Even after a heavy snowfall that blanketed the trees and ground, the Maja Forest remained bright and colorful. The vibrant hues of the tree trunks against the black pattens in the snow filled the realm with an unusual sense of excitement and a longing for merriment. Fortunately, as it was a week before the year 400, the forest was alive and busy in preparation to celebrate a new century. The dryads hung banners and garlands from branches, the elves cleaned and put together all other decorations, the gnomes and dwarves set up the banquet tables and chairs, and the puccas and mushroom pixies gathered food for the banquet. The fairy pixies, however, had many, many duties to perform for the celebration. Since there were so many of them, they were divided into groups and each group had its own job. Some made objects glow, some helped with food, some made flowers bloom in the snow, others gathered supplies for everyone else to use when completing their own duties; the list went on.
Though every fairy here was almost four hundred years old, the pixies appeared to be only twelve since all fairy-kind were the longest-existing creatures on Xyntriav; all born during the first twenty days of the world's creation. As long as they weren't plagued by disease or killed, they would live until the end of time. However, the fairies of the Fairy Circle were created appearing to be in their twenties as they were immortal and would never age. Unable to be killed or fall ill, they were guaranteed to live until the end of time. Because of these facts, no fairy had means of reproduction as there was no need to reproduce. The sole purpose of their existence was to aid and to serve, and they took much joy in working for this objective and especially in accomplishing it.
One special pixie dressed in a black squirrel-fur coat, rabbit-skin pants and leather boots, was part of a hunting group. Her job for the celebration was to gather snowbirds to set free at the very end during the lightshow. It was a dangerous job but as long as it was done correctly, few pixies ever got hurt in the process. Once they had the beaks tied shut, they were flown into the hollow of a grey tree and kept there until it was time to set them loose.
"There we go," said one brown-haired pixie to the one in the black fur coat. She wore a similar brown coat and had violet stripes in her hair. "I think fifty snowbirds should do. What do you think Rein Bow?"
"Lilli Padd," Rein replied as she brushed her black hair out of her face and placed her hands on her hips. "Our work here is done. Now we can just relax until the New Year."
"Sounds good to me, I'm wiped out." Lilli brushed the sweat from her forehead.
The two pixies hugged then went their separate ways. Rein flew over to a dark blue and black tree, where her best friend resided in one of the branches. When she found the door open, she knocked on the door frame to politely interrupt the dirty-blonde pixie inside.
"Rein Bow!" he exclaimed as he stood up straight. He had been slumped over a clutter of paperwork, journals, and large volumes spread out on his table.
"Rhode Odendron," Rein replied as she entered. She raised an eyebrow to the papers and books that had fallen to the floor, but otherwise ignored the chaos. "How's your research going? I haven't interrupted your thought-process, have I?"
"No, you're fine," Rhode replied as he shuffled some papers. "And it's going very well. I've found all the ways to weaken the symptoms of the flu and I've made the recipes for the medications to do so." He gestured to the mess.
"And they work?" Rein asked.
"I'm not sure yet," Rhode admitted with a shrug.
"How would this help with the cure?"
"It gets me close. Very close. But I still have a ways to go."
"Well at least you're making progress." Rein plopped down on a cotton ball chair by Rhode's fireplace.
"How is the snowbird herding coming along?" Rhode took a seat across from her.
"We're finished," Rein beamed.
Rhode looked at her in surprise and smiled. "Really?"
"Well, about five birds a day in ten days makes fifty birds and that's pretty much all we need."
"That's great! So what do you plan to do for the rest of the week?"
Rein shrugged and scratched her head. "Probably help everyone else out with anything that hasn't been finished yet. I don't understand why the Fairy Circle isn't as involved as they usually are."
"Well they're busy," Rhode said with a chuckle.
"With what?"
"You haven't heard?"
"I've been out hunting for ten days," Rein answered. "The grapevine doesn't reach us, so I'm unaware of anything that happened in that timeframe."
"They made another world wonder. They call it the Cataras Springs and they're planning to move some of the Maja citizens out there."
"What?" Rein nearly jumped out of her seat at the news. "Where is this place?"
Rhode appeared a bit confused about Rein's negative reaction. "On Carnific..."
Rein took some time to process this information. "The Continent Islands?"
Rhode nodded carefully. He was sure Rein would pounce on him at any moment.
