I told her about our recent adventure how we had to track down a satyr who had decided to cause a bit of mischief. He was scattering flocks of sheep, tormenting shepherds, and... coupling with anything that caught his eye.
She laughed a lot while I told the story her laughter was light, clear, and utterly sincere. But back then, I wasn't laughing. As the newest member of the group, it was my job to catch him. At one point, the damned satyr even kicked me right in the forehead with his hoof. The creature was quick always slipping away until finally, my spear pinned his tail to the ground.
We didn't kill him. Just gave him a good beating and warned him: show up in the village again, and he'd regret it.
"That's hilarious," she said through a soft giggle, eyes fixed on me. I wasn't exactly in a joking mood, but her laughter was infectious I found myself smiling.
"My name's Diana," she added.
"It suits you," I replied with a faint smile. "Beautiful name... for someone just as beautiful."
"Careful, I might fall for you," she said, blushing slightly. Then, lifting her basket of fruit, she added, "I should go. They're probably waiting for me. But I'd love to hear more of your stories sometime."
"I'd be happy to share them," I said, watching her walk away.
Sometimes, you don't want to go anywhere. You just want to stay. To live. To try to be happy. To enjoy life while there's still time. To delay the inevitable, if only for a moment.
Pushing away the creeping thoughts, I stood up and headed back to the barn.
**********************************
Cold, bony fingers gently rolled the coin. The figure held it between two fingers, showing its faces: on one side, a skull; on the other, a tree. With a simple flick, the coin flipped into the air, landing neatly predictably on its edge atop the fingertip. The finger twitched slightly, the coin rolled between the fingers, then without warning slapped down into an open palm.
*Caw*
With a rustle of wings, a raven landed nearby. In its vast, obsidian eye, the silhouette of the dark-cloaked figure was perfectly reflected.
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*********************************
We were fully equipped and already waiting for Televt. Soon, he arrived on a panting horse, the animal clearly exhausted. Slung over its back was a large basket of fruit.
"Take the horse. Feed it, water it," Heron ordered, taking the basket from his hands. "And you, Televt can you walk?"
"Yes, Enotomarch. I found these wondrous fruits. The merchants call them peaches. They're sweet, juicy... tender and soft," Televt replied, wiping the sweat from his brow.
"Good. Let's hope the nymph accepts our offerings," Heron said, glancing toward the forest.
We continued on, pushing deeper into the woods. Finally, we reached the altar where the villagers usually left their offerings. Just as we approached, a sudden gust of wind made us stop in our tracks. A branch crashed down from above, slamming into the ground before us with a heavy thud.
"Seems she does not wish us to come closer. I, Heron, ny...." He didn't finish.
Vines erupted from the earth, coiling instantly around our legs and yanking us off our feet. In the blink of an eye, we were bound tightly and helpless on the forest floor.
"Still yourselves! Don't struggle!" Heron barked, though he too was tangled in the living snare.
It appeared our welcome wasn't exactly warm.
From behind one of the trees, a girl's face appeared. Her skin was the color of fresh spring leaves green and softly glowing. Her hair, thick and crimson like blood, was crowned with wildflowers in full bloom. She regarded us with quiet curiosity.
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"Why have you come here?" Her voice was smooth, velvet-like, almost like the breeze before a storm.
"We seek your aid. And as a sign of respect, we bring you these gifts. Fruits you may have never seen before," Heron said, bowing his head.
One of the vines reached forward, coiling around the basket and gently lifting several pieces of fruit. They slipped soundlessly into the shadows beneath the trees, vanishing where the nymph stood.
"The fruits are beautiful," she said at last. "But they are a meager price for what you seek whatever it may be."
"It's in your interest, too," I interjected. "We're cleansing these lands of restless spirits. They poison the earth, drain it like a sickness."
"I've heard of them," her tone grew sharper. "But was it not your own kind who let the land fall to their hands? With your own bloodlust, your own hands, you shattered the balance. You call it protection, yet your war brought this ruin."
"Yes. We are to blame. That's true," I nodded, feeling the weight of every word. "But we were defending our home. It was the Athenians' treachery that tipped the scales. We do not seek excuses only a chance to set things right. We need your help."
She did not respond immediately.
Only after several seconds did she fully emerge from the trees, approaching us slowly.
Her beauty was otherworldly entrancing, yet unmistakably alien. The nymph was something between human and nature itself. She kept her distance, never drawing too near, but there was too much humanity in her face to call her a spirit alone. Her only garment was nature itself leaves and blossoms carefully arranged to cover what modesty dictated, leaving little to the imagination.
"Are you prepared to stand by your words?" she asked, her gaze fixed on me.
"I am," I answered, looking straight into her eyes. "Our goal is to cleanse these lands, so the living no longer suffer from the unrest of the dead."
"Then let us make a pact," she said, stepping closer. "I will help you. But if you fail, you will return here... and offer me your life force."
"What does that mean?" I frowned, not immediately grasping her intent.
"Do you not know how nymphs are born?" she asked, her voice slipping into something deeper as though it spoke not only to my ears, but my soul. I glanced at Heron; his face was dark with concern.
"A nymph may be born through union with a man," she continued. "But desire alone is not enough. A man must give up part of his life force... his essence."
She stepped closer still, leaned in, and her lips brushed my ear.
"You would become a part of that new life."
"And if I don't return?" I asked.
"Nature will find you. No matter where you hide," she whispered, her voice turning cold like wind from a frozen peak. "Every nymph you meet will know what you've done. And they will kill you."
The threat hung in the air, like a storm cloud waiting to break. I hesitated. The forest had to be cleansed but to forfeit my life in failure? That was not what I'd expected.
Sometimes I think my tongue is my worst enemy. I should've kept quiet, let Heron speak.
"Very well," she said with a faint smile. "I see you won't agree so easily. Then let us change the terms. If you succeed, you'll be rewarded. And believe me what I offer will be worth it."
"I accept," I said with a nod. I was sure she wouldn't lie.
She smiled broadly and stepped into my space, her arms slipping around my neck. Her lips met mine, and in that kiss was something dangerously sweet like the taste of the most forbidden fruit. But the next moment, I felt a sharp prick in my neck.
"What was that?" I asked, nearly tearing through the vines in alarm.
"Now you truly cannot run," she replied softly almost tenderly. "I must be sure you'll keep your word."
"We need you to speak to the ravens," I said, still feeling the faint burn beneath my skin. "Make them help us find the places where the restless souls dwell."
"Very well," she nodded.
Caw.
A flicker of surprise crossed her face as a raven suddenly landed nearby. The bird appeared out of nowhere even she hadn't expected it. I couldn't be certain it was the same raven that had followed us two days ago. But deep down, I knew it was.
"This bird will follow you, wherever your path leads. It will show you the way," said the nymph as she turned and vanished into the trees. The vines and leaves loosened their grip, lowering us gently to the forest floor.
"Remember this, Damocles," Heron said sharply. "You must let your elders speak. Or disaster will come upon you. I am responsible for all of you. The consequences of my decisions are not for you to bear."
I instinctively touched my neck. The mark still burned beneath my fingers.
"Then all that's left is to fulfill the task," I replied.
"Let's go. The path ahead won't be easy," he said, turning away.
There's no use regretting what's been done. Without trials, there can be no strength.
Let this be my first.