A week of mourning was designated for Shalt's passing. While Quinn and his friends never really got to know him, Sil spent some time with him and his family was taken care of by him.
Sil had been asking kindly and gently about her time away. He got what Owen shared but he wanted the full story.
After his funeral, Sil sat Minx down, "I know you don't want to talk about it, but I think it will help you deal with the grief you're experiencing. You could tell me a little each day? Maybe while we are out so you can regrow the extinct species?"
She was unresponsive as her tears fell. The man who was always there, more than Sil or Midas was gone from her life. He pulled her in closely and rocked her.
He sang to her the way Vorden sang to him, "it will be okay. I will make your worries go away. I am on your side. I will always be kind."
He heard his wife exhale, then she sagged into his arms.
"When we left…" her voice was barely audible and was hitching from all the crying, "we arrived in a stand of trees. Midas, Jaykon and I stood back to back and flew up to see what was out there. The trees were screaming in pain, broken limbs, the war had devastated them, and I couldn't figure out what they were saying."
"Nordash… It was still green, but it was obvious the planet was struggling. We were able to find a settlement off at the edge of the forest. Jaykon stayed in the air as recon."
She closed her eyes and allowed herself to relive the moment. The air was clean on the surface but there was an undercurrent of spent spells. She couldn't really describe it. It felt like death and decay though she was looking at life, clinging to every thread that remained available.
She couldn't help herself. She had never done anything like it before, but she placed her hand flat on the forest floor. She closed her eyes and visualized the forest restored. She channeled her energy into the dirt, as much as she was willing to give, stranded on an unknown planet with no allies except those she brought with her.
When she opened her eyes, the chaos was gone but there was barely any change. It was like she removed some of the pressure, but the damage remained. The trees showed her images of people who looked like her. They were fighting beasts taller than the forest itself.
Why?
Because they were seen as food, humans and fairies alike. On this planet, they were a delicacy. There had been different reasons in the past, but things changed. The beasts no longer wanted total annihilation. They wanted to tend the herd, to a degree.
And Minx saw what happened when they came to cull the herd. Her hand clenched around her mother's sword. Her knuckles turned white. Her eyes went completely green and she shed a few tears. Her rage was building.
She had to tell the trees to finish the story later. She needed to find a safe place for them then, figure out where her father was. Did he end up as food as well?
She told her family, the friends she brought with included in that category, what she had seen. Everyone was on guard in case the visitors returned.
They walked through the forest not saying a word. Jaykon would call down softly once in a while to ensure they stayed on course. As they left the forest an hour later by their own time-keeping measures, they noticed how bad the village looked.
All the homes were built from mud. Some were damaged from a previous attack. There were people, human by their appearance, with hoes and rakes tending a meager garden area.
Their gaunt figures told her just how successful their efforts had been in growing their food. Minx approached them without saying a word and examined their plants.
She knew some of them and advanced them to the point they were ready to eat. In the vacant lot next to their plot, she grew a lot more food, not knowing how much was needed.
The farmers were stunned. They looked at each other then her. They hugged each other.
"Thank Botha! We have finally pleased him," one said.
"Maybe he'll stop sending those beasts!" another said excitedly.
The newcomers watched the reactions and listened to the words. Botha must be a god or a leader?
The farmers stared at the group. There were four black panther-beasts, four humans based on their perception, a child, three fairies, one had red wings, and a green tinged woman. They couldn't help but stare.
Midas had to ask, "why are your homes not repaired?"
Aqua watered the crops Minx was unable to advance so they would be stronger.
The first farmer was getting ready to answer when he saw water literally come out of a man's hands. He stared as if he was trying to figure out if this person was a demon or a gift from the gods.
He settled on gift since the water was desperately needed. He turned toward Midas.
"Our building team isn't very big. Our village is underground. This surface is for our fighters and us farmers. From which village do you all hail?" He was looking at them all with curiosity.
"Your vestments are strange to us. Have you invented new threads?" The other who was willing to speak asked.
Minx stepped in, "we hail from a place yet discovered by the monsters. When we found out what was happening, we set forth to see if we could lend aid." She hoped her choice of words would more match how they spoke based on some movies she'd watched a long time ago.
"Our vessel was destroyed and we are unable to return at this time. Would you like your homes repaired or would that bring danger upon you?" she continued.
The first farmer got excited, relaxed, then his face fell as she explained things.
"I knew not of such a place. I'm called Kenyor." He placed a fist over his heart.
She repeated the gesture and said her name. The rest followed suit.
"The… beasts among you. Are they plant-eaters?"
Minx was confused about the question then she realized they had never seen beasts like these before.
"They are flesh eaters, but they are friendly." She pointed to each one, "this is Caser, his mate Griddlebone, and their two children Adam and Alice."
She decided it was her turn to ask a question, "you have not asked about our wings. Are there others here who have them?"
Kenyor nodded, "they live in the castle. I've never seen red wings." He nodded toward Jaykon who landed just as they stopped, "those must be unique to your village like your beasts.
The other farmer who spoke earlier looked at Midas. "I've thought about your question. I do not think repairs would be noticed. If you know how to build a house, I can go get the builders we have…"
Midas interrupted, "I can do this myself."
He flew to the damaged homes and raised his hands. One home at a time, he filled in cracks, holes, and repaired roofs. He even hardened the houses to make them more durable.
The farmers' jaws dropped. Kenyor asked in awe, "that's the same power as the fairies in the castle. Are you related?"