Black clouds were shaking their heavy vestment, filled to the brim with cold raindrops, right above the Rophion Forest. Then, right after falling on the leaves, those icy cold raindrops made even the trees shudder, shaking their massive crowns and sighing soon after this, a deep sigh, which was heard all over the forest.

Yet, those raindrops did not fall only above the trees, the herbs, or the little creatures that were seen here and there through the branches or bushes. They were also falling over the four travelers, making them feel those raindrops very well on their arms and necks, something that made them also shudder with all their bodies. It was because of the coldness of those raindrops that entered deep into their souls, making them feel something unpleasant. Nevertheless, as they couldn’t complain to anyone because of that bad weather, they could only continue their journey rushing toward the Glade of Shadows, which was their final destination.

They decided to go to that glade because of a thought Samaya had: that Baradar could be found only there. Why did she think like that? She wasn’t also that sure. She only felt this. Thus, if Samaya was feeling something and she was sure that it was something that could help her to find what she was looking for, then she was doing as she decided. Yet, it wasn’t childish behavior or an impulsive decision. That’s why Dike, Boor, and Bestla decided to listen to what she wanted to do and follow her to that glade.

Nevertheless, they weren’t totally convinced that they could find that place that seemed to hide from them. Like a stubborn person that doesn’t want to be found. That’s why, even after many hours of walking in circles or randomly through the forest, they couldn’t get to that weird place. At a moment they even thought that the Forest itself was playing a prank on them, for right after they were thinking that that glade was close to them, they were realizing that it had only been an illusion.

Because of this Bestla hissed through her teeth, outraged, „What the hell happens to that place? Where is it? I can’t see it anywhere, even though it seems that’s right next to us. Does someone play a prank on us or what? If not, I think I am losing my mind because I clearly see that we are walking in circles around this place, but find nothing.”

Samaya, who was to her left, smiled, hearing her friend talking like that. Something that made Bestla „growl,” a hint that Samaya’s smile wasn’t something that she liked. Yet, when Samaya told her in a joke, „You should ask Maranam this question,” Bestla became really furious.

„I’m asking you, not him. Stop making others guilty for something you did.”

„I? What am I guilty of now?” Samaya asked, smiling.

„For everything,” Bestla hissed again through her teeth. „It was you who had that brilliant idea to look for Baradar in that glade. If we had looked for him in his glade, we would have found him by now. I’m sure about this.”

„I have told you already why I think that he’s in the Glade of Shadows, Bestla. I don’t understand why you are so stubborn now,” said Samaya, smiling again.

„Yes, yes, of course, Bestla is always guilty of everything.”

„Are you copying Fenrir right now? He’s the only one who says something like this when he’s accused of something.”

„Maybe he is copying me, don’t you think so?” Bestla said, feisty. „Yet, how is this possible not to find out that Glade? You found her when you were little.”

„Exactly, Bestla. When I was little. Yet, 14 years have passed since then. That’s why it’s possible that certain things have changed by now. And…”

„As though that glade changed its previous place. By itself,” said Bestla in mockery. „It would be better if you accept that you don’t know where it is. Thus… you help us all.”

„The only one in a bad mood is you, Bestla. Right from the morning. The reason? I have no idea. Or… is it because Arion isn’t with us right now?”

„Let’s not forget Nathaniel. I’m sure you would have preferred him instead of me. As you lately do actually.”

„Are you jealous right now?”

„I? Jealous of a… human? Huh, never in my life. Better…”

„Can you stop arguing?” Dike told the girls while approaching them because while Bestla and Samaya had that little argument he and Boor remained a few steps behind them. Then, after telling those words to the girls, he put his head between them and, looking askance at them, he said, „If not, I assure you that we let you find the minikin alone while we turn back to the camp. Thus, being alone and continuing arguing over little things, you can find him… in a thousand years. Or maybe when the war ends…

„If you say so?!” Samaya replied, at all bothered by her father’s „anger.” She even smiled while looking at him. „Anyway, it wasn’t an argument. Only… a normal talk between girls.”

„Yeah, right, and I was born yesterday. Do you really believe what you have said, Samaya? I don't. I know you very well and the „normal talks” between you two. I learned to differentiate them in these 14 years. Yet, it’s curious because I knew that you were arguing only for magic. Now… for men too. Something I really hate to be honest.”

„Are jealous now, Master Dike?” Bestla decided that it was time for making a joke. Yet, when she saw Boor’s big nose around her and more spotting him frowning while listening to what she said, she understood that it was a damn bad joke. That’s why she rushed to add, „I was just saying! No need for frowning.”

Eventually, when Dike raised his left hand up, the four stopped. Then, putting his index finger to his lips, the Titan let his companions know that it was time for silence. Even so, looking to his left and right, he saw nobody. Something damn weird in his opinion.

Boor, however, who also saw nobody around, even though he carefully looked all over, approached Dike in the end and asked him in a whisper, „Did you see something?”

„No. That’s why I consider this strange, for… I’m sure I’ve heard a rustle.”

Dike’s words made Boor smile. Yet, seeing the Titan frowning, Boor decided to explain why he smiled, „We are in the forest, remember? It’s something normal to hear a rustle. At least from time to time.”

