EVERDEEN Chapter Two

Demetri - Stay back. Tribecca stay behind me .  

Tribecca - M-maybe we should just leave. There's no one here.

Demetri - Exactly.There's no one here, and there should be.

An unknown voice arose from somewhere in the building, "Put away your sword, I do not know what befell the people of this village, but there is no danger here. I intend you no harm."

That voice! It couldn't be, could it? 

Demetri scans the room for the source of the voice, but there is no one there.

Demetri - You intend me no harm? Our last encounter would suggest otherwise.

She appeared in a flash of light. 

The young lady spoke sternly, "I know that."

Demetri - Lyira. You look... like you.

Lyira - Yes, I am myself again. 

Demetri - No! That light, you're still using their magick.

Lyira - Not their magick, my own.

Demetri - You're human, you don't have your own magick.

Lyira - I do now, yes it's because of what they did to me, but it is still my own. Demetri, you were a great protector to me. It was not your fault that phaeries captured me.

Lyira - And I swear to you that I am no longer under their influence. Look at my face, my eyes. You already said it, I look like me again. Because I am me again.

Lyira was a charge as Tribecca is now. A young human woman of twenty she was a chosen of the phaeries who would often take human females for forced labor, experimentation, and breeding. Lyira was unfortunate enough to be selected for all three. Alas, even under Demetri's protection, she was captured and the magicks experimented on her were different than those done on other women. What they did changed her, gave her her own power for magick, and made her think like one of them. 

Tribecca - Why is that fairy with you?

Lyira - My sprite? It is a protector as well in a way.

Lyira - It's magick is what prevents me from falling back under the influence of the phaeries. 

EVERDEEN Chapter One

 PeddleGrove Forest 

Nymph: DEMETRI EVERDEEN.

Demetri :Peddle, normally it is I who seeks you out, for knowledge, advise or permission to take the food of your forest. But this time you have requested my presence?

Nymph: I have.

Demetri: Why?

Nymph: Walk with me and I will tell you.

Demetri: Alright.

Nymph: I am in need of your services.  

Demetri I am a Protector, a guard , surely YOU The Great Nymph of PeddleGrove Forest do not need protection.

Nymph: No it is not for myself, I will take you to the girl I wish you to protect. She is in the clearing at the center of my forest.

Demetri: Alright then, tell me of this girl? 

Nymph: She is a faerie. 

Demetri: A phaerie? You expect my to protect a phaerie? How can I protect someone I can not trust?

Nymph: Faerie not phaerie. She may be a little mischievous at times but she is hardly evil or untrustworthy as a phaerie would be.

Demetri: I still don't like it.

Nymph: That will change, you will understand soon enough. You are to call the girl Tribecca, Tribecca Cloak. This is not her name, you shall call her this for her protection.

Demetri: What then is her real name?

Nymph: That is for her to tell you if she so chooses. 

Demetri: Very well.

Nymph: Tribecca, I have brought someone to meet you. You can trust him.

Demetri:  I am Demetri Everdeen, your protector. 

He smiled slightly as she raised her head to look at him, *I need her to feel safe with me , comfortable with my presence*. 

Demetri: Can you tell me whats going on, why you need my protection? Perhaps your real name if you wish?

Tribecca: My powers, they want them.

Demetri: Who? 

Tribecca: Phaeries, humans,the real question is... who doesn't?

Demetri: But all Fae have powers, why do they want your's?

Tribecca: I can't say.

Demetri: Tribecca, I can not protect you if you don't trust me.

Tribecca: It isn't that I don't trust you, I... I just can't.

Nymph: You two may camp in the clearing tonight, come morning I will point you in the direction of the nearest village. It should be safe there for a time.

Tribecca: My powers are so weak... concentrate Esmeralda, concentrate. I need to regain some of my power.

The orbs surrounded her, rising her into the air and slowly restoring more of her true full power.

Tribecca: There, such power, I can not allow it to fall into the wrong hands.

Nymph: Thank you dear tree.

Nymph: The nearest village is on the east edge of the forest, it is only a few hours walk. 

Tribecca: Why are we going to the tavern?

Demetri Because we're going to the tavern, a tavern is a good place to hide out in a village like this, and if you listen you can learn a lot.

Tribecca: You mean gossip, you want to listen to tap room gossip?

Tribecca: There, there's no one here.

Demetri: That's odd, I didn't see anyone in the rest of the village either, did you?

Tribecca: N-n-no

Demetri: Something's wrong...

Demetri: Stay back.