The glade looked different in the sunlight. It was still a wide area centered around a tree, but there was no longer the flowing waterfalls of nectar or the dancing will-o-wisps. A melody was drifting through the air, which made Linnea be cautious in her approach. Oleander was sitting within the shade of his tree, and the playful tune was coming from his bone flute.

Linnea had rode here on her horse, to spare her feet the pain, and she patted the animal on the side of the neck in order to keep him calm as she dismounted. A sword was pulled out of her back and strapped about her waist so it was balanced behind her. She could see her shoes hanging from the tree’s branches. If she were careful enough, she would be able to sneak up and snatch them before Oleander noticed her presence.

Her feet padded softly through the grass. She then reached up to get her shoes, but could hardly reach, so she glanced at Oleander to see if he had noticed her. He was still entranced by his tune, so she took to jumping up and down in an effort to knock her shoes free, each time her nails barely grazing against the edge of them. A thin whine escaped her lips as frustration began to mount.

The music ceased as Oleander looked up from the flute. He stood up and approached while Linnea hopped away from him awkwardly. She felt like she had been caught by a maid for sneaking into the kitchen in order to get a taste of pie. He lifted the flute and used it to knock the shoes towards Linnea, with them hitting her on the head in the process.

“Ouch…” She quickly picked up the shoes and clutched them to her chest. “I mean, ah… T-thank you.”

“Hold still.” The nymph took a step towards her, and she immediately leaned away from the poisonous creature. “Hold still and close your eyes while you do so. It makes me uncomfortable when you stare at me with such a frightened face.”

“Claims the monster who attempted to murder me last night,” she hissed back.

“Hold still,” he pleaded for a second time.

Do it for Nicolaos. Don’t fall for Oleander’s traps, but do it so Nicolaos could eat him later on. Linnea sucked in her lips and bit down on them with her teeth while shutting her eyes tightly. She then clamped her free hand over her mouth as further insurance.

“What is with that expression?” He stifled a laugh but she only responded with a shake of her head.

She could feel at him tugging at her hair. He was braiding it or something, feeling around her head and brushing away the stray strands around her face. It was quick work and he pulled away soon enough. Linnea hesitantly reached up and felt what he had done. There was a braid there that had flowers woven within it.

“What’s this?” She frowned.

Oleander smiled softly. “It reminds me of how you appeared last night. A wild and free spirit of this forest.”

Linnea’s frown contorting into a look of disgust. “I shouldn’t have to base my appearance on what you like or dislike.”

“You should. After all, I am King Oleander.” The nymph grin became a cheeky one. “And this glade is my kingdom. All who step here must obey my commands.” He tapped the tip of his flute against her nose before tucking it into his belt. Somehow he had found himself a white suit with gold trimmings. At least he wasn’t naked. That’s all Linnea could say about that.

“Now that I have reclaimed my shoes, I will be on my way. I should find Nicolaos.” If only to see if he had anything planned for her today. She placed her shoes on the ground and slipped her feet within them.

“The spirits told me that he spends several hours each day sunbathing,” said Oleander as he pointed to the west. “The forest has a rocky outcrop there that becomes quite warm during the day. I do not know for certain, since I have never been there myself.” He then smiled at her when he noticed her looking his way. “You could stay here and help me with a small task, if that will please you.”

“Not particularly!” Linnea spat out.

Oleander took a step back, surprised that she would raise her voice. “I will make a vow to not eat you if you promise to do me this favor.” This promise eased some of her worries. She nodded. “I need a deer. A deer’s body will be enough for me to make it for another year.”

“And you believe that is something I can do?” Her father had his early hunting trip with members of his court, but she had not once got with them. She was always at home with her mother, studying embroidery or reading books. The only thing she got as an only child was a handful of sword lessons, and that hardly labeled her a proper hunter.

“I believe you can make do better than I, as you have the freedom to leave this place. I certainly do not.”

“Fine,” she spat out another statement. Linnea at least had a short sword on her horse. He was still waiting at the edge of the grove, too afraid to enter. “It may take me some time to find one on horseback. You will have to be patient.”

