Shifter: Dream Legacy

By David Langer

When she first dreamed of the fairy, it all seemed exciting and fun. It still seemed like a game when she met the others and received the gift. At first, little changed, and she grew, and forgot the words they'd spoken when she was young. Until one day, she remembered. Her life changed after that, in many ways, and she had her first real taste of secrets.
She had to keep them as she grew, learned, and explored. The title the Fae gave to her seemed strange at first: Shifter. When she came to realize what their teachings were, and learned of the meaning behind the name, it became concerning.
As her power grew, new dreams came, and new troubles. Until one day, her Fae stopped coming when she called. Her dreams changed again, and she knew the time they'd spoken of had come. Too soon. Much too soon.

• Language: English
• Publisher: David Langer
• Release date: May 11, 2024
• ISBN: 9798215910610

Book preview

Chapter 1 - The Dream

The stillness was absolute. The grass didn't sway in a breeze, the dark clouds in the sky hung limp as a sodden sheet. Trees in the distance made no creaks or groans.

The little girl appeared suddenly. Dressed in a light blue nightshirt with an overlarge neckline that hung down over one small shoulder. Her hair swayed in the breeze that now ruffled the grass at her bare feet. She turned her eyes up to the now light, puffy clouds and she took in a deep breath, then let it out with a bright burst of laughter.

The sound rose up and seemed to bolster the solidity of everything. Trees reached out their limbs to it, the wind danced in concert above the little girl. The earth gave a little ripple, barely noticeable.

Birdsong came calling across the field from the forest in the distance and the little girl turned her face to find the feathered ones. She saw tiny forms flitting in the distance.

She did not notice the shadow seep through the trees as she looked up again.

As she watched the clouds sweeping through the sky, the ground began to ripple beneath her. The little girl did not notice. Her eyes swept to a puffy bear, then across to a slim form with a long crocodile-like mouth. The ripple lifted the earth she stood on gently, not disturbing her in the slightest. She watched a few masses of clouds merge into a large dragon.

The shadow whisked through the trees again, and darkness swept down into the earth from within the forest. It coursed through the ground, past the little girl now on a hill, and into the distance.

More clouds danced above her, a small winged shape emerged, looking fuzzy. The large dragon had passed, though not before a small eye-hole in it revealed the sunlight streaming down to touch the earth in the middle of the shadow that infested it in the distance.

At the touch of the light, the land roiled, churning like molten rock. In moments, the air thrummed, the light dimmed, the little girl closed her eyes, and mountains erupted from a frenzy of quakes. As each one surged forth, the little girl twisted gently in a sort of trance.

The shadow in the land burst forth from the mountaintops as they formed, spewing into the sky as dark clouds that shrouded the land.

* * *

The sylph flowed in the wind currents dancing around her. The clouds kept her company as the air whipped past, the energy of movement filling her with joy. Her wings, translucent and covered with designs beat slowly as she spun and dipped, soared and sped through the clouds.

She sensed it just before a massive gust blew her suddenly back.

When the slim fairy dropped down out of the cloud, she closed her eyes, feeling along the winds around her. Then she looked off in the distance, orienting herself to face a small hill that rose from the earth.

On top of that hill, in a grassy field, stood a small figure. The sylph watched the hill rising, and she studied the being atop it. A dreamer of course, playing on a hilltop. Not much to be worried about, so far away. But the winds still grew around her, raising in intensity. She had to keep herself still by stepping outside the winds.

The small figure looked around. A darkness swirled within the earth, first emerging from a forest not far away, then streaking past the figure to a patch of ground. A beam of light cut through the clouds and struck the darkness, and the ground began to bubble as if boiling fast.

She watched, amazed to see mountains sprouting from the roiling earth faster than her eyes could follow. These were not little hills, but tall peaks, covered to the tree line with woods. They just kept sprouting directly to full growth, one after another.

The air around her thrummed with an almost palpable force that caused her to waver in the air. She could see the ground being pushed apart as the mountains appeared, the earth bubbling frantically at the edges of her vision. The fabric of the dream resonated powerfully in answer to the upthrusting spikes of land. The sensations made her fearful as no other thing in the dreamland could.

Fearful, but hopeful too.

Blinking, she shook her head. Mountains... still growing like they were bubbles bursting from a rapid boil.

Returning her gaze to the small figure on the hilltop, she saw it disappear.

The fairy looked back at the mountains and watched the clouds gathering around them. Shafts of light shot through them, but still they looked dark and forbidding. They were part of the realm now, she was sure they were not just going to fade.

That little dreamer, it had to be.

Excitement coursed through her. How long since the last one had been found? A decade, maybe two?

The urge to soar grabbed her and she sped toward the mountains. Now came the difficult part; finding that little dreamer.

* * *

When she opened her eyes, the little girl saw the dark mountains near her, and she smiled faintly. Her eyes, still a little unfocused, seemed to shine in the light of the sun. Breaks in the cloud cover appeared, sunlight streaking down to strafe the mountains with radiant spears.

The roiling earth could no longer be seen from her position. She closed her eyes again. Her body swayed once, then vanished, as suddenly as it had appeared.

At the far reaches of the newly budded mountains, the land continued to push forth tall, harsh peaks. Some of these shuddered so much that the tops crashed violently to the valleys below them. Wind howled across the landscape, tense, forbidding, and violent, carrying a scourge of rock and ash from volcanoes sprinkled throughout the range.

Some of the volcanoes erupted, lava seeping out of flow-holes, or spurting into the darkened wind. The land was raw, fresh, seeping like a wound, scars forming in minutes that would have ordinarily taken ages.

At last, the bubbling cauldrons at the edges of the range sputtered out and surged forth the last of the mighty bastions of rock. Trees sprouted and grew in mere moments. Clouds, dark and vast, pierced here and there by shafts of brightness, seemed to gather for a mass attack to drive the light from the land below.

