#Askarya

[phytochorion]

How the Forest Finds the Island

Chapter Eight - Shoring Up

The rain only got heavier. Although a relief at first, now it presented challenges in its own right.

The creek had swollen from a trickle to a flood, and Sen feared if it rose any higher, it would start denuding the soil the ginkgo saplings were rooted in. He called on his magic once again, flying down each morning to drain and consolidate the sandy loess. It turned out that Askarya was capable of similar magic to his, though subtly different. They accompanied him most mornings, helping him finish the work twice as fast. While he often drew his magic into the soil with his head or breath, they typically used their hands. He saw that they tended to stop and calm their mind, touching their ring finger to their thumb, before starting work.

As the water grew in ferocity, they were grateful to be joined one morning by Si-woo.

"I've been exploring this stream's course," he explained, swooping down and bounding to a stop in front of them mid-sentence, "and if my assessment is correct, we haven't seen the half of what she's capable of. I'll help you firm up your garden, but after that, no amount of magic will hold back the flow. We'd all best prepare."

Sen and Askarya were unnerved by these grim tidings, but tried their best not to show it.

"How long do we have?" Enquired Sen.

"I don't know. A few weeks, maybe."

"Are we likely to lose trees?" Queried Askarya.

"Quite likely, but less so the better we prepare."

"Well," prompted Sen, "let's get our hands dirty."

⸙ ⸙ ⸙

It was hard going. None of them knew too much about earth magic, but Si-woo’s proclivity for water at least gave them some idea of what to expect. Working in tandem, they hauled and rolled the biggest pebbles they could into the garden, arranging them around the saplings’ trunks to provide some defence from the rushing deluge. Sand and leaf litter were patted firmly into the gaps, so that hopefully the water would be slowed and given time to soak into the soil, limiting its erosive potential.

Just over two weeks after they’d started, and having worked almost continuously for that time, Si-woo declared that they had done everything within their power.

He sat back on his haunches, breathing heavily. “Right. Well done, you two. I’m heading home. I wish you the very best, and I’ll see you in the spring.”

Sen and Askarya said their goodbyes, as their friend sprang into the air and was gone.

A westerly wind blew, nipping at exposed flesh. Sen felt the microsporophylls of his crown closing against the bracing breeze.

“What now?” Wondered Askarya.

“Personally, I’m going to lie low. I'd like to keep my wings from abscising again if possible - it feels like they just grew in. The best way to do that is to stay warm.”

“I hear you. I’ll find a nice clump of lichen and cuddle up there when the worst of the storms hit.”

“You, er… I don’t mind if you want to share my nest. It’s probably more sheltered than a cleft in the branch.”

“Really? That’s very kind,” replied Askarya, eyes twinkling.

“Well, we weather together or flourish never, as they say. And the nest is far too big for just one.”

“Si-woo’s taking the scenic route back,” he observed, pointing out the winged silhouette tracking a lazy circle above them.

Askarya squinted. “That’s… not Si-woo.” They raised a hand against the sun’s diminishing glare and were quiet a moment. “Holy shit, that’s a jimmylegs!”

“Seriously?!” Sen copied their gesture and saw for himself. “Goodness, you’re right!”

“A big one too!”

“How’d it get all the way out here?”

“Beats me. Maybe these winds blew it from the next island over?”

“Not to alarm you, but he's coming this way.”

"Do you know anyone who's been eaten by a jimmylegs?" A note of apprehension had crept into Askarya's voice.

"I don't know anyone who's stuck around to find out."

As the creature tucked in its wings and dived, the fairies stumbled backwards, then broke into a full-on sprint in opposite directions. The jimmylegs curved round, heading straight for Askarya. Sen was for a moment terrified for his friend's safety, and changed course to try and catch up with them. The jimmylegs swooped overhead and passed Askarya by. It continued over the flat rock and touched down in the horsetail thickets beyond, catching itself on muscular forelimbs and folding up its membranous legs.

Sen and Askarya came to a stop side by side. The jimmylegs raised its neck and turned its beaky head to them, but after a tense few seconds it lost interest and began nosing about in the undergrowth.

With its rear end held high by its gawky, stilt-like legs, the reptile's head was just above ground level. It sniffed at some decaying stems and started to push them apart. Rapidly, large insects with thorny limbs came rushing from some unseen crevice, nipping at the intruder's face. It drew back, then struck, plucking one of them by its thorax and snapping it up.

