Chapter 1
An'Glecar was old; very, very old. Fenn was very, very old too. As old as the most aged tree, but not quite as old as the undulating landscape from which the forest rose. Fenn's black and white badgery face held years of wisdom and kindness, whilst bushy white eyebrows concealed the occasional glare.
Fenn had many friends around An'Glecar, he knew practically every resident, this was his duty as the the forest caretaker. His days were full of forest tours, checking on residents, ensuring his friends were safe and the trees were strong. Fenn was on his way home from one of these tours when he heard a small voice calling for help.
“Help! Can anyone hear me? Please.! The strangled voice dropped off.
“I'm coming!” Fenn replied as he raced towards the silent voice. He stopped to listen , another week plea directed him to an area not too far away. “I'm here. Where are you?”
“Over here.” The week voice was coupled with a tiny wing sticking out from behind a fallen branch
Fenn carefully made his way over. “Hello! I'm Fenn. What happened?”
“I took shelter in this burrow, when I woke in the morning a branch had fallen across the entrance, trapping me inside.” Fenn could barely see the trapped bird, but its voice was high, musical and terrified.
“Try not to panic. The branch doesn't seem to be impeded in any way, so we should be able to get you out without too much trouble.” Fenn declared after inspecting the obstruction. The badger sat back on his haunches. “Hmm, this is going to be a two paw attack. Stand back a bit, in case anything should shift and fall.” The little bird backed up, ducking his head under his wing.
“Okay. I'm ready.” He alerted in a nervous quiver.
Fenn hooked his paws around the branch, one above and one below. Slowly he pulled, cautious not to move too quickly and risk dislodging debris. Moss clumps and a few small twigs tumbled to the ground causing the bird to shrink back in the burrow. The winding ivy-like plant, which had probably brought the branch down, made extrication of the branch more difficult. Though Fenn is strong, the branch was heavier than he anticipated and its constant snagging ensured more force was required. “The branch won’t move much more. Are you able to get out little one?” Fenn addressed the bird.
The bird unwrapped itself, tentatively stepping up to the entrance. Before Fenn could blink the bird was out. “Oh thank you!” He said gratefully from a branch somewhere about Fenn’s head.
Inside the burrow had been dark, too dark to see any details of the bird, particularly with the branch blocking most of the hole entrance. Now out in the open, the only thing that enabled Fenn to lock onto the bird, was the flitting of its wings. Even then, this just gave the impression of a slight breeze through quavering leaves, for the little birds plumage had the colour and form of spring foliage. It had characteristics not unlike a little owl; big eyes hooked beak and of a rounded shape. Little owls, are well, little, but the escapee was tiny, not much different in size to that of a mouse. He was also of a species Fenn had never seen before.
Still flicking its wings the bird looked intently at Fenn. “Thank you. I don't know what I'd have done if you hadn't found me.” The minuscule bird shuddered. “My name is Pix.” He paused, looking around. “Where am I?”
“This my friend, is An'Glecar. Our humble corner of Alfora, though some of the fungi are far from humble.” Fenn plonked down, intrigued by the little bird. “I haven't seen you around before, are you one of this years fledglings, or just very good at hiding?” His bushy brows furrowed in concentrated thought.
“Not this years, no, I got blown around by a storm ending up completely off course.” A little panic edged its way into Pix's voice. “I have no clue where I am.” Pix jerked his head around in the characteristic bird fashion, stressed and fearful.
Fenn thought quickly, he hated to see any of An'Glecar's residents upset, old or new. “Then let me show you the wonders of An'Glecar. It's full of marvelous sights and the residents have stories to tell that you wouldn't believe in your wildest dreams.” Fenn was determined to make this little bird feel at home in the great expanse of An'Glecar. The best way to do that was to show Pix the sights and help him make more friends. Who better to show him than Fenn himself.
“Really!” Pix flew down landing on a branch just above Fenn's head, bouncing slightly after alighting. “You'd really help me?” Fenn nodded. “I can't thank you enough. Could you, er, help me find some food too?”
“It would be my pleasure little friend.” With that Pix once more left his perch, this time landing on Fenn's head. Fenn looked up and grinned. He loved making friends. “We'll find some supper and then it's time to rest. You've had an exhausting few days.” The pair set off in sleepy silence, whilst Fenn searched for some food, Pix nestled into his new friends fur.
The sun was getting lower as the day drew to a close. After a modest supper of nuts and berries, the pair went back to Fenn's home among the tree roots. Fenn curled up in the cosiest part of his burrow, Pix still nestled atop his head.
Fenn woke to a loud chirp and the feeling of something shivering on his head, “Pix? What's wrong?”
“I. I, forgot where I was. I'm not used to travelling without my family. It's so dark down here. I'm not used to not seeing the trees when I wake up.”
“Oh dear.” Fenn rose and after a stretch and a yawn, made his way to the entrance, blinking as upon reaching the passage end he blinked at the brightness of the morning sun. “I must admit, this is rather early for me, but how how does that feel?” Fenn stretched again, enjoying the warmth of the morning sun.