Before they could finish their muster and charge though, another shudder passed through the entire range, and the air hummed in anticipation of another change.

But nothing came.

On a mountaintop in the middle of the range, unremarkable except for the new presence there, the little girl appeared. The darkness within the ground seemed to recoil from her, and in moments, it had retreated from that mountain. Across the entire range, unbeknown to the girl, the darkness gathered in a high valley, soaring through the ground until it dug deep into the earth. A crevice formed, widened, and down in the deepest crack, the darkness retreated.

The little girl's swaying stopped suddenly, her eyes opened and her short hair drifted lazily around her head in the winds criss-crossing atop the mountain. She shivered, and then she was in her thick, flannel, footy pajamas, green with little kittens covering them.

Nothing else had changed, and she wrapped her arms around herself, feeling a bit warmer. The air shifted slightly, and then swirled as forms dropped onto the mountaintop around her, their legs flexing deeply to absorb the shock of the fall.

Rough, red skin covered them, with bat wings stretching from their arms to their bodies, draping down to drag along the ground. Avian heads with sharp beaks swiveled to follow her as she took a couple steps backward. The trance-like state faded from her eyes, growing wider as she looked at the creatures poised before her. Two of the five creatures clacked their beaks loudly, and one started forward, reaching out sharp talons toward her.

A roar echoed across the bare rock, causing the bird-creatures to start. The little girl felt a pounding through the stone and then an immense white shape hurtled up from the mountainside behind her. She turned her head just a little to see a massive bear jump over her easily, smashing down upon three of the bat-beings. The other two leaped up into the air from their bent legs. The bear reached up quickly and picked one out of the air, then it spun, and leaped up to catch the other one as it banked to soar away.

The bear stomped a frenzied dance upon the creatures until they did not move at all. It stopped and looked at the little girl, lowering its head until it could look into her face. Strangely, she stared at it calmly, the bear's amber eyes as big as her whole head.

* * *

The sylph soared across mountain after mountain, searching top after top. The little dreamer must be on a mountaintop! It was rare to find a dreamer who created a mountain range without wanting to see the view, most of them just ended up in a range that they remembered. Dreamers who wanted to climb a mountain wouldn't create more than one. Possibly a second, rarely a third. But then, dreamers were a strange lot as a whole.

She stopped, then made another pass back over the previous area to make up for her mental ramblings. Still no sign of the little dreamer. She flew higher. The range just kept going. She couldn't see the end.

Sighing, she cast around for any hint of movement that might indicate the dreamer.

There! Something flew across the range a ways off. A few somethings, and making a line to a goal. They were not idly gliding, but moving with purpose. She soared towards them, noting the wings, and the noise coming from them. Though she was far away, she could hear the cacophony they raised, carried on the winds.

These were not creatures of the dream. They were nightmares. They were being drawn, and only one thing could draw them like that.

* * *

The little girl perched atop the enormous bear's shoulders. She wobbled from side to side, and sometimes front to back, as the beast trudged down the mountainside.

There had been an attack by small rodents shortly after they entered the tree line, but the great bear managed to crush them all before they had climbed up to the little girl. Then there was a pack of vicious, two-legged reptiles, the bear had smashed and crushed them as well. Time seemed to change in great gasps as the little girl sat atop the bear, first they were on the mountaintop after she had climbed up onto the then gentle beast, then the bear was fighting off the rodents at the tree line. Then the lizards. Now the bear was stopped in front of a huge tree, looking at it expectantly.

She watched as the bear put a paw on the side of the tree and then tapped it with each of the claws on its paw, one at a time. Then it waited. It looked up at the top of the tree. After a short time it did it again.

After waiting a bit longer the second time it gave a short huff. It tapped a third time.

Another wait and then it reached up with both paws. This startled the girl, but the bear moved slowly enough that she had plenty of time to get a good grip and didn't fall off. This time it walked its paws up the tree a good distance, dug its claws in and pulled.

Now there was noise, and she could feel the vibrations and tension in the bear's body. Bark chips flew and shavings fluttered to the ground. With the creaking and groaning of other trees in the wind, the grinding of the bark didn't stand out too much.

The bear stopped and settled back on the ground. It waited again, but this time it seemed much more alert.

It was a very short time before it reared again, and she was glad she had held on this time. Now both paws thudded loudly on the tree. She wondered if the bear would shred it now.

But before it did anything else, a small voice from up above snapped out, What?

The bear answered with a huff, a snort, and then a low rumble she could feel in her bones. She looked up, but could see nothing.

Exasperated, the chittery voice replied, Alright, I'm coming down. You can leave my tree alone now.

A small form flitted out from among the high branches and started to circle its way down to them. As it moved, she caught glimpses of a bushy tail on a small reddish brown creature. It took only a few moments until it had landed in front of the bear.

She watched the little creature as it seemed to speak with the bear, but they were both very quiet, and possibly even using some other animal language she didn't understand. The creature looked like a squirrel, but it had strangely colored markings on its back and the tail looked even more bushy than normal.

The bear's head motioned up towards her a few times, and the squirrel looked up as well. Finally, it seemed like the creature gave in to whatever the bear was requesting. She watched as it spread beautiful little wings from its back and flew up to sit before her. As it landed she saw that the tail was a long, feathered version of the usual bushy squirrel tail. Feathers covered it instead of fur and as it sat there, she watched the wings fold up neatly along its back.

So, you are the reason old Ruah woke me up? the creature asked in its high voice.

Ignoring the creature's question, she asked, What are you?

"Me? I'm a feathered squirrel. Not to be confused with a flying squirrel. They only have flaps of skin and don't even actually fly anyway."

She giggled, You do!