With scaly arms, leathery eyelids and a keratinized beak, there were few vulnerable spots for the insects to bite or claw at, and one by one the nest defenders disappeared down the raider's gullet. Sen and Askarya drew closer, intrigued. More insects were joining their nestmates, slightly different in form and colour. Some began to weave silken nets to hinder its movements, and others squirted foul juices from their abdominal glands.

The jimmylegs seemed especially displeased by this last tactic, especially after getting a well-time jet of fluid to the eye. Hissing, it tore free of the sticky snares and made a volte-face.

"Hiya," came a sheepish voice behind Sen, and he and Askarya turned to find Si-woo standing there, scratching his tresses. "So, about my nes- EEIIIWAAYAHH HOLY FUCK," he yelled, as the jimmylegs vaulted skyward, throwing open its great, leathery wingspan above them.

All three threw themselves flat on the ground beneath the grim shadow, and remained there for several minutes as the flap of legs receded into the distance and the insects gradually settled down.

"What- what…," Si-woo looked like he might vomit. "Where did that come from??!"

Sen groaned, rolling onto his back. "You didn't see it from the air?"

"The horsetails were blocking my view or something! Why didn't you tell me there was a jimmylegs?!"

"We didn't know!" Protested Askarya, springing into a crouch. "It turned up the moment you left!"

Si-woo's only response was an incoherent mumbling into the dust as he rolled onto his belly. Sen's chest heaved as his breathing gradually regained some semblance of normality. Presently, he sat up and looked towards where the jimmylegs had been feeding. He wobbled upright and approached, keeping an eye out for the colonial insects. There were none to be seen.

"Hey, take a look at this!" He called, waving to the others.

Askarya came over to join him.

"There's a lot of silk here," Sen indicated. "I'm going to try and grab some. Keep an eye out for those bugs, would you?"

"Uhhh, sure," shrugged Askarya, peering at the nest entrance. "There's a few moving around in there, but they aren't paying any attention to you."

Sen gave a thumbs up, sitting on his haunches and spooling the silk around his arm.

"Hang on, one of those bigger ones is coming this way. You almost done?" Askarya prompted.

"Almost, give me a moment," muttered Sen, grabbing some last strands.

"I think we should move," Askarya suggested, taking him by the shoulders and guiding him back the way they'd come, as the insects emerged from the foliage to follow them, stopping where Sen had been and tasting the ground with their antennae. The fairies turned to check if they'd give chase, but the insects didn't seem interested in straying too far from their colony, and soon turned back.

"C'mon waterboy, up you get," grunted Askarya, picking up the prone Si-woo and putting his arm around their shoulder. He didn't protest, and after a few steps had recovered enough to walk by himself. The three of them arrived at the ginkgo grove on foot.

"Askarya, have you any skill in weaving?" Asked Sen.

"None. I'm an apothecary, not a tailor."

"Si-woo?"

"Wish I could help you."

"Actually, maybe you can. I'm no expert, but I know enough to make some basic garments. I don't want to be in this loincloth when winter hits. If you don't need to get home right away, could you stick around for an hour or three?"

"Er, sure. What should I do?"

"I'll show you."

Sen manoeuvred Si-woo (and Askarya, who was interested to see what he was doing) into position, and showed them how to reel and twist the silk, feeding the raw silk into their waiting hands and winding the finished threads into a neat coil.

As he payed out the silk, he used a continuous, low-level glow of counteracting magic to reduce its stickiness, letting it unwind into single threads. Once it came back into his other hand, he sent forth  soft, regular pulses of inter-regulating magic to improve its cohesion without sacrificing flexibility. As he worked in silence, Askarya bantered with Si-woo.

"You said you were gonna hole up in your nest. How come you're back with us?"

"About that," he coughed. "I got back to my nest and found it… flooded."

"Defeated by a little wet, O wise witch of the waters?"

Si-woo inflated his chest and put on an especially rich and profound voice. "My powers, awesome as they may be to behold, are not without limits. When I say flooded," his voice faltered. "Ahem. I mean it was under two feet of water."

"That's not flooded, that's submerged!" Cried Askarya.

"Yes, well, I can hold my breath a long time, but I'm not a fish. I'd prefer to stick out the cold somewhere with air, at least."

"And by that you mean…" Askarya waggled their eyebrows.

"It's alright, you need not ask!" Sen interjected. "You're welcome to stay with me, my trapdoor is always open."

"This'll be cosy," remarked Askarya.