„It’s good that you know everything,” Dike said dryly. „Anyway, I didn’t mean the rustle of the leaves. I was talking about a weird sound: as though someone was dragging his feet behind us. Or something wet and sticky was sneaking around on the wet leaves.”

„Maybe it was the rain? It’s also wet,” Bestla joked. Yet, she took a few steps back and looked elsewhere when both Boor and Dike stared at her, frowning, a hint that she poked her nose in their business.

„Nothing out of the ordinary,” Samaya teased the girl. „It’s something that maybe will teach you to keep your tongue behind the teeth when it’s necessary,” added the young she-wolf, slowly tapping on Bestla’s back.

A joke that Bestla really disliked. She was definitely outraged, for… being scolded for small things. Yes, maybe she was often poking her nose in someone else’s business. A habit she learned from the wolf, who was also doing this without being scolded. She, however… anyway, when she saw Samaya staring at her, Bestla slowly hissed through her teeth, „Yes, yes, I’m the only one who gets upset for small things. I know.”

„I love you too,” Said Samaya, smiling. „Even though you are weird.” After that, Samaya put her left arm on Bestla’s shoulders and slowly dragged the girl behind her. To her surprise, Bestla didn’t oppose it. She didn’t even start to fool around as she was always doing when Samaya was putting her arm around her shoulders. Bestla only calmly followed Samaya. That’s why the young she-wolf stared at the girl, surprised to see that one cunningly smiling, „What are you planning now?” Samaya asked.

„I? Nothing. I was just thinking about the day we two met. Do you still remember that day?”

„As though it happened yesterday. Why?” Samaya asked, confused.

„Because I told you then what could happen to the people I love the most. As it happened to my mother, for example. That’s why I was wondering: what if I show you how big my love is?” Samaya sketched a smile, a hint that „I’m not that eager, to be honest.” Bestla, however, wanted to play. That’s why she added soon, „No, no, I must do that. Show you my big love for you. That’s why I decided to turn you into a big icicle. So, tell me: would you like to hang upside down? At least for a while? I think it would be funny even for you. To see the world differently, I mean…”

Suddenly, Bestla winced and hid her tongue behind her teeth when she saw Boor’s big nose right in front of her eyes. Then, raising her glance even more, she saw two black eyes that were sparkling, a hint that God didn’t taste his youngest daughter’s joke. Yet, Bestla became really good when Boor hissed through her teeth, „What if I show you two what it means to create something really genius? For this, I need you two: turned into two logs on which to sit in case we are tired. Or maybe… to feed the flames during the winter? Something I’m not that sure that would work eventually… to feed the flames, I mean, because as your heads are so dry… it can harm even the fire…”

Her father’s words made Bestla frown. Then, crossing her arms on her chest, she looked askance at her father and told him, „It isn’t funny, to be honest.”

„Same goes for your joke. Why? Because I really doubt that you are aware of why we are actually here.”

„Hm, you always make a mountain out of a molehill. We… were just fooling around,” Bestla said, feisty. „Or what? Didn’t you ever joke with a friend? I’m sure that you did that, for… not only once I heard you and Master Dike joking with each other. Actually, you did that not long ago.”

„This is something allowed to us.”

„Really?! May I know what makes you two special?”

„Maybe because we are as old as Adam?” After that, Boor flicked her forehead. Then, looking at Samaya, he told her, „Keep your mouth shut and be good girls if you don’t want to know what the life of a log is. I don’t joke this time.” Saying this, Boor turned his back to the two girls and approached Dike, who was staring at God, frowning from time to time.

Even after such words, Bestla didn’t calm down. She only stared furiously at Samaya and hissed through her teeth, in a whisper, „You could have said something too.”

Samaya smiled. „Of course not. Let’s say that I learned in time that’s better to keep my mouth shut while you have an argument with your sisters or God Boor. Otherwise, I can be definitely turned into a log.”

„You are definitely a traitor! Remind me to reward you as you deserve when it comes time.” After that, Bestla turned her back on Samaya, a hint that she was really furious.

Bestla’s anger didn’t bother the young she-wolf. It didn’t happen because Samaya didn’t care about Bestla, but because she knew very well that Bestla was acting like that each time she disliked something. Thus, to make peace with her again, it was necessary just to give her some time, for Bestla was the one who was talking to her „enemies” when she was in a good mood again.

Suddenly, when the sky cracked, split into two by a big thunderlight, Samaya looked at Boor, thinking that it happened because he was angry. Yet, it wasn’t because of him. She saw him standing next to Dike, calmly talking about something. That’s why Samaya looked at Bestla again, who also saw the thunderlight and was even more amazed than she was.

„You also saw it, right?” Bestla asked.

„Yes, but… I thought that the sky cracks only when God Boor is mad. Yet, he seems really calm right now,” Samaya joked.

„It isn’t always his fault,” Bestla defended her father. „It also happens because of Sephir. From time to time. That’s why I have now that feeling that the sky has cracked because of a certain wolf that’s possible to be blamed for something.” After that, Bestla happily smiled, for the thought that she hadn’t been the only one scolded that day made her happy.