You bet, the feathered squirrel said. By the way, I'm Triptych. he continued. Then Ruah shrugged impressively and he toppled over into a mat of thick fur.

I'm Alexis, the little girl replied.

Triptych gathered himself up, then lay back, snuggled down and then said, Ruah said that you're in trouble.

Alexis shrugged, Maybe.

You don't think so? Triptych pressed.

She shook her head.

A gentle huff came from Ruah, and Triptych said, She doesn't seem to agree.

Oh, Alexis said.

The small creature looked around cautiously, then popped up from his reclined position to soar quickly over and land on Alexis's shoulder, Between you and me, he whispered, she's a bit of a worry-wart.

Alexis smiled at the small creature. She looked to the skies, then down into the trees around them, wondering if anything else would appear.

In another moment everything shifted. Ruah lumbered forward, Triptych reclining on the thick mat of fur, and his tree was nowhere in sight. Alexis did not seem bothered by these sudden changes, she barely even blinked.

A powerful wind picked up around them, swirling leaves and small twigs off the ground where they danced for a little time before being discarded. A howl sounded around them, and Triptych sat up immediately, then glided over to Alexis's shoulder again.

Cover your ears! he shouted over the rising wind. Don't let go until I tug on your sleeve!

How do I hold on? Alexis called back. But before she had a chance to cover even one of her ears, the source rose to a piercing scream that caused all her muscles to clamp together tightly. She curled up into a painfully tight ball, one hand a rigid claw attaching her to Ruah's fur. She could not move even if she had wanted to.

* * *

They were nightmares, shriekers, and they were heading somewhere with purpose. The sylph suspected, hoped even, that it was to the dreamer.

She had to find that dreamer!

More, shriekers could be hard to deal with. Fire could handle most things, but there was no assurance that the dreamer had any fire. She could damp their sounds though, and that meant she could help, and thereby get the dreamer's trust.

Focused, she followed, closing the distance and wrapping herself with winds that muted the voices of the shriekers as she approached. She took some time to look across the range that the dreamer had made. It was immense! So many peaks and valleys and there in the distance she saw an eruption.

So the dreamer did have some fire, but who knew if it was available to them?

The shriekers made an abrupt turn in the sky, and the fairy immediately vanished into a wisp of vapor. She did not want to fight them until they had lead her to the dreamer. She could not miss this opportunity!

* * *

Slowly, Alexis uncurled her body, the echoes of the ravaging voices still shuddering within her. Her eyes opened briefly, fluttering uncontrollably, and she could not register the colors or shapes around her. When she realized the noise inside her head was only her memory of the terrible sound, she shook herself, life returning and the agony of the voice fading.

Now she did open her eyes, and this time she saw... a fairy! Dark hair loosely swirling around her lovely, pale face, much like a single bright cloud within a sea of darkened sky. Her slight, willowy form hovering in the air above Ruah's back, translucent butterfly wings wafting lazily back and forth in the air. Light, billowing garments covered her loosely, and Alexis listened to what the fairy was saying.

No, it isn't a problem, I'll be right here, she said. Her voice light and airy.

What were those things? Triptych asked. I've never seen anything like them here!

We generally refer to them as shriekers, the fairy replied. They aren't that common, but they are common enough that we've classified them.

And who are you? Triptych said.

Alexis blinked at the fairy, who glanced over to the girl, with a smile on her face. My name is Eyana, the fairy said. And you are?

The question was directed at her, so she said, I'm Alexis.

And I'm Triptych, the feathered squirrel chimed in. And this is Ruah, but what are you? he pressed.

I'm a sylph, Eyana replied.

Hmph, Triptych snorted.

What's a sylph? Alexis asked.

Eyana smiled at her, and spun quickly in the air, I am a wind spirit.

A fairy! Alexis blurted.

Eyana laughed, a bright tinkling sound, but before she could say anything more, the ground rumbled ominously around them. Trees shook, leaves and needles fell to the earth. Distant crashes could be heard and Eyana stilled briefly in the air. The fairy shook her head and muttered, Earth.

Alexis thought of the mountains and the trees and the trembling ground. She blinked, and when she opened her eyes they were surrounded by giant towers of rock, in a sere and dry land. Around them, in the distance, were towering cliffs, but here there was nothing but sand and stones.

Triptych lifted from Ruah's back and turned in the air, bouncing slightly as his little wings beat up and down. Oh no, he said, Oh no!

Eyana glanced at him, and asked, What is the problem?

The Sentinels! he cried in his small voice.

A grating of stone on stone grew in the air from all sides. Alexis looked up and around to see the rock piles moving in a slow, steady circuit. Dust drifted through the air, flowing down from the many cracks between the shifting stones. The mighty pillars began to tip, but the stones did not fall as they reoriented themselves, coming towards the small group.

Ruah! he yelled, Go! We have to get out of here!

The towering rock pillars were now poised over them, dust and noise cascaded around them. Eyana lifted her arms and a wind swirled around, carrying the dust away. Alexis watched the stones with interest, wondering what was keeping them together now that they were horizontal, as they were in some cases. Then she clutched at Ruah's fur as the bear took some lumbering steps and soon began to run forward. Eyana followed in the air.

As if sensing the escape, the poised rocks suddenly shifted into blinding motion. All three of them dropped fast towards the running bear, massive fists of the earth seeking to pummel them into ground.

Eyana sang a wordless tune that surrounded Alexis, and the swirling winds picked up with hurricane force, barely managing to brush aside the rocks that seemed determined to smash into them. Ruah seemed to instinctively know how to fit between the rocks as they were pushed slightly away. She gathered herself and leaped powerfully onto one of the boulders, and then just as quickly continued down onto the far side, barely breaking stride.

Alexis felt herself coming loose, her grip not able to maintain hold as Ruah jumped, but as she flew off, Eyana grasped her hands and whispered, No, you don't. The fairy dragged her back to the bear's broad shoulders.