"Finished!" Exclaimed Sen, admiring their completed bale of silk. "The first stage, anyway. You take a break, I can handle step two."

"It's ok, I'm not tired," said Si-woo, waving airly. "Now that I'm over that shock, I'm feeling pretty refreshed."

"Really? I mean, if you could, it'd be extremely helpful. Askarya?"

"Count me in," they grinned.

They scaled Sen's nesting tree and sat on the branch above the papery abode.

"Right, so here's how I do it," explained Sen, demonstrating his technique for weaving the silk around twigs and using them to spin it into a finished creation. With three sets of hands, the work flew by. Si-woo struggled at first to get the hang of it, while Askarya was a quick learner. Neither showed a huge degree of natural flair, but it didn't matter. Sen was happy to be with them.

The final product was a set of baggy pants and a matching shirt with a loose weft, all overlain with a shapeless cloak thrown together from the remaining silk. It was soft, heavy and comfortable. Sen put them on, stepped back and spread his arms.

"Well?"

After a moment's consideration, his friends cracked up laughing.

"You look like a scarebug!" Cackled Si-woo.

"No, you know what he looks like?", commented Askarya. "He's that jimmylegs!"

They howled with laughter, Si-woo bent double and begging them not to remind him.

"You done?", intoned Sen.

"Yeah, sorry," answered Si-woo, wiping his eyes.

"You will be sorry if you don't have something warm soon. I recommend you salvage what you can from your tree."

"Good call. I'll be right back."

While he took to the air, Sen showed Askarya the entrance to the nest. They had a bit of trouble at first, as for a non-flier it was all too easy to fall, but after a few tries they got the hang of sliding down and swinging themselves through the entrance.

"You know, it's my first time seeing this place from the inside, you did a nice job with it."

Sen blushed. "Well, I've made them many times before. Nothing to it, really!"

As they settled down, Si-woo popped his head in. "Hey! Good thing I hung this up to dry!" He proudly displayed a large coat. "I fear the rest of my wardrobe was washed away."

"What a shame," said Askarya, sounding less sarcastic than usual. "I know you liked those dresses."

"Robes," he corrected. "But yes. Guess I truly am down to the clothes on my back. Hmm. Well, I'll treat myself, next time we find someone who can actually work silk."

Sen rolled his eyes, snuggling deeper into the cloak. "Night all. I'm hoping no one here talks in their sleep."

[whyspeakin]

HSSC Various Post Online Form 2020.

Form For: HSSC Various Post Online Form 2020. Form Announcement: 29 Mar-2020. Brief Information: The Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC) Has Invited Online Form for Various Post Recruitment. Candidates Interested and Have All Eligibility Criteria Can Apply Online.

 Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC). HSSC Various Post Online Form 2020. Short Details Of…

[i-have-ocs-too]

Askarya (indian, nb lesbian, earth powers)

[booksfriendsnews]

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[phytochorion]

How the Forest Finds the Island

Chapter Ten - Community Effort

Sen awoke in the morning quite unsure where he was. Someone's arm was on him and unfamiliar smells pervaded the warm space. His mind adjusted and started to make sense of the situation. He could make out little Belek nearby, while Aliwen had the whole Quacey clan wrapped in her wings. Reassured, he sat up and headed outside.

Si-woo waved to him. Jake and Askarya were breakfasting on the remaining rations, regarded by Sirichai. Sen sat alongside them.

"You're up early."

Si-woo shrugged. "Restless when I'm in a new place. Besides, Admiral's got a job for us."

"Request," corrected Sirichai. "I'm afraid I can't pay you, not in cash. But there'll be something in it for you all the same."

"Oh, don't worry about that, we're happy to- ei?"

He was cut off by a determined nudge from Si-woo.

"Hey, if the Admiral wants to give us something for our troubles, who are we to say no?", he urged Sen in an undertone.

Sen laughed. "Very well, Admiral, I look forward to what you have in store for us."

Sen scratched one shoulder. With the fine spring weather, his wingbuds had been growing steadily since he emerged from hibernation. As Si-woo swivelled to say something to Askarya, Sen saw his wings had already unfurled.

Sirichai, clearly thinking along similar lines, commented, "your wings are looking fit to burst, Maidenhair. Think you'll be in shape to fly to the boat with us?"

"Hmm, yes, I reckon. Let me warm myself up."

"Take your time, I'll go rouse those layabouts."