The young girls kept silent eventually when they saw Dike taking Ionas out of its scabbard and drawing a blue circle around him. Thus, because he made this unexpectedly when Ionas’s blade passed by Boor’s feet, God was forced to jump aside. Yet, even though he didn’t expect this, he said nothing. He only carefully looked at what Dike was doing.

Thus, he saw how the Titan finished drawing that circle on wet soil. After that, Dike also drew a kind of curved line, separating the circle into two. Then, he drew one point on the left, on the upper part, and another one on the right, on the bottom side. Something curious in the opinion of Dike’s companions, but even so none of them approached him.

Only when Dike finished drawing, Bestla, Samaya, and Boor approached him and carefully looked at his drawing. Yet, it was only a drawn circle for them and nothing more. Something that made Samaya ask her father eventually, „Why did you draw the Alabar Circle here, Father?”

„You will see!” Dike replied. Then, he motioned them with his head to move a little bit back, and when the three of them weren’t next to Dike anymore, the Titan put Ionas back in its scabbard and closed his eyes. Yet, he not only stood like this and waited. He put Ionas over his chest, holding the handle with his right hand and touching the scabbard with the left palm. After a couple of minutes of standing like this, he took the sword out of its scabbard again. However, he didn’t take it completely out of the scabbard. Only about 20 centimeters, just as it allowed the blade to send blue light rays toward that circle.

What was weird about that blue light was that it was sent toward the circle as letters. Not the same letters engraved on Ionas’s blade, but „Vaḻi kāṭṭu,” which in the ancient language meant, „Show us the path!”

„The path?” Samaya wondered. „What path exactly?”

A thought Dike heard and answered, „It’s because of the air. I feel blood around us.” Dike said those words loudly, to be heard by everyone. That’s why his companions looked confused at him.

„Blood? What do you mean, Dike?” Boor asked.

The Titan didn’t answer. He only put Ionas into its scabbard and then he opened his eyes. Yet, the light of the words „Vaḻi kāṭṭu” didn’t vanish when Ionas stopped illuminating the circle. It continued to float above the circle, right above the middle line, while all around the circle was seen a blue light outlining it. Only the two points from up-left and down-right were illuminated in a different color: black - the upper one and golden - the bottom one.

This was what were Boor, Samaya, and Bestla seeing. Dike was seeing something more: on the pale color of the black point, the Titan was seeing the dreariest Rophion Forest he ever saw. At the same time, he was seeing eyes on the trees’trunks, eyes in which the blink of life wasn’t seen. This view was making his heart bleed, for he understood that the trees from his dear forest were meant to be controlled by evil. Something that was worrying the Titan a lot, as the trees’barks, which were scorched in places and stained with ashes in the rest. More than that, not only the barks were scorched, but also the branches and the roots, from which a green serum was dripping and this was because of the deep wounds seen on the trees. Because of this, the Titan gnashed his teeth, realizing that all his efforts to avoid Forest’s pain were in vain. His forest was meant to suffer and he couldn’t do anything to help it.

Eventually, he winced when Boor approached him and put his palm on the Titan’s left shoulder. Then Boor asked, „Something happens, Dike?”

The Titan nodded yes. „It’s about the glade that formed the hatred, Boor. The Glade we are looking for right now. It’s the one I see reflected in the light of the Circle Alabar.”

Boor, looking at the circle, saw nothing instead. That’s why he frowned. Later, he asked, „Do you mean the Glade of Shadows? Where Samaya and Mayar fought 14 years ago?”

„Yes” murmured Dike, sadly looking at his friend. Then he looked at Samaya, who was confused. „What amazes me is that Samaya doesn’t see the same as I do: the leafless trees, with their branches, trunks, and roots scorched. Just as I see eyes on the trunks, lifeless eyes.”

„What if everything is just an illusion?” Said Bestla, making her companions stare confused at her. „I mean… it’s possible that someone is trying to play with us by controlling our minds. At least this is what I suspect.”

„What exactly do you mean, Bestla?” Samaya asked, confused.

„Not what, but whom I mean. Your soulmate. The one that’s right there!” Bestla said, motioning with her head for the others to look in front.

Looking toward the place where Bestla motioned them to look, the three saw Mayar, instead of a weird creature. They saw her cunningly smiling while supporting her body on the thick trunk of a tree, playing with Eftir Daudann, which she was moving through her fingers as though the dagger was as light as a feather.

Seeing Mayar, Samaya gnashed her teeth, „I should have thought that the fox might be around.” After that, turning into a wolf, she intended to approach Mayar and teach her some manners. Yet, she didn’t advance too much when she saw Dike in front of her. Even so, Samaya didn’t calm down for she was too furious to see her copy in front of her eyes. That’s why she told her father, „Move aside, papa! Today I’ll show this fox what it feels to play with someone’s mind. I’ll do this openly and not play dirty as she is doing. Thus, I’ll rip off her skin and teach her that bad thoughts harm one.”

„Will you feel better doing this?” Dike asked her in a severe tone. „I don’t think so. Just as I don’t think that Mayar is here without a reason.”

