Not Forgotten

Chapter 1: Nothing but the sea and sky

Jacob had lost track of how long he had been floating here on this ocean. He didn't even know the name of the sea he was lost in, it didn't seem to matter in his old life. But now when he finally realised the scope of it, he wondered why it didn't matter to him in class, a endless horizon of blue ocean on blue sky carried on in all directions.

No shadows, no clouds, no wind. It was the most ironic of hells he could imagine. Dying slowly of thirst only able to sustain himself on a few drops of condensed water a day.

He couldn't help but wonder how long it would be before he lost his mind to this state and just drank the sea water surrounding him. 

The depressing thoughts irked him, he hated weakness and finding himself in a completely helpless situation drove at his mental stability. Pressing his red sore arms against the rubber plastic of his life raft, his skin so red and raw from the relentless surf and sun the pain barely seemed to register anymore as his limbs stuck onto the neon orange surface, making a sickly wet noise as he struggled to right himself. 
Looking over the edge into the ocean. Jay marveled at how crystal clear it all was.

Catching a minor glimpse of his reflection only to see what his new world was doing to him. Forcing that image out of his mind he chose to remind himself of his normal self. Of a young clean shaven man with everything to gain and everything to prove. 

Wiping sleep along with crystallised salt from his eyes he was at a loss for a moment when trying to picture how he normally would look. Just almond eyes and short yellow hair to go along with his clean cut casual image. 
Splashing the water in frustration he saw several large fish dash away in surprise. Pushing himself further over the edge of the raft he saw barnacles had started growing on his raft and that fish where coming up attracted to, by this small floating island of sorts. 

He smirked, so even fish come to mock me he thought darkly. Forcing himself back away from this latest development,  instead Jay pulled himself to the side with a little buoy.

This little orange and clear piece of plastic was his only lifeline. It provided him with clean drinking water. Tugging gently on the white thread that connected it to his raft he worked it closer to himself. As carefully as Jay could, he got it out of the water, with some minor difficulty, as his limbs no longer possed the same strength he had when he started. It's clear traffic cone shape was sickly warm to the touch. Fumbling with a straw he drank the few drops available to him. It was hot and stale to the taste, that didn't matter,  the only thing that mattered was that it was safe. 

When Jacob was about to refill the buoy a sudden change in temperature with the first gust of wind he had felt in lord knows how long, caused him to drop it. Limbs barely able to follow his instructions fumbled for the string again. The wind now hailed past his ears, it honestly felt quite good,  a cool harsh wind cooling his body down and cutting into his sore skin, more like a soothing salv of cream then anything else. 

Jay had gotten the buoy back in the time the wind had stopped. He found the little flap to let in more water when the pressure suddenly dived down causing his ears to pop, followed instantly with a dark shadow cast over him. Goosebumps popping up all over his body as it struggled to warm itself up as it had gotten icy cold. Dropping what he was doing. Jacob spun around on the spot, just as the first drop of ice cold rain came down. It was followed by thousands of other drops. Stunned he grabbed hold of one of the rafts handles as thunder began to rain down along with the torrential torrent of water. The noise was unreal, he wasn't able to think as it dawned on him just how at mercy he was in this ocean.

The surf surged up all around his raft. Now bathing in a cold bath of rain water he felt his stomach churn and twist around as he was violently thrown up and down on the spot. The sun was nowhere to be seen anymore. Jay was surrounded by pitch blackness that could only be rivaled with the darkest of nights. Only to see the now raging storm ominously shadowed by the lightning. Fingertips growing numb. As the wind and rain tore all warmth in him out. The irony wasn't completely lost on him. He had gone from the sauna of a desert to the freakish hell of a cold winter. 

Jays fingers where robbed of what little strength he had as the weather proceeded to get worse. The rain was so fierce and heavy he barely could keep his eyes open as droplets started to hit his weakened state like frozen bullets. It was almost as if he was completely naked to the storm. His clothes didn't seem to do anything to stop the relentless assault. 

