Myth or Reality?

As she turned to leave the owner stopped her, "Won’t you be needing this quiver?"

"Oh, yes!" Sybil took it and left feeling immensely proud of herself.

Finally, with her pocket considerable lighter and satchel heavier, she left the market. She had everything she though that she and Jolie would need: Food, defense, a hair brush, matches, a map, and the money she had left.

Come on, Jolie trotted ahead, We should get to the cover of the forest before they come out looking for us.

Yes, we should, but where are we going from there? Should we head to Castle Gryphana? I heard that it is a wonderful kingdom! Maybe we could live there! Sybil was daydreaming of how life would be like if they really could live all on their own, but was snapped out of it by Jolie nuzzling her hand.

Today?

They set off to the Wood spirit forest, where Sybil had dreamed of going to so many times, but was limited to the street in front of the house.

As they came to the beginning of the woods Sybil stopped. Looking behind one more time she turned back to the woods and began to walk into an entire new world in her eyes. At first the trees were widely spaced out, but the deeper they went into the forest the denser it became. Jolie was finally at home, or so Sybil thought, as the wolf sniffed around and chased away squirrels. As they walked along like this the day passed on slowly, but Sybil was grateful and she loved the out doors, and the smell of nature. The day was still young and sunlight streamed in through the canopy of the forest dotting the forest floor.

Walking sure does make you hungry! Sybil stopped and sat down beside a giant oak tree. She opened her satchel and pulled out a chocolate bar and some ham which she gave to Jolie. As she slowly ate savoring each bite of the chocolate bar, Jolie stopped and sniffed the air. There was a rustle in the tree but Sybil took it for a bird.

I don’t think it’s a bird, in fact I know it’s not a bird. Jolie said, her ears erect on her head as she listened hard.

All of the sudden a head popped out from the tree, "Hello! Is that CHOCOLATE?"

"Um, yes," Sybil said as a blond girl hung upside down from a branch.

"Can I please have some?" she asked, rather impolitely seeing as she didn’t know her.

"Sure, just come off that branch."

"Okay," With amazing flexibility and ease, the girl swung off the branch and landed beside Sybil, "Thank you."

"Your welcome," Sybil said a bit awkwardly, then noticing her pointed ears asked, "Are you a wood spirit?"

"No, of course not! I am an Elf." She said proudly, "But I do know some wood spirits, and some sprites, and some sylphs, and some undines, and some dryads though."

"Really?" Sybil said, now very interested, "Can I meet some?"

"Sure, I’ll show you some later."

"Do you know any salamanders?" Sybil said excitedly.

"Not very many, fire elementals can be a little temperamental, if you know what I mean. Is that wolf yours?"

"Yeah her name is Jolie."

"Oh, she’s beautiful!" she looked admiringly at the wolf.

"She says thank you."

"Wow, you understood her!"

"What’s your name?"

"I’m Gwenifer," She said, "My parents couldn’t decide whether I should be Gwendolyn or Jennifer, so they mixed it. I think it’s unique but I would rather go by Cherrie.