Protectors

Kieran landed next to the two humans and the tengu. "It will rain when it rains," the dark fairy replied sullenly. She knelt and lifted one of the wilting flowers. "It's true that these plants are dry, but I suppose the fairies in this region have their reasons." Fairies controlled nature. They decided when it would rain, when flowers would bloom, when it got cold or warm. All but Kieran. She was the deathbringer, with wings black as her powers. She could only bring death to this world. She could choose to kill beings before their time. Hers was a forbidden power, stepping in the realm of the gods.

She took her handa way, and the plant crumbled. Kieran hadn't meant to kill the plant, but it was so weak that even just her touch was enough to destroy it.

"It seems to me we are not welcome here," she stated. "We need to move quickly."

Llyr was lounging below the surface. She was the one starving the plants. Humans had passed through the river that led to her lake, and she was determined to kill them. With no rain, the ponds, streams, and brooks all dried up. If they wanted water, they'd have to come to her lake, where they would meet their end. She smiled. It was the perfect plan.

Llyr sensed someone outside her lake, a white phoenix. The water fairy surfaced, hardly the size of a large trout. "What can I do for you, Miss Phoenix?"

"Of course you may!" Llyr said happily. The Phoenix were a proud race that would never help the humans they so hated, and she was certain this White Phoenix was no different. "You know, she said conversationally, "some humans wandered into this forest. The forest fay are mad at me, but they are willing to let their plants suffer it the dry spell can lure those foolish humans here."

She noticed the other demon, a dragon. She wasn't sure the dragon's position on humans, but most demons hated humans, so she figured the same of him. "Hello," she said sweetly. "Care for a drink from my lake? Or perhaps a fish? I'd offer a duck, but I have no power over them."

"I am Llyr, mistress of this lake. I control the rain and the rivers here as well." The little fairy bowed. "I've stopped the rain because some humans crossed one of my rivers to lure them here. After all, humans are not like us. They're such fragile creatures. Without food and water, they die so quickly." She smiled coldly. "They'll either die of thirst or come straight here."

Kieran flew up to the highest branch of the dying tree. "There's a lake in that direction," she said, pointing, "but judging by the plants, I doubt the fairy there will be willing to share her water with us." She jumped back down and opened her wings last minute to slow her decent. "We should keep moving and see if we can find water without a fairy."

"Perhaps you all ought to go," Llyr suggested. "The humans will be here soon, and if they see you, they might not come to my lake like I wish. They'll miss little old me, but they'll surely notice you."

Kieran swung around and lifted her hand, an orb with a curse forming in her palm. She stopped when she saw what the being was and dropped her hand at her side; the curse vanished. "A human... I thought we'd found all those that remained." This gave her a little hope. Perhaps the human race wasn't dependent on their sickly male human and the two they already had with them.