With the last bit of his meagre strength lost, his grip on the handles of the liferaft was completely gone. Now Jay was left to be thrown back and forward as the surge of sea water raged up and down threatening each and every time to throw him from his only hope of survival. 
Gasping for air as a huge surge of water threatened to throw him and his raft upside down. Jay wrestled with what strength he had, willing limbs to move that had already gone way past there limits of endurance. He grasped one handle in desperation drawing in short ragged breaths everytime the water on his raft let him, as it sloshed on tune with the waves of the merciless ocean. 

Peering out bruised eyes he saw a shadow come over him. It was like a wall but alive gliding without friction or noise. The next moment seemed to pass like a dream.

Jays back was thrust into the bottom of his raft along with what water remained in its boundaries. The only way he could think to describe it was as if a train had picked him up suddenly while moving at two hundred miles an hour.

His lifeless limbs trembled as he felt his inertia shift. Not upwards but downwards, willing himself to open his eyes once more he saw a deep dark blue as still and as smoothly as ice approach him at insane speed. Then there was nothing but darkness... 

Chapter 2: Mighty Alice

The sun burned brightly high in the sky. Over a long Beach of red sand. The oceans waves where a deep green. With waves turning a pinkish hue as it foamed onto the crimson sands, that spread out onto the horizon either way, miles upon miles of desolate red sanded isolation.

The trees further inland roughly twenty metres from where Jay layed. Bloody and beaten upon the shore.  Surf slowly washing up over his bear back. His body now covered in small cuts with large deep purple bruises. His skin cracked from sunburn and oozing a mixture of white puss and blood. His clothes hanging on by a few inches of thread. He had survived losing his raft, only to find himself unable to move now he had finally found land. 

Slowly coming to, the first thing to hit Jay was nausea, followed by dull throbbing pain in his joints, finally finished with him unable to see due to the bruising around his eyes. He would cry if he could but his body was so dehydrated. 

Jays limbs pressed weakly against the sand of the beach. Managing just barely he clawed his way away from the water and sharp black rocks. Finding his hands stumbling into large tree roots so broad that his hands couldn't get purchase on it surface. Until he passed out again with his arms trapped feebly beneath his own body. Falling into a sleepless dream. Beneath the shelter off a large golden crowned tree. 

  *  *  *  *

Alice fluttered through the branches and leaves carried by the rapid beating of her small wings, that grew out of her upper back. She shared many human features a pretty face framed by dark brown bangs that highlighted her two beautiful shimmering blue eyes. Her ears where a little elven and pointy, but petite enough not to be noticed as any different from anyone else. She had two arms and legs which looked normal enough. The differences where more pronounced in the fact she had a few more bee like qualities to her person. She had the stinger of a bee, long and sleek as if it was a cats tail on a human body. It's stripes a dark yellow mixed with wide black stripes to her person. She wore a black outfit with light armour covering parts of her body. The armour was plain and warped from fire and overuse, darkening the plates of mail a stained black. On her tanned leather belt hung two small bags either side and a sheathed short sword, in an ancient plain metal sheath. The ornate scabbard was decorated with small gems of the earth and had a binding of dried brown leaves. Her trousers where of a thick black hide of some sort laced with a dull yellow weave, showing its age and weathered use. 
Alice was on a personal mission. Every now and then when she had the time, she would go practice her martial art. She always liked training on the beach it was a place where a great battle many years ago took place. Well so goes the legend of how the sands gained there bloody colour. Though to Alice just being there made her feal as though she was honoring the deads memories. 

Being devoted to the cause of keeping your people's safe. Having sworn an oath to the Matriarch of Thorns to protect its people. Alice intended to be the strongest warrior in her kingdom. To ensure to herself and others she could protect them when the time came. 