"That's insane!" Rein exclaimed.
"Why?"
"Well, think about it. For over four hundred years pixies have been strictly forbidden to leave this forest and now all of a sudden we're being moved somewhere completely off the continent!"
"Isn't that a good thing?"
"No!"
"Why? They're letting us out of the forest."
"Only some of us. They're deciding who and where!"
"So I suppose that proposing you might be one of those going to the Cataras Springs wouldn't cheer you up?" Rhode asked.
"Well if that happens, I'm going to refuse." Rein tightly crossed her arms over her chest. "If I'm leaving the Maja Forest, it will be on my own terms."
"So you're going to rebel against the Fairy Circle?" Rhode asked.
"Absolutely," Rein answered. "Rhode Odendron, you know what this means to me. Perhaps this is the perfect time to announce my feelings to the whole forest."
"Maybe," Rhode said slowly. "But I don't suggest you do it the way you're planning to. You might just start trouble."
"Maybe trouble is what we need to break the silence around here."
"Well just take what I say into consideration at least and try a peaceful way first," Rhode suggested. "Then if that doesn't work, break into the chaos you so desire."
"You talk as if I wish to destroy the Maja Forest."
"Sometimes I believe that you do… deep down inside."
Rein rolled her blue eyes. "If that's what you really think of me, I'm sorry. Do you know when Queen Tiana plans to announce who's moving to the Cataras Springs?"
"After the New Year."
"Of course she's going to give us the bad news after we celebrate a new century with the hope of a bright future."
"Stop being so dramatic, Rein Bow," Rhode spat. "It's not bad news, and even if it is, it's not that bad."
"It is for me." An idea spawned. "Do you want to leave the forest?"
"I don't particularly want to go to the islands, no," Rhode answered.
"No, I mean on your own terms. We could live somewhere else ourselves."
"What? Why?"
"Because it's boring here and I hate being told what to do all the time. There's a whole world out there and here we are, the longest-living creatures, stuck in a little forest on a giant continent. There's no way that we're going to stay in this forest until the end of time anyway and I think you and I should be the first to leave."
Rhode considered her words but Rein could tell he was hesitant.
"I'd bet you could find things out there to help you with your science experiments," Rein coaxed. "And no one has to know of our plan, we could sneak out without anyone noticing."
"You know Aranel can probably hear you," Rhode warned.
"I'm sure the Fairy Circle is busy with their Cataras Springs preparations. Aranel can't actively pay attention to everything going on in the world at once. So what do you say? We can wait until after the celebration."
Rhode rubbed his face, conflicted. "Alright, I'll go with you."
"Yes!" Rein exclaimed. "This is so exciting! This is going to be the best New Year ever."
Now that she planned to leave the forest soon, Rein was in a much better mood, but she tried to keep calm so not to draw any unwanted attention to herself. She left Rhode to continue his medical project while she made her way through the busy commotion to the forest line where she could take a peek at what lay on the other side. The dazzling Pixie River at her left flowed further beyond the forest than she could see, and in the distance directly in front of her she observed an empire in development. Then to the left beyond the river was the Coral Ocean, on which the Continent Islands were located. Finally at her right, a large green valley stretched to the horizon and no doubt continued further on. Rein was so ecstatic that she had to hold herself back from leaving the Maja Forest right then and there. Curiosity overwhelmed her and she shook with adrenaline. Who and what were the creatures building the cities and how were they able to accomplish such magnificent feats? How far was this empire going to reach? And what lay just past the empire? Or past the Continent Islands? Whatever the answers were, she was going to find out in no longer than a week. Just one more week. Patience, Rein... patience.
The glowing flowers in the garlands that hung from tree to tree to tree blinked colorful lights in sync with the elf music that echoed around the dancing crowd. Snowflakes shined as they drifted to the ground and everyone who wasn't dancing or singing along was eating, drinking and being merry. Naiads joined in the New Year celebration and now that Rein had plans of leaving the forest in at least a couple of days, she celebrated with extreme enthusiasm along with everyone else; more so than she usually did at most social occasions.
As it got later into the night and things started to slow down to a point where Rein's mind had a chance to wander, she found herself wishing to know who was moving to the Cataras Springs. Rhode and Lilli were still dancing while Rein sipped her drink from the hollowed-out pearl in her hands and watched. She wondered if either of them happened to know exactly when Queen Tiana was to announce those who were moving.