The white bear seemed not to have noticed her briefly missing passenger, but she kept running full on as more towers of rock shifted toward them as they passed. Dust cascaded through the air, and the grating of rock on all sides became a thunderstorm of noise. Alexis regained her seat and her grip in Ruah's deep fur.

We've got to get past them! Triptych cried, his wings beating purposefully as he arrowed next to Alexis.

Alexis could hear Ruah's labored breath and the enormous bear raced through the dry valley. Above them dirt and dust fell and the grating sound of stone on rough stone echoed far and wide.

Eyana called, They are awakening farther away.

Triptych cried in answer, Soon this whole place will be awake! We have to get away!

Alexis thought about the rocks, and escape, as Eyana shot back, How? The frantic pace set by Ruah bumped her around, and she could barely think for the noise, nor see for the dust in the air. She closed her eyes and thought about the dry air, the rough sand and terrible noise, wishing for something peaceful, calm, a lake perhaps.

When she opened her eyes, an expanse of blue spread out before her, and Ruah slowed to a gentle, rambling stride. Triptych lounged once more in the deep blanket of her fur, and Eyana hovered nearby, her wings beating slowly.

Now, that's more like it, Triptych said.

Alexis clapped her hands, and then fell back onto the carpet of Ruah's back, looking up at the sky above. The clouds were still dark, though punctuated here and there by shafts of light that traced down to distant locations.

Where are we now? asked Eyana.

Somewhere nice! Alexis responded happily.

Triptych had a more definite answer, This looks like the Frozen Mere.

Why? Alexis asked.

The little creature sat up quickly, then leaped into the air and pointed off toward a far end of the water. Down there are the cold falls, he said. This lake is the first to freeze in the fall, and the last to thaw in the spring. The water from the falls is really cold.

Eyana said, You know a lot about this place, don't you.

The feathered squirrel's mouth crinkled a little and he replied, Why yes, I do.

Ruah huffed loudly and Triptych turned in the air to face the direction she was looking in.

Not again! he said.

What now? Eyana asked. Is there something to be worried about here as well?

No... the squirrel's voice trailed off. At least, not usually.

Alexis turned on Ruah's back to see what everyone else was looking at. Across the dark water, a set of fins had appeared in the deep and were pointing directly towards the shore where Ruah stood.

Sharks? Alexis asked, looking over at Triptych.

Uh uh, he squeaked. Not something I'm familiar with.

Eyana's wings beat fast, a quick hum, and she darted out over the water. She flew directly to the fins and then returned doubly fast. The fins were not swimming very quickly towards them, but it was obvious what was their destination.

How big are they? Triptych asked.

Not very, Eyana replied. Alexis, are you having fun?

The little girl's smile was enough of a reply but she said, Yes! anyway.

Oh good, Eyana said, grinning in return. It's exciting, isn't it?

Alexis's eyes sparkled.

Chapter 2 - Fairyland

Alexis came down to breakfast and asked her mother and father, Can we go to fairyland?

Her parents shared a slightly confused look. They were both used to a little oddity and surprises from their daughter, indeed they regarded it as healthy for an imaginative child.

The little girl continued, I know how to get there.

Her father replied, Not today Alexis. Maybe we can do it soon.

She nodded happily, A fairy told me last night!

Her father had an amused smile in spite of a brief eye roll, but it was her mother who answered, I bet that was fun, too. But we've got a lot to do today, so we won't have time to go anywhere else.

Alexis rattled on, You see, we just have to go that way a little, and then we take a right. And then we go that way for a while. Her words were punctuated by swinging, pointing arms and hands. And then we go across the bridge. It's yellow and... green. And then we are there!

Both parents were nodding. Her mother spoke up again, Those fairies give good directions don't they?

The little girl nodded enthusiastically. Oh yes, they gave them to me in there! She pointed up towards her room.

Her father responded playfully, Really? Right in your room huh? Did they set up some sort of radio link-up in there?

Daaaaad! her mock stern tone told him that she knew he was making fun of her. No! They invited me to Fairyland!

Indeed. her father replied simply and then changed the subject. What would you like for breakfast?

Granola... and yogurt. the little girl decided. Blueberry!

We'll get it ready, her mother said, getting up. Could you go and get dressed? Long sleeves today, it's a bit cold out, okay?

Okay! the girl bounced off toward her room, not noticing the slightly furrowed brows and hint of a frown on her father's face from her last mention of Fairyland.

* * *

The weeks passed, and the rain fell, and one day Alexis came down to breakfast later than usual. She had been quietly singing songs and talking to herself for quite some time in her room before she finally decided to get up. Both of her parents were in a good mood, chatting away with each other at the breakfast table.

In a pair of her favorite pajamas (purple, and covered with flowers and butterflies), she dashed down to join them and with a heavy jump landed next to her chair. She giggled.

Good morning Thumper! her father laughed.

I'm not 'Thumper' Dad! came her exasperated reply. Her father often called her odd names, but it was good fun.

Okay, okay. You slept well then, I take it? he smiled.

It certainly sounded like you were having fun this morning. What were you singing to yourself in bed? her mother chimed in.

Just some songs to the moon and stars. I had some fun dreams about them last night!

Really? Care to share? her father asked.

Well, I was on a dragon, and we were flying up really high and we met up with the moon and we played a jumping game and I jumped the highest, but then a star came swoosh down and grabbed all of us and we went off sailing in a rainbow. It was really high! The words came tumbling out, one after another with barely a pause for breath.

Both parents looked appreciative of the excitement of the dream. Her father said, That sounds like quite the trip. He looked over at her mother, asking for quick confirmation with a glance. A slight nod let him continue. Would you like to go somewhere slightly closer to home? We think that we could go and try to find fairyland today.

