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Part Eight- Afternoon With the Herbologist

Night had just fallen. The soft chirping of the crickets filled Vivet's ears as she walked through the dense wood. Twigs and leaves crunching beneath her, the forest was otherwise silent.

Vivet has always preferred to wander alone at night. There was a sense of comfort in the silence. A moment for thought, and for herself. She was used to being alone, and it comforted her.

Vivet paused at the base of a large, thick pine tree, gazing up into its thick brush. Wiping her hands on her dress, she pushed herself up onto the lowest branch and began to climb. Soon at the top, Vivet scuttled out as far as the tree would allow her and gazed upon the moonlit lake.

"Well good evening, miss owl."

Vivet yelped, her balance failing her. She lost her footing and started hurtling toward the ground, thick toadstools sprouting under her desperately.

Her fall cushioned and her face red, Vivet spun around to face the voice.

"Well hello to you too, Lux." She rose to her feet, running her fingers through her hair and tossing away the small twigs and leaves stuck in it.

Lux was propped up against the base of the tree, snickering to himself. "Not the most graceful of landings, huh Viv."

"Well it just so happened I was a little preoccupied with my thoughts." She crossed over to him and plopped down on a rock jutting our before her. "It's not exactly easy leaving behind everything you're used to."

Lux sat beside her. "I know that better than anyone else." He layed a hand on her shoulder.

Vivet quickly pushed his hand away. "Why are you here, Lux? Shouldn't you be picking at a rock somewhere instead of bothering me?"

He sighed. "I know you're giving up a lot for all this. For the whole..." he struggled to find the right words, "saving me, thing. You know I'm grateful for that, right?"

She turned to him, hanging her head. "I know that. And I know it's the right thing, to move on from the place that never wanted me. But the house, the forest I've crossed a thousand times, the lake I've looked at and poured my thoughts into for years now, it was all I had. And leaving that is like..." She trailed off.

"It's like losing a part of yourself." Lux kicked a rock across the ground, avoiding eye contact. "But you haven't lost everything."

Vivet laughed. "Yeah, two bags of leaves is a lot to take granted for, thanks for the reminder."

"That's not-"

"I know what you meant." She looked at the moon again, letting the bright silver rays fill her vision. She smiled, putting an arm around Lux, pulling him beside her. "I have you now."

Lux smiled and followed her gaze, to look up at the sky, and think of nothing.

-

"Lux, I think I see it!"

Vivet pushed away the last few branches ahead of her and paused.

Ahead of her stood a small clearing dotted with trees of every shade of green and yellow, where branches were pulled aside and tied down with brilliant, white flowering vines. A caramel colored stone path lay outstretched ahead, lined with brilliant white blossoms that curved up and out like ice sculptures.

Lux emerged behind her, freezing in his tracks. "That sure is some sort of entrance," he gawked. "But my god, did they outdo it!"

The two quietly crossed the path, drawing nearer to the carefully crafted entryway. Two wooden gates sat pushed behind a thick layer of flowering vines, intertwined with overthrowing plants.