It wasn't just the atmosphere of the beach that attracted her there. The sound, the smell of sea salt air and the way the suns heat would get to her, as if she had been fighting through fire. Each added another level to her training. It enlivened her, filling her with more cause and satisfaction. 
Racing to the plato where the forest tree line ended and opened up revealing a beach of red sand that glowed a luminescent pink. Slowing her flight Alice aimed a landing onto the soil of her kins land, wanting to walk a short distance and feel the soil change to sand through her boots. It had after all been a long personal journey from the forward camp she called home. 

Alice especially liked how it felt loose and soft. Though through training she knew it could bog you down if not fully aware of your footing. Hearing the sound of the sea approach, she pressed forward into a jog, before bursting into a full out run. Jumping out of the last bit of foliage she immediately took a defensive battle stance. Drawing her sword slowly, just so she could feel and hear the blade as it was released from its metal stock sheath. 

Starting off slowly, wanting to see just how long she could personally maintain her defensive stance while,  mock dodging a make belief foes in her head. Alice always tried to think of the unexpected or to go through moves and scenarios she was told about by others. She always found that maintaining her stance while in a relaxing environment was the hardest thing to do. It was so easy to lose focus and just lose herself to bathing in the suns rays, a guilty pleasure of hers. 

Having a clear plan in mind,  she was going to go through a play that she had seen not too long ago. One of the actors moves intrigued her. She knew it wasn't a real sword he carried but she couldn't help but want to try out the move she saw. A move that had slayed a dragon dead. Or that's what she had planned to do. Maintaining her defensive sword fighting stance she,  danced across the beach slaying fictional foes with gusto, while deftly dodging left and right from retaliation.  It wasn't until she had worked some distance down the beach. That she saw she was approaching something that looked like thick leather. Though it didn't smell of leather nor of anything else, she could recall. 

Poking the large orange mass tentatively with her index finger, then placing her palm flat on this strange material. Having had never seen a leather like this before. It must have come from a monsters hide she had never seen or heard about before. The image of a strange grotesque, dragon like being crossed her mind. It's hide and wings where neon orange while it's gaping maw salivated blue ooz. Laughing at her own made up monster she took to the air. To get a broader picture. From above it looked like an odd banana shape all torn and ripped apart. Alice's eyesight  followed the shoreline seeing bits and pieces of this orange hide strewn all about. Most of it appeared caught in the surf,  like the ocean didn't want the land to have it now it had finally gotten there. 
Following the debris a few hundred metres above ground as she flew quickly along the crimson beach her eyes fell onto an odd shape, sheltered beneath a tree. It looked like one of the fairy kin but bigger and without wings. 

Alice delicately set herself down atop a thin branch,  careful not to put to much of her weight down at once for fear she could break it. Starring dumbfounded at the red'ish wingless fairy that was collapsed below of her. It looked like it was burnt. With several wounds covering it's body. 
Alice cautiously fluttered off her perch closer. Looking down she just realised she was still clutching her sword in her main hand. Pulling it closer in an odd position slowly circling the now giant wingless fairy. This thing was at least seven times bigger than her. She estimated she was as tall as this things head was high. The creature showed no signs of life. Reaching its head she tentatively poked at the things face with her sword. When it was clear it posed no threat she sheathed the sword. Finally kneeling down while crawling forward a bit more closer to poke it's red nose, when it let out a shallow sigh, that sounded like sand grating against a large dry rock. Alice leapt back automatically drawing her sword again, ready to swing at a moments notice. She lowered her guard as it was painfully obvious this creature couldn't pose a threat. It looked as though it was in pain and unable to move of its own will. A mix of emotions rose up in her along with the idea, what if this happened to me? Shaking those thoughts loose from her mind. Feeling it only right that she end this creatures suffering and pain. 

It felt like the right thing to do, she would expect the same for herself, if she ever was found in this sorry state. 

