Shoto was not wandering for much longer before Hitoshi gave him quite a scare by appearing out of the trees. Shoto almost took his head off with his sword before he explained he was trying to help. Shoto didn't believe him, but since he was lost, he had no choice but to follow him. "We'll find your party, your lady should be fine as long as Mei is with her," Hitoshi explained calmly. "My---oh, Momo," Shoto frowned. "You shouldn't imply things like that." "I'm implying nothing," Hitoshi said roundly. "But if you feel it is disrespectful, I will refrain. I knew you would get lost immediately, but I was surprised she got carried away so easily. Should have noticed that injury sooner... Mei will fix her up, though." But after peering at the trees a while, he grew annoyed, "Your party is splitting again, I can tell... blast! Those fools!" "They must be looking for us," Shoto said flatly, "perhaps had you informed us you intended to follow and rescue anyone who got lost, they would not be doing this." "Did I not specifically warn you not to separate!" Hitoshi said, annoyed. "I have a feeling you knew what would happen, you're toying with us again," Shoto said darkly. "I am getting very tired of people doing that, tricking, kidnapping, threatening, and it will only be worse if we get out of this forest!" "Self pity does not look good on a prince," Hitoshi replied pitilessly. "I prefer not to explain myself in great detail, what difference would it make? Would you have followed my orders any more, as I am part fay? Or do you just not trust me from the start?" "You lied to us from the start," Shoto said. "I never lied to you," Hitoshi said. "I consider lying beneath me." A very stiff pause followed this. Hitoshi seemed to be listening to the forest itself. Suddenly, he turned sharply. "Not good," he muttered. "What?" Shoto had his hand on his sword. Soba flicked his ears nervously. "It sounds as though Mei ran into more trouble than I expected," Hitoshi said, frowning.

Mei had actually done nothing whatsoever, neither had Momo, they had both sat very quiet and still while waiting for Hitoshi to come back, and hadn't even noticed the forest subtly changing around them, until vines had wrapped silently around their feet suddenly tightened without warning, Momo had one around her neck before she even knew what was happening, struggling, she formed a blade next to her wrist and started cutting through, she managed to free her throat before it choked her, a few feet away she saw Mei struggling violently, trying to use one of her tools like a saw. Momo kicked furiously as the vines tightened and pulled at her. The trees seemed to hiss with derision, were they alive? Were they dryads perhaps? The hissing seemed to form itself into words in her mind "Goddess of Craft, of blade, of tools, slayer of many trees and plants. Taste our wrath..."                                                                                                                                        This was at best the general idea of it, as Momo didn't speak Tree, but she felt all the malice. Then she remembered that Mei's patron goddess was also Creati, of course! The trees would hate both of them... Though it was against the Order to slay dryads, and not all trees had spirits in them, likely just the ones in the enchanted forests, but...accidents happened... Momo tried to fight back. "Stop! I've never slain a dryad!" She tried to keep her neck away from the vines, but they kept coming, too quick for her to do anything. Mei kicked at one. "Blasted trick willows! Clinging vines! It was one time! I didn't know it was a sacred tree! I thought it was a regular plum!" "You slew a dryad?" Momo was horrified. "Oh, no, I use a holy tree branch for a footrest," Mei said, as if that was better. "It didn't have a sign or anything, how was I supposed to know? The dryads just hold a grudge." "Couldn't you pay a fine or something?" Momo cried, as her arms got yanked back. "They weren't interested in money--" Mei was losing her grip. "Maybe your goddess can save us, does she show up when you call?" "I--" Momo hesitated, using the blessing, it might work, she could destroy the trees... maybe... but, that was just proving their point. She couldn't use Creati's power to destroy, it wasn't right. Not unless it was to stop evil, and this didn't seem like evil. "I-- can't do that," she said aloud. "It's forbidden... they are just angry, not dark magicians." "Who cares? They're going to kill us! Or possibly absorb us into the trees! Or maybe turn us into trees! I don't want to be a tree!" Mei was actually panicking, Momo had never seen her so emotional, she bit her lip, she couldn't just let Mei die. But... "If you let Mei go, I'll stop fighting!" She called. "It's okay...I want to do the right thing." "What?" Mei said. There was a whisper, perhaps a tinge of fear, the trees didn't like to see what a paladin would do if she tried... The vines released Mei, who started coughing from the pressure easing. "Don't try to destroy them!" Momo said, dropping her knife. "Just run! Run!" "But you--" Mei began, then she narrowed her eyes. "All right. I'll be right back!" She dashed away. Momo was pretty sure there wasn't going to be enough time for that, she was already starting to lose her vision.

