush?" I ask them, not in the language of the trees, as would be my habit when with them, but in common, for Loyo's sake
"there are men!!in the forest!!!"said Yvonne, slightly out of breath from her run across the woods and her excitement
Loyo cantered over and I jumped up on his back, the two of us making the modifications that we needed in order to appear before the men.
"Do you two want to come with us? We have to find out what's going on."I enquired.
They nodded, so Loyo, who looked completely like a horse now, whinnied and another horse(this one a true horse) came gallopping out of the woods for them to ride, and off we headed towards the camp of the men.

SunStar laid in the sun, her friend Naren leaning against her. They had laid down together for a nap to pass the noonday heat. SunStar never noticed the cold or heat, but she knew that others felt them, and was very sympathetic of them.

Naren was a kind soul, his long dark red hair falling past his shoulders in curls. She liked his hair, but he often said it made him seem like a woman. But anyone who looked hard enough would see that he is not a woman, SunStar had replied. His skin was sun-darkened, and eyes eyes, though closed at the moment, were a deep green. He often wore feathers in his hair, and always had on brown or green clothes.

SunStar was often confused about what kind of creature he was. His ears were not pointy, so he was not an elf. He had no wings, so he was not a faerie. She had decided he was a wood sprite (though a strange looking one), because of his ability to control the plants of the forest. When she had announced her findings, he had laughed and said he was a druid. What a druid was, so had no idea.

A loud cry went up in the forest, and SunStar rose quickly, waking Naren. "Wha... what's wrong?" Naren said between yawns.

"Something is happening," SunStar replied fearfully, "I don't now what. I want find out. Will you come?"

"Sure."

SunStar kneeled down, and Naren hopped on her back. She rose and galloped away like lightning, guided only by feeling.

After he finished explaining his plan, they all started at him dumbstruck.Suddenly, Emeffyr threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. "Loyo,"she cried, "You're a genius!!Have I ever told you how wonderful you are?!!" The centaur merely blushed in response.
They then seperated, Kala, Yvonne, adn the satllion staying to gaurd the trees while Emeffyr and Loyo set out to find Airenia, whom they would ask to guard the tree while the nymphs and equines visited the mortals. It would be difficult convincing the fiery little flame faery to saty behind, but Emeffyr was certain they could manage it. The Faery would be the best guardian possible. They merely had to find her and tell her that.

Name: Tirania
Species: Human
Appearance: Tall withlong black hair that she constantly struggles to keep out of her face. She is a very serious person, keeps to herself, has wisdom hidden behind her gray eyes. She's pretty but guys keep away from her.
Importance: Has always been very close to nature, for a human. She has ties with both sides of the battle here, and is doing everything she can to keep the sides from destroying everything.

Tirania woke from her light slumber. She heard the sound of an ax and felt the spirit of a tree die. Not again... she thought as she climbed from her hiding place. Things just weren't going well. Once again she had tried to reason with that foolish human who was leading them, but, one again, he didn't listen. Now her only hope was to find Emeffyr and Loyowill, and to pray that they'd listen to her words. Fortune was with her, as around the next bend she spotted the centaur.

*FeL*

Name: Vrenadelia
Gender: Female
Speicies: Human
Appearance: She has short curly black hair and strange enough purple eyes. She is tall and beautiful, with a nasty touch-her temper.
Importance: She is a Major, and her personality fits the jos, thats why she has been choosen as the Major.
--------------------------------------------------

Vrena was sitting in the soldiers quarters when Lance came in.

"Vrena we must win this, for the kings sake" Lance said.

"So it shall be done".

"do we have any plans as of yet" Lance asked.

"Well what do you think I was waiting for you for, I may be of a higher rank but we are still partners and friends" she said smiling.

"Well, i found out the main reason why the king wants the woods and the magical creatures gone" Lance said.

"What is it".

"The queen" lance said.

"You mean all of this over some dolly" she said with a look of 'like thats not suprising' on her face.

"Yeah, she want them gone, so then they can build a newer and better castle, i guess the one that our ansester built wasn't enough for her" Lance said sighing.

"Well, an order is an order" Vrena said.

"So what about sending in a spy, the creature obviously know about our plans for them" Vrena said.

"Im on it" Lance said as both of them got up and left. Lanc ein surch of some brave soul, and Vrena wanted a word with the Queen.

