A dryad? I racked my brain for memories of dryads in the fantasy stories I had known in my previous world. From what I could remember, they were some sort of forest spirit.

  ‘Picea’ continued, “Now that I have introduced myself, I think it’s fair you return the favor. I’ve never seen such a curious elf before. You’re able to talk coherently before most can crawl, and that’s not to mention that you fly!”

  I couldn’t help but laugh at that, I guess I was an oddity even to a magical forest spirit.

  “My name is Kane. I live not too far away from here I think.” I said, giving the best introduction I could without giving away too much sensitive information.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, little Kane! Are you by chance lost?” Picea asked.

  I nodded my head, “I’m super lost. So, if there’s nothing else you need from me, I’ll be taking my leave.” I said, trying to quickly excuse myself.

  Picea was evidently not pleased by my words, and a frown developed on her pretty face. “Oh, how terrible! Well let me help you, sweet child. It is only fair that I repay your kindness.” she said with a pleading look.

  I narrowed my eyes at Picea suspiciously. They didn’t seem hostile at first glance, but they obviously ate people. I knew this from witnessing it first hand. However, if they were a spirit of the forest, I imagined they would at least know which direction I came from. Their offer to help was far too promising to let go.

  I sighed, “Thanks Picea, I would really appreciate it.” I said placatingly.

  The last thing I wanted to do was upset some enigmatic spirit. I was not confident in my abilities to defend myself against this strange fantasy creature. Picea beamed at me brightly when she heard this. She turned around with a bounce, causing her supple peaks to dance with her movements.

  I coughed as I looked away, the sight was too much for my young eyes to bear.

  “Now, it seems like you came from North of here. Judging by the disturbances in the forest, there was a portal opened up a short distance away.” Picea said as she walked through the forest

  “A portal?! I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m pretty sure the guys who kidnapped me were only walking for like ten minutes.” I replied, not sure what they were talking about.

  Picea frowned before they seemingly came to a realization. “You poor thing! I’m sorry to tell you, but we’re nearly four hundred miles from the nearest Elven settlement.” they said as if it was no big deal.

  My heart skipped a beat when I heard this though, “F-four hundred miles?! There’s no way it’s that far away.”

  Picea simply shook her head, “It’s the truth, your kinfolk must have brought you here through that portal. It’s a shame, the portal has long since closed. You’ll need to find another way home.”

  My eyes widened in shock when I heard this. “Where the f*ck am I?” I wondered aloud, looking around the forest with a lost expression.

  Picea smiled at me gently, “Do not worry little one, for you are within my domain and protection. You are standing in the great forest of Elarion.”

  “Elarion? I guess that’s supposed to mean something to me.” I said, not amused.

  Picea said nothing though, and she smirked while reaching out a hand to her side. This action caused a torrent of vines to erupt from around her, and I watched as these vines lifted her up high into the air. The sheer quantity of these vines made me gulp, for Rolim’s magical powers paled in comparison to this strange dryad.

  I said nothing as I followed Picea up into the air, my new sword hovering behind me and ready to move if I sensed any shenanigans. Fortunately, Picea did not seem to harbor any ill intent towards me.

  “Elarion is the name of this region—Legends say that the sixth saint was buried here. If they are to be believed, they were an elf of such astounding magical power that just their corpse provided enough nourishment for this magical forest to form around them.” she explained.

  Her explanation did not do much to alleviate my confusion, but I gave them my full attention. These were all things that I had never heard of.

  Picea continued, “I was born nearly a millennium in the past, formed from the accumulated spiritual energy that had gathered here for centuries. This forest has been my home my entire life.”

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  I was growing confused the longer this went on. They seemed to be a creature that was much higher than me in the pecking order, so why were they being so friendly with me? Maybe it was because of the ‘gift’ I had given them.

  “So, Miss Dryad, since you’re so strong—Can you just open up another portal for me?” I asked, making my best puppy-dog expression .

  Picea sighed as she shook her head, “I am sorry, my child. I do not know any portal magics. From what I understand, elves like to create portals to inhospitable areas to make shady deals and the like.” she explained.

  She smiled at me though, “Do not fear, for I will shelter you within my branch.”

  Picea gracefully extended her arms, her delicate leaf-like fingers reaching towards the moonlit sky. The forest floor then trembled as a colossal tree erupted from the soil, its resplendent form commanding the attention of all that laid eyes upon it. Illustrious purple leaves unfurled from its mighty branches, casting an ethereal glow upon the surrounding foliage. The tree's trunk, a mesmerizing tapestry of swirling patterns, shimmered in the moonlight, as if woven from the very fabric of magic itself.

