As the others headed off, June took Julie aside to speak with her. “Hey Julie, wanna see something cool?” Julie managed to get out a “Uh, yeah, sure!” before June took her by the hand and began rapidly leading her along one of the forested pathways. Wait, where are we going?” Julie said hastily, trying to match pace with June. June only smiled mysteriously as the continued on. The two of them quickly lost sight of any hint of trail, yet June seem to know where they were going, as if she had been this way many times before. The forest grew thicker and thicker, the trees taller and taller. Julie fel that if she had let go of June’s hand at any moment, she would have gotten lost.
“We’re here”. June said suddenly. The two of them had reached a clearing of some sort. “Here? Where is ‘here’? What is it that you wanted me to…” She stopped mid-sentence as she fully understood what “Here” was.
Julie couldn’t believe her eyes as she gazed out upon the clearing. Dipping into the valley below, across a bridge covering a large shimmering cerulean lake, was a city. But at the same time, it wasn’t like any city Julie had ever seen. A large tiered banyan tree towered in the center of the valley it’s branches out on every direction like city streets, as the inhabitants scuttled about like busy ants. “Like Minas Tirith meets Endor meets Athens.” Julie thought. “What is this place?” She asked June. “Julie, I would like to officially welcome you to Hesperia, city of the Dryads!” June said proudly, grinning and gesturing like a showman. “Dryads?....Like the female nature spirits from the myths?” June’s grin just got wider. “Oh my…. THAT’S SO COOL!” Julie exclaimed.
She and June raced for the city’s entrance at the base of the tree. Two guard dryad were stationed, there both dressed in leafy imitation of Greek armor. To to say they were “guarding” would be an understatement though, as the two seemed to be much more interested in the conversation they were having. “All I’m saying is that you were totally googly eyes at Acacia at the party last night.”, said the one on the left. She was dressed in fall colors and sported a short pixie cut, while her companion on the right wore green and had a ponytail. “Did not!” the right one shot back “Did too!” “Did not!” Did too!” “Did-”
Juile and June just shared a look as the two guards quarreled. Eventually June cut in. “Mornin, Maple, Palm.” she said casually, first addressing the left guard, then the right. The two guards cotinued their childish volley until they suddenly froze for a minute, having finally registered June’s words. Slowly they turned their heads until they were making eye contact with June. Julie hadly hard time to blink before the two guards snapped to attention, sweating bullets.
“HELLO MISS YES MISS WE CERTAINLY WEREN’T GOOFING OFF MISS!” the two women shouted in unison in trembling voices. June smirked but ignored their panicking. “I’ve returned with the girl the elder requested.” She stated. The two guards stood aside, still quaking in fear, as if June were a multiheaded hydra.
June tapped rhythmically on the bark of the tree. A few seconds later, a basket shaped lift descended. June boarded, and motioned Julie to do the same. “What the hell is going on?” Julie asked. “Elder? Is that your leader? What does she want from me?” “You can ask her that yourself.” was the reply. Julie tried not to worry as she watched out from beyond the elevator. She could see now that the city was almost an exact replica of an ancient Greek city, but almost entirely made of plants and flowers. One of the most striking features was a large temple with three statues surrounding it. “Demeter, Persephone, and Gaia. Goddesses of the harvest, spring and the very earth itself” June explained. Julie just nodded. Soon the two had arrived at the canopy of the tree, situated in front of what appeared to be a large beautiful Greek palace, but decorated in vines and flowers. “Wow is this where the Elder lives?” Julie said. “Nope!” June said she pointed to a comparatively demure small mud hut. “That is. The Elder rarely, if ever resides in the palace.” Julie wrinkled her nose, but tried not to show it as June led her. June stopped at the door and began to remove her shoes and socks. “Dryad custom. The elder’s house is sacred ground” she said. Julie just followed her example.
“Elder Willow!”” June called out as they entered. “Over here, darling!” a voice called out.” Julie thought that the voice sounded much too young to belong to an “elder”. As they made their way to the back room, Julie found she was right. Seated on the dirt floor was a woman who couldn’t have been older than her 30s or maybe early 40s at most. She had long wild vinelike green hair, decorated with flowers in a way that made it seem like they were a part of her. She was dressed in a beautiful side-cut green dress. She like June and Julie, was barefoot.
“Um hello. Julie said. The “elder” stood, watching Julie with the eyes of a hawk, looking her over slowly, as Julie began to feel nervous. Willow pace a few times watching intently, then she looked directly into Julie’s eyes. For a few moments, silence. And then….
“Darling!. It is you!” Julie was suddenly swept into a tight hug by Willow, feeling crushed. She gasped for breath as Willlow released her. “What...the hell… was that!” she breathed. June and Willow shared a look. Willow spoke first.