“But, how? How can I help?”
Gaia looked over her shoulder, not stopping. “Follow your heart, Little Willow Tree. That’s all you have to do.” Gaia’s form faded as she walked, soon nothing but the swaying of the leaves showing her passage.
Willow gazed after her, worried. Willow didn’t want to let down Gaia, yet she wondered what to do. Follow her heart? Willow wasn’t sure how, even as her eyes strayed back to Alex. Surely she couldn’t mean it. How could she help save the mountain area she lived in? Looking at her tree, Willow’s tears etched salty trails down her cheeks. What would she do now?
Willow walked slowly over to her tree. Alex was down on his knees, hands running over the trunk. Willow’s face flushed, imagining Alex doing the same to her. Willow could almost feel the touch of his hands. She shivered.
Alex looked up and smiled at her. At the sight of her flushed face his grin widened.
“Willow.”
Willow ducked her head, her shyness causing her to flush even harder. She peeked up at Alex’s low laugh.
“This is a weeping willow is it not?”
Willow nodded.
“Can you feel this, Willow?”
Alex ran his hands slowly along the trunk of the tree.
Willow swallowed and shook her head. “No.” Willow looked at Alex. “What does it mean?”
Alex sighed. “I’m pretty sure it means you can’t go back in your tree. Have you tried?” Alex glanced at the oak. “Dad was able to get back in his tree, so I’m hoping he’s okay.”
“No, I haven’t tried.” Willow glanced at Alex and then her tree. “What if it hurts? What if I can’t get back out?”
“You don’t have to try all of you. I could see Dad change as he touched parts of his tree. You can just touch it.” Alex’s eyes strayed to the old oak. “I can’t believe Dad is a hamadryad.”
“No.” Willow swallowed. “Peter isn’t. He’s a dryfaun.”
“A what?” Alex shook his head. “I saw him absorbed into the oak tree.”
“Well, because it’s his tree. Male nymphs are fauns, a species of nymphs, just male. Like humans use man and woman we are nymphs and fauns.”
“Hmm. I thought fauns were horny beasts with goat legs.”
Willow giggled at the confused look on Alex’s face.
“No, that’s a satyr.”
“What? They’re real?” Alex shook his head. “Never mind. The important thing is your tree. See if you can get back in.”
Willow frowned at her tree, her lip trembling. She slowly approached it and hesitantly put her hand against the trunk. Willow tried to get back into the tree, but it wouldn’t accept her. She could feel the pain of the tree when she touched it, but it was closed to her. The willow tree would no longer take her spirit.
Willow realized she was once again weeping when Alex pulled her into his arms. Willow turned and buried her head in his chest, seeking the warm comfort of his body. She didn’t know what to do. Peter always said Alex was reliable. Willow figured she’d have to rely on him to guide her. Willow observed life around her, but now she needed to participate. Hiccupping, she cried harder at the thought. Scary. She wasn’t meant to be part of the world. Too bad Gaia thought differently. She sniffed, trying to stop crying.
Alex tilted up Willow’s chin and smiled at her. “You are definitely a weeping willow, aren’t you?” His smile lit up his eyes and Willow could feel herself drowning in their depths.
“I’m sorry.” She wiped her hands across her eyes, scrubbing at them. She had to stop.
“Don’t be.” Alex pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. Willow could feel a thrill rush through her body. She tightened her arms around Alex, excited and scared all at once. “Were you able to get in?”
“No.” Willow knew her voice was muffled against Alex’s chest. Willow knew he heard her when his arms tightened even more. She swallowed, trying to keep her emotions to herself.
“Willow, I’m not sure I’ll be able to save your tree.”
CHAPTER THREE
At her muffled cry, Alex could feel her heart splintering. Her body shaking in his arms. With just his touch he could share feelings and impressions from the trees around him, now he knew why. A legacy from his father, not a gift as he had believed. At the moment it seemed a curse. The wounded feeling coming from Willow enough to bring him to his knees. He gathered her against him, moving them towards his tent and away from the broken willow tree.