  I watched in silent awe as the gargantuan tree continued to grow, climbing higher and higher into the heavens. Before long, it towered above us, a breathtaking testament to the power of nature, easily reaching a staggering eighty meters in height. Its majesty commanded reverence, reducing all else in the forest to mere shadows in its wake.

  “You can rest here for the night, little Kane. It will be safe in there.” Picea said.

  I didn’t understand what they were getting at, “Wait, isn’t that just a tre-” I began to say, but my words became stuck in my throat as I watched what happened next.

  With a groan of ancient wood, a doorway emerged thirty meters above the forest floor, the tree's very essence reshaping itself to welcome us. Perched so high, it seemed an impossible threshold for any being unable to take to the skies.

  Undeterred, Picea embarked on a pathway of intertwined branches, seamlessly merging with the tree's colossal form. She soon vanished within the tree's embrace, swallowed by the darkness beyond the threshold.

  Hesitation gripped me as I weighed my options. Despite the strangeness of it all, the prospect of seeking refuge within this enigmatic sanctuary seemed far more appealing than sleeping in the wilderness outside. Steeling my resolve, I ventured forth, crossing the wooden threshold into the unknown.

  The interior of the tree was a breathtaking sight to behold, its circular chamber spanning forty meters in diameter, its ceiling soaring high above me. The walls were alive with the gentle pulse of nature's heartbeat, the living essence of the tree was made tangible. Furnishings, seemingly hewn from the very floor itself, dotted the chamber. Wooden tables and chairs stood at the ready, while shelves laden with mysterious scrolls, tomes, and strange apparatus hinted at secrets long forgotten.

  My gaze fell upon a bed tucked away in the corner, its inviting form a welcome respite despite its leaf-wrought mattress and blankets. A sudden wave of exhaustion crashed over me, a yawn escaping my lips unbidden. Picea, ever attuned to my state of mind, sensed my fatigue.

  "Rest, little Kane." she urged, her smile a beacon of reassurance. "You have journeyed far and wide, and your body craves the solace of slumber."

  Though uncertainty lingered as to the true intentions of this enigmatic dryad, the allure of rest proved impossible to deny. With a gentle push, I floated towards the bed, the soft embrace of its leafy confines cushioning my weary body. Not only was I dead tired, but my head was also throbbing immensely. I imagined my frequent use of my powers was the cause, as I hadn’t used them this much in my entire life.

  I yawned, “I’m so damn hungry.”

  Picea laughed, following me onto the bed. I looked up at her in surprise as I watched her climb into the bed with me. I was left speechless as I saw her grab one of her large breasts with her hand and bring it towards me.

  “I figured you would be. Here, little one. Eat.” they said, urging me to drink from their breast.

  I nearly choked when I saw this. After all, weren’t they a plant?!

  Picea seemed confused by my hesitation, “What’s the matter? Is this not what baby’s eat?” she asked, still holding her tit up to my face.

  When I looked at the lime colored nipple above me, I didn’t know whether or not I should laugh or cry!

  ‘I know I’m still a baby, but isn’t this too much?’ I wondered, not sure if I should take the forest spirit up on their offer.

  As the dryad's proposition echoed in my mind, I found myself torn between caution and curiosity. Who was this mysterious forest spirit, and could her intentions truly be as friendly as they seemed? Yet, as the familiar pangs of hunger reverberated through my body, my resolve wavered.

  Before I could fully process the decision, I discovered myself latched onto the dryad's teat, eagerly partaking in the nourishing ambrosia that flowed forth. 'Milk' seemed a term too mundane for this exquisite nectar, its honeyed sweetness and invigorating sustenance far surpassing even my own mother's life-giving essence. Minutes felt like seconds as I drank my fill, the world around me receding into a haze of contentment. A satisfying burp escaped my lips, signaling the conclusion of my feast.

  Unbeknownst to me, Picea had cradled me in her arms, and as the intoxicating warmth of her embrace enveloped me, the last vestiges of consciousness slipped away. The night's slumber was unlike any I had experienced before—an abyss of darkness, comforting and all-consuming.

  Time seemed to lose all meaning, and for a fleeting moment, the weight of my tumultuous past and uncertain future was lifted from my weary shoulders.