Suddenly, Rein was startled from her thoughts by Lilli.
"Come on, Rein Bow!" she chimed. "We have to release the birds!"
Rein flew behind Lilli to where they kept the snowbirds and waited for their cue from the mushroom pixies. All of the spectators congregated at Pixie Lake where the elves played their music. Finally the mushroom pixies began the lightshow that erupted in the sky like fireworks, which was the sign Lilli and Rein were waiting for. They made the birds' feathers sparkle and set them free. The snowbirds flew single-file in front of the streams of light while the onlookers watched in awe and applauded.
"Happy New Year!" everyone cheered, then they continued their celebration until they could celebrate no more.
~~
The next morning, Rein was awakened in her flat by a knock on the dark brown piece of bark she used for a door. She squinted around at her scarlet room and rolled out of her mussel shell bed before she was fully aware of what was happening. She probably lived in the most empty flat in the entire forest since she only used it as a place to sleep. After all, the intensely compact space made her feel like she was being suffocated. Still half asleep, Rein managed to wrap herself in a black and purple feather robe and opened her door on the fifth knock.
"Oh," Rein said as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "Hey, Rhode Odendron. What brings you here so early?"
"The Fairy Circle posted all the names of the pixies going to the Cataras Spring in the Silver Tree," he informed her. "Thought you'd like to take a look at it."
Rein was suddenly wide awake. She studied the look on Rhode's face to see if she could gather a hint of who might be on the list, but his look gave nothing away.
"Oh!" she said. "Great! I'll be there in two seconds!"
Rein shut her door to throw on some clothes and quickly made her way to the Silver Tree, which was located in the very center of the Maja Forest. There were many scrolls pinned to the trunk of the tree, organized per creature. Each displayed a list of names of those permanently leaving the forest to reside in the Cataras Springs. All of the different creatures gathered around their particular scrolls, anxiously searching for their names and the names of their friends and family. As it turned out, moving to the springs was widely considered good news, so whenever someone learned he or she was leaving, everyone around would give a congratulatory cheer.
Rein furrowed her eyebrows at all of the happy forest inhabitants and made her way to the center of the large cluster of pixies. She was barely able to make out the names on the parchment. They were in alphabetical order by first name. When Rein didn't find her name on the list, she felt both relieved and frustrated. She was relieved that the Fairy Circle wasn't forcing her to go anywhere, but frustrated that they were forcing her to stay. In fact, she found herself more frustrated than relieved. Of course, she could complain that she didn't get to go, but somehow it seemed as though it wouldn't be as affective as expressing anger over having to leave her home and friends.
Next, Rein checked to see if any of her good friends were going. Luckily, Rhode wasn't one of them. However, Lilli was. Another cheer erupted from the group of gnomes and Rein glared at them before she flew off to talk to Lilli. When Rein arrived at the light blue tree where Lilli lived in (or used to live in), all of Lilli's other friends had beat her there to offer their praise and wish her mazel tov. Rein faked a smile and entered the flat to give Lilli a hug.
"I was wondering when you were going to get here," Lilli said.
"I just found out," Rein answered. "I guess I slept in a little. Do you know when you're going to leave?"
"Two weeks," Lilly answered with a glowing smile.
"The forest is throwing a going-away party for everyone who's leaving," said another pixie in the room.
"Well won't that be fun?" Rein managed. Originally she had arrived to express her true feelings to Lilli, but she concluded it might be better to wait until there weren't so many people around. "Good luck, Lilly Padd. I'm going to see if there's anything I can do to help prepare for the party."
Rein flew to Rhode's flat instead. She just had to vent to someone.
"What are you so upset about?" Rhode asked after Rein had slammed his door shut. "You're not going."
"No, but Lilli Padd is," Rein snapped.
"So... why are you upset?"
Rhode's cluelessness only kindled her anger. "Because I'll never see her again!"
"You wouldn't get to see much of her anyway because you plan to leave the forest soon," Rhode reminded.
"Not overseas! Obviously I'd come back to visit."
Rhode shrugged. "We could fly overseas to visit her at the springs."
"We'd have to stow away on a ship, Rhode Odendron," Rein said. "You think we could master any storms that happen over the ocean, or fly for so long non-stop? And then stowing away could be dangerous too."
