Lucinda awoke to discover another pleasantly warm day in the Circle of the Wild; with one minor difference in the form of a light but persistent rain. Even without leaving her bed the change was apparent thanks to the slight moistness of the air, and more obviously, the gentle pattering upon the hut's roof. Under other circumstances, such a change may have been an unwelcome sight; yet between her water-suitable attire and the persistent ambient warmth, Lucinda swiftly decided to head outside and experience it first hand.

Standing under the light rain with Marrow at her heel, a faint sigh escaped Lucinda’s lips as she surveyed the circle clearing. Conflicting emotions welled up within her. Sadness at having to leave behind the seeming paradise; excitement at the prospect of starting her life as an adventurer. She stood there lost in thought for a time, while going over everything she had experienced during her stay.

Her pondering came to an abrupt end when a certain realisation turned her attention to the hut behind her.

It’s so quiet…

Re-entering the small building, a peek over in the opposite side to that she had slept in revealed a distinct lack of a certain Druidess. Further investigation led her to a small note upon the breakfast-laden table that contained a declaration of absence from her friend, slated to last from morning until lunch, with plentiful apologies, but only minor explanations of reasons. Resigning herself to a quiet morning, Lucinda opted to start her day with some breakfast.

“Do you want to try some leaves, Marrow?” she asked her companion as she sat down at the table.

“Bone!” Marrow replied immediately in a demanding mental voice.

“Aww, but they’re so nice and crunchy! Soft on the inside too. Isn’t that what you like?”

“Bone! Bone! Bone!”

Once the usual morning activities had been taken care of for both herself and her companion, Lucinda set off in search of the circle leader. She did not have far to go, for she found Yalia waiting for her near the hidden path that led beyond the main clearing. Grissa and Waflaw were also present.

“Good morning, Dear,” Yalia greeted with a smile. “A delightfully pleasant spot of rain, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Morning,” Lucinda returned with a similar amount of warmth. The intensity of the expression sent her way gave her pause for a few moments before a flash of insight struck her. “Dryad magic?” she asked.

A slow shake of a head and a mildly disapproving tut met her question. “My own, in fact – though I can hardly blame you for that assumption. Now, are you ready for some training? With what this lively pair has divulged of your prior experiences, I believe I have a good idea of where to start.”

“I didn’t divulge your level,” Waflaw stated matter of factly.

Grissa harrumphed loudly. “You worry too bloody much, Waffles.”

“It’s a sensible precaution that I’m sure our host will back me up on.”

“I certainly see no harm in it,” Yalia replied.

With all three pairs of eyes upon her, Lucinda took barely a fraction of a second to decide. “You’ve been nothing but good to me, and you’re a powerful circle leader! Not trusting you after my stay here would be… crazy. I’m level 6.”

“Ah, level 6. Wonderful.” A wistful expression crossed the circle leader’s face. “I miss those days. Everything was so new, so fresh, so exciting. But I’ve promised not to prattle on, so let’s leave it at that.”

“I don’t mind. I’m sure you have lots of interesting stories to tell.”

A pained groan emerged from Grissa. “Don’t get her started, she’ll never stop.”

Yalia cackled in response to the accusation. “I appreciate your exceptional manners as always, Dear. However, I fear Grissa’s warning may be reasonably accurate. Perhaps later in the day.”

“Ah…” Lucinda started as a question came to her. After only a brief pause she managed to summon the will to continue. “Can I ask what level you are?”

The disapproving look Waflaw sent Lucinda’s way brought another grimace to her lips. It didn’t last long, as Grissa’s booming laughter echoed across the clearing moments later, closely followed by Yalia’s own.

“Why, level 50, of course.”

“Oh.” Lucinda paused as she battled with the suddenness of the revealed information. A glance at her mentor revealed a similar if slightly more subdued reaction from the male Druid. “Umm, is that the maximum then?”

“Indeed, it is.”

The desire to send a cheeky grin in Waflaw’s direction was simply too tempting for Lucinda to ignore. Knowing him as well as she did, detecting the surprise behind his neutral seeming expression was not difficult.

“Woah, hold up,” Grissa said, her gaze flicking between Lucinda and her mentor. “Did you not know, Waffles?”

“Bah, of course I knew,” Waflaw replied dismissively. “I’ve travelled the world. Seen many things. Learnt many things!”

“Uh-huh,” Grissa replied with a disbelieving nod of her head. She burst out into laughter barely a second later. “You’re really serious about keeping that stuff secret, huh? Never even asked anyone?”

“Believe what you will.”

Waflaw’s words only amused the boisterous Druid further, and Lucinda soon found herself joining in with the laughter that amusement produced.

“Now now, Grissa,” Yalia interrupted. “Let’s not be too hard on him, please. Trust is harder for those who wander, and especially those who wander so far from home.”

The circle leader’s words received no direct response from the man they involved, yet Lucinda still noticed a slight relaxation of her mentor’s jaw. She offered him an apologetic smile that was almost free of any lingering amusement.

“Now,” Yalia continued. “I may as well provide further information for you, Dear. It will no doubt be many years before you need to concern yourself with such matters; however, I am in a unique position to offer you special insights.”

“Do you have the incredible powers that Owilen keeps suggesting?” Lucinda asked, while failing to suppress a grin.

“You jest, and I do not mind that you do. In fact, that brings us to an important topic I may well have forgotten to bring up otherwise. By that I mean: responsibility. It is especially true for those of us with the ability to cast spells, that as we level up our powers make us capable of terrifying feats. Why I could quite easily turn a large portion of this forest into nothing more than ashes in a reasonably short time frame. Fortunately, I have no desire to do so.”