Stopping, out of sight of her tree, Alex tightened his arms around Willow until he swore they would merge into one. Alex could feel her spirit, entwining with his, reaching for solace. His spirit answered her unheard cry for a place to shelter, her spirit needing a haven. Willow looked up and Alex lowered his head needing to feel the touch of her lips against his, needing to answer the cry of her spirit.
The touch of her soft lips, the dampness of her mouth as she slowly opened to his demand hardened Alex like the oak next to him. The shiver of Willow’s body against his made him burn hotter. Alex crushed her against him. An inferno lit inside him at the shy touch of her tongue seeking his.
Alex could feel her spirit melding and wrapping through his, joining their souls as their bodies yearned towards each other. Willow’s yielding softness belied a fine edge of strength as did her spirit. That strength and softness called out to everything inside of him.
Alex leaned back, finding steadiness from the trunk of tree behind him. His body and spirit enflamed with the feel of Willow against and around him. Suddenly he was pushed forward, hard hands against him. Alex grabbed Willow up in his arms, staggering to catch his balance. Steadying from the push, Alex settled Willow in his arms. Her arms winding around his neck as she buried her face against him, Alex turned. Against the tree was his father, frowning at him.
“Find another place. Not against my tree. No father wants to share what I was feeling from you two.” With a disgusted look, Peter merged back with his tree.
Alex could feel his face burn with embarrassment while Willow shook in his arms.
“Oh, God! Willow, I’m sorry.” Alex stopped and frowned at her. Willow was not shaking from embarrassment. Alex could hear giggles muffled against his chest. Alex cracked a smile, a burst of happiness filling him. “Think that’s funny do you?” Willow nodded, her giggles filling the air.
Alex turned and walked over to his gear, where he tossed Willow onto his sleeping bag in the tent. Glad he left the door open, he followed her down, landing on top of her. Her squeak of surprise set Alex chuckling.
“Alex!” Willow’s tone was breathy, exciting him.
“Yes, Willow?” Alex nuzzled her neck, running his tongue up to nibble on her ear. Alex could feel Willow shiver beneath him. Alex moved, leaning up on his elbows and gently grabbed Willow’s head between his hands, running his fingers through her hair. Alex looked into her face, his thumbs caressing her temples, until Willow opened her eyes.
“Alex?”
Alex could see the question in her eyes, her burgeoning desire. Alex could feel it in the trembling of her body as he pressed against her. Alex glanced down, frowning. Willow giggled. He knew his puzzlement shown in his eyes. Raising a brow, the quirk of his lips left the question unasked, but Willow’s response let him know she heard it.
“Every person comes by wearing clothes, well mostly, unless they’re swimming...” Willow’s face turned red as she peeked at him. Alex figured she was remembering the times he swam near her tree. The shade of her branches were always cool in the heat of the day. It was fairly normal for Alex to strip, swim and drowse naked under her tree on a hot summer day. The river formed a small pool off to one side. Its waters calm and perfect for swimming. The willow tree grew there, shading part of the pool from the sun.
“Yes?” If only he had known Willow was there, watching him.
“And well, I didn’t want to seem out of place, so I made sure I wore what looked like clothes when I was thrown from my tree. They’re just another p
art of me.”
“So.” Alex smiled at her. “How do they come off?” Alex chuckled as Willow’s eyes widened.
Willow cleared her throat.
Alex smiled down at her. She was so cute, wildly embarrassed by the color of her cheeks and look in her eyes.
“I just wish them away.” Willow’s throaty whisper sent a shiver down his spine.
“Well, when you’re ready to take them off I guess I’ll know.” Alex whispered back before nibbling on her ear. His only answer was an incoherent mumble. Willow stretched turning to offer him more of her neck. Alex took her offering, nibbling and kissing his way down, running his hand along her curves shifting to keep his weight off her and giving him access to touch even more of her luscious body.