“Wonderful! Darkness might be nice for sleeping, but nothing beats sunshine on your feathers after the cool night air.”
“Sometimes though, I wish it wasn't quite so bright.” Fenn blinked at the glare. “Right! Breakfast. Any preference; nuts, seeds, fruit?An'Glecar has some delectable delights on offer.”
“How about insects?”
Fenn was a little taken aback by this. He didn't know why, many of the birds within An'Glecar ate insects, but he just couldn't picture Pix hunting them. Perhaps it was the fact that much of the forest's insect life would be bigger than Pix.
Fenn thought hard, mentally scrolling through all the An'Glecarian species he'd encountered. Definitely not Theobael's, they were more likely to eat Pix. Crilldart's weren't much better, though smaller than Pix, their teeth could cut through anything. Hopelle's were less dangerous, but impossible to catch, especially after just waking up. Fenn stifled a yawn. The list went on, An'Glecar's insect diversity was sky high, but none of them really seemed suitable breakfasts. There must be one he'd overlooked. In the trees? No. On flowers? No. Around the fungi? No. On the ground? No. In the soil? Oh! Yes, there were definitely some underground species he hadn't considered. One in particular sprang to mind. The Welm, small and succulent, perfect for breakfast. Now where best to source them? Best thing to do was use those Forest Feelings that came with being its steward. Taking a breath he started walking, instinct taking over.
Impulsively he wound between trees and rocks, over logs straight through to a wonderfully lit grassy glade. Fenn began sniffing around, stopping every so often to sniff a little more deeply. Eventually, Fenn gave a triumphant “Ah ha!” and using is long claws, pulled the turf away. Beneath lay a host of tiny worm like creatures. Seeing them Pix dropped down from Fenn's head and began feasting, ravenously picking out the most appetising Welm's.
Whilst Pix dined, Fenn went on the hunt for something to satisfy his now grumbling stomach. After a few moments he once again removed some turf and enjoyed the buffet of some somewhat larger Welm species. In no time both had been satisfied, Pix flew back to his perch on Fenn's head.
“Phew, I need a nap now.”
“But you’ve just woken up.” Pix chortled.
Fenn grinned, it was nice to see his new friend happy at last. With a quick flick of his paw, Fenn covered the open patch of soil back up. Time for adventure. Where would be a good place to take Pix? He watched Pix bounce towards a nearby sapling only to flap into its airy branches. Pix looked so at home among the slender stems. That’s’ it! Fenn had the perfect place to take Pix and it wasn’t too far away either; just a nice gentle outing for his first full day in An’Glecar. And besides, Fenn himself hadn’t been to that area in a while. He continued to watch Pix explore the young tree, still in wonder as to where the little bird came from. After a few moments Pix finished exploring, turning to Fenn.
“So, er, any plans?”
Fenn came back to reality. “Yes, there’s a little place I think you’d love and it’s not too far away either. I used to visit it more often, but recent flooding has meant I couldn’t reach it. It’s been dry enough that it should be fine now though.” Whilst Fenn had been talking, Pix had flown to his head and they had set off to this mystery place.
Atop Fenn’s head, Pix had the perfect vantage to observe the forest. It was beautiful. Trees he had never seen, mosses of hues beyond the rainbow and was that a giant mushroom? He let out a peep of surprise at this colossal fungi. Fleaf’s, of which Pix was one, are a flock species, they were always together. Alone, Pix felt vulnerable and all these new sights could get a little scary. This was home now though, time to be brave, he had Fenn after all.
Fenn could feel the excitement emanating from Pix, he had to admit, he was quite looking forward to this trip too. A dear friend lived at today’s destination. As one of the oldest members of An’Glecar, her knowledge and wisdom were limitless, though she had her moments of forgetfulness. Then again, so did he.
To get to the location took the pair down a steep hill. To make this decent less offensive, Fenn took a zig zagged route, an effective method, but time consuming. On the plus side it was enjoyable to see more of the forest and its residents.
“Whoo!” A loud hoot above the duo’s heads caused a united jump. With a woosh of wings that closely resembled a tornado, a giant bird swooped to the ground. “Good morning, Fenn, it is good to see you.” At this sudden appearance though, Pix had hidden behind Fenn’s left ear. “And who is this? A new friend?” Pix had risked a peak, quickly retreating now spotted. The bird spoke to the pair with perfect pronunciation, not a particularly deep voice, but easy to understand and listen to. Still a little nervous, this birds voice was somehow comforting to Pix.
“Rube! It’s so good to see too you, this here is Pix.” Fenn sat down, an old friend deserved a long talk. “Apologies I haven’t been to see you much, you know how it is. How have you been?” He said sincerely. Rube was a huge owl like creature, at least two of Fenn’s lengths tall, dark mahogany feathers covered all but his feet. These feathers were dappled with hues of brown and reds, giving the illusion Rube was cloaked in the bark of a most impressive tree. Only the feathers which comprised his facial disk bore a different colour. These were tinged in olive green, giving the impression of a tree trunk with a mossy patch.