„Undoubtedly. Actually, I know her reason: she’s here to drive me crazy. Just…”

„Just… the one who isn’t thinking normally is you, Samaya,” Dike told her reproachfully. „More than that: it’s what she wants - to make you make a mistake. Thus, she will have the possibility to take advantage of this. That’s why I tell you to think twice before acting, for hatred isn’t always a good councillor. Yet, I’m sure that you and Mayar will be forced to fight. That time I’ll support you. Now… it isn’t the right moment.”

„Master Dike is right,” said Bestla, approaching the she-wolf and touching her back. „Even though I don’t love my „beloved” cousin, I must accept that she’s brilliant. At least from time to time. Actually, it won’t surprise me if someday she’ll be able to make the water drip from a dry stone. If this happens, it will be because she’s cunning and not because she's smarter than you. Thus she managed to make you feel anger, even though you are always calm.”

„Maybe you are right,” the she-wolf snarled through her teeth. „Yet… she always appears in front of my nose whenever I need her away from me. That’s why I feel that I want to twist her neck each time I see her.”

„It’s her tactic to make her lose your inner balance. Just as it happened when Fenrir hurt her. She also managed then to make you lose control and you fought. Yet, I also can’t understand why she is looking for a fight with you when it’s definitely a sure thing that she is losing.”

They all looked in amazement at Boor when he told them thoughtfully, „It’s because of the exchange of power, for each time Samaya loses her control and attacks her copy, Mayar gathers the power Samaya has lost.” Then, looking at Mayar, he said, „Am I right this time, niece? Are you here begging for power again?”

His question reached its target, for Mayar suddenly stopped her game with Eftir Daudann and looked askance at Boor. Even so, Boor noticed her eyes sparkling, a hint that he was right. Yet, Mayar wasn’t ready to accept her defeat, just as she didn’t want to let others know why she was there. That’s why she said, „Maybe you are right, God Boor. Or… maybe not?”

„Of course, I’m right,” replied Boor confidently. „Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been here, but with Parca. To be clearer, I’ll tell you this: you can try hiding your thoughts from me, but not your energy. I can feel it, just as I feel it right now. It’s so weak and this is because of Fenrir, who hurt you that time.”

Mayar grinned. Then, squeezing the handle of the dagger, she snarled, barely heard, „I forgot that the winds could enter even the hole of a snake.”

The fox’s hint outraged Bestla. Thus, she forgot even the advice she gave Samaya and wanted to approach Mayar instead of the she-wolf and fight with her. Yet, she stopped when she saw Boor staring at her. That’s why she returned to her previous place. Even so, she kept mumbling unpleasant words addressed to Mayar.

The fox, however, at all bothered by Bestla’s anger, headed toward the place where the four were. Halfway, she turned into a fox and, after she stopped, she looked at Samaya and grinned. Yet, she became attentive when she spotted a cunning smile on the she-wolf’s face and more when Samaya told her:

„Now I understand your game, Mayar. You are looking for a fight. Just as it happened 14 years ago. However, I won’t give you this chance… the easily get your own back. More than that, I assure you that I won’t rush.”

„Why?” Mayar asked.

„Because… I have no desire to feel your stinky fox fur between my teeth. Something damn unpleasant actually. Yet, if this isn’t a secret, what are looking for here?”

„The old Times? Replied Mayar in mockery.

„The Old Times?" Samaya asked, confused. „What exactly do you… aaa, when we fought. Even so…,” she kept silent, hearing a crow screaming in the heights. Something that made the five look up.

Looking at the crow, at all surprised, Mayar said, smiling, „Do you still remember what have you seen when you have gotten to the Glade of Shadows? That time, I mean.”

„What I have seen then?” Samaya wondered, confused, staring into the fox’s eyes. Namely in Mayar’s eyes, she saw fragments of what she lived that day. That’s why she murmured, „The Darkness. I saw the darkness all around me then.”

„What else?”

What made Samaya try to remember what happened that day hadn’t been Mayar’s question, but the fact that she felt the fox so confident in herself. Thus, searching through memories, she saw the moment when she spotted two big round eyes among the branches of that big tree. She didn’t remember whose eyes she saw that day. That’s why she only said, „Someone’s eyes. I saw someone’s eyes that day. Lurking on me from the tree. Then… I heard a flap of wings.” After that, seeing those images reflected in Dike’s circle, Samaya stared over there. Especially, she was staring at those eyes she saw that day between the leaves. yet, no matter how hard she didn’t try to see whose eyes she saw then, she couldn’t.

Mayar, however, even though she wasn’t seeing the same thing as Samaya, not in the light of the circle, started to walk up and down in front of them. Yet, even though her movements seemed chaotic, Bestla focused her glance on the fox, for she considered that Mayar didn’t just simply walk. Thus, she could see that Mayar was trying to draw something while walking. That’s why Bestla imaginary drew the symbol சவ, which Mayar was trying to draw while randomly walking. Then, Bestla winced and shuddered. Eventually, she also murmured, afraid, „Death! She’s drawing the symbol of death, the one known by the magicians.”

Bestla’s murmur made Mayar smile while the other four stared at Bestla, confused. Eventually, they looked at the fox when she cunningly said, „I see that you have some knowledge about Black Magic, Bestla. Something that makes me wonder why you know all this.”