“Ah… I had wondered about that. I’ve seen Waflaw cast some pretty impressive things.”

“You’re too kind, Apprentice,” Lucinda’s mentor replied.

“Hey! I can do impressive things too,” Grissa countered. “You ever seen someone slice a tree in half, Girl?”

“Not that I can remember.”

“Let’s save that demonstration for another time,” Yalia interjected as Grissa made to rise to her feet. “I think you get the picture already, yes, Lucinda? Though your experience may vary as a Shifter, power does come with responsibility.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Wonderful! Then as I was saying, although 50 is the level limit, there are a few things you should be aware of. Firstly, as you may have heard from Fi or Cro, not all creatures are restricted in such ways.”

“Oh, like Deihg too!”

“Exactly so. Secondly, there are still ways to increase one’s capabilities without requiring a level increase. Perhaps most obviously, through achieving mastery of one’s spells, forms, weapons, or other abilities; yet also through more exotic means. My position as a circle leader has granted me certain improvements over the years, for example.”

“Really? Wow… That’s nice to know.”

Varm’s wish makes even more sense all of a sudden…

“Sure is,” Grissa agreed. “Ain’t that right, Waffles?”

A fierce frown from the male Druid prompted another bout of shared laughter between Lucinda and the Grissa.

“Moving on,” Yalia hastily stated. “From everything I have heard of your combat experience, Dear, I believe practice of spellcasting, and of fighting spellcasters would not go amiss.”

“It’s true I haven’t really fought anyone like that… Or mostly. I’m a bit nervous about it too.”

“That is understandable. With practice, that should fade; though caution is always wise. Now, I believe we will start by having you demonstrate your Scorching Orb spell.”

Over the course of nearly two hours, Lucinda was put through her paces as far as spell casting went. Initially her training involved slinging spells at training dummies, but from there things advanced quickly. From carefully controlled animal companions and summons, she developed a better understanding of dealing with more agile and more intelligent creatures; while from mock duels with other attendees of the gathering she gained valuable experience in defending herself against spell-casting and ranged attacking persons.

“I think we’ll stop there,” Yalia announced with a note of finality in her voice. “Thank you, Kellon.”

Lucinda offered a grateful nod towards her most recent opponent, before moving to answer the circle leader’s silent beckoning.

“Well, Dear. Any questions or thoughts for me at this point?”

“Thank you for helping! I… have an observation. Is that okay?” A silent hand gesture prompted her to continue. “I think I underestimated how dangerous people like Kellon are… I thought spells would be the biggest threat. Ah, I guess they still are? But she just throws those balls out of nowhere.”

Yalia cackled loudly. “Ranged opponents can be troublesome, that is a certainty. However, it would not be untrue to say their bag of tricks is far less deep than those with the capacity for magic casting.”

“I can see that…” Lucinda admitted before sighing faintly. “I’m still glad she wasn’t throwing anything more dangerous my way though! It makes casting so much harder.”

“Indeed, it does. However, I think you’ll do just fine, Dear. On the whole your combat instincts are more than adequate. With more experience of both kinds under your belt, I’m sure you’ll become a force to be reckoned with in no time.”

“Ah, really?” Lucinda couldn’t help but grin under the praise.

“Exactly so. Now, I believe a short break for refreshments is in order. Then, I will have you spend some time with Fi.”

“Okay, sure!”

Skills Name Description Natural Meditation Meditating within a natural setting for at least 15 minutes, grants a small bonus to health and mana regeneration. Lasts for a full 24 hours, but will fade more quickly while in a non-natural location.

“Oh! A new skill?”

Sitting opposite Lucinda in the usual patch of flowers, Fi nodded slowly. “You have succeeded. With that, you may sense your connection to nature. The one that feeds your body’s magical capabilities.”

“Hmm,” Lucinda replied, her expression pensive as she searched her memories. “Maybe I felt something… You don’t just do it for fun then?”

“Cro and I are directly connected to the land through our tree. Meditation serves to heighten our awareness of that connection. Through it we can better assess the state of the forest. Whether it provides bonuses like yours, I cannot say.”

“Of course… Thanks, Fi. This will be useful I’m sure. I feel… relaxed too.” Lucinda took a deep breath as she glanced about their surroundings. The preparations for lunch were well underway, and had served as a distraction during her attempts to follow Fi’s instructions.

“Luci!”

The familiar voice turned Lucinda’s head automatically. She saw the grinning form of Varmia approaching, one arm waving vigorously in her direction.

“I’m back. You miss me?”

“Mmm, did I?” Lucinda adopted a teasing smile as she let her words linger in the air. “I did have a lot more space in the baths for a change. No hungry eyes attacking me either.”

“You definitely missed me then; that’s a boring bath if ever there was one! Especially as you didn’t even have anyone to ogle, yeah?”

“I do not ogle.”

Varmia burst in laughter. “Good one, Luci. Really, they way you said it… Such seriousness.”

“…But it’s true.”

Another spurt of lesser laughter left the young Druid’s lips. “Yeah… Anyway, Gran wanted me to ask you something. The answer’s obvious, but I’m to ask anyway. Do you want honorary membership?”

“Oh… I think, yes.”

“Figured as much.”

The slight reduction in Varmia’s continuing smile was subtle but still there. A faint tinge of sadness was also evident. Lucinda felt a similar shift in her own emotions; the thought of staying had become increasingly palatable.

“Would you like me to inform her of Lucinda’s decision?” Fi asked.