“Not at all Fenn. I’ve observed your comings and goings as I have flown over. You have most certainly been busy. I am most pleased that you brought yourself and Pix here for a visit. Things have been a little tough here due to the flooding, but it is receding now. Things are looking up. Helfe is restless though, she would benefit from a visit.”
“Funny you should say that, Rube. Helfe was who I was going to take Pix to see.”
“Perfect! She’ll be delighted to see you again and meet your new friend. I must be going though, troubles to solve.”
“Take care Rube, I will endeavour to make it back sooner.”
“Troubles to solve?” Pix queried
“Rube is a sort of investigator. Anything more serious that I cannot solve by talking it through, or any more serious mysteries and Rube does the investigating. Why just last season an entire family of Eminskey’s vanished. It turned out that they’d gone to visit family in one of the outlying fields, but that is the sort of conundrum Rube would solve.
“I quite liked him.” Pix relaxed on his fluffy perch as the pair continued to their destination.
They soon came to a stream. It ran in a shallow dip, snaking between low banks, heavy rain had meant this area had flooded. Trees were ringed with remnants of floodwater, the occasional green of algae glinted off of bark. The woodland floor was still squishy from waterlogged moss, making walking challenging. Fenn ploughed his way through, further on the land rose on a shallow incline, it would be drier there and easier to walk.
It was hard going, but they soon began climbing out of the soggiest part of the woodland, slowly the ground became drier.
“Not much further. You're going to love Helfe.” Puffed Fenn.
“What's she like?” Pix asked, his voice full of wonder, but not so full that a little trepidation couldn't sneak in.
After a few minutes walk, Pix suddenly sat up. “What’s Heffe, er Helfe like? What does she look like?” He had clearly been dwelling on this for some time.
“Oh, Helfe is beautiful; tall, slender proportions, lengths of gold around her crown. She is the forest matriarch; I don’t know what we’d do without her. She watches over all of the young, helping them find what they need.”
“She sounds amazing. Do you think she’ll like me?” Pix asked in nervous awe.
“I’m sure of it; Helfe loves every member of the forest, whether born here or not.”
A few moments later, Fenn stopped, looking up with a wide grin. “Here we are.” Carefully Fenn pressed his front paws into the still soft earth, letting his paws dig in a little way. Observing this, Pix fluttered down landing a few paws from Fenn, pushing his feet down in anticipation.
Initially nothing. Not even a little tingle. Slowly though, Pix noticed the damp earth had become warmer. Not hot, just a pleasant warm glow, the sort felt when receiving a hug. Then a voice.
“Hello little one. I don't recall your energy. Are you new to Fenn's domain?” It was a calming female voice, the sort you knew understood and sympathised with your worries, no matter how trivial others might think them.
Surprised, Pix let out a peep. How did he reply to this disembodied voice?
“Just think your answer, dear. I'll hear you.”
“Oh! I..I got blown here by a strong wind. Fenn rescued me from a hole I got trapped in. Are... Are you Helfe?” Pix was still confused by this method of conversing, had she heard him? Where even was she? All Pix could see were trees.
“I am dear and I'm right in front of you.”
Pix gazed around expectantly. Still just trees, nothing and no-one matching Fenn's description. Pix was expecting to see, come to think of it, Fenn had never explicitly said what species Helfe was. For all Pix knew she could be the towering tree several paws ahead of them.
“That's correct little one.”
“What is correct?”
“That I am the tree before you.”
Pix blinked, his lower jaw had dropped giving him the look of a young bird waiting to be fed. Helfe was a tree! He would never have guessed. A tree. Pix had imagined her as every species he knew. Which at his young age, was not too many. Fenn was correct though, she was beautiful. Pix loved trees, most birds did, but Helfe exuded a very different presence to other trees.
She was calming. Pix felt totally at ease around her, as though nothing untoward would happen. Judging by the scars in her bark, this was not always the case, though Pix was not scared.
“Tales best saved for another day little one.”
He'd forgotten Helfe could hear his thoughts and was rather glad Fenn couldn't do the same, not he his. That would get rather distracting and confusing. It did make him wonder whether she could hear everything he and Fenn thought. Perhaps he should be more careful with stray musings.
“Fenn has learnt to shield his most private thoughts. Though he has a tendency to overthink things, so sometimes there is an advantage to me knowing the sort of Bobbit holes he is lost in.”
“Could I learn too? I'd like to keep some mystery about myself.”
Helfe laughed a high floaty laugh. “Very little is private to me for all but Fenn. If you ever come back for a visit, I'll teach you how to shield any thoughts you wish to keep secret. To start with practice keeping your thoughts on one track and not getting distracted. Distractions open doors to the rest of the mind.”
Pix adopted the most determined face he could. “I will.”