„Because I saw this symbol!” Then, as though she was drawing it, Bestla moved her hand through the air, outlining the symbol சவ in front of the others. Then, when she finished outlining the symbol, all of them clearly saw சவ floating above that blue light of the circle. Even Mayar saw it. Yet, when Bestla added, „Many years ago!” even Mayar stared at her, confused.

„Did you see it? Where?” Boor asked, thunderstruck.

The one who answered instead of Bestla was Samaya, „At Ahi’s demons. Those who attached Edda when she took her daughter to wash her into the river’s water. Or… am I wrong, Bestla?”

Bestla didn’t say a word. She only focused her glance on the symbol சவ drawn black on blue in the light of the circle. Eventually, she looked at Mayar when the fox said, „I can help you remember if you want. Oh, no, I will help you even though you don’t want this. That’s why I ask you now: what do you see in a stranger for the first time?”

„His eyes?” Murmured Bestla feverishly.

„That’s right.”

„Yet, I’m sure that I didn’t see this symbol in someone’s eyes that day. Even though I don’t remember where…”

„It’s because you saw this symbol only for a few moments before those people vanished. Yet, it wasn’t complete but separated. In six parts to be more precise.”

„Six demons!” Bestla whispered, shivering. Something that made the fox cunningly smile.

„You said that you didn’t remember anything! Bingo, you won the bigger prize, sister Bestla. You are a genius today!”

„I don’t understand the point of your game, Mayar,” the she-wolf interfered in Bestla and Mayar’s talk. Thus, she managed to force the fox to look at her and leave Bestla alone.

„Just an innocent game,” the fox calmly said. „I want her to know more about this symbol, because… besides the meaning „death” it has one more meaning. Something that only a few in this world know it.”

She winced eventually when Boor whispered, „Hatred!” Something that made Mayar look at Boor, confused.

Even so, she managed to regain her inner balance and continue her thought shortly after, „Even though this is strange for me to find out that you know the second meaning of this symbol, God Boor, I must accept that you are right. Yet, I’m sure that you don’t know when this symbol actually appeared in this world.”

„Now I must accept that you are right,” murmured Boor. „Just as I must accept that you know this.”

„Yes, I know it. I actually found it out long ago. The day Samaya and I met for the first time. More than that, Samaya, how do you think, where I could see it?”

As though she had had a vision, Samaya saw that symbol on the back of the big Tarther. It was part of what she saw when the witch Villō showed them the day Noears died because of the fire blown by the two birds Tarther. The same day she saw the key on the back of the small Tarther and the symbol சவ on the back of the big one. A memory that made her eventually thoughtfully murmur, „It was drawn on the back of that devilish bird.”

Mayar laughed. „You don’t even know that you are definitely right.” Then, heading toward the secular tree from her left, Mayar stopped next to its thick trunk and looked up at that woodpecker that was insistently knocking with her beak on the upper part of the trunk. Something that made the fox say, „It’s so similar to that day.”

Samaya, feeling a strange impulse in her chest, approached the fox eventually. That time none of her companions tried to stop her. Thus, getting next to Mayar, the she-wolf also looked up, amazed by how fast the woodpecker was knocking on the wood. Yet, she looked at the fox when that one said, „You saw the eyes of this woodpecker that day. Her name is Rsheus and in our language it means…”

„…envy,” replied the she-wolf.

„Yes. What you probably don’t know is that this woodpecker is the one who drew the symbol சவ on the bark of a tree, from which the big Tarther was born later.”

„Did the evil Tarther born from a symbol? I thought that he was the product of Eris’s thoughts.”

„Actually, you aren’t that wrong now, for Big Tarther was born from an egg that hid inside of the black diamond. Yet, to get out of that egg, he needed help. That’s why, to be sure of her success and that Titans won’t intervene to defeat her, Eris sent her thoughts to this woodpecker. Then Rsheus chose a very old tree, through which was circulating both black and white energy. After that, listening to Eris’s command again, Rsheus knocked with her beak on that tree’s bark, a tree that today it’s only history, leaving a deep mark on its bark: the symbol சவ, which today has three meanings: hatred, death, and envy.”

„Yet, Mayar: how do you know all this? Did Ahi tell you this? Or maybe Inmar?”

The fox grinned again. „Now you are wrong, for they have no idea about the three meanings of the symbol சவ. At least this is what I suspect. The one who told me this legend was Parca.”

„She told you this to make sure that you will continue by her side. Once she realized that you weren’t controlled by her power anymore.”

„That’s right. Parca managed to control my mind only for a very short time. After that, it was only a game.”

„Then? Why did you decide to tell me this legend?” Then the she-wolf stared into the fox’s eyes.

She’s been surprised to see Mayar looking elsewhere. She even saw the fox cooking her nose. Even so, Mayar eventually said, „Because they told me to also tell you this legend.”

„They?” The she-wolf insisted to hear an answer.

Mayar, however, looking into the she-wolf’s eyes again, told her confidently this time, „It doesn’t really matter who has told me this. The important thing now is not to waste your time, looking for Baradar. Actually, he’s not that important in this war. Only your people. You should care more about them, for when Big Tarther awakes, the first thing he’ll do will be to turn the Rophion’s camp to ashes.”