"You don't think that we'll face any dangers when we leave the forest?" Rhode asked. "Neither you or I know anything about the world, the simplest things could be dangerous to us."
Rein paused to consider what Rhode had said, and even tried to find a response. She crossed her arms over her chest when she came up empty-handed.
"I suppose you have a point," she confessed. Then she quickly changed the subject. "How are you coming along with your research project?"
"I'm stumped," Rhode answered. "I've come to a dead end."
"How do you mean?"
"I've run out of hypotheses. I don't know where to go from here. Nothing seems to add up."
Rein thought for a moment. "Perhaps it's time to leave to find something out there that you can use."
Rhode thought for a moment and swallowed. "I'd have to research what I need to look for then."
"How long should that take?"
Rhode shrugged. "Don't know."
Rein rolled her eyes. "Well I'm getting a little impatient, Rhode Odendron. This place is sickening, I don't know how much longer I can last."
"Well gee, Rein Bow. You've lasted over four hundred years here, you can't wait maybe a month?"
"No, Rhode. I can't. How about this: I go out and do a little exploring and come back to get you later?"
"You want to leave the forest without me?"
"Not too far, or for long," Rein said. "Just a little exploring. Maybe I can find new plant life that you might be able to use out there and when you're ready to leave, I can show you where it is."
"No, I want to look with you!" Rhode insisted. "It would be faster finding it that way."
"Then let's go right now!"
Rhode hesitated. "What about my notes? How will I carry them? I have so many."
"Just take your more important ones. Can't you leave any behind?"
"No, they're all important."
"You don't have anything memorized?"
"No, I wrote it all down so that I wouldn't have to memorize them."
"Then just pack what you need to find the ingredients you'll be searching for and then when we find it we'll return so that you can complete your work."
Rhode gulped again and scanned over his hoard of books and papers. "Don't you want to watch Lilli Padd leave?"
Rein paused and realized something. "You're afraid to go."
"What? No! Nervous maybe, like anyone would be, but not afraid."
"You're afraid."
"No."
"You're afraid."
"No! I'm not afraid!" Rhode sighed and looked away, unable to say anything else.
Rein wasn't having it. She rolled her eyes. "Forget it."
Rein left and flew back to her own flat where she paced around with rage surging through her body. How could Rhode do that to her? Make her wait for so long while he cowered behind his notes - his pointless, useless notes that he's getting nowhere with. Maybe he did know what he needs and just lied so that he could hold Rein back for longer.
"He's never going to leave this forest!" Rein growled through gnashed teeth. "Not if he hides in his flat like prey. I should've known! I won't be able to wait for him, I'll just have to go alone. If I wait for him, I'll never leave either. So I might as well go now."
Immediately, Rein rummaged through her flat and gathered whatever she figured she'd need. She piled everything in front of her fireplace and found a dusty sack buried at the back of her wardrobe. When she finished gathering her necessities, she looked at the large mound in the middle of the floor of five pairs of clothes, a jacket, a journal, a couple of knives, lots of dried food, a sleeping bag, a blanket, and some rope (just in case).
"There's no way I'll be able to carry all of this," Rein thought out loud as she rubbed her face.
Suddenly, she heard a couple of pixies enter her flat without her permission. She peered over her shoulder and saw Lilli Padd with another pixie standing there with wide eyes.
"So it is true," said the second pixie.
"Rein Bow," said Lilli softly, giving her the benefit of the doubt. "What are you doing?"
Rein quickly thought up a fib. "I'm getting rid of a few things."
"Really?" Lilli asked in disbelief.
"And it just so happens that everything you're getting rid of is what someone would pack for a trip?" asked the second pixie.
"What would you know about packing for a trip, Sun Ray?" Rein asked. "It's not as if anyone here has ever packed for one."
"Lilli Padd has," Sun answered. "Remember? She's leaving for the Continent Islands in two weeks."
"Rein Bow," Lilli butted in. "Why are you doing this? You have no idea what it's like out there."
"Neither do you!"
"Which is why the fairies are escorting us. Nobody knows what it's like out there."
"And nobody ever will until someone leaves."
"Well I just warned the guards about what you're doing, so you won't be able to succeed," Sun said. "You're going to be on watch for a while."
Rein drew in a long breath through her nose in an attempt to keep calm. "Might I ask who told you that I was planning on leaving?"
