The sun dipped behind the trees, bleeding warm gold across the canopy. On the west side of the forest, Valen prowled the underbrush like a very annoyed cat.
He shoved aside a branch. "Still nothing. Where's a dumb, slow animal when you need one?"
His stomach growled again, more insistent this time. He groaned and dragged his feet like a ghost on strike.
It had been two days since the fruit incident. Two days of chewing grass, dodging fairy threats, and pretending salad was a meal.
"Maybe a squirrel? I'd even eat a squirrel."
He squinted up into the trees.
No squirrel.
"Of course."
He kicked a rock. It bounced harmlessly into a bush. A single butterfly fluttered away like it didn't fear death. Valen watched it go.
"You win this time, winged insect."
The wind shifted. A scent drifted through the air.... blood. Not fresh, not spilled, but strong. Stronger than it should be.
Valen sniffed. "Someone else is here?"
He tilted his head, tracing the scent deeper into the woods. Then he caught something else: the faint clink of metal. Iron.
Valen wrinkled his nose and hopped into a tree. From there, he spotted her. a tall elf with sharp features and flowing green hair, moving with unnatural grace despite wearing iron armor.
He narrowed his eyes. "An elf... in armor? What kind of forest tourist is this?"
Still, he watched. She didn't notice him. She murmured something about blood, about a vampire.
"Smart," he muttered, smirking. "But not smart enough."
Valen let her pass and slinked back toward Fel's side of the forest. Food might not exist, but drama? That was always on the menu.
Fel fluttered happily among her plants. Her entire clearing was alive with soft hums and faint glows. The Aeltheris Bloom shimmered peacefully beside rows of other magical herbs. Starpetal, Verdroot, and even the grumpy little Gloomgill mushrooms she tended with care.
Her hands brushed the petals as if greeting old friends.
"Morning, Sunvine. Stop clinging to the carrots. Dandelush, you're glowing too bright again."
She paused, wings twitching. Something prickled her senses.
Iron.
Her nose wrinkled immediately.
"Oh no. Not again."
Moments later, the iron-clad elf stepped into the clearing.
"You're... a fairy?" Lyrelle blinked.
Fel pointed dramatically. "You're wearing iron. Gross. Disgusting. My plants are screaming."
"I.... this is for protection!" Lyrelle retorted, taken aback.
Fel hovered closer, crossing her arms. "Protection from what? Compliments?"
Lyrelle sighed, slowly removing her armor. As the last piece hit the moss, the tension lifted. The plants relaxed. Fel let out a breath.
"Much better. And You're welcome, by the way. Who are you?"
"I'm Lyrelle, I came looking for a magical herb," Lyrelle explained. "To enhance nature affinity. Aeltheris Bloom?"
Fel grinned. "I'm Fel and I Got a whole patch Of them."
"You grow all these?" Lyrelle looked amazed.
"Yup. Also, it's dinner time. Wanna join?" Fel asked.
Lyrelle nodded "I'd be grateful."
The clearing transformed for dinner. Fel had laid out glowing plates of fruits, petals, roasted roots, and dew-sprinkled leaves beneath softly glowing mushrooms.
Lyrelle sat politely, now dressed in a tunic and forest-green trousers. She marveled at the food.
"So, you're just... here? Alone?" Lyrelle asked.
"Mhm. Except there's this scary guy on the other side of the forest," Fel whispered. "Big, fangs, smells like regret and raw meat."
Lyrelle frowned.
Then the temperature shifted.
A chill brushed the air. Footsteps echoed against the ground.
Valen emerged from the trees, looking slightly more dead than usual and very, very hungry.
"Smells like something edible," he said, deadpan.
Fel gave him a cheery wave. "Sit, grumpy. Try the glimmerroot."
The moment Lyrelle saw him, her body tensed. The scent hit her like a spell, thick, ancient, undeniably vampire.
She stood immediately. "Get away from her!"
Valen blinked. "...Seriously?"
Before he could respond, a gust of wind shot toward him. Blood burst from his palm and hardened into a crimson barrier, deflecting the strike.
"Oh, come on, I'm just here for a bite!"
"I knew it!" Lyrelle snapped, launching thorn-laced vines at him.
"hey! Careful, I live here!"
Blood spears danced between them, clashing with nature's fury. Wind howled. Vines whipped. A mushroom exploded in the crossfire.
Valen's hands surged with blood magic, coiling in defense.
"You always attack dinner guests like this?" he said dryly.
Fel slammed a hand on the table, wings glowing with command magic.
"Both. Of. You. Sit."
Magic exploded through the clearing. Both froze mid-attack and dropped onto the bench like disobedient kids.
"I hate iron," Fel muttered. "I hate interruptions. And I hate fighting at the dinner table!."
A long silence. Then.
"She invited me," Valen grumbled.
"Your a vampire!" Lyrelle retorted.
"I didn't bite anyone!" Valen sigh's.
"You looked like you would!" Lyrelle remarked.
"Will you both shut it and eat?!" Fel shouted....
Another long silence....
Valen grumbled. "That wasn't necessary."
Lyrelle huffed. "He was going to drink your blood!"
Fel pointed a fork at both. "I invited him. He's annoying, but he's my annoying vampire."
"Gee. Thanks," Valen muttered.
Dinner was tense.
Valen scowled at his salad. Lyrelle glared over her fruit. Fel happily devoured her servings. For several minutes, no one spokeexcept Fel, who happily chewed everyone's leftovers.
Finally, Lyrelle sighed. "...I may have overreacted."
Valen looked up.
"You think?"
She looked away. "Your presence caught me off guard. The scent of blood was... overwhelming. I assumed the worst."
He stared for a moment, then grunted. "I get that a lot."
There was a pause.
Lyrelle apologized for the surprise attack.... reluctantly. Valen apologized for being... himself..... barely. And Fel called it even.
"I'm sorry," Lyrelle added quietly.
Valen blinked. Then smirked. "You're lucky I'm starving and not in the mood to be offended."
"Charming as ever," Fel muttered.
"You apologizing too?" Valen asked.
"For what?"
"For terrifying me into eating salad for two days."
Fel grinned. "Nope."
Lyrelle chuckled despite herself. "So... you really just live here? Together?"
Fel nodded. "I garden. He broods. It works."
Valen stretched. "She feeds me plant stuff. I scare away pests."
"You are the pest," Fel corrected.
After dinner, Fel gestured toward a vine hammock hanging between two glowing trees.
"You can sleep here. But No iron tomorrow!, please."
Lyrelle nodded. "Thank you."
Valen collapsed dramatically under his usual tree. "Still no meat..."
Fel smirked. "Still alive though."
As the stars glowed above and the forest settled into silence, three very different people lay side by side, connected by missteps, misunderstandings, and mushrooms.