Empty Nymph Trees

Hazel

My hands shook as I walked the familiar path back to my tree. The cold wind whipped against me, and I was certain it was never this painful before. It reached inside me, chilling down to my bones. The image of the river nymph I left lying dead in the forest, and the awfulness of that act dug out my insides until I was hollow. There was nothing else I could do, I repeated to myself as I moved my listless feet across the forest floor.

I had no friends, no loved ones, not even a community to reach out to in a time of crisis. My magic was fading fast and the strength to bring her back to her home was beyond a fantasy at this point. I thought of the gorgeous wolf who stole my heart the moment our eyes met, would he be waiting for me? For all I knew I imagined him and his golden eyes, there was nothing in my life that good.

I couldn't tell if Gera was still beside me, the link that always existed between us seemed tenuous. Instead of knowing her every feeling as clearly as if it were my own, there was emptiness, loneliness deeper than I could imagine. That was until I arrived at my tree.

The warm feeling of home evaporated from the place, it was as cold as everything else around me. I gasped at the pain of it, holding my chest like the pressure might keep me whole. I laid my hand against the rough bark, already knowing what was about to happen, but hoping desperately I was wrong.

Nothing happened, absolutely nothing, no door appeared, no magic swelled, no home opened for me. Was there even still a hollow in the tree or had the wood filled in the space in my absence? Were the few worthless treasures I owned locked away from me forever?

I thought this tree was tethered to my life, the pain inside me assured me I still lived, and yet our connection was severed. I realized with a dull thud of my heart that my life was never the source of our connection, it was my magic, my wings. They were gone, stolen from me.

I walked back the way I came. If I was going to die on the forest floor I wouldn’t let it be amongst the nymph trees. If they found me lying on the ground dead, it would only encourage everything they thought of me these years. Everything they blamed me for would seem like prudence and not excessive and prolonged cruelty.

I wanted to cry at the thought, but there was nothing left of me. I was nothing without my magic, even my tears welled from the place within me where it rested. I returned to the spot where the river nymph died. I was shocked to see her beautiful body had turned to nothing more than water. The spot where she took her last breath was a muddy puddle.

I laid down beside what remained of her, wondering what I would become in death. I never did see my parent’s bodies after their passing. Silent tears finally slipped from my cheeks as Gera laid her body against mine once again, sharing the slightest spark of her magic.

She was a true companion, even without the magical link between us, she would not abandon me in the end. I lifted my hand and stroked my fingers against the soft feathers of her wings. She should have been enough for me. It was the last thought I had before I slipped into oblivion.

Garreth

My wolf and I paced the cursed ground the rogue spilled our blood into seven years earlier. Although I didn’t know it then, I waited for her salvation, just like I did now. I prayed silently that history would not repeat itself, leaving me here alone. The ethereal beauty that was my mate suggested this meeting place, I said the words out loud, trying to convince myself and my wolf of their legitimacy.

I could still feel her heated lips on mine, the phantom of her touch haunted me. When she pushed her soft hands against my chest, breaking the spell between us, it took every ounce of the self control I possessed to let her go. My wolf wanted to hunt her down and mark her in the middle of the town square for everyone to see she belonged to us. I had better sense than him, but I could not say the same for my desires. I couldn’t stop myself from imagining exactly what he described.

She assured me she would come to this place tonight and there was something so pure and believable about her, I let her go. Some crazy part of me, more insane than the creeping madness, told me to trust her, and allow her to come back to me. I should have known how stupid that was, hadn't these pain-filled years taught me anything?

I should have given in to my wolf, not quite the spectacle he envisioned of marking her on the sidewalk. I should have ignored every single person around us, thrown her over my shoulder, and taken her back to the packhouse. I gave myself too much credit, I should have had her in the alley. I felt myself slipping further from my rational self, each thought escalated from the previous one.

She wanted me, desired me enough to allow me to set upon her without even knowing my name. That simple fact should have been enough. I wanted her with an intensity that set my blood on fire, it turned my wolf more beast than magic. I needed to feel her around my cock, to taste her sweet arousal on my tongue, sink my fangs into the tender skin of her neck mixing our blood permanently. Instead, I let her walk away from me again.