Hitoshi and Shoto were dashing through the trees toward the East when Mei came hurtling out of a thicket and slammed right into Hitoshi, who grabbed her shoulders. "Mei! You're all right!" He was obviously relieved. "Hitoshi!" Mei grabbed his shoulder back and shook him. "You got to stop them! They went crazy! All this over a plum tree! Hurry before they finish!" "Where's Momo?" Shoto asked. Hitoshi looked. "The Vengeful Vines," he said. "I've heard of them, angry dryads who try to inflict retribution on those who cut down their brethren... however, I cannot imagine Princess Momo doing that... knowingly." "Well she's caught, so they're peeved about something!" Mei said. "Talk them out of it." "Uh... Mei... I'm not sure a tree is going to talk to me enough for me to persuade them..." Hitoshi said. Shoto dashed forward "Momo! Hold on!" "Wait you fool! They'll catch you too!" Hitoshi cried, they ran after him.

Shoto didn't even see Momo, he just saw vines trailing everywhere. He lit his hand on fire. "I don't care who you are, if you don't let her go, I'll set this whole place on fire!" Silence. A weird hissing sound went through the grove. "Fine then," Shoto started to put his hand out--- a huge mass of vines shuddered and ejected Momo out onto the grass, other than streaks of green chlorophyll all over and red marks from getting squeezed, she appeared unharmed, but she'd passed out already. Shoto rushed over to her. "Momo! Are you okay?! Come on, talk to me!" Hitoshi and Mei came into view, "this is not good!" Hitoshi cried, "You've angered them further!" The vines were coiling back into a harder shape. "I don't care!" Shoto's eyes were blazing. "They had no right! I should burn them all!" "Prince Shoto, this is not an ordinary grove, they are spirits, that would be murder!" Hitoshi said severely. "I advise you to put that fire away before they take human form." Shoto was too angry to care much, but he was rational enough to know he should do as Hitoshi said regardless, so he doused his flames. Momo coughed right then and blinked a little bit. Shoto was propping her up. She looked up at him "Shoto? How did you find me?" "Uh..." Shoto glanced at Hitoshi, "Long story.." "It's really not," Hitoshi rolled his eyes. Suddenly some flowers burst open and pollen started permeating the air. "Uh oh," Hitoshi covered his mouth. "I know that rick, that's enchanted pollen." "Of course it is," Shoto said dryly. Mei coughed. "I don't feel so good," She fell over. "I knew it!" Hitoshi said. "There's no way they didn't have a fall back plan..." He sank to the ground. Shoto felt drowsy, really, really drowsy, he slumped forward...

Someone moved near them. "That's enough..." a gentle, female voice said.