“Fi, you are my favourite dryad!”

“Thank you.”

“Noo, that’s supposed to be the part where you tell me I’m your favourite Druid!”

“If you have any more questions for me before you depart, Lucinda, please do not hesitate to ask.”

The look of dejection on the young Druid’s face as Fi wandered away without acknowledging her comment was more than enough to send Lucinda into a fit of giggling.

“Looks like someone is asking to get tickled again…”

Barely managing to suppress her laughter at last, Lucinda shook her head vigorously.

“You can try! I know your weak spots now.”

“Oh, think so, do you!?” Varmia narrowed her eyes sharply. Her intense stare lasted a few seconds before a grin spread across her lips. “How about some swimming instead?”

“Mmm, okay.”

“Otter or non-otter?”

“How about… donkey.”

“Can they even swim!?”

“Let’s find out!”

“A moment please, everyone,” Yalia called out from the foot of the single long table that had been setup for lunch. The din of conversation ceased quickly at her command. “Today marks the final day of Lucinda’s gathering. If you haven’t already wished her the best and so forth, you may wish to do so shortly.

“I am pleased to announce that Lucinda has chosen to become an honorary member of our circle. Personally, I was also relieved to hear as much. With how enamoured she appears to be with the prospect of adventuring, I feared she might consider such a pledge to be a poor use of time.”

“Oh, not at all,” Lucinda offered from her seat a few places down from Yalia’s position. The old woman met her eyes and nodded smilingly.

“Now before we begin feasting, I have two things to declare. Firstly, as our dear Shifter will be heading off on her own, gifts or advice to help along her way would be of extreme value to her.”

“Ah, that’s not…”

A raised hand from the circle leader cut off Lucinda’s complaint. “However unwise it may be, you are free to refuse our advice, Dear. Gifts given freely on the other hand are yours to keep, regardless of how you may feel about them.”

Seeing there was to be no argument on the issue, Lucinda reluctantly nodded her head.

“Wonderful. I will leave that up to each of you to decide. But please try not to overwhelm her. Now, the second matter involves this very feast. I had a rather jolly idea last night, which I hope will amuse most or all of you too. This gathering was primarily for Lucinda’s benefit; she is a Shifter; Shifter’s are known for their ability to take on animal form… I think some of you have caught on already, that’s good.”

Yalia’s gaze drifted across either side of the lengthy table.

“I intend for all of us to start this meal in the spirit of our Shifter kin. In other words, we will all take on animal form and chow down without care or worry. Naturally, that means I will be forced to assist our less fortunate guests.”

“It’s not our fault we can’t shapeshift!” one of the rangers called out.

“Yes it is, you dolt,” another supplied.

Smiling magnanimously, Yalia continued. “If everyone without the ability to change into animal form could make their way over here, I will fix that lack presently.”

“What about if our form is a bit on the large side?” a male Druid asked.

“Indeed, you also.”

A sizeable portion of those seated began making their way to the foot of the table as asked. As they formed into a group in front of the circle leader, an obvious look of consternation appeared upon Yalia’s face.

“Oh dear, I didn’t account for there being quite so many of you.”

“They’ve been here for five days, Gran,” Varmia said matter-of-factly. “At least.”

“Yes, thank you.” Smiling sweetly at her granddaughter for a moment, Yalia then turned to address the table as a whole. “I believe I can still make this silly idea of a mine a reality. However, the duration will be limited. As such, as soon as everyone is shifted and in their seat, please feel free to begin.”

“What are you going to pick?” Varmia asked Lucinda in a hushed tone.

“Mmm…” Lucinda considered her answer briefly, but landed upon a choice before long. “I think, wolf.”

The young Druidess’ face lit up in surprise. “You know there’s no meat here, yeah?”

“Really? Not even some nice, tasty otter meat?”

“Luci, I’m shocked… Lucky for me I’m a much higher level than you. High enough to make sure it’s juicy wolf steak that ends up being eaten instead!”

After sharing some laughter as a result of their duelling words, both girls shapeshifted into their chosen form along with everyone else who was able. Even with the table being only two-thirds occupied, the sight of the many, varied animals preparing to feast in such a fashion was undoubtedly surreal.

“Well, here goes,” Yalia announced. “Let’s hope I’m up to the task.”

Lucinda watched in fascination through her wolfish eyes as the circle leader began casting a spell. The ball of mana was the same shade it had been when Varmia had been forcefully shifted into a small cat, yet the number of shaping steps was far greater and still took a considerable amount of time even with Yalia’s seeming deftness.

With a woosh of magical energy, the effects of the spell sprung into being. A snorting laugh burst forth from Lucinda’s snout as she watched the smallish group change in the blink of an eye; transitioning from lightly dressed humans, into an incredible mix of various different breeds of dog.

Watching the pack of small to medium-sized animals charge towards the table as Yalia herself shifted into her giant caterpillar form, thoughts of eating slipped from Lucinda’s mind entirely. Sitting at the table as best she could in her current form, mirth overtook her completely. The bizarre idea of the circle leader proving simply too entertaining for her to ignore.

If I was circle leader, could I make this a frequent thing? That’d be fun! Or maybe if I suggest it to Varm?

Lucinda’s attention was brought back to her food as one of the small, leaf-wrapped bundles was snatched away by a furry paw. Turning towards the obvious culprit she growled as fiercely as she could manage, earning herself a playful squeal from her otter neighbour but little else. With plenty left upon the plate before her, it wasn’t a great loss, and instead Lucinda took another moment to observe the voracious munching from all of the different shapeshifted animals about her, before finally setting upon her own lunch.