Really?? the little girl quickly looked over to her mother for assurance. Her mother nodded, smiling.

Alexis broke out into a flurry of bounces, clapping her way across the room. Yay yay yay Yay Yay YAY! her excited voice peaked after the sixth or seventh bounce.

Her slightly wide-eyed father looked back towards the little girl's mother and took a deep breath. Her mother, after allowing for a generous amount of youthful exuberance, attempted to re-focus her daughter.

You still need to have breakfast before we go, and get dressed. We're not going anywhere with you in your jammies.

Okay! the little girl chirped. Then she ran off up to her room yelling, Fairyland, fairyland, fairyland! the entire way.

Left together, her parents looked at each other. They were both smiling. Her father nodded once, That went off... about how I envisioned it.

Her mother just laughed.

* * *

An hour later they had climbed into the car, her father behind the wheel. The engine was running, but they had not left just yet. Her father looked back at her.

Okay, little girl, which way are we going, left or right? I'm going to need directions from you. I'll drive slowly, but you need to pay attention and let me know where to go okay?

Alexis nodded and then said, That way.

Her father turned back around, having noted the direction she'd pointed. His jaw tightened a little, which her mother noticed.

You are going to have to use your words, dear, her mother said. We can't be watching you while we are driving. You remember your left and right, don't you? Which one is your right arm? her mother asked.

Alexis paused for a little bit, then held up her right arm and said, This one!

Right! her mother agreed. So use your words to tell us where to go okay?

Okay! she replied.

Her father exhaled heavily, but added nothing to the exchange. He eased the car forward and took a right turn out of their driveway.

After another brief and again mildly frustrating exchange with Alexis, the car moved out onto another street heading in the same direction after a couple of turns. Her father went a bit slower than usual, which wasn't a problem as it was a low traffic area. He also seemed a bit more relaxed, which might have been because the street went straight for a ways in front of them.

Then Alexis spoke up again.

The relaxed feeling didn't last long and tensions were rising in their car. The exchanges with their daughter tended to be sudden and confusing but actually turned out to be valid if unorthodox directions that worked when deciphered. After successfully navigating the unfolding and ever discovered maze, her mother thought she recognized where they were heading.

Is Fairyland at Kelly Point Park? she asked.

Oh! Yes, it is! Alexis exclaimed.

Both of her parents were pleasantly surprised.

The destination now known by everyone, especially the driver, they proceeded the rest of the way without incident. Her parents from time to time expressed their amazement, softly to each other, that the little girl had actually given them not bad directions. There was no bridge, but the old, rusty, yellow gate could have been mistaken for something like it by a young child.

They got out of the car to a few scattered raindrops from the overcast sky. Once out, Alexis ran ahead to the trail, only pausing when her parents yelled for her to wait. Together, they headed up the path which lead to a beach next to a large river. Coming quickly to a stretch of sand, the little girl ran down to it. Fairyland! she yelled.

When her parents caught up to her, her father looked at the sky and noted, You've got some good fairies there little girl.

The sky directly above them was a small patch of idyllic blue with white, puffy clouds. Given the dark, low and fully overcast sky everywhere else, it seemed as though they had gotten some otherworldly help to the beauty of the day. Watching the little girl kicking sand around, her parents sat on a large log at the edge of the beach talking about the oddness of the trip.

* * *

Alexis however, ran back and forth enjoying herself immensely. The fairy had said that it was a fun place, and she was right; the little girl always loved playing at beaches. If she had known it was going to be a beach, she would have brought her sand toys though. She wasn't sure exactly why she told her mother that Fairyland was here, but when her mother had suggested it, the rightness of it had just come into her head like when her grandparents came to visit.

A faint tinkling sounded in the woods. Then one sounded from the water. She looked around trying to see where the sounds came from. She expected that some fairies were coming to play! After all, they were the ones that had invited her here. She looked back at her parents, who seemed to not have heard anything. My fairies are coming! she shouted to them. They both looked over and smiled at her, nodding. They were always happy when she talked about her fairy friends.

The tinkling coming from the woods sounded like wooden wind chimes playing in a soft breeze. The rich sound made her think of maple syrup and leaves on far off hillsides in the fall when the colors were fiery reds, yellows, and oranges and they were everywhere. She could smell dark soil, the kind that they had put into holes in their yard when they were planting trees.

She saw something dance between two trees in the woods back from the sand. She expected it was a fairy. She had been playing with fairies ever since she could remember and she was five years old now! They only played in her dreams though and she was pretty sure she wasn't dreaming now. She did pretend she played with fairies all the time, just because they were so fun in her dreams. They were good playmates. Maybe her imagination was carrying her away at last, just like her parents always suggested.

You must be daydreaming, a musical voice said behind her.

Alexis turned around to find the source of the voice. Sure enough, there was someone there, a sparkly, aqua blue someone, rising from the water at the edge of the sand. Her skin shone in the sunshine, and Alexis couldn't resist staring. The fairy (for the girl was sure this was a fairy) had deep blue hair cut very short and a bright smile that made her think of sunlight in clear, shallow water. She was slim and streamlined. The fairy had no clothes that she could see, blue skin covering her from the top of her head down her torso to her... tail? Where she had expected to see legs, seamless scales led down into the water. Alexis leaned over a bit to look for confirmation behind her.

Yup, she said to the little girl, fins. She leaned to the side as well and her tail lifted up out of the water. It was the same color as the rest of her, but the fins at the end were breathtaking as they sparkled with the iridescence of the sea. Then she put it back down and looked at the little girl with a sparkle in her eyes.

Hello Alexis, my name is Nalae. I've only got a little time before the others get here...

What others? the little girl immediately interrupted her.

The other fairies who are coming today. Myself, Inarie, Retick... someone from each of the elemental realms, the woodlands, and the wild lands. Inarie is weaving the glamour so your parents can't see me. We don't think they are ready to believe in us just yet. For now they'll think you are making us up, and they'll be okay with that so it works.