Moving into a position from a foot away, with a clear line if sight on its exposed throat, she brought her sword up to her face,  saying a silent pray to the holder of eternity for this creatures fair travel. Finally lifting the finely crafted sword above her head, allowing mana from the land to flow up through her feet into her hands. The blade glowed a dim red as it started to grow longer, wider and heavier. It's size kept growing and growing as Alice allowed the magic of the distant mountains to course through her. She kept this up until she felt the sword was more than big enough to relieve this creatures suffering. That's when a light blue roabed fairy shot from the woods, blocking her path. 

The fairy was shorter than her, but only slightly it held its hand out flat while holding a stern expression on its face, his rather handsome face. 
Alice smirked at the sudden appearance of the young prince of fairies. She scanned the princess attire. His wings beat to fast to see there thin butterfly qualities of gold on white. His hair was a long sleek silver matching his families heritage. Only thing to differentiate him from his father was his brown eyes. The Oberons family crest was proudly on show on his light blue robe. It was a hand clenched over a rare miniature flower. Legend of old says it imbues those who posses it with untold riches. Though it was an old legend. 

Not wanting to create an incident between nations, she released the mana in her sword firing the energy directly up away from both parties. It shot out in a long arc into the horizon where sea laid out waiting for it. It left a trail of plasma as it ferociously tore at the fabric of the air in its path. After the spectacle Alice sheathed her sword quickly as she felt the presence of the royal guard approaching there position. 

"So what brings the prince of all fairies out into the wilderness. Or would you prefer I call you Oberon the sixth?" Alice said putting on a brave act trying to hide her concern of the fairies that where now training there arrows onto her, from hiding in the branches of the woods. 

Oberon chuckled slightly while brushing his silver hair out if his face, "I'm actually the ninth in the current lineage of Kings. But you can call me what you wish. I only ask what you intended to do using our lands mana."
Alice looked past the prince to the pained creature. It annoyed her that she was being interrogated by this child, for a simple act of kindness. Finally she sighed turning to face the forest where she felt so much murderous intent focused on her. "Kindness... I was planning on ending that wingless fairies pain." She said gesturing towards the creature behind the prince. 

"It's fortunate I stopped you then. Because murder is forbidden in our kingdom. It carries the pain of death." 

"Really?" Alice said venom in her throat, "This land you claim is within your borders of my monarchs territory. How do you plan in forcing the lay of your kingdom upon that of others, hmm?"  finishing with anger in her voice. 

Oberon signaled for his guardsman to come out of behind the tree's. They approached instantly surrounding his majesty while keeping there green piercing eyes focused on Alice.

There was five in total, all wearing delicate ornate blue robes of Oberons family lineage, over what Alice could only guess to be light plate armour. Each was bald with no distinguishing facial features only sharing the same grim expression. Each stood imposing shoulder to shoulder at least a few inches taller than Oberon, closer to her own hight.  Not a single one of them appeared to be carrying a weapon, which meant they where mages of some sort. Alice had never seen any members of the royal guards to the fairies before. All she knew was there reputation of incredible defensive magics along with nasty dark magics. The last thing she wanted was to find herself engaged in combat with no less than five experienced fighters and who knows what else hidden in the trees. It irked her to have so many hidden foes pointing there intent to harm her so readily from hiding. Though she couldn't get a read on the royal guard they where blank, completely emotionless. 

"Men please could you bring my physician here." He said it with authority, so much so they wouldn't question his order. 

Alice watched two of the five guards leave. Turning her back on the group she went to fly away. She didn't want to be party to any more diplomatic problems. 

"Please don't leave quite yet miss. I wish to introduce you to my father." Said Oberon in a petulant tone. 

Alice turned to see the guards come up to flank her. Letting out an audible sigh, she stood tall with her hand on her swords hilt, showing her strong will not wanting to look weak in front of these fairies. "I'm afraid young prince that I have other duties and I've lingered here long enough."
"No need to worry about your duties. I'll talk to my father and have you exempted from trifling matters." Remarked Oberons smirking. 
"I beg your pardon but I'm a warrior. No diplomat." Alice gripped at the hilt of her blade ready to draw it at a moments notice. While she cautiously backing away. 