“…Which brings me to my last piece of advice,” the man named Zarzel announced. “Girls simply aren’t cut out for adventuring.”

Lucinda’s smile froze as the previously benign conversation with the male Druid took a drastic but not entirely surprising turn.

“It can be hard to accept, but…”

“Stop,” Varmia stated firmly. “It’s not funny…”

“She’s right, Husband,” Kellon agreed. “I worry about you. Too many blows to the head?”

“…From the knives?” Lucinda added.

“Ain’t nothing wrong with me,” the strange man declared. “Wasn’t even trying to be funny, although you have to admit…”

“Enough!” Kellon announced sternly. “Anymore of that and you’ll be sleeping outside. For a week, at least.”

“Woe is me. A Druid forced to sleep outdoors!?”

“Don't push your luck, darling Husband. Or I'll be inviting someone else to warm my bed while you're away.”

Despite the nature of the statement being reasonably surprising for Lucinda, the effect it had upon Zarzel was more than enough to push her to laughter.

“Woah, now! Hold your horses there, Wifey. You’ve got me all wrong, I was only testing how she dealt with sudden adversity…”

“Like we’re going to believe that.” Varmia interrupted. “Yeah, Luci?”

“Maybe if it was the first time…” Lucinda agreed, while barely managing to suppress her continued amusement.

“’Tis the truth!” Zarzel declared. “It’s an important trait for adventuring, you know. You’ll be meeting all sorts of folk, some right ornery ones too I’ll wager.”

“Husband…” Kellon growled with plentiful menace.

“Alright, alright!” He raised his hands in a placating gesture, then turned a cheeky smile upon Lucinda. “The rest of what I said is still good though.”

Lucinda barely had time to offer a half smile towards the man, before his wife shooed him away aggressively.

“He may have meant well,” Kellon said once her husband was out of earshot. “It’s hard to tell sometimes.”

“I guess he had a point,” Lucinda admitted. “But, can I ask why you married him?”

A loud, sharp laugh emerged from the other woman, quickly dispelling the minor worries about the potential negative ways in which the question could have been received.

“He makes me laugh. Not always, but there are times I can’t stop myself.” Kellon’s gaze locked on the distant form of her husband, a wide smile on her lips. “That and he’s got a great butt.”

The comment brought all three pairs of eyes to the far off Druid.

“Can’t say I see it,” Varmia said, prompting a guffaw from the oldest woman present.

“Am I supposed to be surprised by that? No doubt you’d be singing a different tune if it was my daughter we were talking about.”

“What, Natenza!?” Lucinda gasped.

Kellon guffawed again, even more loudly. “No, no. I meant my other, much older, daughter. She’s part of the help sent up north.”

“Oh…” Varmia’s reproachful look quickly prompted more words from Lucinda. “Sorry, I didn’t really think that…”

“Of course you didn’t,” Kellon agreed. “You’re not that sort of person. But I think you are the sort of person that is deserving of a gift!”

Lucinda opened her mouth to protest, but then closed it as the earlier words of the circle leader returned to her. Instead, she watched silently as Kellon picked up a leaf-bound object that had been lying in the grass beside her. Shaking off the lingering droplets caused by the continuing light rain, the older woman smiled reassuringly as she unwrapped it.

“Word around the circle is that a certain young woman is worried about the unwanted advances of men. An especially valid worry considering her intended career.”

Does everyone know? Ah, I guess it doesn’t matter if they do…

“As it happens, I have just the thing.”

Kellon held up the object she had unwrapped. It looked to be nothing more than a simple wooden needle, though lacking a point on either end, or any variance in overall thickness. At only a hand’s span in length, it’s purpose was not immediately clear.

“What is it?” Lucinda asked.

The Ranger woman smiled in a conspiratorial manner.

“What I’m about to tell the both of you is an incredibly well-kept secret among woman-kind. Under pain of death, you are not to reveal this to any male. Understood?”

“Umm…” Lucinda’s reply faltered as she shared an amused and baffled look with Varmia. “Okay?”

“I need you both to swear that you will do so.”

“Yeah?” Varmia asked. “I’m starting to think there’s another reason you chose Zarzel.”

“I swear,” Lucinda declared. She barely managed to suppress a few giggles as her Druidess friend shot her a disapproving look. “What?” she asked.

“Nothing… Fine, I swear too.”

Kellon nodded solemnly, holding Lucinda’s gaze as she did, and then repeating the process with Varmia. Looking down at the object she held, she pulled her hands apart and two parts of the needle with them.

“A concealed dagger?” Lucinda asked as she caught sight of the shiny metal beneath.

A smile spread across Kellon's lips, but she made no other response. She continued to pull her hands apart, revealing the wooden needle was actually more like a sheath for a concealed metal needle that lay within, much as Lucinda had guessed. However, as the tip emerged, the older woman held it carefully above the hole it had been drawn from.

“Can you see it?”

Lucinda examined the object closely. She could see no signs of anything amiss, yet reaching a conclusion as to what she was searching for was not difficult, despite how unexpected it seemed.

“Poison?”

“Damn, Kellon,” Varmia exclaimed. “I had no idea you were into such weird stuff!”

The Ranger woman half-laughed, half-sighed. “Have kids of your own, and you might find yourself getting into all sorts of things you never expected to… Ah.”

“Forget it. What’s so special about this poison then?”