Now I stood in the place we were supposed to meet. Hours passed and she didn't come as she promised. I roared impotently, the rage and pain threatening to eat the rest of my sanity away. The trees around me shook, the turning autumn leaves falling to the ground. My fists flew into a nearby tree of their own accord, trying to beat away the suffering within me.

I heard something inside gasp in fear, I stopped the beating as the shock lanced me. My fist still hung in the air, blood dripping from my open knuckles. I sniffed, the scent was so similar to the forest I hadn’t picked it out before, but now I was certain it was something separate. It was similar to Hazel but decidedly less delicious. I lifted my bloody fist to the tree and knocked.

A few minutes passed, I could hear nervous breath and a frantically beating heart. I knocked again, not sure what to expect to come out of the middle of a tree. To my astonishment, a door opened in the bark of the tree and a timid little nymph popped her golden head out. "Can, can I help you?" The girl asked, not meeting my eyes. Her look was so similar to Hazel's, long and thin frame, tumbling blonde hair, and green eyes, but she was markedly plain by comparison.

“Do you know Hazel?” I demanded. The pain and rage were fading into the back of my mind, but I still wasn’t in control of myself enough to think better than scaring her.

“Uhm, no. I mean, yes…” She stuttered, twirling her long fingers through her hair. Her pinkish gold wings twitched nervously behind her.

“Which is it?” I roared as my fist connected with the tree, shaking the contents of her shelves.

“I don’t know her personally.” She squeaked. “I’m not allowed to talk to her, none of us are. Her tree is that way.” She pointed to the east with a slender shaking finger.

I wanted to ask her what she meant, but couldn’t. “Which one is it?” My wolf interrupted, speaking through my mouth, my eyes flashing gold.

“It’s the only tree in this whole part of the forest that has empty trees beside it. Smell them, you’ll be able to tell.” She hurried to close the door on me. I wasn’t sure which scared her worse, the angry alpha wolf at her door, or the fact that I’d brought up Hazel. My mate was quite the mystery.

I stalked the forest looking for her, sniffing the air and peering through the darkness. I felt better than I would have expected while still being separated from her. I wasn't crazy, not completely anyway, and that knowledge freed me. I did smell her in this forest all those times I'd searched for her. There was a particular tree I always thought smelled like her and I was certain it was hers. I went to the spot and stilled as I realized there were not two 'empty trees' as the nymph had said but three. Something terrible happened to my mate.

I moved as fast as my human feet would carry me, afraid to shift and yield control to my wolf, even accounting for his heightened speed and senses. My heart beat more frantically than when I stood waiting for her. The only difference was now I had a purpose, and that drive kept the reckless rage at bay. My heart sped in my chest as the scent of her invaded my senses. I allowed my wolf speed to slip into my stride. I stopped short when I came upon my love crumpled on the ground in agony.

I couldn't feel her pain as clearly as if she had a wolf or if we were already fully bonded, but now that I was close to her I felt the agony and the weakness welling within her. An owl laid on top of her and looked me over with bright yellow judging eyes. The intelligence on the creature's face was out of place even for a familiar. A chill ran through me as suspicion tugged at the corner of my mind. I didn't care to unravel her secrets now, my mate needed me.

I went to my little nymph and swiftly scooped her into my arms. Her breaths came short and her eyes barely fluttered at the movement. My heart clenched in my chest as I realized she was next to death. I had no clue how this came to be, she had no injuries that I could see. Trepidatious relief filled me as the contact between us seemed to strengthen her. I would mate her this very night if our connection would help return her strength.

She sighed softly in my arms, the sound connected with my cock and made me desperate to take her. I pushed the urge away. If I had to pretend or force myself to be a better man for her, that was exactly what I would do. I would only mate her tonight if it would strengthen her, only to keep her safe. As much as I wanted this, as much as I needed it, I could not do it for myself. One hair on her head was worth more than the entirety of the angry impulsive man I had become.

I carried her through the woods, feeling her heartbeat steadying and her breath smoothing. When I found her I was sure she passed out, but now the even cadence sounded closer to sleep. The owl flew above us and as much as the bird creeped me out I said nothing, I couldn't concern myself with it now.