Sun left the flat and Lilli replied, "Sun Ray told me. I don't know who told him." Then she left too.
"I bet I know," Rein muttered to herself.
Rein flew to Rhode's flat to find him still slumped over his medical notes. Did he ever leave that table?
"Rhode Odendron!" Rein roared as she landed hard next to him.
Rhode jumped to attention and looked at Rein, who glowed red with fists clenched.
"What is it this time?" He struggled to keep his composure. Nothing good ever happened when Rein was in this mood.
"You have to ask? You think I'm some sort of fool? You think I wouldn't figure it out?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Knock it off, Rhode Odendron! I know you told Sun Ray and now everyone knows! What's the problem, huh? Are you jealous?"
"Of what?"
"Jealous that I have the nerve to leave the Maja Forest alone and you don't!"
"Oh, come on! I told you I have important work to do! I can't just leave!"
"Oh, so that means that I can't leave either? Is that it? I have to wait another four hundred years like you? Well that was an evil decision to make and as far as I'm concerned, an unforgivable one at that. Enjoy the rest of your life with your nose in your journals."
With that said, Rein left before she did or said something she might regret. She had no intention on ever returning to that particular flat again.
~~
After the news got out of her desire to leave the forest, Rein was watched constantly by guards and law enforcement. Queen Tiana had someone follow her at all times: four pixies who traded shifts at every quarter of the day. It was ridiculous, and quite unnecessary as everyone stared at her wherever she went anyway. She felt like a living, breathing abstract painting that people couldn't help but to stop and stare at, and it almost made her want to lock herself in her flat like Rhode.
Two weeks later, the day all chosen creatures were to move from the Maja Forest to the Continent Islands had arrived. The forest was given one last chance to say goodbye, so everyone gathered around the silverwood ship that had been built by the elves and dwarves. Rein approached Lilli and gave her a long, tight hug.
"Don't worry, Rein Bow," Lilli said. "Everything will work out. Either I'll come back or you'll manage to break tradition and come visit me at the Cataras Springs yourself."
Rein smiled lightly. "You were always so positive."
Lilli returned the smile and glanced over Rein's shoulder before she said, "At least try to make amends with Rhode Odendron. He made a terrible mistake, it happens. And we both know that you're not going to let it stop you from actually leaving someday."
Rein glared at Lilli. "I can't trust him anymore, Lilli Padd. That's not the kind of friend I want in my life."
"I'm not saying to be friends with him. I'm saying make amends. No hard feelings. Otherwise, the tension between you two will get worse."
"Maybe once he apologizes."
Lilli sighed. "Right. Good luck, Rein Bow."
"You too."
After everyone finished saying their goodbyes, the elves began to play farewell music and the chosen creatures boarded the ship. While everyone (including Rein's bodyguards) was distracted, Rein quickly slipped away to her flat where she grabbed her satchel, some dried food, slipped a couple of knives into her belt and boots, and threw on a coat. She peeked out from her doorway to make sure that no one was watching before she made her way to the blue and black tree
Outside Rhode's flat, she could hear many of the pixies shouting that she had disappeared and that they were going to try to search for her in her flat, so she wasted no time. She snatched all of Rhode's notes, books and journals and tossed them into his lit fireplace. As a final touch, she doused them in oil to remove all hope of recovering something from them. She grinned wickedly at the supernova and had to step back as the heat was so extreme. All was quiet outside, so she took the time to even write Rhode a short note. Then she exited the flat and shot away, out of the Maja Forest with a vow never to return again.
Later that day, when everyone had given up on searching for Rein, Rhode entered his flat and immediately noticed his empty table. He couldn't remember the last time that table had been cleared. The air in the room was blazing and it burned his throat with ash. He glanced to his left and his heart started in horror at the sight of what still sizzled in his hearth. All of his hard work had been reduced to a large mound of soot. Embers jumped from gray pile that flaked with every pop. Rhode approached the weak flame and was so distraught that he almost reached into the fireplace in a feeble attempt to save anything that he could.
"No..." he choked.
Then he searched around for any sign of Rein, when he stumbled upon the note she had left on his side table:
Now you know what it's like to be betrayed.
Rhode crumpled the paper in fist and hollered Rein's name at the top of his lungs. But it was useless. Rein Bow was long gone and out of the Maja Forest for good. He would never see her again.