After a faintly apologetic smile in Varmia’s direction, Kellon continued. “It does two things. Both of which would be grounds enough for most men to make it their mission to completely eradicate the uncommon flower it’s made from. We call it the drooping draught.”

“You’re kidding?” Varmia asked.

“As the name suggests,” Kellon continued around a thoroughly amused grin. “Any man injected will find himself completely unable to perform in the bedroom, and largely disinterested in attempting to do so to boot.”

“Oh, wow,” Lucinda exclaimed. “The secret part is making sense now.”

“Yeah,” Varmia agreed. “How come you never told me about this before?”

“Because you have no intention of leaving and putting yourself in danger?” Kellon countered.

“Hey! I leave the circle sometimes. Earlier today even!”

Rather than respond, the Ranger woman held out the re-sheathed needle for Lucinda to take.

“This must have been expensive…” Lucinda said. “And the poison too?”

"I know we haven't known each other for long, Lucinda. But, believe me when I tell you you're safety is far more important to me than some uniformly shaped pieces of metal." Kellon smiled brightly. “Take it. You can have the poison made, I’ll give you the recipe. Just don’t tell them it’s a poison, or what it’s for and you’ll be fine. Oh, probably don’t pick a man to make it either.”

“Okay…”

“It really does all that?” Varmia asked. “Maybe we should test it on Owilen to be sure?”

“Ahh, only if it’s not permanent?”

“It can last up to six hours,” Kellon replied. “Depending on how fresh the dose is. Anyway, it’s up to you where you keep it. In your pack would work. Or if you’re feeling adventurous, it can make a nice hair accessory.”

“Ooo, that sounds sophisticated,” Lucinda said. Her enthusiasm quickly faltered as her line of thought hit a seeming snag. “But I don’t know many styles…”

“I can show you a few before you leave.”

“Thanks, that would be great! I think this might be a bit better than Sevi’s suggestion…”

Kellon laughed heartily. "I'm going to go out on a limb here… Spiders?”

“You guessed it!”

Throughout the remainder of the afternoon, Lucinda spoke with, and received advice from, many of the gathering attendees. On the whole, the words delivered to her were not staggering in their wisdom; instead, they largely revolved around the central theme of sensible caution. While that fact did not diminish her appreciation overly much, she did feel it was something she was already well-suited to. Naturally, playing with the children, and swimming in the lake were also activities she managed to find some additional time for, and if not for the planned evening event, she may even have spent the entirety of her final day at the circle within its welcoming waters.

“Here we are.”

Lucinda looked around the small room Varmia had led her to once they’re respective animal companions had been convinced to remain and amuse themselves with the others. It was one of the side-areas located through the hidden passage in the branch-wall of the main clearing; however, the contents were not exactly what one might anticipate an ideal picnic location to contain.

“It’s a very nice storeroom…” Lucinda replied unsurely.

Her words brought a smile from her friend, which she soon matched. A slight increase to Lucinda’s persistence state of excitement occurred as Varmia held her gaze. Even with the assurance that nothing had to happen during their late-day excursion, Lucinda was once again hoping something might – just so long as she could allow it.

Breaking the intense staring competition, Varmia rummaged around in the basket she had prepared for the occasion. An unexpected object soon emerged from within: a plain-looking, green leaf. Before Lucinda had a chance to enquire further, the young Druidess held the leaf up to the far wall of the small room, which then split apart in the still bizarre yet reasonably familiar fashion. In contrast to previous wall-splittings Lucinda had witnessed, no new room was revealed past the new opening; instead, only a branch-lined corridor that terminated just a few metres beyond the room’s outer wall.

“Well, it’s secluded,” Lucinda commented, prompting a short stint of giggling from her friend.

“That’s not it either, silly. Come on.”

Tucking the leaf back into place inside the basket, Varmia held out one hand. Having been forced to respect the apparent rule already during the short journey from the main clearing to the small room, Lucinda did not hesitate in taking it.

As they stepped into the small corridor that had appeared, the sudden closure of the opening that had led into it came as quite a shocking turn of events.

“Maybe now you’ll believe me about the hand-holding,” Varmia announced before moving forwards down the corridor.

Lucinda had almost reached a suitably cheeky reply, when more shifting of walls took place before her eyes. Again, no new room was revealed; however, the gentle tugging on her held hand forestalled any significant pondering.

A few moments later, the situation revealed itself in full. While maintaining a steady pace forwards, the corridor continued to expand in front of them, and reseal itself behind them.

“Okay… Maybe I believe you,” Lucinda admitted as she marvelled at the seemingly impossible happenings occurring all around her.

Varmia kept moving, but that in no way prevented her from directing an extremely smug look in Lucinda’s direction.

A highly unusual stretch of journeying later, a new room did finally reveal itself at the end of the shifting corridor. It was a large, open space that rivalled the main clearing in size. Spreading out from the opening they stood within, a vast quantity and variety of flowers covered the ground. Yet far more eye-catching was the immense tree that sat opposite.

“Oh, wow…” Lucinda breathed as she took in the sight before her.

Though not the tallest tree she had ever laid eyes upon, the sheer width of its trunk was staggering. Not being close enough to measure it accurately, she could only estimate it as being roughly in-line with the full wingspan of Waflaw’s giant eagle form. Further up the broad trunk, a vast network of interweaving branches supported a massive array of familiar green leaves that covered far more than half of the clearing.

“Is that…?” A smile broke out across Lucinda’s face as she realised the pointlessness of her question. “It’s beautiful,” she instead said. “We… umm, are allowed to be here?”