The prince tired of flying on the spot dropped to the ground. "Really it's a simple request, it would go a long way in insuring the alliance between our nations. I mean I wouldn't want to have to tell the Monarch of the Thornhunters, that a discretion made by one of her own, has cost her the only neighbouring ally."

"What!?"

"Heh... it's up to you this alliance is not needed by my fair race." A dark smile now covered the princes formerly handsome face. 

Alice didn't like this one bit. It was just like all her worst nightmares had come together and morphed into something much worse. She had no idea what to do, could this alliance honestly be so easily waved off by a few words and her attendance. It made no sense whatsoever. Looking at the fairy in the eye failing to hide her contempt for him. It was then she knew without a doubt this creature would do it. The prince Oberon had no remorse or sympathy in his eyes, they where as cold as the frozen rain of the Northern shattered plains. "Fine, let's play your game." She relented turning her gaze away from his in anger, at being so powerless all of a sudden. 

"Good!" Beamed Oberon, just as he was about to turn to face the creature on the ground, his two royal guards burst out the tree line carrying a petite fairy girl with mousy features, large rimmed glasses that reflected so much sunlight that they completely hid her hazel eyes from view. Her hair was a complete mess, it looked like it was cut short but given all the bits of leaves and broken shattered twigs it was impossible to tell, what it normally looked like. She had a similar light blue uniform like the guards except it had a less ornate finishing to it. 

"Ah doctor I'll leave the healing to you. Guards keep watch. I am tired and wish to retire for the evening." With that Oberon lifted off the ground almost lazily disappearing behind the tree line heading off to his encampment. 

"Uhm... who am I healing?" Said the petite physician looking between her and then freezing on the spot when she saw the Thornhunter. 

Alice couldn't help but laugh to herself at the irony. Now she was the one who was being held captive against her will. She secretly wished she never went training to today. Looking back towards the party of fairies she saw a young girl standing there starring at her wide eyed. Alice glanced around her at the grim faced guards monitoring her. She sighed pointing her hand to behind the girls right shoulder. 

The girl shuddered at her sudden movement, following where her hand pointed to only to fall to her knees when she saw what was behind her. Clutching her bag desperately close to her chest, allowing a little whimper to escape her throat. 

Chapter 3: The Healer

Nessa awoke with a start. Her large circular glasses where hanging from one ear while the other was pressed up against her cheek, leaving a red welt against her fair skin. Two bags hung from each of her hazel eyes. A severe reminder of what staying up to long the night before does, while wrestling with complex medical textbooks and advanced magical theory on its applications. 

Adjusting her spectacles back onto her face, getting the wire frame back over each ear comfortably. Before sitting up from where her sleeping bag rested against the floor on what was fortunate for her a comfy moss ground. Which made getting up so much harder, from having slept rough this entire week.  Her bones seemed out of shape, from the torture of camping, combined with having to adopt odd sleeping positions each night. 

The early morning haze slowly cleared from her eyes, letting her see the red and gold print tent walls imposing in on her. It's ornate sigils circling the hand of there kings families legend. 

Shivering from the cool air that drifted in from under a tiny gap, where the tent met the ground. Nessa grimaced at the thought of having another day of travelling with all her books, she couldn't help thinking darkly on this whole entire experience. Then having to stop to set up her tent again and get what little studying she could done before it all started again. She felt more akin to a marionette being dragged violently from place to place, then a free spirited fairy.

There was a lot of hustle and bustle going on outside of her cramped tent. Stroking her shoulder length brown hair back down, fighting it's knots, in vain to regain some semblance of composure to this horrid experience of having no warm comforting fire, from that of her medical school hall, nor having any other conveniences of home. Like warm water or even a chair. She hated having to squat down on her poor delicate legs to read. It was awful, she wished desperately to the stars that she would never have to do this again, never ever. At least next time she would insist on a chair and a table. All the squatting and sitting on her knees just was to barbaric for her to handle. 

