“By the gods,” a tiny head popped up and peered down over the side of the squirrels nest she had been sharing for the night. The earthy scent of decaying foliage filled her sences, along with the musky fragrance of her jittery pillow. Her long silky tresses were a knotted mess, small leaves and tiny sticks, originally a part of the warm fuzzy creatures home, were tangled within the blue black disarray. A few lost their grip on the fine strands and feel back into the soft nest when she shook her head and rubbed the sleep from her eyes.<br/><br/>Staring down at the beautiful, if slightly downtrodden couple, she let out a huff of annoyance as they continued to argue. She crossed her legs, did the same with her arms and leaned over the edge to spy on her current obsession. Her sleeping companion joined her, sharing the warmth of his fur and quietly chattering his similar displeasure at being awaken in such an impolite manner. Pulling his long grey tail around her shoulder to ward off the frigid morning air, she snuggled in. The long curled tips of her wings were trembling slightly in the cold air and she welcomed the additional heat source. It was getting closer to winter and she should be stocking up it! Her little home was deep within an old<a class="link link--external" href="https://preview.ibb.co/hYgppa/c6762d9e7e0d0597049dae6597f923c0.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">gnarled oaks</a>embrace and would be just as comfortable this winter as it had been the previous two winters, but she hadn’t acquired enough supplies to last her the entire season. Being alone in her solitary haven was bad enough for months on end, being alone and hungry wasn’t an ordeal she wanted to experience.<br/><br/>Forest sprites were the most unfamiliar of the Fay, normally staying completely hidden from anyone outside of their own population, and practically unknown to humankind. None of her Resolution left the forest they served for extended periods of time unless they traveled to other Resolutions looking for a mate. Most of a Sprite’s days were filled helping the trees and plant-life change, grow or regenerate. Autumn and spring being their most hectic cycles while summer and winter were spent playing with the creatures of the forest in the warm sun or hiding in their homes to pass the long cold days enjoying family and friends. They were safe within the sheltering sanctuary of  the  Angelmoss Woodlands. Well most of the time it was safe.<br/><br/>Hostile Fay, Ogres and Goblins and the like, were dangerous and always looking for a bite of tasty Sprite. Thankfully they stayed to the far North, closer to the mountains and rocky caves of Dankrock Peaks. The forests surrounding the peaks were overflowing with wild magic and attracted the more destructively inclined of her kind. But the Sprites thrived on playfulness and laughter and being mischievous. They were no match for their distant cousins in either aggression or strength. Their most successful strategy in staying safe from predators was to stay hidden, which they did as often as they could.<br/><br/>Alisa’s childhood had been filled with happy moments though. With none of their dangerous relative making a permanent home in their forest, most of her time had been spent fluttering through the canopy, chasing butterflies and tumbling with the other young Sprites. Being a bastard daughter had never held the same stigma as it did with the humans. The Sprite were free loving souls. Even after finding their life-mate, they often frolicked and enjoyed the pleasures of other partners, without jealousy or ill will. Though there had never been any bad feelings from within the Resolution for her mother keeping her father’s lineage secret, they had been suspicious.<br/><br/>She was<a class="link link--external" href="https://preview.ibb.co/ke5qnk/thumb_1920_96670.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">Elisandra</a>of the Angelmoss Woodland Resolution, bastard daughter of  Alcyone and granddaughter of the longtime leaders Blathnat and Amaltheia. She has never suspected she was in anyway different than the others of her settlement, growing up with friends and family and a perfectly normal Sprite life. Her grandfather Blathnat had doted on Eli from the time her mother had brought her home.<br/><br/>A sad little smile filled her expression as she recalled how everyone had walked on eggshells so as not to provoke his temper. Always so strict with the Resolution, fearful of their safety and dealing out punishments that ensured he was seldom disobeyed. He had never been as heavy handed with her though, often letting her off with warnings when others would have faced more extreme punishments. She had been to young to realize the discontentment that treatment had stirred.<br/><br/>But again, that wasn’t what had lead to her seclusion. Those disastrous memories she hid under a hill of heavy rocks. The only time they managed to crawl out from under her stockpile was during her darkest hours. Late at night, after a long winter season. Her small arms hugging her knees up under her chin and her delicate translucent white wings hugging her entire body, she would pray for sleep to take her away from that cataclysmic day.