So you are real?! the little girl exclaimed.

Yes, but your parents won't believe in us yet, so just go along if they refer to us as imaginary, okay?

The little girl looked a bit confused and started out saying, But you're right here...

Nalae interrupted her, Please believe me when I say they aren't ready yet. We'll tell them later. Then she smiled, But we don't want to wait for them any longer.

Alexis thought back to all the times her parents had told her that they wouldn't get mad at her, no matter what, as long as she always told the truth. Something about the fairy's words made her stop though.

Nalae noticed her confusion. Please, was all she said, but it looked as though the rest of her life awaited the little girl's decision. Her earnestness was quite compelling.

So Alexis nodded.

The fairy let go a very large breath. Thank you. As for me, I only have a little while with you. I need to take over the glamour from Inarie soon. Wood sprites are pretty good at such things, but water sprites are the best. She'd never be able to mask us all. I will, but I'm going to have to focus on that instead of being able to join in, so I'm not going to spend time with you along with everyone else. But I wanted to get a chance to talk with you a bit so I asked Inarie to mask me first.

Alexis nodded, even though she didn't follow what the fairy just said. This felt strange, and not like the other times she'd been with fairies. Then she really realized the difference.

I'm not dreaming then? she asked.

Nalae grinned. Not this time. She held out her hand. Want to check and make sure?

Yes! the girl rushed forward and took hold of the fairy's outstretched hand. It felt rather cool, but not unpleasantly so and the solidity of it reassured her. She then reached up to run her fingers over the mermaid's skin. Up close, she realized it was actually made up of tiny, glittery scales.

Nalae smiled at this but said nothing. Alexis kept silent also, amazed by the silkiness of the scales. Then Nalae sighed and said, We probably won't have enough time together for a while, but I hope this will be fun, at least.

Alexis looked at her questioningly and the fairy gestured to her left. A long, white shape blossomed out from Nalae and started undulating through the water, circling out into the river and then back towards the pair at the shore. As it got closer, the little girl's eyes widened and she moved away, keeping Nalae between the white form and herself.

It's okay, it's okay! Nalae hurried to reassure her. It's just a toy I made. It can't hurt you. The fairy's soft voice felt comforting. Alexis sneaked a glance at the thing nearby. It looked like a long snake, resting in the water. The scales were a soft, flaky white, large on the top of it, and became smaller as they spread down its sides. A great, white head lay in the soft waves near them. Its snout, long and tapered to a vee, blew out slight ripples in the water before it.

Nalae beckoned Alexis back to her. It's like a racing dragon, but it's not alive. I thought you might find it fun to ride. Want to try?

Alexis looked up and Nalae smiled at her. The girl hesitated, then nodded. Peering around the fairy, the little girl saw a bubble of water form on the back of the snowy dragon. The thing slithered forward out of the water and circled around so the bubble sat before Alexis on the sand.

Put your legs into the water saddle, Nalae said.

It took a couple of tries before she got into the saddle. The creature didn't move at all, but the saddle jiggled all over, every time she touched it. When she finally got in, the water gripped her legs and although she could move them around a little, the bubble would not release them.

Before she could get scared again, Nalae spoke. It'll hold you while you ride. I want to make sure you don't fall off, so until we stop, you won't be able to get your legs out. You'll see why once I start it going. Ready?

Alexis nodded again and Nalae winked at her. Then the blue fairy snapped her fingers together and exclaimed, What am I thinking? She extended her arms and in a sparkling movement, a circular shield formed on Alexis's left arm, and a glittering sword crystallized in the girl's right hand.

What are these for?

I'll make some opponents for you, my lady! Nalae said formally. Then she whispered behind her hand conspiratorially. Don't worry, I'll make sure you win. Her smile and wink prompted a responsive grin from the little girl.

The dragon slithered forward atop the water, as Alexis swung the sword experimentally. It felt good in her hand, not too long or heavy. Then she looked at the shield, which was almost paper thin, and very light as well.

A sparkle ahead drew her gaze to one of the opponents that Nalae said she would create. There was another dragon like the one snaking through the water under Alexis. Atop it sat a vaguely human shaped set of water bubbles, which wobbled so much that Alexis laughed.

Flailing a wobbly sword bubble above its head, the bobble thing sped up toward her, their dragons seeming like they would crash into one another. Alexis thought about the sword in her hand, and tried to swing it towards the water bobble.

The watery sword exploded magnificently upon her own sparkly shield, which had raised itself of its own accord. Her ice sword slapped into the water bubble creature, and the bubble she hit deflated, shrinking the creature down a little.

To her left and right, two more of the creatures had formed, and were coming in at her.

Alexis laughed with abandon, and squeezed her legs in the saddle as she looked toward the bubble being on her right. The dragon took her unconscious cue and angled toward that one. Feeling strong, invincible even, Alexis whirled the sword over her head, and the dragon sped up so she could strike at the next bubble being.

Nalae laughed as well when Alexis's sword struck the bubbly shield, exploding it in Alexis's face. The water streamed out of her eyes impossibly fast! She'd closed her eyes instinctively when it showered her, but before she could think about wiping it off, she felt it flowing away, like no water had ever done before.

Past that bubble foe, she turned to see the next one, and the dragon under her followed her twist. The little girl leaned into the charge, shifting subtly left and right to counter balance the dragon's slight undulations through the water.

More explosions of water, and slicing of bubbles followed as Alexis played atop the dragon, laughing and wet, but not in the least cold from the wind of her passage. It was the best adventure ever!

It's always over too soon, Nalae said, a little apologetically as the water foes melted back into the river. Alexis's dragon snaked back to the shore. Then it melted under her, and the saddle flowed away as well. All the water she'd been doused with drained away leaving her surprisingly dry.