The noises grew louder and more obnoxious outside, as her ears become tuned to her surroundings. An annoying reminder there wasn't a nice thick wall between her and the world outside. Sighing to herself realising that there next heir to the throne was off somewhere, running free once again. It annoyed her that just by there prince's whim that she got torn out of her ivory tower into a world of grime and no running warm water. 

Braving the cold she finally got up out of her bedsheets, regretting the moment the warm blankets left her bare skin. Immediately adopting hunched posture, due to her limited accommodations.  Hoping a cup of the liquid sludge that was called tea would let her regain a more positive mood and motivate her for another day of flying. Nessa slowly, got into her well worn, slightly damp and frozen cold regal blue uniform. As she slipped the sickly sticky clothing over her body, she sighed thinking only one more week and I'm home and dry. Nessa was thankful for the enchantments cast on them that warmed her skin; still it would have been nicer to wear something more personal, having to wear clothes of her kings clan always played in the back of her mind.

Lastly she grabbed a hold of her journal and knapdack to go over some notes she wrote down last night. Fixing her robes straight one last time she left her limited seclusion of her tent to a large bustling crowed that marched in circles over there own tracks. They where all busily arguing amongst themselves, dividing blame back and forth, for today's debacle with the prince no doubt. There special green uniforms all with unique house crests ornately adorning there slightly overweight builds. Each one holding a golden chain, each and every link marked a deed or a donation made to the king. Some of the arguing nobles had very long chains. It was almost comical to see them pressing there red faces together in anger, each one making an argument about how there links where more unique or more earned. 

Honesty it was the same thing every time with these nobles. Nessa just wanted to get past them without getting knocked into and blamed for there blunder. Shaking her head she quickened her pace past the red faced fairies. Finally when she was away some distance only hearing there angry waffle echoing through the trees, she relaxed. Stretching her dragonfly style wings out fully, it felt amazing to have a moment to let them stretch after being cooped up in her tent. 

Still it was the same story everyday. The prince would prank one of his sister's and then charge off somewhere. Leaving the royal guards the challenge of catching up to him. Then the nobles would start up, blaming and circling like fat sharks, circling a proverbial dead horse. Shaking her head to clear her mind of distracting thoughts, she started walking again. No point dwelling on the Prince or the nobles. Who knows maybe she would find one of those conjured tables and chairs to relax in and go over her notes. It might just lift her spirits, she sarcastically quipped to herdelf. Feeling a whole lot more enthused Nessa took flight over an impass of large tents. Yikes, it was bad enough having one small one to herself. But sharing, oh that was something she couldn't dare imagine. 

Seeing her target come into sight. A huge ornately decorated tent, with magically enchanted ropes pulling it out on all sides. It was the largest tent in the entire camp, one meant to feed and nourish everyone on this trip. The thought of having a nice warm drink spurred her wings to beat faster. Before landing a small distance away from its open entrance. 

Nessa landed a bit awkwardly, her body and wings still fatigued from yesterday's travel. Pulling herself back upright, she wished that there was some way to rest her poor tired wings. They felt as though they could give out at a moments notice. 

"Poor little fly can't land properly?" came the mocking indignation of a large male fairy, who was just exiting a tent to see Nessa scuff her landing. 
Nessa didn't want to know who it was or cared for who they where. All she wanted right now was a warm drink. Deciding it best to make a move as quickly as possible, she went to move towards the entrance of the cantin. 
"Oi! Who do you think you are little fly!?" 

His voice echoed in Nessa's ears it was so loud. She could feel herself shrink away in fear. This wasn't happening, what was going to happen to her now? 
"Ah Nessa, so sorry to have kept you waiting." This new voice came from above her. She was delighted to See Ziek, his roguish warm smile and green piercing eyes starring into hers. He delicately landed between Nessa and the disgruntled fairy. Moving up to her to rest his hand on her shoulder in a reassuring manner. 

