For the briefest of seconds, she almost took a step back. Then she remembered who she was and what had driven her to such drastic actions. Ailis forced her fingers to unclench. Her eyes slowly opened, and breath rushed past her parted lips as shock slid through her. She stood on a lush mountainside, gazing at the towering peaks on either side of her, rising like titans from the craggy ground. The summit to her right had a ledge where water cascaded over the side before falling a considerable distance to a pool, mist billowing erratically from the collision.
Birds she didn’t recognize with large wingspans floated on air currents, calling to each other. Above her, thick, fluffy clouds drifted lazily across the impossibly blue sky with its bright sun. Behind her was a forest and plenty of vegetation about. Trees, shrubs, bushes. What she didn’t know was if she had managed to leave the Fae Realm or if she had mangled the creation of the doorway. This could still be her world. She didn’t know the birds, but she didn’t know every species of animal.
A thunderous roar broke the silence, coming at her from seemingly everywhere at once. She crouched to make herself as small as possible, her ears ringing, and instantly formed a ball of magic. Her gaze scanned the area, trying to locate what had issued such a terrifying sound. It was like nothing she had ever heard before.
A whoosh, whoosh from overhead had her shifting her gaze skyward. Ailis fell back onto her butt, her mouth gaping in utter disbelief as she took in the sight of a…dragon. She blinked, afraid her eyes were deceiving her. Yet the animal was still there. It flew over her, its large body and wide turquoise wings blocking the sun and casting her in shadow. Thankfully, it didn’t appear to have noticed her. She didn’t want to face one in battle. She was certain she would lose.
Ailis remained immobilized by a healthy dose of dread as she watched the dragon fly to the left and soar with the birds before dipping a wing and effortlessly swinging around. She was surprised that such a large animal could move so gracefully and quickly. She didn’t tear her eyes from it as it flew toward her again. She glanced around, debating whether to teleport to the forest. Maybe if she stayed still, it wouldn’t see her. Her body was frozen, her mind locked until it passed overhead and flew out of sight.
Only then did it register. She had, indeed, reached another realm.
Her smile was huge as she made the orb of magic vanish and sat with her accomplishment for a moment. She looked where the dragon had gone, her grin waning. She might have reached a new realm, but she hadn’t counted on dragons. Honestly, she hadn’t thought about what she might encounter, which wasn’t something she would admit to anyone. She had been so focused on gaining the magic and knowledge needed to cross realms that she hadn’t thought of the next steps.
Ailis looped her arms around her bent knees and considered her options. She had no idea if the dragons were friendly or if her magic would be enough to protect her. Despite that, she had no intention of returning to the Fae Realm quite yet.
But her excitement at not only reaching a new realm but also uncovering so many discoveries waiting to be found soon dispelled her lingering trepidation. She was small enough that she could stay hidden from the dragons. Besides, there might only be one. She could easily hear him coming and hide.
Ailis climbed to her feet and glanced at the doorway that stood out in the open. She could close it, but would she be able to open another? Did she dare take that chance? It was better to leave it here in case she needed to make a hasty exit. She locked it to ensure no one could go through it on either side, then adjusted her bag and started toward the forest. The trees offered shelter and concealment. She could explore the woods and remain close to the doorway to return to her world should the need arise.
Once in the safety of the trees, she paused. The shade from the canopy above her made it feel like she had entered another world. She marveled at the trees with their huge, twisting trunks, roots that protruded from the ground, and gnarled limbs stretching outward as if seeking to touch each other—or maybe even the dragons. She laughed at her fanciful thinking.
Small, red, rodent-like creatures with long, fluffy tails flitting from limb to limb caught her attention as they chirped and barked loudly at each other. Ailis watched them for a bit, mesmerized by their quick scampering among the trees. She meandered through the forest, taking in everything, her senses overloaded.
She took in the ground blanketed by dead leaves and clumps of vines that went everywhere. A chorus of birds filling the silence with music. Vibrant flowers in a multitude of colors with heady fragrances drifting languidly in the air. It was amazing. All of it. She could spend hours in one spot and still not see everything. And there was an entire forest yet to explore.
Ailis dropped next to a plant similar to the giant ferns on her world. This one was much smaller, barely coming to her knees. She gently ran her finger along one of the fronds that had yet to unfurl. It even felt the same as the ones from her realm.
She removed her sketchbook from her pack and quickly drew the plant as well as the incredible tree it surrounded. Ailis rested against another tree’s trunk and added the small, red animal that stared at her as it ate a nut, its fluffy tail curled behind it. She wished she would’ve sketched the mountains and waterfall where she had come through the doorway, but she could do that before she left. She wanted to capture everything.
Maybe she’d even draw the dragon. She hadn’t gotten a great look at it since she had been too dumbfounded to take in the details, but it had been large. Very large. Threats were a part of any exploration.
Dragons, however, were not.
She laughed at herself as she put away her sketchbook and stood. How could she have known about dragons? There might even be other dangers lurking about. Though the smaller ones were sometimes the most lethal. She shuddered as she thought of the torions, the small, many-jointed invertebrates on the Fae Realm. One drop of their venom was lethal. She would meet whatever was on this fabulous new world with awe and respect. And maybe, just maybe, make an acquaintance or two.
If she were lucky.
Ailis walked up steep inclines and down even steeper ones for hours, carefully picking her way. Oh, how she wished Bea were with her—or anyone. There was just so much beauty and wonder to take in, and she didn’t have anyone to share it with. Her thoughts halted when she heard the unmistakable sound of water. It didn’t take long to find the source. The sight of the stream was so idyllic she decided it was a perfect spot to spend some time.
She sat and took in the water that filtered softly, dropping from level to level as it flowed southward. Moss-covered rocks, the same vibrant, striking green as the trees, dotted the shore and the tributary itself.
Everything she had seen so far on this new realm was picturesque, but this place was something more. It was serene and secluded—a hidden paradise. Ailis reached for her pad and sketched the area. She used magic to add the exact color of green because she didn’t want to get it wrong. When she finished, she simply sat and allowed the mesmerizing beauty to fill her with a feeling she couldn’t define. It took some time before she realized what it was: peace.
She longed to stay. In fact, she never wanted to leave this spot. But there was so much more to see. After promising herself she would return, she knelt to cup her hands in the cool, fresh water and drank her fill. Then Ailis carefully picked her way over the slippery stones to the other side, a huge smile on her face. She hesitated and looked back before continuing her journey.