She kept silent eventually, seeing Samaya turning into a human again. She even saw her rival smiling. Something that made Mayar confused. Samaya, however, at all bothered by the insistent glance of the fox, told her, „Now I understand why you are here: you are trying to make us give up on Baradar, just to make sure that you have the chance to get the second element that opens the Gate of Aeon. That’s why you show me the symbol சவ. Because of this you also told me the legend of Tarther and of the Woodpecker Rsheus. Yet, Mayar, you forgot one thing.”

„Did I forget something? What exactly?” The fox asked, pretending to be indifferent.

„That I’m not the same Samaya I have been 14 years ago. I’m not the same stupid and innocent girl that believed in stories. I know now what’s important in this life and what are my priorities. That’s why I tell you now, as I see that we won’t fight: just do what you should do. I’ll do the same, for… you won’t find the minikin only with trying to make me give up on him.” After that, Samaya turned her back on Mayar and headed toward her companions.

After a few steps, she stopped when Mayar said, „What if it wasn’t my intention to stop you?” That’s why Samaya turned and looked at the fox. She saw her cunningly and weirdly grinning. More than that, she found weird the words Mayar said after this, „I just… decided to see if this game was interesting or not. Something that has convinced me that I won’t be bored at all. That’s why I wish you luck, Samaya! You’ll need it, for… you’ll lose this game for sure. Otherwise, I don’t deserve the name I have, Mayar.” After that, the fox turned her back on the four and headed away from them in a slow step. Yet, while leaving, she sent one more thought to Samaya, „Take care of you, young she-wolf. Don’t allow others to hurt you, for this is a right I must have.”

„I tell you the same, Mayar. Take care of yourself, for… I’ll kill you first in the war that comes. Thus… I’ll get what’s mine for everything that you have done to me each time we’ve met.”

„I wish you luck then!” The fox said. After that, she laughed like a crazy person. A burst of laughter that was actually heard all over the forest.

***

Humming a weird melody, Mayar kept advancing through that dark thicket where she was at that moment. A melody that was a product of her devilish pleasure, for she really felt happy, just as it happened each time she met Samaya. Even though that time she didn’t win anything. Not even a small part of the she-wolf’s power she couldn’t obtain. Even so, she was happy that she could make Samaya confused, and feel that everything wasn’t everything pink as she always thought.

Suddenly she grinned and looked to her right when she heard Parca’s voice, „Don’t you think you’ve been mean?”

„Mean? Why? For telling her the truth?”

„No. For leaving when you should have explained her certain things.”

„To explain her? No, I think I’ve been clear in my thoughts while talking to her,” said Mayar, stopping. „Actually, your question makes me confused. Do you feel sympathy for them right now? For the Rophions I mean.”

It was Parca’s turn to laugh. Something that made Mayar stare at the Titanide. Parca, however, at all bothered by the young fox’s glance, said, „I don’t feel sympathy for the Rophions. Even so, it’s weird to hear this from you because I never thought you know such words.”

This made Mayar burst to laugh again. „Aaa, it’s because of this,” she said eventually. „That you never expected that I knew such big words. Something surprising actually, for… it seems that you have already forgotten who has raised me. More than that, talking in riddles, I gave my rival the chance to show what she could do.”

„A boring game in my opinion.”

„On the contrary: it will be funnier this time, for… unforeseeable things make our life spicier, remember?”

„Well, I must agree with you now. Only… I don’t understand why are you trying to protect your rival. At any cost actually.”

„I? Protecting the Rophions’Daughter?”

„Yes. Or… do I have visions now?”

„Absolutely, for… neither I protect Samaya nor I will do this later. As I said… I only made sure that our game would be funnier. That’s all.”

„Allow me to think differently.”

„Why so?”

„Because I have the feeling that you are lying to me.” After that, Parca suddenly stopped. Mayar did the same. Yet, what amazed the Titanide was to see that Mayar kept staring into her eyes and didn’t avoid her glance. Something strange in her opinion, for she was sure that Mayar was lying to her. Even so, she eventually said, „Just I’m sure that you aren’t listening to me anymore.”

Without losing her inner balance, but still unpleasantly surprised to see that Parca finally understood that she couldn’t control her anymore, Mayar said, „I had a good master, remember? You. That’s why I prefer to play. Let’s say that’s because I adore complicated things and… hot.”

„Hot? What exactly do you want to say right now?” Parca asked, confused.

Mayar only devilishly grinned. Then, turning her back to the Titanide, she said, „Don’t make things happen before the right time, Parca, if you don’t want to lose the fun. More than that, if you calmly wait for what is coming, you’ll see that it’s more interesting to wait and watch how others fall into the traps you have settled for them. Something that’s damn pleasant actually…”

Slowly stepping behind the girl, Parca thought, „What exactly is she planning? More than that, why do I have the feeling that those traps aren’t only for Dike’s daughter, but also for me?” Eventually, she made the voice of her mind keep silent when she saw Mayar looking at her. Thus, not to let the young fox understand that she was aware of her game, Parca burst into a peal of hysterical laughter, something that made even the trees around them frown, for… they also disliked the game of the two. That game that was planned against their princess.

