Bronwyn sat down next to the fire as her followers packed up the rest of the temporary camp they had set up. She had given the two arm rings she’d taken from the dead Urghat leaders to Ironhide and instructed him and the others to find Urghat they felt were worthy of the Underclaw title and who wouldn’t want to start further conflicts with the humans. She’d grown to trust her little band of Urghat during their travels on the plains, and their behavior and assistance during the brief Urghat siege had solidified that feeling.

“You sure we shouldn’t just bury these things somewhere?” She asked Ironhide as he watched the others packing up camp.

“Aye, they’re important to our people. If we pick the right Urghat to wear them, they’ll be able to work to control the other Underclaws that still have their rings.”

“And make sure they swear to suppress another Overclaw!” Bronwyn growled.

“Right.”

Ironhide had explained that an Overclaw was simply an Underclaw that had coerced many other Underclaws to swear allegiance to them. He’d said the clans were likely to splinter back into their own separate groups, at least until another Urghat with enough strength or smarts came along to try and unite them again.

When they’d finished packing up, the Urghat spent some time practice-fighting before starting their march. Fangripper taught Bright-tooth a relatively simple series of sword strikes across the fire. Shadow-eye was across the fire giving lessons to Soft-fur; they shared a similar affinity for manipulating some sort of shadow Energy. Though Urghat all had extremely low affinity for Energy, some were born with a gift that allowed them to master a specific spell or skill. Shadow-eye could coalesce his shadow into various weapons and change their shape at will. During Bronwyn’s duel with him, he had swiftly transformed his shadow spear into two long blades, catching her off guard. The blades had seemed to phase through most material and didn’t cut her but sapped a large amount of Energy with each strike. At the end of the fight, she had been so exhausted she could barely stand. She watched now as Soft-fur formed a small flickering blade in her hand, it sputtered out quickly, but her eyes were alight with excitement. Shadow-eye smiled, looking down at her with his black orb of an eye, and grunted in encouragement.

Bronwyn was sad that they’d be leaving, but it wouldn’t be for too long; she’d spoken with the council about them coming to live in the colony sometime down the road. Tensions were still high at the moment, but with a bit of time, things would calm, and she’d be able to bring them around for introductions. Her motley band of followers seemed excited by the prospect of having a permanent place to call home.

When they’d finished exercising and wolfing down some travel rations, the Urghat took turns clasping wrists with Bronwyn, and then they were off, slipping into the trees without hardly a sound. She was watching the branches of a bush snap back into place in their wake when Hops came bounding out of the underbrush. She smiled and squatted down, holding out her hand while he made his way across the camp toward her. He didn’t clamber onto her outstretched hand, though, stopping short of it. “Well, hey there, little guy, long time no see. Have you been off on a great adventure?” Hops nuzzled his face into her hand and then stepped back slightly, looking around almost nervously. “Everything okay?” He reached inside his shell behind his head and pulled out a tiny crystal disc, holding it out to her with both hands. The crystal was shaped like a coin and was about the size of a quarter. It glittered like a diamond, but when it caught the sunlight, it shone in a multitude of colors. Bronwyn cocked her head to the side curiously and reached out towards it with her thumb and pointer finger.

When she touched the little crystal coin, her arm and hand seemed to stretch out in front of her, and then her whole body was pulled into a spiraling rainbow vortex. She soared through a tunnel of many-colored lights, passing hundreds of portal-like openings on each side, catching just brief glimpses of what lay on the other side. She saw vast deserts, lush jungles, snowy mountains, and even a few cities with strange otherworldly architecture. She flew for only a minute or two before slowing down and coming to a stop before a golden portal. A light tugging sensation like a rope around her waist pulled her forward and into it.

Bronwyn could feel the sun's warmth on her skin as she stepped out of the portal. When her eyes adjusted, she found herself at the edge of a small glade surrounded by trees. The grass at her feet was like threads of golden silk that flowed in the breeze like water lapping in a placid pond. The trees surrounding her were as big as skyscrapers, their white, birch-like trunks soaring maybe a thousand feet into the purple sky above. The giant trees were spaced apart, allowing for plenty of sky and sunlight to come through their canopies, and no lesser trees grew in their shadows. The otherworldly forest was like a well-maintained park. Hundreds of feet above her, she saw archways of golden wood stretching between the trees to circular platforms; they looked like insects from where she stood, but Bronwyn was sure there were people up there moving about on the platforms.

She stared in wonder, watching as tiny golden motes of light weaved their way through the forest, catching her eye and drawing her attention to different flowers or little animals in every corner of the magical place. She felt like she had stepped into a fairy tale or an elven city from VR games she’d played. She was mesmerized looking up at the forest city above her when someone cleared their throat, and a small, high-pitched voice spoke up. “Greetings, friend; we’ve been expecting you.”

Bronwyn, startled, looked down and saw what could only be a fairy hovering about a foot away at the height of her chest. She was about ten inches tall and had bright blue butterfly wings with white swirling patterns. “Oh, hello, sorry, I was just admiring your forest here. Did you say you’ve been expecting me?”