The fairy continued, I hope you liked the ride. The others would've mentioned it, and you would've guessed anyway, but I wanted to tell you myself. The blue one is for me. They'll tell you all the rest, just... don't make the mistake of thinking I am limited to the water.

Alexis stared at her, grinning. Then she nodded. She didn't really understand what Nalae spoke of, but she wasn't worried about it.

She heard a chime that throbbed in the air, and her body. Closing her eyes, she savored the feeling of it through her.

When Alexis opened her eyes, Nalae had pulled back into the river and swayed slightly from side to side. She could almost hear faint musical tones coming from the fairy's vicinity.

They were quickly smothered by a scratching, scrabbling noise from the sand to her left. Within moments, a slight mound appeared and then a creature broke through the mound, and pulled itself out of the ground.

It reminded her of a cross between an armadillo and a turtle. It was small, had a shell-like covering on its back, and large plates across its front, arms, and legs. They were nothing like the water fairy whose scales were tiny and very skin-like. The creature stood upright on two legs and had two long arms, ending in finger-like claws at the end. Its head set upon its body with no neck that she could discern and its face, or what passed for one, looked very flat. The covering on its back came up behind its head, but not above it. The creature was nothing like any fairy she had ever seen. It shook itself off as she watched, a little apprehensively.

It looked over at her and said, Retick. Earth spirit. Others coming.

No sooner had Retick said this than a gentle, steady humming filled the air. Alexis looked up to see a fairy, her fairy, the one from her dreams, dropping down from the sky. The hum came of course from her wings, thrumming the air like a hummingbird. Whereas the girl could make neither heads nor tails out of Retick's facial expressions (if indeed it had any) this fairy was lovely of face and form and had a warm and very welcome grin. She was clothed in thin, light garments that moved as she did in a kind of dance. As she came to a stop and hovered a short distance off the ground, the little girl noticed a number of faint, blue paintings on the fairy's skin as well. With the wink from a sparkling, sky blue eye Alexis knew this was her fairy.

Glad to see you made it! the fairy's voice was a welcome bit of familiarity after seeing the strange Retick. The little girl only barely held herself back from rushing forward and giving the fairy a big hug.

You didn't have the paintings last time! Alexis replied, pointing up at her face.

The fairy laughed her twinkling laugh. I did not. Much has happened since last we met. Do you like them? she asked.

Yes! the girl replied. The fairy smiled widely.

Then she sighed.

I'd love nothing more than to play all day, but best to get on with it as we don't really know how long we have.

She flew up close to the girl, cupped her hands and blew into them. Then she looked up at Alexis and said, Blow a breath in here for me, will you?

The girl smiled and did so, thinking that this fairy was going to do something interesting, like Nalae did. When her breath joined the fairy's in her cupped hands, it started to swirl with an oddly dark color to it. The fairy then closed her hands and started to work the breath like she was turning a handful of snow into a snowball.

Within moments, she stopped. The mixture in her hands now resembled an overcast sky and it jiggled a bit as she inspected it.

With a satisfied nod, she started to pull at it, stretching it out. In moments, it grew as big as her hands, then her arms. The fairy moved with assurance, every now and then blowing on it, which seemed to firm it. She now worked with a disk about as big as her upper body. Still she stretched it. Alexis watched, fascinated.

When she had it about as big as she was, she took it by the sides and set it in the air, just a little bit off the ground. Then she looked over at Alexis and said, Can I have another breath of yours?

The girl nodded and stepped up to the fairy and the cloudy oval in the air. The fairy pointed to the middle of the floating disk, Right here. A good, long breath right here. Get close to it.

Alexis bent forward a little until she was close to it and then took a deep breath. When she exhaled on the murky oval, it expanded a little more and became clear and translucent, but what she saw in it was not the beach.

A dark, wooded area could be seen through the opening. The trees were tall, though warped. One on the right looked as if it might be breathing. The rhythmic movements were a little odd to see.

Are we going in there? Alexis asked.

She felt an oddly comforting hand on her wrist and the fairy laughed a tinkling, sparkly laugh. In there? No! No, that is for the Wild One. You should see him shortly.

When the little girl looked down, she saw Retick's small hand on her wrist. What she had taken to be claws were just very sharp fingers, but they did not pinch or poke her at all. The creature looked up at her and said, Not for you. Stay here. When she nodded, Retick let go.

She looked back at the portal in time to see another creature step into view on the other side. It looked like a large raccoon at first, standing on its hind legs. The front legs were wringing themselves as though it anticipated something. When she saw another set of limbs reach out and seem to cup the sides of the portal, she started to wonder just what the Wild One was.

It bent closer and she could see the bandit mask that reminded her of a raccoon. The eyes were large and very dark in their sockets. It shifted its head a little left, then right. It pursed its lips, straightened, and breathed into the opening.

Then it stepped through.

The Wild One stood about as tall as Alexis. It immediately turned to look at her and both sets of arms crossed over its midsection.

Well done, Eyana. Its soft and deep voice made her think of the purring of a big, big cat. I see the wood and the flame have not yet arrived. Let me make my part quick and then you all can have whatever fun you have planned.

It stepped towards Alexis, who looked at it curiously. The creature hesitated and then drew itself upright with an air of something that definitely did not feel like fun.

Listen young one. I come with a gift. All of us here that you will meet today helped to create it.

With that, two of the Wild One's hands reached to one of its wrists and in a moment it held out a small bracelet. Another of its hands motioned her forward to take the thing.

She reached out and took it from the Wild One. The bracelet seemed made of brightly polished leather, inlaid with fine silvery metal chips that reminded her of Nalae's skin. In an odd pattern on it were five shiny stones. Her eyes were drawn to the cloudy, watery blue one that made her think back to what Nalae had last said about the blue one being from her. As she looked into the depths of that stone, the Wild One started speaking again.