***

„Are you sure that they said, „To catch a minikin into the trap?” Kherā asked a titmouse that was sitting on one of his branches. Then, seeing that the titmouse started to chirp again, Kherā cocked up his ears, those that suddenly appeared on its dark brown bark.

The titmouse, however, at all bothered by the old tree's mistrust, started to hop on the same branch he was sitting on just to approach Kherā’s ear more. Then, being right next to that blue ear, he started to talk in his language, barely heard, „I’m more than sure, Bluebeard, for I know those two very well. More than that, I also felt that mean joy the fox felt while talking about how she could deceive the young she-wolf.”

„Yet…,” Kherā suddenly mumbled, „how they want to deceive her?”

„I’m not sure. They were talking about a certain woodpecker Rsheus and a devilish bird named Tarther. Actually, I think the trees also know about this. Am I right, Graybark?” The titmouse asked the tree that was to Kherā’s left.

The gray tree, however, probably as old as Adam, didn’t answer right away. He only scratched his head with his long fingers-branches. Then, thoughtful, he also scratched his beard and eventually said, „I think that Ettippā (pipe) is right, Kherā. I have also heard some rumors lately. Yet, I thought that they aren’t more than rumors. That’s why I didn’t pay too much attention to this. However, if Ettippā says that he is sure about what he says, we must believe him.” Then, his thick voice was heard farther and farther away as though he was trying to let all those trees from around them know what they were talking about.

Then, while the Graybark’s words were floating on the wind’s wings to be heard by everybody around them, on the trees’trunks suddenly appeared ears at first, having different colors and shades, then eyes that had the same color as the ears. Later, as though they turned to face the place where the elders of their forest were talking to the titmouse Ettippā, the trees changed the place of the ears and eyes, and suddenly they all became quiet and very attentive.

Kherā, however, without paying too much attention to the other trees, sighed. Then, thoughtful, he asked, „Yet… what else the other trees are whispering to you lately, Graybark? Do you know something else than what I know? To be honest, I can’t logically think at this moment and I don’t really understand why this happens to me.”

The titmouse answered Kherā instead of Graybark, „It’s because of the Titanide of Fate and of that fox that passed by here not long ago. That’s why you can’t normally think now. It happens to the other creatures too. They also feel confused and…”

„Is it so?!” Kherā interrupted the titmouse’s speech, frowning. „Oh, it seems that you are right, Ettippā. Something that I actually hate… not being able to normally think. Even so, I think we should get involved in their plan, just to impede them to deceive our young princess.”

„We can try this. Yet, Kherā, how to do that eventually?” Graybark asked, extremely confused. Then, when he finally noticed the eyes of the other trees focused on them, he also frowned. „It seems that everybody knows about this already,” he mumbled eventually.

„We didn’t try to hide this from anyone,” replied Kherā confidently. „Actually, it’s better this way, that the other trees also heard what we were talking about. That’s why, listen to me everybody: send a word to the other trees about our plan and tell them to be careful and guard the surroundings. Especially the trees that are in the Glade of Shadows or around it. Tell them that if they see Baradar passing by there, to tell him that he is in great danger. That’s why he should come here because we can protect him here. More than that, tell the minikin that who tries to hurt him is against the entire forest, for we aren’t cowards and we are more than capable to protect what’s ours.”

Graybark sighed eventually. That’s why Kherā looked at him, confused. Thus, feeling that Kherā was looking at him, Graybark said, „What happens now makes me think about that promise, Kherā. About that day when we promised to never intervene in humans and Magos’business. Yet, what we decided now is against that promise.”

Hearing him talking like this, Kherā frowned again. Yet, agreeing with what Graybark said, he also said, „Maybe you are right, Graybark, but… how can we stay aside when the scentful flowers are about to die? How can we stay calm when we are aware that others will rip the soft moss off our roots? How can we do nothing when others try to chase our singers from our crowns? All this is only because they have mean thoughts about this planet. More than that, I don’t think that we shouldn’t get involved in this when we know that the minikin is in danger, for… if he falls, Graybark, then the entire Rophion Forest will fall, just like Mortor Forest has fallen. That’s why I tell you this: I don’t know what you’ll do, but I won’t allow others to burn my house to the ground. I better die than allow this to happen,” Kherā shouted eventually.

Somehow amazed by Kherā’s aggressive reaction, Graybark scratched his head again. Then he murmured, „Maybe you are right. I didn’t think about this, for… if to carefully think about what you said… it’s definitely right that we can’t allow others to burn our house as it has happened to Mortor Forest.” Then, hearing Graybark’s words, the other trees mechanically nodded yes, for they agreed with what Graybark and Bluebeard said.