“We are,” Varmia replied with a firm nod. “Although…” The young Druidess’ expression turned mischievous, prompting a faint hint of worry from Lucinda. “There’s a rule we’ll have to follow before we find a place to set up our picnic.”

“I should have known…” Lucinda released a quiet sigh, though she couldn’t keep herself from smiling all the same. “What is it this time?”

Still maintaining her mischievous grin, Varmia spoke. “No clothes allowed.”

Lucinda’s eyebrows shot upwards before quickly descending back down to narrow slits to accompany her frown.

“Now I know you’re making that up!”

“Luci…” Varmia looked aghast, though there was no mistaking the unrealness of her expression. “What are you saying?”

“…That you just want to ogle me while we eat!”

“Hey, it works both ways, yeah?” Lucinda’s slightly flushed cheeks heated further as Varmia turned the accusation back upon her. “Besides, I’m serious here. It’s a defence mechanism; one that works pretty well. Or so I’ve heard.”

“…I guess that makes some sense. I’m still not sure I believe you though.”

Varmia shrugged as she chuckled briefly. “We can go somewhere else if you want? Seems a bit silly though, yeah? It’s not like we haven’t seen each other naked before.”

“I know that…” Lucinda released another sigh. “It’s just us two?”

“Of course. Well, Fi and Cro know we’re here, obviously. Come on, it’ll be fun! Part of the all-natural circle experience! Oh, and you might finally get a glimpse of my other tattoo…”

“I have been wondering about that…”

“Is that a yes, then?”

Glancing past her friend to the picturesque view beyond, it did not take Lucinda long to reach a decision.

“Okay…”

The positively beaming smile her agreement produced in the young Druidess caused a noticeable increase to the small clump of butterflies that had taken up home in Lucinda’s stomach. That then increased further as Varmia moved to shed her worn garments without further delay.

“You know if you’re gonna stare at me while I undress, I’ll have to do the same to you.”

“Like it matters… We’re going to be sharing a picnic like that.”

Varmia grinned again as one part of her petal outfit came off. “That’s true. Exciting, yeah?”

Holding the gaze of her friend, Lucinda knew her statement was somewhat true. Admitting so was still a difficult affair. Yet, she eventually managed it, albeit in a barely audible form.

“Maybe a bit…”

“Then hurry up and get those clothes off!”

Though slightly delayed by Varmia’s brazen demand, Lucinda did eventually manage to follow the requirements of the newly revealed rule. Then, once their respective attire were neatly folded away in a separate part of the basket to the food, Varmia led the way through the beautiful flowery ground to an obviously ideal spot for their private feasting.

“What do you think?”

Situated on a slight rise across from the incredibly impressive tree, the quality of the scenery was unsurpassed in Lucinda’s eyes. The increase in elevation had also revealed a small stream that meandered around the base of the thick trunk, further adding to the abundant natural beauty. Of course, the visual aspects were only part of what was on offer, as the pleasing scents on the slight breeze helped make every moment in the dryad’s home as near perfect as Lucinda could imagine.

“It’s… incredible.”

“Heh, knew you’d like it. Hopefully my food preparing skills don’t spoil the mood.”

“You made the food?”

“Luci… Why are you so surprised by that? Fi and Cro don’t do all the work around here, yeah?”

“Ah, I wasn’t doubting you!”

“Good. They’re probably better at it still, although I do have one advantage! But let’s get setup first.”

From within the large picnic basket, a rug made of flower petals emerged. With assurances that the flowers in the area would recover, Lucinda helped place the rug down before sitting upon her half of it, with the basket placed between her and the other occupant. That Varmia’s eyes were often found wandering across Lucinda’s body even before they had sat down wasn’t something Lucinda chose to dwell on, especially as she knew she was at least somewhat guilty of similar behaviour.

“Okay,” Varmia announced as she brought out a smaller basket from the larger one. “Help yourself.”

Lucinda looked over the contents of the smaller food container. There was an obvious difference for her to notice immediately; namely, that the morsels were not quite as neatly prepared as those usually on offer within the circle. Of course, that was not the only difference.

“Real bread?” Lucinda remarked. “It’s been a while… Ah, not that I mind the leaves.”

“You don’t have to explain that to me! I grew up with it too. It probably does taste the same, but that’s not everything.”

“Did you bake it?”

“Nope, not enough time. I did slice it though! And put the things between the slices.”

“What things? Is that the advantage part?”

“It is. You can probably guess what: A certain thing people eat a lot but doesn’t exist here. Or almost.”

Holding one of the small, roughly square-shaped sandwiches up to eye-level, Lucinda tried to ascertain the identity of the mystery ingredient. With the varied mix of items contained between the two pieces of bread, a visual inspection proved insufficient; however, a quick sniff yielded a far clearer picture.

“Oh, pork?”

“Some are beef too.”

“Is that what you got up to this morning?”

“Partly”

Seeing no further explanation was to be forthcoming, Lucinda opted to sample the food she held. She had no reason to doubt Varmia’s capabilities in the kitchen, and that proceeded to remain true after she had taken a bite from the fine-smelling morsel.

“And?” Varmia asked a time later.

Lucinda nodded as she finished her latest mouthful. “Nicely spiced. Tender too.”

“I didn’t waste my coin for nothing then. That’s a relief.”

Hesitating before eating her next sandwich, Lucinda offered a warm smile in her friend’s direction. “Thanks, Varm. This is great… You’ve been great.”

“You are so welcome, Luci. But, our picnic has only just begun.” Varmia took a bite of her own sandwich. “I’m still waiting for a comment about my other tattoo too! You did notice it?”