Denki and Kyoka were having just as weird a time. When the creature had popped out of the flower, they'd both been ready to be attacked! But instead, it just looked Denki in the eye way too close and said "That was a really pretty song! Do you know any more! Or no, you should hear one of mine! Are you a bard? I've heard bards can charm anyone, even fairies. Can you do that? Did you put a spell on me? Show me again!" "Uh... what?" Denki said. "Oh, right, I haven't introduced myself," the creature, who looked sort of human, but had purple blue hair, large doe-eyes, and she seemed to be dressed in flower petals. She also was emitting some kind of odd yellow glow from certain angles. "I'm Nejire of the Hado Grove. And you are?" "Denki--" Denki got no further. "Nice to meet you! Hey, are you lost? Can I help?" Nejire said. Kyoka turned to Denki. "All the spirits you could have charmed, and this is the one? Nice work." "Whose idea was it to try that again?" Denki shot back. "Oohh, are you having a lover's quarrel?" Nejire asked. "A what?" Kyoka gave her a strange look. "Not to worry, I know all about that. You two just need a little help to make you get back into a romantic frame of mind." "Romantic?" Denki said, worried. "Uh, I think there's been a misunderstanding, we're looking for--" "For the Glade, right?" Nejire said. "Trying to find someone special? Well you've come to the right place, I am the perfect fairy to show you the way." "You're a fairy?" Kyoka said in disbelief. "Sure am, I'm one half pixie, one half woodland variety, and all ready to help my new friends!" Nejire said. Kyoka thought they might have been better off as enemies of this particular fay. Before they could stop her, Nejire seized their hands, somehow getting Tibult's reins in the process, and then they were floating somehow, and they were the size of butterflies. "What the--!" Kyoka squeaked and grabbed Denki's arm, he wasn't any more stable than her. "Put us down!" She yelled at Nejire. "You want to walk?" Nejire made a face, "how dull." "No! Don't just drop us! Turn us back!" "Oh there's no sense doing that before we get there," Nejire started gliding through the air. She wove around trees, and flowers, and over a stream. Getting them hopelessly lost. Finally she flew into a little gathering of small trees and bushes and flowers, into a ring, which had lots of little houses in it, like the ones children build for fairies, covered with moss and tied together with grass. Kyoka hadn't let go of Denki's arm this entire time, but now she gaped and gripped tight, this was really starting to hurt, but Denki was too awed to mind. Nejire finally set down on a large flower...they seemed to be lighter than before also. "This is the Glade. The perfect place to resolve all your problems. Want some tea? Ami-tea will make you feel more good humored." "Don't drink anything in a fairy glade..." Denki muttered some old warning form a story. "We're good," he said aloud. Kyoka looked around, a bunch of other small pixie-like creatures were staring at them, not very friendly. Their faces were humanlike, but with pointed ears, and strangely colored eyes, they all had a glowing dust aura. Pixies were not known for killing humans or cursing them, but getting them lost and luring them into traps was quite common. Still they could maybe fight them, Kyoka thought. They weren't all that powerful. The problem would be if other woodland fairies were about. It was said they could make people act strangely, and even fall in love! She turned red suddenly and let go of Denki's arm. Tibult seemed fine... he started eating their perch. "Hey everyone," Nejire waved. "I brought these people here to help them! They've lost their passion!" "No, we lost our party," Denki corrected. "You were supposed to be at a party?" Nejire said, "That's even sadder! No wonder you had a fight." "Wow... you are really not all there," Denki was too fed up for tact now. Nejire didn't seem to understand the insult. The other pixies surrounded them, frowning. "He's a bard," Nejire patted Denki. "He plays great music." This seemed to change the mood. "Come on show them," Nejire said. "They will see your soul." "They'll what?" Denki said. Kyoka eyed the mean-looking pixies. "Denki, start playing." She said. "What? I can't just--after--" "Denki, just do it." She hissed. Denki sighed and pulled out his lute. "All right," he started to strum. "But you have to help." Kyoka sighed and started singing:

Now and then I think of when we were together

Eros surely hit the apple of mine eye

I believed thou wert right for me,

but felt so lonely in thy company

But that was love and 'tis an ache I still remember

One becomes enamoured with a certain kind of sadness

This resignation to the end, ever the end

When we found we could not make amends

Thou declared we would e'er be friends

But I concede that I was fain to be parted

Was there cause to cast me off?

Act as though it never happened and that we were nothing

In sooth I do need thy love

But thou makest me a stranger and that feels so rough

Hadst thou need to stoop so low?

To send a wagon for thy minstrel and refuse my letters

I need no longer write them, though

Now thou art somebody whom I used to know

Then Denki took over:

I lament the many times that thou impugn'd my honour

But maintained it was ever something I had done

No more shall I live that way

Uncertain what thy words bewray

Thou said that if I were to go

I would not find thee pining for somebody whom thou used to know

Kyoka:

Was there cause to cast me off?

Act as if it never happened and that we were nothing

I do not even need thy love

But thou makest me stranger and that feels so rough

Hadst thou need to stoop so low

To send a wagon for thy minstrel and refuse my letters

I need no longer write them, though

For now thou art somebody whom I used to know

Now thou art somebody whom I used to know

(Somebody that I Used to Know--Bardcore )

The song choice seemed a little personal, Denki thought, he felt sad just playing it... but that was nothing to the pixies, most of whom burst into tears. Kyoka looked stunned. Nejire was bawling also. "Oh my, that was so sad," she wailed. "You must really want to go back to them..." "The pain was palpable," another pixie said. "We'll take you back, just stop making us cry!" The others cried. The whole swarm of them surrounded the two and started flying them back out of the glade. They brought them back to the spot they'd started from. "But, our party is not here," Kyoka said. "Spread out and find them!" Said one pixie. The swarm spread out. Denki looked at Kyoka in amazement. "Impressive! You're a genius! That song choice was inspired... how did you know it?" "How did you know it? It's popular I guess..." Kyoka said. "Some warrior sang it, I never forget a song once I hear it... I don't know, it just came into my mind first, stop looking at me like that." "I don't know, I think you've got charisma after all," Denki said. "I'm sure that wasn't just me...you must just need to tap your emotions well."