Willow pulled him closer against her, arms embracing his torso. Alex shifted, pressing his aching erection into the softness of her body. Alex kissed her slow and deep, causing both to pant and shifting to breathe before coming together in heat and fire once again, mouths melding.
Alex’s hands roved, stroking her body. Willow wiggled, shifting closer. Alex broke off the kiss and pulled Willow tighter against his body. He could feel her shudder against him. Alex lay his head against Willow’s. Her hair soft against his cheek. Her warm breath against his neck stirring the aching desire to be one with her.
“I think we should slow down.” Alex rubbed his cheek against her hair. “I don’t want to scare you and if I don’t stop now, I’m not sure I’ll be able to.” He chuckled at her squeak and smiled as her arms snaked around his neck.
Alex knew, despite her response, she wasn’t ready. His biggest clue, despite his touch, her clothes stayed firmly in place. Content, he smiled against her hair. She felt perfect in his arms. There was no need to rush. Now that he held her, he didn’t think he could let her go. Somehow he would find a way to save her tree and keep her.
Alex snuggled Willow against him, resting in the cool shade of the tent. Willow drifted off to sleep, warm in his arms. She had to be tired from all her weeping. Alex had no idea how long she suffered, but the storm ran its course two days ago. At the moment, there was nothing else he could do, or wanted to do, but hold her. He reached over and pulled his extra sleeping bag over them to keep Willow warm.
Alex watched and listened to the forest around him as the sun rose and peaked in the sky. Willow’s rhythmic breathing began to match the beating of the heart of the forest. She slept, the sounds of the forest settling into the rhythm he knew. Hearing the familiar patterns, Alex noticed a new one. A subtle difference, a groan, a painful rasping not normally heard.
Alex glanced at Willow. She shifted in her sleep. Hands together, her face burrowed into his shoulder while his arms encircled her. Alex slowly shifted, pulling his arm and shoulder from beneath her. Willow let out a huff of air but continued to sleep on. He slowly moved back, tucking the sleeping bag around her.
Alex exited the tent, looking back at Willow and smiling. Only the top of her hair was visible. Alex figured she was used to being inside her tree and this was the closest she could now get. His smile dropped, heart aching at Willow’s loss. Alex glanced around, trying to pinpoint where the groan came from. He didn’t have far to go. The sound was coming from his father’s tree.
Alex went over and placed his hand against the trunk. He looked over the tree. The old oak cantered over, leaning close to a sixty degree angle to the ground. Alex thought if Willow’s tree stood further away, the oak would be dying, perhaps dead, roots completely exposed. Standing at the angle it was, a third of the roots were still in the ground, the others exposed and broken.
“Dad, is there anything I can do?” Alex was worried the pain would be too much for his father. A hand reached out from the tree, bark covered and slow, to touch his shoulder.
“No. I don’t think so.” Alex hurt to listen to his dad’s voice so filled with pain. “Maybe you could cover up my roots. I’m too big to be moved upright again, nor will my broken roots hold.”
“I’ll do that, Dad. You rest.”
“Did you call your mother?”
“Not yet. I’ll get your roots done and then I’ll let her know.”
“Call her first, Alexander.” His father’s hand shifted back, his voice fading away. “Tell her I love her, Alexander.”
“You can tell her yourself, Dad.” Alex couldn’t just let him go. “Just rest. I’ll call Mom. You can tell her yourself.”
Yes, an answer he could hear in the breeze, but no more sound came from his father. Alex leaned his forehead against the oak. He couldn’t lose his father, not know that he knew the truth.
“You can tell her yourself, Dad.” Alex whispered. He could feel the life in the oak. Life he now knew belonged to his father. Amazing. He felt life in the trees ever since he could remember. Growing, he understood what they were saying. Maybe, just maybe, if he talked to his father about it earlier, he would have learned the truth sooner. But, he was scared no one would believe him. If only he had spoken up. Regret was bitter on his tongue.
Alex felt arms come around him, hugging him tight. Lithe and supple arms, trying to comfort him. Alex stood straight and turned, pulling Willow close in his embrace.