Pressing her forward gently towards the entrance of the food tent. He gave a threatening look towards the aggressor. 

Nessa was relieved to be saved from the debacle, she also felt relieved to have someone pressing there hands into her sore back. She secretly wanted the sensation continue. 

Finding the closest empty seat away from the hustle of other fairies she enjoyed sitting for a brief moment feeling her leg muscles ache warmly. It wasn't for a few moments until she realised she had forgotten to get her tea or breakfast. The ordeal of just a few moments ago had made her temporarily forget why she was here. 

Nessa was just about to get up onto her feet when she heard Ziek's voice again. "Up again last night studying?" 

She was always taken aback at how nice he was. She was never prepared for it and never expected to see it anyone. Ziek put a bowl of light brown gruel in front of her while placing a hot drink next to it. Nessa stammered for a few moments her cheeks turning red as she desperately tried to think of the right words to say, only ending up saying everything all mixed up, only embarrassing herself further. 

After an awkward silence fell between the the two of them she finally opted to drink the tea set aside for her. It's flavour could only ever be described as to colourful. Still, the warm drink did find a way of warming her up. Nessa was about to drink from the bowl of gruel when several large fairies burst into the tent. As she was about to take her first gulp of food they all zoned in on her seemingly from every angle. Causing her to panic slightly and choke on her mouthful. 

"His Prince highness has requested your service. You shall accompany us immediately." There deep cold tone of voice sent a large steel brick to settle on the inside of her stomach. Nessa felt a cold sweat breaking over her back along with all warmth inside her being lost. She couldn't help thinking back to when she got up, that today was a bad day. 

Almost mechanically she rose from her seat having the King's guard grab each of her arms pulling her quickly away. She saw Ziek's concerned expression aimed towards her as he was powerless to help her. 
Nessa found herself back outside and in the air just as quickly. All sense of what to do was gone she just let herself be dragged from the camp into the woods ahead. 

She lost focus of the path ahead of her, she was shaken about as the guards carrying her would pick up pace and do quick sharp turns around branches and tree trunks. 

Nessa was thrust out into a wide opening. Finding herself dropped onto the ground without warning. The drop was so violent it ripped her glasses from her eyes. Ignoring the voices of a conversation taking place somewhere off to her right she padded her hands delicately on the ground hoping to find her glasses through all the haze. Finding them just in time to see the Prince leave. 

Assuming she was brought here for a reason she scanned the see of people in front of her. Flinching when she saw a real life Thornhunter. One of the warrior kin.

Nessa was taken aback at how composed she was, it actually scared her a little to see anyone that confident. Especially when surrounded by so many telekinetic guards of the king. She couldn't help but flinch when the Thornhunter pointed to her then to something behind her. Turning around to what she originally thought of as a giant black rock was a person. Buried face first into the blood sands. 

Falling backwards in shock, 'How? What am I supposed to do, they don't honestly expect me to heal this giant thing, do they?' Clutching at her knapsacks leather sling. She looked around for answers only seeing people starring down the taller Thornhunter, or just looking expectantly at her. 
Well they where only going to yell at her to do something either way she guessed. Finding the courage she stumbled slightly over to the giant creature to find to her own dismay and surprise that it looked like a regular fairy kin, except it was huge and had plain features with no wings. 

Testing the waters she probed out with mana of the earth. Traditionally a spell of binding she had adapted it as a sort autopsy spell. Through the direct flow of mana she would be able to discern and feel out problems. What Nessa felt was horrible resistance through every fibre of this poor giants being. It was like this creature was on the verge of death, if it wasn't for a faint glimmer of a beating heart. Nessa could feel it beat slowly, yet with strength, a strong will to survive seemed to be core to this creature. 
Calling in mama of the deep green woods she summoned as much strength as she could. Channeling all the healing she could. Nessa managed to do this while maintaining her earlier spell, allowing her instinct to drive the healing force in the giants body. It was all she could do, as the strain began to pile on she felt a sudden sense of urgency to complete this task. Almost as if the mana itself was willing to accomplish this task. For the first time she felt like she was genuinely going to be something bigger than just the fairy who was dragged out of her ivory tower. 