“Umm, no?”

A look of considerable surprise crossed the young Druidess’ face. “You mean you didn’t check me out while I was leading you here? That’s disappointing…”

“Wait… It’s on your bum?”

Varmia laughed loudly, her surprise and mild hurt vanishing in an instant. “Not like there was a lot of places it could be. Skimpy petal outfit, yeah?”

“Ah, but…”

Lucinda’s words fell short as Varmia rolled her elbow-propped position away to reveal the part of her body being discussed. Missing the tattoo under such circumstances was an impossibility. It was of a similar size to the other three tattoos Prathin had done, while its depiction was that of a small, blue dragon, drawn in an especially cute style, and clutching a pink heart between its forepaws.

“Is that me…?” Lucinda asked.

“How self-centred of you! I’m shocked… But maybe you’re right this time. Either that or I’m just as crazy about dragons as Ivi is.”

As the young Druidess rolled back into her previous position, Lucinda struggled with how to respond to the revelation. It was touching, yet at the same time troubling.

“Varm…” Lucinda began. “You know I’m still leaving tomorrow… And that I probably won’t be back here for a while…?”

“Yeah, I know that, obviously.”

“Then… Why?”

“Why what? Get a cute tattoo of a girl who can transform into a dragon? You don’t think that’s an exciting event I want to remember?”

“No… But the heart…?”

“Luci, Luci, Luci.” Smiling reassuringly, Varmia rose to a sitting position. Pushing the picnic baskets aside she moved in front of Lucinda and took both of her hands in hers. “I think you’re being silly again.”

“Am I?”

“Yes! Look, I like you okay. I’ve said it before, you know the whole gorgeous, fun to be around thing? But I’m not deluding myself, or trying to make you uncomfortable.”

Lucinda couldn’t help but release a single incredulous laugh. “We’re having a naked picnic…”

“I told you that’s a rule for here. And you agreed to it!”

A smile found its way to Lucinda’s lips as she was forced to concede the point.

“But, what I’m trying to say is that I know you’re leaving soon, and I’m okay with that. Mostly. Yes, if you wanted to stay, you can be sure I’d be trying to make us a proper thing. But you don’t… Casual fun, remember?”

“I… Yeah, okay.”

“Good.” Releasing Lucinda’s hands, Varmia stood abruptly. “Then let’s move onto the next part in my evil scheme of making you want to stay here forever. It’s a good part, trust me.”

Giggling at the obvious lack of seriousness the other woman’s declaration contained, Lucinda likewise stood.

“Mmm, is that still within the friendly part of this picnic?”

“That depends. Does your temple forbid the eating of dessert?”

“It’s not my temple anymore… But no, they don’t.”

Lucinda found herself being led by the hand once more. Descending the small hill, traipsing through the flower-laden ground, and crossing the small stream brought them to the foot of the immense tree that turned out to be their destination. Up close, the trunk was even more impressive in terms of girth; however, Lucinda’s attention was soon brought upwards to the boughs, where she noticed a small collection of sparkling objects hanging sporadically near the upper portion of the tree’s trunk.

“Before you say anything,” Varmia said. “Yes, it’s allowed. All you have to do is state which fruit is your favourite.”

“Hmm, strawberries?”

Varmia giggled and shook her head. “Do they grow on trees?”

“On magical dryad trees? How should I know?”

The young Druidess opened her mouth to speak, but a loud creaking of flexing wood sounded out through the clearing, interrupting her quite effectively. Lucinda’s own mouth fell open at almost the same instant, though instead out of incredulous disbelief at what she was seeing, as one of the many branches of the tree descended downwards rapidly. Coming to a stop within arm’s reach, the two most perfect strawberries Lucinda had ever laid eyes upon revealed themselves to be on offer after all.

“You were saying?” Lucinda asked cheekily.

“Shush, you.” Varmia scowled playfully before picking both offerings off of the branch, which then swished back upwards to its rightful place. “Thanks, Fi. And Cro.”

“…They can hear us?”

Instead of answering, Varmia smiled and held up one of the strawberries. “Smell it.”

Although a hint of the delectable fruity scent had already made itself known to Lucinda’s olfactory senses, a proper inhalation was undeniably mouth-watering in its potency. So enamoured with the nasal-treat, Lucinda leant forwards to sink her teeth into the luscious red flesh of the fruit held before her without further thought. The flavours she found were beyond compare, yet it was only after she had swallowed the delicious portion down that she realised what she had done.

“You did that on purpose…” she complained.

Varmia giggled loudly. “You could have taken it off me, I wouldn’t have stopped you. Would have been less fun though.”

Half-frowning, half-smiling, Lucinda reached out for the remainder of the fruit.

“Ah!” The half-eaten strawberry darted out of Lucinda’s reach. “Why change now?”

“…I still don’t see the fun in it.”

“Yeah? Maybe I’m just weird like that. But finish yours and we can try it the other way around.”

With a burning desire to finish the most incredible fruit she had ever tasted, agreeing to continue was a foregone conclusion for Lucinda. In fact, almost as soon as her second bite began, her lingering reluctance to proceed in the unusual manner evaporated entirely. Then, by the third and final bite, even Varmia catching an errant streak of strawberry juice from trickling much beyond where it had fallen from Lucinda’s chin, troubled her hardly at all. Though if not for the sudden notification that appeared before her eyes, she might have said something as the young Druidess brought the remains of that errant streak past her own lips.

Skills Name Description Dryad's Bounty Partaking of the fruit from a dryad's tree has permanently increased your Spirit by 2 points.