"I didn't tap anything," Kyoka growled. Denki winced. "It's okay to have feelings about stuff, you know. No need to bite my head off," Tibult bleated in agreement. Kyoka looked down "Sorry, anyway... I hope this works."

Shoto came to hearing voices, Hitoshi talking to an unfamiliar feminine voice. "They will wake soon, I suppose." "Yes, it should be any moment now," the lady replied. "I am sorry again, the trees meant no ill, but they resented the intrusion." "I trust they will be satisfied if we all agree to forget about this," Hitoshi answered. Shoto blinked, he was lying on his side, Momo was next to him over his arm still, sound asleep. This startled him--then he remembered what happened and realized he must not have been moved at all... so no fight probably... he sat up carefully. Momo stirred, then blinked. "Ah, there you are," Hitoshi said flatly. "It's about time, you sure are a deep sleeper, we tried shaking you." "What happened?" Shoto rubbed his head, it felt fuzzy. Momo sat up too and gave him a strange look. "I remember seeing yellow dust..." "pollen, yes," Hitoshi said. "Prince, Princess, meet our rescuer, Ibara." At first Shoto didn't even see her, because she blended right in with the trees, but then he noticed the petite, demure looking woman with large eyes, and common enough clothes... but all that was overshadowed by her hair, it looked like it was made of vines... "She's of the Shiogazi Glade," Hitoshi added. "Guardians of the trees... and any other flora around here. Luckily for you, she thinks you have a noble cause, and took pity on your lives. Her word is law for these dryads, don't cross her. You had better be on your knees thanking her for this condescension." Shoto was not exactly filled with awe at the sight of a human bramble, but decided not to say so. He bowed. "Thank you." "I cannot express enough gratitude," Momo echoed, bowing much more gracefully. Ibara nodded solemnly. "It is not for me to decide justice for a warrior such as you. I don't approve of killing in the forest, it brings something in I don't like at all. We are peaceable." "Yes, very peaceable," Shoto muttered sarcastically. "I saw the peace in those vines trying to suffocate my friend."

