My heart pounded furiously as I cut through the forest, following the trail of the beam. I felt the whack of tree limbs, the leaves slapping me as I leapt, hurling myself through the rough thickness of bushes and trees. The sting of my skin did not compare to the sting of my heart, yearning for this to be her. Could it be? This light, it was warm, it left a sense of peace in its wake, similar to her. But was it?

The beam of light fluttered up ahead in the distance. I could make out the tiniest shape of a young fairy. From her wings flowed light, love, warmth, and a sense of child-like wonder. However, it was much different than Lif’s aura. Her hair was short, the most vibrant color of green, like the leaves at the beginning of summer. She sat upon a dying tree speaking in enchantments of her people. Before I could even blink, the tree began to take shape, coming alive, resurrecting its leaves and blossoms. I watched in stunned amazement. For a fairy so young, she had powers so great.

I staled, hiding in the shadows of the trees, watching her smile at her work. She picked a blossom from its stem, putting it in her hair.

“Come out, Stig of the Elder Forest, I mean you no harm,” her child-like voice resounded through the quiet forest.

“You know me?” I softly stepped into her view. Putting my axe down on the ground to show her I meant no harm as well.

“Of course I know you silly,” she giggled, “You were Lif’s soulmate, she spoke of you often in her letters”

My eyes grew wider, heart racing at the words just spoken. Did she know that Lif was gone? Did she come to visit or check on her friend? What should I indulge? Would she place blame on me?

“I know she is gone, I am not here to place blame on anyone. I am here to be the new guardian of this forest.”

Her words cut me like a knife. I began panting, feeling the welt of grief, the confirmation of Lif’s absence, the realization that the fairy village had sent a new protector. The blow caused me to stagger to my knees. I could begin to feel myself losing consciousness, hyperventilating as I tried to take in her words. I felt myself slipping into darkness. I could see her rush over to me, shouting something that my ears failed to hear. My vision blurred as I felt the last bit of my body give way into the dark abyss.

The freezing wind stung against my cheek, bringing me back into reality. I opened my eyes, focusing on the sky. How much time had passed? Where was I?

“Good, you’re awake,” she spoke with a worried look still on her face. I focused in on her. She sat hunched over a small fire. Gazing at its flickering dance as the crisp breeze took the lead.

“I should probably introduce myself, I am Chelle. Lif’s younger sister. I have been sent by father to protect the forest. I need to thank you for being here all this time. I would have been here sooner, but I was nervous about leaving my village. Your the first human I have ever met. My people were scared of humans until Lif began writing to us. Lif was right about you, you know? She would write me all the time, speaking about your loyalty, your kindness, and even your cooking skills.” Just then her little tummy growled, echoing through the night.

I chuckled, barely able to keep my smile in. Lif wrote about me? I never knew.

“Can I cook you something to eat? I have plenty of food at the cabin. Let’s go there and I can make you anything you want.”

Her eyes got big. “Anything?” She jilted up in the sky as if to find the cabin from the air. Then, she zoomed down, picking me up by my chest strap with her small dainty hands. She was incredibly strong for her age. How was she able to lift me up?

We flew through the night sky. The view of the night sky stretching beyond the horizon, The glimmer of stars illuminated the sky into a sea of dark blue and purple. The Akur mountains, with their snow caps and sharp ridge lines stood majestic in the far distance. I wondered if Lif had missed this view. Did she long to be one with the night sky? Did she wish to fly? All these thoughts raced through my mind as I navigated Chelle.

I could see the cabin coming into view. I pointed with my hand to signal Chelle of our destination. She nodded, slowly descending until we were safely on the porch steps. She looked at the quaint small cabin that Lif and I had shared.

“My father built this cabin for Lif when she was first assigned here. I remember wishing I could come visit her and stay in with her here. She always told me I was welcome too. I never got a round to it. I was too scared. A coward.”

Chelle bawled her fist, letting the regret show on her face.

“You’re here now” I interjected. “That’s all that matters. What are you wanting to eat?”

She bounced out of her thoughts, a big smile creeping unto her face as she yelled,

“PANCAKES!!!”