“Ooo, they taste amazing and give bonuses?”

“Dryad’s are sure impressive, yeah? Gran was all for sneaking one into your lunch earlier, which might have been fun, but a bit less, uh, glamorous?”

“A giant tree offering me a piece of fruit with magical powers is pretty special. Oh, if I eat more…?”

“’Fraid not. It’s a one time thing.”

“I guess you’d all be impossibly strong otherwise.”

“And rich from selling them! But that doesn’t make eating them any less fun.”

If the verbal hint in Varmia’s words wasn’t obvious enough, the remaining strawberry she held out for Lucinda to take certainly was. Failing to stop herself from rolling her eyes, Lucinda still took the offered fruit in preparation for her friend’s strange desire.

By the time the sky had darkened fully, Lucinda and Varmia were still busy chatting away atop the rug overlooking the dryad’s home. With the luminous plants that had sprung up around them and about the tree, the scenery was just as pleasant as before, if not more so.

“It’s getting late,” Varmia announced, casting her eyes up to the starry sky above. “You’re eager to be off adventuring in the morning, yeah?”

Briefly considering everything that had happened to her during her stay at the circle made producing a strongly positive reply difficult. “In some ways.”

“Oh no, is that regret I hear? Give it a few days, or maybe weeks, and you’ll have forgotten all about us. You’ll be having too much fun elsewhere.”

Staring up at the inky expanse, Lucinda barely managed to nod a response.

“I got you a gift by the way.”

A glint of metal drew Lucinda’s eyes to Varmia’s hand. In it, what was obviously a necklace made itself known. It was similar to the one she wore, except the centrepiece was a solid heart-shape with a red gem at its core.

“Varm…”

To Lucinda’s surprise, the young Druidess giggled openly.

“Grissa was right, it really is fun teasing you. I know you’ve got one already, and I’m not trying to replace it.” Varmia’s words only served to heighten Lucinda’s confusion. Thankfully, more were to come. “It’s for Marrow.”

“What? Oh…”

“It should fit her well enough, I managed to measure her this morning. Pretty important with the flying she'll be doing.”

“She never said anything.”

“Because I disguised it as a harmless hug! She’s smart, but she can’t read minds. Uh, or not mine at least.”

Accepting the strange notion, Lucinda re-examined the necklace. It was an attractive piece all things considered, and without any worrying implications attached, managed to quickly bring an immense feeling of gratitude towards her friend.

“Thank you, Varm! It’s wonderful! I’m sure she’ll love it. Even if the idea of her wearing a necklace is a bit weird.”

“Yeah? I heard you fought some harpies not so long ago. They usually wear necklaces.”

“They’re not birds! They’re monsters!”

“Monster-birds, I know.”

“That’s not the same!”

“But they’re similar. Anyway… it’ll give her a small health boost, though it’s not that powerful – I’m just a poor Druid.”

“That’s fine. It’s a wonderful gift.”

“…Then how about thanking me properly for it?”

Lucinda’s heart thumped loudly despite the casual way in which Varmia delivered her request. The meaning behind it was clear, and strangely easy to commit to. After only a brief silence, Lucinda slipped the necklace into the wrapping provided, then with it safely put away, she shimmied across the short distance between her and her friend. Varmia turned onto her side to meet her, a warm smile draped across her flower-illuminated face.

Despite her sudden conviction, Lucinda’s urge to place one arm over the exposed hip of the woman beside her faltered before it could be fully realised. The half-attempted action caused her some embarrassment, but did not prevent her from leaning closer to force a soft meeting of lips.

The kiss was every bit as enjoyable as the many others she had shared with the young Druidess, and it was with a great deal of reluctance that she broke it a short time later. Varmia’s flushed cheeks and smiling face greeted her, a condition she herself was knowingly duplicating.

“You smell of strawberries,” Lucinda said.

“Took you this long to notice?” Varmia giggled with obvious glee. “Thought you might like it.”

“I do. But… That means you already knew what my favourite fruit was?”

“Hmm, maybe.”

Almost as soon as her words were delivered, Varmia leant across to initiate another intimate moment. Lucinda welcomed it openly, her heart beating rapidly as a growing warmth began to suffuse her body, and as a slender arm came down to rest upon her own hip, her enjoyment only grew more quickly.

“I think we might have already passed the friendly part,” Varmia said, her face a scant few centimetres away from Lucinda’s.

“I guess so.”

“The question now is: Do we continue?”

Lucinda’s gaze fell away from the intense stare of her friend, but that only served to make things worse as she found a well-illuminated, naked body waiting for her. Instead, she shut her eyes as she began examining her feelings in-depth.

Minutes passed by as Lucinda’s thoughts raced back and forth. The same problems from before quickly resurfaced in all their irritating glory, yet she found they weren’t quite as troubling as they had been previously. There was no telling what exactly had caused the change, but it was a far less important detail compared to the knowledge that something had, in fact, changed.

Ultimately, there was one core fact that Lucinda settled upon. It may not have been the best way to view the situation; however, it seemed like it might be enough.

No one has to know…

“Yes,” Lucinda uttered as a mere whisper.

Her eyes opened to find Varmia smiling from ear to ear. The sight, along with what she had proclaimed, caused a massive flood of butterflies to explode into existence within her, but she fought the oncoming tide and held her friend’s gaze all the same.

“Mmm, are you sure?” Varmia queried.

A short few moments of silence passed, with Lucinda’s heart beating heavily all the while. Confirming her acceptance was also no easy task; she still got there in the end.

“Yes!”