“Then do not take your horse,” said Oleander as he waved his flute about.

He played a sharp and quick tune upon it, and it wasn’t long before a new creature entered the grove. A large gray wolf with a black face. She was covered in scars and nearly rivaled Nicolaos in size. It was possible that she was bigger than him, as she was closer to the size of Linnea’s horse.

“Those of these woods have named her Mother.” He gestured to the beast. The wolf put a paw forward so she could bow respectively at the pair.

Linnea’s horse was visibly shaken by the beast, and he slowly began to retreat further and further back into the forest. “I’m afraid that I cannot consider Miss Mother to be my partner.”

“Mother has an extraordinary nose.” Oleander smiled proudly. “She has always brought me the best catches in the past.”

“Then have her catch your meal this year as well!” Linnea cried out. Her sudden cry made her horse flee. She slumped at the sight and at least hoped that he was making his way back to the tower.

Oleander twisted about so that he was in front of her. “And do you think I’m not desperate for a taste of your flesh?” He paused, relishing in the thought to the point where Linnea felt exceedingly uncomfortable. A shake of his head snapped him out of it. “I would like it if you were my ally. Mother is older now, and her sight isn’t what it used to be. Do this for me, and I promise to not harm you.”

“... I will do as you ask.” Linnea said through clenched teeth. She held her hand forward for the wolf to sniff. Her palm facing downward, fingers relaxed so Mother could smell her knuckles. This is how she was taught to introduce herself to dogs, but she had never dared to attempt it in the past.

Mother gave a nod and stretched her paws forward again so her back was low enough to clamber onto. Linnea looked between her and Oleander to see if they were being serious about this, but all the nymph would do is smile. Hesitantly, she sat on top of the wolf, and Mother took off running as Linnea let out a loud yelp.

The wolf was quick, and Linnea was forced to hold onto the sides of her scruff in order to keep her balance. Her sword bounced painfully behind her, whacking every now and then against her tailbone. Linnea tightened her grip all the more as Mother came to an abrupt stop. There were the silhouettes of deer moving about the trees.

Linnea dismounted as Mother stretched out her paws again. “Am I supposed to..?” The princess made a whacking motion with her arm while Mother stared blankly at her. She half expected the beast to give some sort of response but was only met with silence. Mother gave a pat to the ground with her paw, as though signaling Linnea to stay here. Perhaps the wolf expected her to be useless and was going to take on all the work herself.

Linnea was going to ask another question, but Mother had suddenly vanished into the treeline. She pouted and stayed where she was told to. How long was she expected to wait? Her father used dogs for hunting, but the kill always went to the bow. Now that she thought about it, she had no idea how a wolf killed its own prey.

Just as she was thinking about it, the birds in the trees around her took off all at once. As her eyes followed them, she was nearly knocked over by a pair of deer that were running her way. She fell to the ground from shock, barely avoiding a collision in the process. Linnea rolled onto her knees and struggled to pull her sword free. Her grip tightened about the hilt as she stood up.

A flash of silver flew the air, followed by a splatter of red. Linnea didn’t think. She merely slashed out at the next thing that ran her way, and she succeeded in landing a harmful blow. The doe skidded before falling to the ground, then flailed about in an attempt to stand up again.

Linnea’s heart was racing. It was horrifying. The deer struggled to breathe as it attempted to stand. Her sword hand hacked a large gash into it, and a hunk of flesh was hanging uselessly from its neck to chest.

There were no more deer, and all Linnea could hear other than the struggling deer was the soft sound of Mother’s paws against the ground. She glanced at Linnea as she walked past, and then casually clamped her teeth around the deer’s throat. Then she laid down, pinning the deer in place as she waited.

The deer’s hooves scratched against the dirt as it slowly suffocated. First they were quick, then they were slow, and finally, there was no movement at all. Mother rose up and walked past Linnea again, carrying kill within her maw as she did so. Linnea struggled to put her blade away before she followed, and the pair walked back to the grove in silence.