Emeffyr and Loyowill had just seperated from the other party of nymphs( and an outraged fire fairy) and were continuing on their way to the human encampment when they heard a shout come from behind a large tree.
"Loyo!!!" came a voice that was as familiar as the od smell, yet much more welcome, though about as out of place.The pair turned, adn Emeffyr's apprehension faded like a puff of smoke as she saw the body that accompanied the voice.
"Tiri!!!" Teh Girl adn the efl raced toward each other adn caught eac other in a great hug. It had been long since they'd seen each other.
" Tiri, you've grown so much!!I'd forgotten how quickly humans age!" Loyo stated with great warmth in his tone."What brings you here? Are you with the other men? Or have you finally decided to accept our offer and reside here in the eternal forest with us?"
"Friends, I love you well, but let me speak and all will be answered, and for that which isn't, when I'm done you can ask away" The human gril bagan to weave her tale.

"Naren, look..." SunStar said with a voice of utter surprise.

"I see him, SunStar," Naren growled. He wasn't angry at her, she knew that. But SunStar didn't know what was going on. More creatures that looked like Naren slowly stepped into the clearing, strange metal objects in their hands. "What are humans doing in the forest?" Naren asked no one in particular.

"Humans? But those aren't humans! I've been told humans are nasty monsters that cut down trees! And kill animals for pelts! And they look like you, so they can't be..." SunStar exclaimed as softly as she could. But the sad and shameful look on Naren's face confirmed her deepest fears. "But Naren, you can't... you just can't be a human! You said you were a druid..."

"A druid is a human who is in tune with nature, much like a wood sprite," Naren replied sadly. SunStar sighed heavily. He hadn't actually lied to her. She just didn't ask the right question.

But the humans, who were getting very close to the fallen unicorn, were on her mind now. "We have to save that dark unicorn, Naren! If you love the forest and all things in it, you'll help me!" SunStar charged out of the safety of the trees, and whinnied a battle cry. The humans fell back in surprise, but started to aim those weird metal objects at her.

The long grass beneath the humans feet grew at an alarming rate, twisting into long, green ropes. These knock the objects out of the humans' hands and bound them to the ground. The men screamed and shrieked at their misfortune. Thank you, Naren, SunStar silently called out with her mind.

SunStar grabbed the dark unicorn by his mane and tossed him up onto her back. Some of the green rope launched itself unto her back, securing the unicorn to her. She whinnied in victory and cantered away towards her hiding place. As she passed the concentrating Naren, she whispered, "I will meet you at the cauldron."

"Tiri, we love you well, but what you're asking us to do is surrender the wood!" Loyo was saying.

"That's not it at all! I'm just trying to keep you all from destroying everything in your path! Including the wood! Maybe if Emeffyr came with me my arguments would have enough leverage to put a dent in the confidence of the humans. And if that doesn't work, you know I'd die before I let this forest be taken. But please, at least take this last chance to avoid a war!"

"All right, Tiri. We'll try," Emeffyr said in an exasperated voice. "Come on then, we'd better get going. Airenia will burst before we get back if we don't hurry.

"Thank you," Tiriana said, tears welling up in her eyes. "Thank you."

*FeL*

Tree after tree went down without a disterbence. Vrena and Lance just stood back and watched the work.

"I wonder what that creature was talking about" Lance asked Vrena.

"Well obviously the creatures here are planing something for us" she said.

Before Lance could reply a branch from one of the nearby trees swung at them. Lance ducked for he was looking at it but, Vrena had her back to it. It hit her good, smashing into her head. She fell to the ground unconscience.

Emeffyr got to the clearing the men had made just as the elf attacked. She knew him, adn was not quite glad to see him, but for now he was welcome. They had killed some of her best friends, one of the trees they had cut down belonged to her half sister. They had killed her family, she had thought of compromise but now she knew there would be no such thing with these horrible beings.
>how foolish i was to think...I should have remembered....<
She turned her head to Loyo's flank adn began to weep with great hevaing, though silent sobs. She knew now that war was the only option, adn war means death, even to the otherwise immortal denizons of the peaceful wood.

Tiri gaped when she saw the destruction at the harvesting site. My Gods... She ran up to the human she'd met before, Lance by name, and gave such a steely look as was not seen before.

"Do you see what you have done?" she said, her voice, hardy containing her rage, was low and threatening.

"What- Why- Why are you on their side?" Lance asked, confused.