“Oh yes! Coraignon, or, as you call him, Hops, has been very excited for you to arrive. We’ve been hearing all about your adventures with him! This is one of the Fae realms, and I’d like to take you to meet our Queen.” She was beaming with excitement and flitting around in little circles in front of her. “Come, come, follow me. She awaits your arrival!” The fairy started to fly off towards one of the enormous trees, looking back to make sure Bronwyn followed.

Bronwyn almost felt like she was in a dream as she followed the fairy. As she walked, she pulled herself together, not wanting to seem dazed or confused. She was glad she had taken a bath the night before and wasn’t wearing all her armor. She had on a simple long-sleeve white tunic and brown leather pants, with her usual traveling boots. She didn’t precisely feel fit to meet a queen, but at least she wasn't caked in dirt and wearing a spiked breastplate. It occurred to her that she’d basically been kidnaped, but she couldn’t muster any outrage at the situation. It was almost like the very air in this magical forest was working to calm her nerves and make her feel relaxed.

As they got closer to the tree, Bronwyn could see a faint archway carved into the trunk, and the fairy paused for a moment in front of it. She removed a green crystal and held it up to the tree, causing a matching green light to fill the arch. “Right through here, we’re almost there; hurry now, it won’t stay open long!” The fairy dove into the green light disappearing with a faint pop. Bronwyn paused in front of the portal briefly, removing the tie from her hair and allowing it to fall around her shoulders. She took a deep breath and stepped through yet another portal.

Evidently, she had moved through space somehow; she was not in the trunk of a tree; however, the portal she took didn’t have the usual feeling of travel or vertigo she had become used to experiencing. It was as though she’d walked through an invisible wall, and her body didn’t perceive the experience at all: it was just like taking a normal step. She was in the entrance hall of a staggeringly large palace; the room had to be as large as a football field, if not larger. The floor and walls were constructed from white stone with golden flecks sparkling in the natural sunlight. Planters filled with trees, shrubs, and flowers, and many water fixtures filled the space, and as Bronwyn took in the scene, she even noticed vines climbing up the walls. Small animals, butterflies, and birds scurried and flitted through the little manicured gardens.

“This way now, don’t get lost; the meeting hall is just ahead.” The fairy flew a quick circle around Bronwyn and then took off in front of her, flying straight through the garden with no concern that Bronwyn had to follow the paths on foot. She walked briskly, trying to keep the fairy in her sights and taking in the beauty of the space around her. Before long, she approached a set of large wooden doors; they were around twenty feet high and had intricate carvings depicting dozens of scenes. Pictured in the carved wood, she saw a crown being placed on a tall, angular man. She saw battles being fought. She saw myriad animals, birds, and plants, especially in the borders. She felt like she could stand there for days and still find something new to look at.

However, more pressing than the ornately carved doors were the two guards stationed in front of them. She knew, logically, that these were different sorts of Fae, but they looked exactly how Elves were often depicted in fantasy VRs. One was masculine, one was very feminine, and each wore green-scaled armor. The scales were designed to look like leaves bordered with golden filigree. They held long glaives at their sides, the edges of which gleamed in the sunlight. Most eye-catching, however, were the beings themselves. They stood around seven feet tall and could only be described as perfect. They were more beautiful than anyone Bronwyn had ever seen, and their luminescent eyes pierced through her like they were judging the worth of her very soul.

“Don’t worry, you’re a welcome guest, just follow me!" The fairy had flown up next to Bronwyn and whispered in her ear. She flew up to the elven guards and whispered something in the ear of the left one. He smiled briefly and looked at Bronwyn, speaking in a voice that was smooth as silk and flowed like a song. “Welcome Bronwyn, friend of Coraignon, to the Summer Court. The Queen has been expecting your arrival, and you may enter.” He held his open hand out to his side towards the massive doors, and Bronwyn could hear a heavy lock sliding open, and the doors silently parted.

The tiny fairy beckoned Bronwyn forward and flew through the gap. Feeling slightly unsure of how to conduct herself, Bronwyn bowed her head slightly to the guard and said, “Thank you.” She stepped past him and laid her hand on the door to open the gap enough to walk through. As her hand touched the surface of the wood, visions of fairies, elves, witches in deep forest cottages, and sleeping princesses flashed through her mind. She shook her head and continued to push against the door, which opened silently and without strain.

The meeting hall, while still immense, was smaller than the entrance; tall pillars lined the left and right sides, and plants and vines were still filling much of the space. Though all slightly different from what she’d expect of an Earth-born animal, bigger creatures resembling elk, bears, and lions lay in the grass and meandered around the raised garden beds. There was a long carpet of soft green grass down the center of the room, leading about a hundred yards from the doorway to the dais where a glittering crystal throne, bedecked in flower-covered vines, sat.

Sitting on the throne was a being so majestic and otherworldly that Bronwyn struggled for a moment to recognize that she was a person. Even from the far end of the hall, her presence brought tears to Bronwyn’s eyes and caused hope to flare in her chest. She felt her fears and worries pass from her mind, and the tension that had been subconsciously tightening her shoulders slipped away. She forgot about pain, regret, and suffering in the Fae Queen’s presence, and Bronwyn, tears flowing freely now, slowly walked forward and fell to her knees.