“I don’t think I can lose him, Willow.” Alex was not unaware of the irony of Willow comforting him. He knew losing her tree was akin to him losing his father. Her strength was born out by her ability to put her needs aside for him.
“I don’t think you will Alex. The oak is not dead, just injured. You just have to make sure it heals.” Willow was stroking his back, a rhythmic stroke meant to comfort.
“He wants me to cover up his roots.” Alex hugged Willow and broke the embrace, encircling her waist so they both faced the oak. Alex looked at it with a critical eye. “It is damaged. The roots definitely need to be covered. Dad was right.”
“Yes. His roots holding should be strong enough so when he heals, his tree will be crooked, but it should not fall.” Willow nodded.
“Willow,” he was hesitant to say what he needed. “I won’t be able to save your tree. Not if we are to save my father.” Alex watched Willow’s face carefully.
“I know.” It came out on a sigh and a sniffle. “But, I couldn’t go back in my tree anyhow. Gaia told me so.”
“When was this?”
“Earlier, when you were looking to see what you could do to save it.”
“Oh, Willow.” Alex pulled her into his embrace. His turn to comfort her. “You know I will protect you.” Her arms tightened around him.
“I know. I hoped.”
“Did Gaia tell you anything else?”
“Yes.” Willow’s voice was hesitant. “She told me I needed to help save this mountain.”
“How did she expect you to help?” Alex knew he sounded skeptical, but Willow possessed no resources, no contact with the outside world. She burrowed her face into his chest.
“She told me to follow my heart.”
Alex smiled. He hoped her heart beat in the direction of his, toward each other. “That sounds like a plan.”
Willow peeked up at him, her face flushing a delicate pink.
“Do you think so?”
“I think so.” Alex squeezed her, eliciting a squeak and a giggle. “I need to call my mother. My father asked me to before I started covering up his roots.”
“I can work while you talk to her. Do you have anything to carry the earth in?”
“Yes.” Alex turned to his emergency pack. He pulled out a folding shovel and expanded a silicone bucket from his backpack. “You never know what you will need out here. Be careful, the shovel has a cutting edge on one side, you don’t want to harm any roots.”
“Why do you have this?” Willow popped and flattened the bucket a couple of times, eyeing it curiously.
“To carry water in when my canteen isn’t enough. I also put my food in it to keep it off of the ground to keep it away from bears and other animals at night.”
“Oh.” Willow stood there absorb
ing his words. “Okay.” Grabbing the pail and shovel, she headed closer to the river where fewer roots would be and started digging. Alex watched her as he brought out his phone and dialed his mother.
****
Willow listened to Alex talking to his mother over the phone. Her heart beat faster. His embrace like nothing Willow had ever experienced. She wanted to shed her leaves, let every one of them drop from her form and feel the touch of his skin against hers. Her belly stirred in excitement dreaming of his tender touch.
She continued to dig, knowing the dampness of the soil would help Peter heal. There were lots of nutrients in the dirt along the river bank. One of the reasons willows could be found there. Regular soil was okay, but the nutrients along the banks were always fresh. Willow trees grew so fast because of this. If Willow lived in an oak or any of the other inland forest trees she would still be considered just a sapling.
With her pail full she headed back to Peter. Dumping it on his roots, she could see the distress in Alex’s voice as he talked to his mother. From the sounds coming from the phone, his mother was taking it worse than expected.
“Mom, give the phone to Grandpa.”
Willow headed away to give Alex more privacy, needing to help Peter and take some of the burden from Alex. Willow knew this was hard on him. At least she knew no matter what happened she couldn’t get back in her tree again. She was alive though, and hoped Alex truly was where her heart was leading.
Willow was loosening up more dirt, transferring it to the pail to carry when she saw one of the water sprites pop his head up to watch her. He was translucent, the running water forming the shape of a man as he lay there, head and torso propped against the bank on his arms.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
Willow's Cry Page 3