Our gift to you, to remind you of this day, and us, your Fae. Wear it as you will during the day, but always at night. The stones will call to one of those you meet today as you have need. The bracelet itself, the hide, will call to me.

Alexis blinked, her forehead wrinkling as she tried to understand his words. What need could she possibly have for them? She looked around at the various fairies and noticed someone new. The Wild One cleared his throat though and she didn't have time to look at the newcomer but returned her gaze to him.

Take my paw, that you might know me and call at need. The Wild One extended one of his arms to her. She looked at the five fingered paw and the small, but sharp looking claws at the tips of the fingers. Glancing left and right, she hesitated.

It's all right, Alexis, her fairy hastened to speak over the girl's hesitation. You have as much to fear from Orren as you do from me. He is as harmless to you as your old cat that curls up on your bed at night, she said with a slight smirk. The little girl looked over at the Wild One who smiled a bemused smile.

Orren's smile seemed comforting this time. Indeed Alexis, know me as Orren, a Wild One of the Dreamland. I travel the Wild Lands, taming the dangers and aiding stranded spirits back to their homes. I will be your protector, and your first teacher, as you have need.

This time she nodded and said, Um, hi!

He was not done though, I ask that you take my paw, even briefly, that you might know me.

The little girl looked over at Eyana, who nodded encouragingly. Then she shrugged, took a few steps forward and reached out to take his paw in her hand.

It was very soft, although she took care not to touch the claws. The fur felt soft, but a little coarse, not as silky as her cat at home. The pads on the undersides of the paw had the most interesting texture, a little rough, but not really scratchy. They were actually quite pleasant to rub her fingers over. She looked up and couldn't read the expression on Orren's raccoon face. Feeling a little odd to be holding one of his four arms, she then let it go and moved back towards her fairy.

Eyana put her arms on Alexis's shoulders, and turned her gently to face the fairy she had glimpsed but not had time to look at before. Now lets have you meet our dryad, Inarie.

The dryad looked human, more than anyone else she'd seen so far, even her long, green hair didn't seem very strange. She had a fine pattern of freckles all over her face, and wore a rich brown shirt and pants, not fancy, but practical. She smiled at Alexis and gave her a little wave. Hiya, she said and then glanced over at the water's edge where Nalae swayed back and forth, like in a breeze. Then Alexis remembered what Nalae had said about the wood sprite having given them time together.

She smiled at Inarie and said, Thank you for letting me play with Nalae.

The fairy nodded and replied, It didn't quite seem fair to ask her to do all the work so the rest of us could meet you. She motioned to the bracelet the little girl held on to. The golden brown one is mine. It is a little bit of Heartwood from one of the oldest trees in the Dreamland. It always felt very warm to me.

Alexis looked down at the bracelet in her hands and studied it more closely. Apparently, they had brought her here to give her this thing. She thought it would fit on her arm well.

Can I put it on? she asked.

Inarie and Orren laughed, though Retick seemed inscrutable as her gaze tripped over him quickly. Eyana replied, I think we all really hoped you would.

Orren muttered, Although I had hoped that Kaira would have arrived before now...

At that moment, he stopped speaking for a noise, a faint whine, could be heard. It gained in volume quickly, and Alexis thought she heard a discordant hiss from the water where Nalae swayed.

Mere moments passed before a burning meteor shot down from the sky and made a very muffled, but still loud, PHHHFFFT! as it sank into the sand. The little girl shrieked and pressed back into Eyana, but as she watched, she thought she now understood why Orren said he was her protector.

Where Orren had stood before, there was now a very large, very metallic looking version of the six-limbed raccoon creature. It had bent down and two of its now massive hands were around what looked like a small ball of fire in the sand. As the metal Orren stood up, lifting the fire, sand and all, she saw that it was easily taller than her father, much broader and the arms and legs more massive. Its paws grew before her eyes until it had completely enclosed the flames.

Eyana hugged her tightly and whispered to her, Orren is very powerful, but also very good.

A small voice could be heard from the flames enclosed inside Orren's big metal paws, Hey. Hey! Could you put me down?

Orren's voice was also metallic, and had a sharp edge to it, Fire is dangerous! You will calm for the duration or I will send you back now without the young one coming to know you. Choose! I will have your Word on it or you return.

Alexis thought she could almost hear some grumbling from inside of Orren's huge paws, which might have seemed odd but for the assortment of fairies surrounding her today. After a very brief time she heard the small voice intone, This is my Word. I will follow your direction in all things until we return to the Dreamland. This is my Word.

The little girl watched closely as Orren seemed to weigh what the rock had said. Then he spoke again, You try my patience, Kaira. I direct you to harm no one here, by accident or intent. I direct you to not generate any flame or fire at all. I direct you to appear in a harmless fairy form and take no action that would jeopardize any of our time here. Now you are released.

So saying, Orren opened his hands and the sand fell, the fiery rock becoming a fairy with lovely bronzed skin before reaching the ground. As the fairy stood up, Alexis saw shackles around the fairy's arms and legs with a chain connecting them. Orren snorted.

No criticizing your directions either, he added. The shackles crackled with energy before disintegrating.

The fire fairy came toward Alexis hesitantly. Her eyes, a deep reddish brown with glittering flecks that seemed to reflect any chance light that struck them, looked at her intently.

Hi. Sorry I'm a bit late. She held up her hands in an offering to take them, with an almost pleading look on her face. I didn't mean to scare you.

Even though the fairy didn't look dangerous now, Alexis felt apprehensive. She leaned back into Eyana, hoping for reassurance. Her sylph quietly spoke to her as the bronze-skinned fairy, who looked worried, waited.

"This is Kaira, young one. She is very young herself, and more