Thus, seeing that their brothers didn’t hesitate and were by their side, Kherā confidently said, „Then… it’s a fact! Since today we’ll wide-open our eyes and ears just not to allow evil to act up. That’s why, if they want to hurt someone in this forest, they should pass by us first, something I actually doubt that’s possible. More than that, be careful and watch what that damn Rsheus is doing, for… even though I have known her since long ago, I have never known that she is who has carved that weird symbol on the tree’s trunk. Thus, if she does something weird again, let me know! I will be the one to teach her that in our forest she can’t hurt anyone,” Kherā hissed the last part through his teeth. Then, loudly growling from his wooden throat, he let everybody know that Rophion Forest was preparing for war and that everybody who was living there should be attentive and defend his territory if necessary.

***

Hearing Kherā’s growl from far away, Baradar cocked his ears. Then, spotting that the flowers, the trees, the herbs, the birds, and the rest of the creatures stopped in place and carefully listening to the echo of the old tree’s growl, the minikin looked at Shiver Sun and asked, „Is that Bluebeard?”

„It seems so!” The log answered in half a voice when the echo of Kherā’s voice wasn’t heard anymore. „It also seems to me that the old tree is upset now. That’s why I wonder what has made him so furious that he has gotten to growl his pain?”

„I also wonder this,” the minikin murmured, confused. „Something strange in fact, for… nature seems so quiet. Don’t you also think so?”

„Actually, nature seems strange to me today,” Shiver Sun suddenly said, looking around. Thus, he could see eyes on the trees’trunks, carefully looking at them while they were passing by those trees. „I have also the feeling that they are lurking on us.”

„Are they lurking on us? Why, Shiver Sun?”

„I don’t know this. Yet, I think they are hiding something from us, too.”

„Ei, Shiver Sun, I think that’s too much already. How can the forest hide something from us? No, I don’t think so. Eventually… I’m the Spirit of the Woods and…”

Suddenly, Shiver Sun burst to laugh. That’s why the minikin stared at him, confused. Something that made the log eventually say, „You are definitely naive, minikin,” when he could finally control the savage horse named Laughter that was galloping through his wooden chest. „More than that, It seems to me that not even after seven thousand years you couldn’t get to know well the trees you are guarding. At the same time, you aren’t yet able to make the difference between their kindness and cunningness, for these old trees are definitely cunning when they want this. Trust me, I know what I say, for… I have been a tree once and I know well what the trees think. More than that, I know all the tricks they can do when they want to do something secretly.”

It was Baradar’s turn to laugh. Then, seeing the confusion in the log’s eyes, the minikin said, „I was thinking about your words. The trees are cunning? I think you are exaggerating now.”

„Yet, it’s as I said, minikin. Trust me: I know what I say. At the same time, I know how the tickles on my bark feel when their eyes are watching us. This is how I feel that they are hiding something from us.”

„Well, I don’t know about those tickles, but I definitely know that you are old, Shiver Sun. Damn old actually. That’s why you are seeing cunningness all around. I, however, trust my trees. I know them well. Yes, maybe they are tricky sometimes, but they know to respect and protect these places. At the same time, they respect me. That’s why if something evil was felt around… planned by them or by someone else… or maybe a danger lurking on us, Bluebeard would have sent us a message already. That’s why I consider that you are rushing while guessing.”

„Of course not,” replied Shiver Sun confidently and unhappy at the same time. „Actually, I don’t really like Bluebeard. He thinks that he’s old and wise when he’s only an acorn while I lived for millennia already.”

„This is jealousy already,” the minikin murmured. Then, grabbing one of the branches that served as hands for the log, he jumped on the other one and sat down on Shiver Sun’s right shoulder eventually to see better the surroundings.

This movement didn’t calm the log as it happened before. On the contrary, Shiver Sun felt more anxious than before. That’s why he closed his eyes eventually, trying to chase the anxiety from his chest away. He even shook his head at one moment. Then, feeling that he was calmer, he said, „If you say that’s jealousy what I feel, let it be, minikin. Yet, I still feel that this forest hides something from us. What exactly? I don’t know. Yet.”

This made Baradar laugh with all his heart, for the confusion from the log’s soul was somehow childish. Then, to make the log feel better, he said, „Well, let it be as you say! If you say that this forest hides something from us, then let it hide. Yet, while you find out about what’s wrong with this forest, let's go east, to see if it’s quiet there.”

„Actually, you read my mind, minikin. I was also thinking to go there, for…” The voice of the log rolled in the distance while he was slowly talking and so sweet at the same time.

Behind them, nature retook its natural course, with those birds chirping through the branches, with the flowers sending their scent around, with the tiny creatures flying above the flowers or through the air, while other insects were hoping through the herbs. Only up, through the branches of a blackened tree, almost entirely covered by spider webs, many black and pilose legs were seen, slowly moving on that web: it was Yĕn, Visam’s child. Yet, unlike her mother, who was spending her life in the Underworld, Yĕn was living in Rophion Forest, in her kingdom, which she built up on a tree that fell prey to evil. Her home, which was terrifying to look at, was still unseen by many creatures, for… Yĕn got to be considered the child of the woods. That’s why nobody was fearing her.

They should have feared her, for Yĕn was there not only to cover that tree with weird spider webs and venom. She was there on purpose, for… not for nothing she was lurking in that forest for centuries, from her home hidden by leaves. A home that she eventually left behind her, slowly moving behind Shiver Sun and Baradar, following them.