Hitoshi gave him a death glare, but Ibara looked troubled rather than angry. "So much fury, I do not like it," she patted a tree trunk. "We must try to be better than this, Willow, and you, Birch." The trees seemed to murmur something back. "I never meant to hurt any of you," Momo looked guilty. "I've never knowingly done so." "I don't sense any death on you," Ibara said. "But, sometimes trees take out their wrath on innocents just because they cannot reach the real criminal. I apologize." Mei sat up. "Ow, my head feels like someone filled it with rocks." "Mei," Hitoshi held out a hand to help her up. "You should be more aware of your surroundings! I keep telling you! You're too trusting." "I know, I know," Mei didn't sound like she was really listening. "I came up with another baby while you were gone, take a look at Miss Momo's leg." "excuse me?" Shoto said a little tensely. Hitoshi glanced at her boot. "Oh, I see... nice. Does it work?" "Very well actually," Momo smiled genuinely. "I don't feel a thing." "That's good," Hitoshi said. "Hmm, if you were working on that here, that might be what angered them," Ibara said. "You should not take out metal tools around our conscious trees, too many ill memories." "Pfft! That's being oversensitive," Mei scoffed. A willow bough whipped her in the behind. She jumped 6 inches. "OW!" "I think you deserved that," Hitoshi said, a little cross. "Choose your words more carefully around hostile parties." Ibara leaned on a tree. "Speaking of parties, the one you are looking for seems to have gone on ahead." "They left us here?" Shoto was stunned. "But, there are some others separated from it," Ibara added. "Oh.. and coming toward us are pixies." Even as she spoke, several little flying whorls of light came through the trees. They made some kind of noise upon seeing them all. Ibara held out her hand, and one landed on it and seemed to converse with her. "It seems they have been overcome by the sadness of your companions, and moved to reunite you," she spoke gently. "Follow us." She began to walk, the trees and plants parted to make way for her. "Fascinating," Hitoshi said. "I can see the movement of the forest, but she actually moves it. Some things even fay are afraid of." "What... is that person?" Shoto asked. "In human terms? One might call her the spirit or deity of the forest itself," Hitoshi said. "Rarely visible. And it's not exactly accurate, as she is only the Spirit Master of the plants, not the animals and fay and pixies, but if the very woods turn against you, all of us would have reason to fear. Thankfully, plants are not usually malevolent, the dryads will give you the most trouble. We should have nothing to fear from her." "Great..." Shoto said. "We're following a Spirit or goddess... this place could not be more strange." But Momo's eyes were shining. "This is amazing! I can't believe we have the privilege of such a guide!" She hastened to keep up. "Personally, I think plants are boring," Mei muttered, "nothing to work on with plants..." "Mei, I say this as the primary caretaker for your well-being, button up that mouth of yours!" Hitoshi hissed. "Sorry," Mei said sullenly. But she went quiet.                                                                                                    "You could make her go silent," Shoto noted. "Like before." "And you approve that?" Hitoshi said. "No, I don't," Shoto frowned. "A woman ought to be as free to choose as a man." "How unconventional of you," Hitoshi said dryly. "I suppose you think women need your endorsement. Personally, I think it's a matter of personal responsibility. Mei and I have an understanding, it works for us." "I think Shoto is just concerned about an abuse of power," Momo said. "Not because you are untrustworthy, but because his father is a bit of a renowned tyrant, and he is trying to be more conscientious than him."                                                                                                     "I see," Hitoshi said. "Well, that is true of King Enji, but if that is your concern, allow me to put your mind at ease. I only persuade Mei when it's dangerous not to. Such as when you were ready to fight us on the boat. She's given me permission to rein her in when she's not reading a situation well, in fact, it was her idea. After a couple too-close calls where I got very angry that she didn't follow my warnings." "She gave you permission?" Momo was surprised, but Mei looked up. "Yeah, I said 'geez, if it's so hard to get your point across, just use your magic on me,'"            "I felt it wasn't very fair myself,'' Hitoshi said, "but then, Mei is absolutely impossible to reason with at times..." Mei made no attempt to deny this or even look offended. "In order to keep it simple, I made a spell that will only let me do so when there's perceived danger," Hitoshi said. "It's not perfect, but I feel more at ease. Satisfied?" "That's very considerate of you," Momo said. "I prefer not to use my power on anyone unless I have a very good reason, usually to prevent having to actually hurt them," Hitoshi said. "There are conditions. If something doesn't understand human speech, or doesn't speak, my Persuasion often will not work, especially if it is something like a plant. Fay don't often curse trees, as you can imagine, so our powers are weak on dryads, also on dragons that are not Ancient Ones. In a way, the higher intelligence of some creatures is actually their weakness." "Would it work on a parrot?" Momo asked. "Since it can answer you back in speech?" "That's interesting, I never tried it, I'll have to do that sometime," Hitoshi mused.

Right after that sentence, Sight swooped down from the sky and landed on Momo's shoulder, then he screeched and flew back, Momo ran after him and through a few more trees, she saw Kyoka, they rushed into each other's arms. "What happened to you! Why do you have green all over?" Kyoka demanded. "Why do you have glowing dust all over?" Momo asked. "Shoto!" Denki waved. "S'up? You good?" "Uh... sure..." Shoto said. "And why are you two jesters here?" Denki asked. "Oh, nothing much, just saving your sorry behinds," Hitoshi said. "You didn't save nothing, we used our talent to get us out of this," Denki said. More pixies flew up to Ibara and began complaining about being tormented by sadness, one became human sized. "This is your party? It's a lot smaller than I thought. Hello, I'm Nejire! What are your names? Where did you get that scar? Oooh, are you a warrior?" Momo and Shoto stared at her. "Oh no," Hitoshi stiffened "Not you." "Hello Hitoshi, I haven't seen you in what, 2 years?" Nejire waved. "It's been 5, I avoided you," Hitoshi recoiled. "Oh you're so funny," Nejire said. "Who's this lady?" "Mei, my wife--" "Wife! What you got a wife! Wait, are you an elf? Can you sing? Or do you make shoes?" Nejire peered at Mei. "I make braces for boots," Mei said proudly, "as of now..." "Oh, nice," Nejire was already distracted. "I like your horse..." Soba had faithfully been following them all this time. The trees had left him alone.

"If you're done, we need to catch up to your party before they run into more trouble," Hitoshi said to Momo. She nodded. "Yes, let's hurry."