<br/><br/>Her companions cute little ears wiggled and he darted off up the tree, no longer able to contain the naturally explosive energy of his kind. She giggled while watching him show off, zig-zagging up the tall stem then making a dare devil hop over to the next tree, so quick and agile he hardly disturbed a single leaf. Following a roadway only he recognized, he disappeared with a final bark of farewell.<br/><br/>Standing and stretching, wings vibrating with the exertion of her muscles, she walked around a little to warm up and work the stiffness out of her slender limbs. Eli could see the Princess on the ground, fighting to get the fire started, and crossed her fingers that she would succeed. The small pile of deadwood stacked so carefully seemed to fight her attempts, sputtering out before the tiny smolders in the tinder could properly ignite. Elisa watched the exhausted woman try to blow life into the dead flame and clucked her tongue with sympathy. After almost 2 years on her own she understood the disappointment of failure. When Vesta fought on, lowering herself completely into the dirt to accomplish her task, Elisandra’s admiration rose along with the smoky flames of fire.<br/><br/>Seeing the Princesses hope for recognition evaporate in the company of the prince, she quietly whispered her own words of praise into the wind, hoping at least their essence sooth her disappointment. Stating her next intentions the filthy royal, her clothing hanging off her undernourished body, walked  further into the wood with more elegance and grace than Eli’s had ever seen before. She wanted to fly over and hug Vesta, wanted to give her a little compassion, but at the same time knew from herself...that compassion given at the wrong time could indeed break a person’s spirit entirely. Plus….Eli wasn’t quite ready to give herself up to the pair as of yet. Instead she fluttered over to a branch closer to the stoic prince, landing silently so she could continue her observations without fear.<br/><br/>Aica was just as strict and aggressive in his manner as her grandfather acted towards his people and she wondered if this was a trait often found in leaders. Eli had been following them for a few days now, so she had gained a little knowledge of their situation. Yes she had lived her entire life within the Ostavia Kingdom, but their rules and laws had never been her rules or laws. Elisandra didn’t care if the man below had ruled the land. Her people controlled the forest. And they were excellent at keeping the humans away from their territory.<br/><br/>The Sprite’s of the forest wreaked havoc and mayhem upon any humans invading their forest with ill intent. When every bush had sharp thorns to tear your skin, or hoards of ants overran your campsite, waking the camp residents with painful bites, people started talking about curses and hauntings. Thus became Angelmoss Woodlands, Bleakwood Vale in the eyes of the humans.<br/><br/>When first stumbling across the couple, Elisandra hadn’t recognized them. Their many loud and persistent discussions since had ensured she knew more than she might wish for. They rarely spoke civil to each other...more like sneered and argued. Even occasionally resorting to physical violence. She had watched them often at night, possible hoping to watch them pleasure each other, but though the prince held his princess in the safety of his arms, it never went further.<br/><br/>Watching the steadfast man stare off into the trees, looking for some sort of answer to his plight was addicting. Between the two of them, she found herself hoping and praying some sort of miracle would appear out of nowhere and assist them to reclaim the throne. Trails of grey smoke wound off the crackling fire. One found it’s way to Eli’s hiding spot making her emerald green eyes water and her nose twitch...stopping herself just before the twitch became a sneeze.<br/><br/>She must have made some slight sound, or the princes instincts were much finer than Eli thought because he turned and was suddenly looking into her direction of trees. He was a very handsome specimen,and so controlled, so tightly wound up, he seemed on the verge of exploding in a chaotic and violent rampage at any moment. How he kept it under such tight control fascinated her...and her mischievous nature was begging her to test that formidable restraint. Pulling her soft, pouting bottom lips threw her teeth, she wondered how far she could push until...yes, well never mind that.<br/><br/>“These are humans Eli, not sprites,” she told herself. “You need to get back to your tree and prepare. Leave them alone to solve their own issues.”<br/><br/>And yet she couldn’t. She just could not tear herself away from the royals. And anyway, her being in the vicinity and keeping an eye on them was sort of her job as a sprite. She needed to make sure they didn’t set fire to the entire forest. She was a guardian even if she didn’t reside with the rest of them. Nodding to herself, she let herself get away with the weak excuse and squirmed down into a little hollow in the branches. Vesta had returned, and she could hear the start of another annoying argument in which both of them completely ignored the other’s arguments. Digging a few sunflower seeds out of her satchel she sat back to watch the spectacle.