Chapter 173: Changes

Chapter 173: Changes

Cham had gone to sleep, by himself, in one of the older trees at the edge of the glade. He'd learned the hard way that trying to get some rest anywhere near the younger dryads was impossible. Blossom or Petal or Honey would try to sneak over to him and get caught by one of the old women, and then he'd have to listen to them yell at each other for an hour. It was easier to sleep out at the edge of the glade, even if it did mean he might get ambushed by a squirrel.

He had woken with the dawn, but decided that another couple of hours sleep was in order. He'd just gotten comfortable again when the tree he was in started to grow. New branches were sprouting, old bark was falling off to be replaced by smooth new bark. In only a minute the tree gained twenty years of growth.

To avoid being trapped forever in the new growth, Cham bent the branches and leaped for safety. He hit the ground hard and rolled over to look up at a highly amused unicorn. The beautiful thing was small, only three feet at the shoulder with slender limbs, glowing white mane and tail, and a two-foot horn. He rolled to his feet staring at it...no, at her. Definitely a her. She walked slowly over to another aged apple tree, touching it with her horn. He saw the mysterious transformation start again.

He also saw that she was tired. Worse, she was thin to the point where her ribs were showing under her skin. Whatever she was doing was taking a lot out of her.

When Cham had taken the reward from Barkroar and become a Prince of the Ironwood Glade, he had gained three new skills. Defense of the Glade hardened his skin, making it like armor, but slowing his speed. Tree Speaker allowed him to communicate with trees and to a lesser extent, forest creatures. Restore Nature drained his stamina and allowed him to heal the injured ironwoods. But the abilities description didn't limit it to trees, and only mentioned nature. On a hunch, he reached out slowly and laid a hand on her.

The creature suffered his touch, but was skittish. He slowly used the ability, using a thousand points of stamina before it stopped. The unicorn made a small sound like a child laughing, and ran to the next tree, restoring it as she had the others. Unicorn and Prince wandered around the edge of the Apple Glade healing trees until he felt the last of his energy drain away. The long grass looked comfortable and he laid down for a well-deserved nap. The unicorn was grazing, hungrily devouring the long grass and turning the area under the trees into a close cropped lawn.

She was disappointed to find a smiling, ninety-year-old woman on her doorstep. She was dressed in a flower print dress and a pink sweater. Her bare shins were covered in a spiderweb of varicose veins from knees to high-top leather boots. She clutched a small purse in one hand, and a carpet bag in the other. Something yowled angrily from the bag, and sharp claws poked through the cloth.

Jenny's eyes narrowed. "And why do I find you here on my doorstep, sister? Bereft of power and one step ahead of an angry Paladin? Did I not warn you of bringing such to my door again"

"That you did, that you did. I admit to having that warning on my mind. But then I thought to myself, I said "Why Granny Gorpunkle, you do your gentle sister Jenny a disservice. She's a white witch now, pure as the driven snow, and sure she will be having forgiven you for a few past faults."

And after I thought that to myself, I realized I missed my little sister and decided to visit. Won't you let me enter, sweet little Jenny? It's cold out here on your doorstep and I hear the hooves of a Paladin's steed coming down the road. It wouldn't look good if your sister was stomped to death by an angry pony on your doorstep, would it?"

"No, no it wouldn't." Jenny had to admit that part. "Very well sister. I will let you visit my home for no less than seven days, and no more than seven times seven days. But you will abide by my rules: Stay away from the Butcher, Harm no child, and cause no shit to fall upon my house."

Granny bowed three times in agreement, then pushed her way past her little sister. "Oh, you baked cookies just for me? You are so thoughtful at times Jenny. A much better person than old Granny."Ñøv€lRapture marked the initial hosting of this chapter on Ñôv€lß¡n.