"Because this is my home, and I will NOT see it and my friends destroyed. You see the havoc wreaked here? When this forest goes to war the effect will be tenfold. What one elf can do, think of a army! That combined with the fairies, the dryads, the unicorns, and all the other creatures of this wood; that is what you will face, and you and whoever opposes that force shall perish. A last warning has been issued: remove you and your men from here or you will all die. May the Gods spare you, for if we cross paths again I shall not," Tiriana said, and swept away. I may be human, but I belong in this forest as much as any dryad, and I am not without magic. Whatever may pass, I will not fail in protecting this place that I love...

Emeffyr shivered involuntarily, as the smell of death wafted closer. It reminded her of the last time she had smelled so many wasted lives, the time when...but no, now was different. Now she wasn't alone, now HE wasn't here, and Loyo was, adn even if HE did come, at least she was home, and she was safe.
Loyo gave her a concerned look, but she waved him off, as she turned to face the odd looking girl who had hopped down out of the tree, evidently with the intent to talk.
With a wary look at the wolf which followed the girl, Emeffyr began to introduce herself, btu was cut off by the girl."I know who you are, Emeffyr, everyone does. I'm Shivie, and we need to talk. But first, are you all right?"
Emeffyr, a little thrown off by all of that, paused a moment before she responded. "I'll be fine, thank you Shivie. And you're right. We DO need to talk. But not just you and me. WE need to call together the whole forest. I Call upon the right of High Council."
One of the magics that had been set into the Wood, many years before any could recall, was that if those words were spoken, trumpets adn horns would magically summon all the creatures of Cauldren Wood to a meeting at the heart of the Woods, at the Cochran of Life itself, at the secret which they all guarded.

SunStar ran like the wind, speeding through the forest like wildfire. She headed for the Cauldron of Life, where she said she would meet Naren. But something else pulled her as well, like a golden rope was attached to her heart, dragging her towards the Cauldron.

Naren was there when she finally reached her destination. He sat on a rock next to the shimmering stream of water, watching his reflection. "Good, you're here, Naren," SunStar said.

Startled, Naren leapt to his feet. His eyes were tiny pools of pure tension and anxiety. He nearly collapsed from relief when he saw it was SunStar. "Geez, SunStar, don't scare me like that. This new threat in the wood has made the forest as jumpy as a mad hare. Even the plants don't seem to trust me anymore."

SunStar settled down next to her friend, nuzzling him on the neck. "Calm down, Naren. You're a friend; the forest knows that. The Council has been called; the threat will end soon."

Naren looked up at her, confused. "Council?"

Tiri was picking her way carefully through the woods, making little to no sound, when she heard the horns. She gasped at the sound echoing all around her, frightened and perturbed. What could be making this noise? She sat down, hard, on the ground, her hands clapped over her ears, trying to shut out the noise. But it wouldn't go away. It seemed almost like the noise was coming from INSIDE of her.
She started involuntarily when a hand touched her shoulder, so keen was she on keeping out the noise. She looked up and saw a dryad face peering down at her.
"Come on," said the dryad, pulling Tiri to her feet. She set off in a southerly direction, and Tiri had no choice but to follow. She found that ever step she took in that direction, the sound dimmed. She looked around in puzzlement, trying to figure out what was happening.
The dryad leading her glanced back in annoyance. "What's the problem?"
"I- I jus- The horns- I heard them very loudly earlier, but they've faded now, and- what do they mean?"
"You don't know?" asked the dryad incredulously. She stared at Tiri, then, having noticed something, sighed. "You're human, aren't you?"
Tiri was almost more startled by this question than anything else she had been asked all day. It was one thing to question he allegiance, but an entirely different thing to ask about her race!
"Well, of course I'm human!" she said indignantly. The dryad nodded in understanding. She pointed to Tiri's left hand, and Tiri looked down, and gasped. On the back of her hand was a leaf-shaped mark, and on her finger was a ring woven of- Tree leaves?
"It would seem," said the dryad with a smile, "that the forest has adopted you." She raised her own right hand, and Tiri saw a similar marking and ring. The dryad gave another little smile, and ran off into the trees, shouting behind her, "You should be able to find the way, just follow the tug at your heart!"
Tiri stood there, dumbstruck. The forest had- What? Adopted her? Well, it wasn't much stranger than anything else that had happened that day. She took a deep breath, and, concentrating, could feel a light tug at her heart. Grasping onto it like a thread, Tiri took off in the direction the dryad had run, racing to the Spring.