  *  *  *  *

Jay could hear voices off in the distance. They felt like they where far away and close at the same time. 

Jay tried to pull his arm up to his face, but it wouldn't respond, exhausted he let out an inaudible sigh. Before trying to move his fingers. It wasn't normal, they felt like they where a long distance away and completely numb. So tired came a voice within himself, resisting it's pull into the darkness, he tried once more to move before everything went into a deep empty blackness. Just before his mind fell into the darkness, something warm enveloped his body. It washed over his face down his body before touching his hands. 
The heavy dark cloud in his mind began to clear. He could see sunlight, blazing away, but it didn't burn his skin this time, it felt relaxing. Jay stayed like this for a long moment. 

Finally he could feel his eyes opening on there own. Black shapes moved in his periphery, long dark shadows seemed to be everywhere, the sky was a blurry orange. 

Blinking a few times he felt normal, but how? Tortuous memories rapidly played over in his mind. Telling him of the pain, the hunger, the thirst, of everything that had brought him so very close to death. Aware of every muscles and sinew in his body he slowly lifted his right hand to his face. It was like his mind was electrified. He couldn't remember ever feeling his body function this well. Prodding at his own face trying to find defects or evidence of the sun blisters he had once had. But found it respond like nothing had happened. Jays fingers worked up to his eyes where he used them to remove dirt and grime. Doing so felt like he was removing a weight holding him down in some way. 

His eyes focused seeing his own hand in front of him. There where scars covering parts of his fingers and hand. Bringing up his left hand he explored his new scars. 

Raising up he lent up on one elbow looking down the beech to the ocean. His trail of blood still soaked into the red sand except from where it met the seas waves. Looking out towards the setting sun he saw an incredible unspoiled view. The beach spread out to the horizon, with the treeline following it, mixing in incredible colour and depth to everything there. 

Turning round to his other side he saw smaller figures starring at him. They looked human but they where all under fifteen centimetres in hight or close to five inches. Some had staves or spears. One scary looking female standing closer to six inches had a large sword in her hand. 

For a few moments they all starred at each other blankly.  The larger girl in section wings flapped open ready to move. Jay blinked only to see more fairies circling her not paying attention to him. 

He just stayed that way frozen as his mind tried to work things out, only on this occasion exceptionally slowly. He heard something fall over startling back to the reality in front of him. He never realised it but there was a smaller fairy right next to him. She looked as though she had passed out, though for some reason he knew she was the one responsible for restoring him to his former strength by some miracle. Sitting up onto his knees he looked around to see more fairies all pointing there weapons at him. Jay could only guess they where afraid possibly because they thought he was an immediate threat to them. But that didn't make sense why would they heal him if they saw him as a threat, this girl healed him was it by her will alone he was restored. Should he leave,  but then would his saviour be punished for saving him? 

Closing his eyes he decided to use a bow. He hoped it would convey gratitude and relief the tension he could sense in the fairies threatening him. Though he honestly doubted they could seriously harm him with those weapons. 

Seeing the girl recover in front of him. She looked exhausted, barely able to move and respond. She also looked terrified to be so close to him now he had received recovered. Jay sensed this was the perfect moment to express his gratitude, for everything she had done. Pressing his palms flat against the sand he pressed his forehead into the sand. "Thank you, thank you for saving my life." 

He was amazed to find the words flowed so naturally from having not spoken for quite a while. He looked up to the small figure he was still frightened but she no longer was afraid. Slowly rising back onto his knees while keeping his hands pressed against the ground he waited for a response.