94 Numb (2/2)

”He seemed furious and tried to grab after the jar as it went flying. In his distraction I scrambled to my feet and made a break for it. But I soon found myself on the ground again this time with him on top of me. I fought him fiercely trying to escape but I realized too late that he was not trying to over power me but to steer me into that tar that was now scattered. I shoved hard and got him off me, but somehow by doing that he managed to get one of my arms into the tar. That vile stuff made my arm quickly lose feeling and the fight became much harder. He was soon on top of me again looking at me with his disgusting eyes and forcing my arm deeper into the tar. I thought I was done for as he was getting the rest of me closer and closer to that tar. I was losing control of more and more of my arm. I have never been so horrified in my life.

”It was then in desperation I tried something that Laurel taught me. I caused a large branch that was over the man's head to be cast off, knocking him unconscious. Sadly I could not move my numb arm and part of the branch pierced into it.” Ivy said showing us a scab that was still healing on her arm. ”I struggled out from underneath him, freed my arm from the branch and rushed out of the woods, not trusting anything I could come up with to bind him.”

”What about your arm being numb?” I asked looking at her arm that seemed to be functioning just fine now.

”Once I washed the tar off in a stream the feeling came back,” Ivy explained raising her hand and flexing her fingers.

”I have to think this is the same person that attacked these woods,” Mist said from within the leaf.

”I would agree with you,” I said

”Rine, did you send the seed to Laurel yet?” Mist questioned.

”I just heard this story now.”

”Then what were we doing all this time?” Mist's tone was getting sharper.

”I didn't want to make Ivy tell her story twice and I really wanted to see the new tree,” I said, barely processing what was asked of me. ”I guess I got a little distracted,” I admitted sheepishly.

A sudden cold splash of water from Mist jumping back into the pond caused me and Ivy to start. ”I really hope that when I get to be as old as you, I am not so oblivious,” Mist said as she bobbed out of the water and back into the pond. ”Rine, go send the message to Laurel. It is more important than a glowing tree.” Her voice was noticeably louder now.

I can't believe that I got distracted by half a day. I really had wanted to save Ivy the hassle of having to say it twice. But now it was night. I did not like the idea of flying up above the tree line even in the day time. Night made it much more scary. But it was my own fault at this point. Mist was right, it should not wait till morning.

”I will go now,” I said flying over to the hollow in a tree where I left the seed. Once I retrieved it I cautiously flew up to the top of the tree and looked around to see if there were any predators. All I was able to find was a few bats hunting, but I did not need to worry about them. Once I was sure the coast was clear I began to fly as high as I could. The higher I got the more uncomfortable I became. I was not used to being this exposed. Part of the reason why I was the oldest fairy was because I took few risks. This was one of the most dangerous things that I had ever done.

I was several hundred feet above the tops of the trees when I could not take it any more and released the seed. I watched for a moment and I saw it begin to spin and make its way out of sight to the west. I used some of my spiritual energy to give the seed what speed and luck I could.

Suddenly I felt the presence of something behind me. A large owl was bearing down on me. My body froze in horror as I saw the talons open wide to grasp me. But gravity began to take its hold on me. It felt like everything had slowed down, for the second time in one day. The talons reached out to clutch at me while I started to plummet.

I twisted my body as best as I could but I was not able to completely escape. The claw caught on my shirt and gashed my side. However its talons were too sharp and, after a pause, tore the rest of the way through my shirt.

Free from the owl's grasp I did not dare slow down, and instead let myself free fall until I reached the tree line.

Back at ground level, I squeaked out, ”It's done!” And perhaps I was a coward, but I flew right up to Ivy and hid behind her hair for the rest of the night.