Sen hopped off his perch and back up the scree slope they'd descended yesterday. He had a good view of the whole gully. A bit away from the burned out campfire, Kai and Elei were sparring. He had no idea who was the better of the two, as both were ending up on the ground a lot.

As the sun climbed higher, his wingbuds began to itch, straining against the thin parenchyma containing them. He fell still, enduring the familiar sensation, until the pressure gave way and his wings opened up and spread out.

⸙ ⸙ ⸙

Once the others emerged, Sirichai made a quick circuit of the group to gauge who else was willing to help. All of his crew put themselves forward, while Jake, Joe, Aliwen and Gawain also volunteered. With a rustling of leafy wings they rose, Askarya waving them off.

Sen found the process of flying on tender wings easier than last time, the relearning experience serving him well. As they progressed seaward, he investigated what Aliwen had been up to since he saw her last.

"Po, same old, same old."

She managed to shrug mid-wingbeat.

"But you've got a boyfriend now and everything!", argued Sen.

"Huh, has it really been that long since I've seen you? Well, Gawain is such a sweet boy, really makes me feel special, cachai?"

"Um, sure," Sen replied, watching Gawain soaring a few wingspans away. He was a rather unremarkable looking boy, but Sen supposed he should get to know him a little before judging if he was a good match for Aliwen.

"There she is!", announced Sirichai, as his ship came into view, moored at the high tide line.

"Ohhh, crap," groaned Kai. "We've got company!"

Everyone swung their heads in different directions, trying to locate what he'd seen, but it quickly became clear that his attention wasn't on the air, but the ground.

"Well, it was going to happen eventually," sighed Sirichai.

The source of their discontent quickly became clear. Crawling all over the hulls and mast of the ship were assorted herbivorous insects. Most appeared to be miomopterans and paleodictyopterans, with a few glosselytrodeans thrown in.

"Alright folks, battle stations," ordered the admiral.

"Sir, yes, sir!", responded Elei, Kai, Belek, Ponnarasu, Aliwen and Gawain. Sen, Si-woo, Jake and Joe looked at each other.

Kai folded his wings and fell. Plunging feet-first into the black sand, he stood firm, coralloid roots sprouting from his legs and writhing down, down into the sediment. Elei was right behind, skimming just over him with pollen streaming from her crown. It drifted in a shimmering cloud down onto the bugs, though without immediate effect as far as Sen could see.

Aliwen crunched down beside Kai and started shaking spores from her own crown, creating an effervescent fog around them. Jake looked to Sirichai.

"What's the plan, Admiral?"

"I have three priorities," replied Sirichai. "Number one, preserve the wellbeing of my crew. For the time being, that includes all of you."

Sen felt his heart dance a jig at those words, and he could tell Si-woo felt the same.

"Number two," listed the admiral. "Protect my ship and cargo. And three, drive off those damnable arthropods. If possible, get the bugs away from my ship before going on the offensive to avoid collateral damage, but above all, keep yourselves safe. You got that?"

"Aye aye, Admiral," saluted Jake. "Gee up!"

The four of them flew in close formation to the shore. Jake and Joe peeled off to land on the beach, Sen and Si-woo continued out over the waves. Sen hovered, looked to the sky and concentrated. Si-woo alighted on the sea's surface and raised his arms, trying to entrain the salt water to his beck and call.

"Si-woo!"

"Yeah?!"

"My magic's not working! There's no ginkgos anywhere near here!"

"I'm in the same boat! Uh, metaphorically."

Jake and Joe were getting on slightly better. Their fast-growing, wind dispersed ferns had spread unassisted as far as the nearby dunes, giving them a resource to draw on. Jake thrust an outstretched palm toward the waves, whipping up scouring sand grains. Joe heated the air around his body and combined it with the effects of his friend's magic to create a hot sandblast that tore into the swarm of bugs. In a sudden panic, the insects scattered from the vessel and flew in all directions. A few unfortunates swerved right into the stream of sand and dropped into the waves with tattered wings.

"Hey, watch my boat!", called the admiral. "You'll strip the varnish off like that!"

"Begging your pardon, sir!", Jake shouted back, redirecting the miniature sandstorm further out to sea. Sen and Si-woo rose to avoid it, noticing that although scattered, the bugs hadn't fled far, and some were moving back in to grab another bite.

"Try and keep them from landing!", Sirichai commanded. He swooped into formation alongside both of them, and together they made a series of passes, using midair jabs and kicks to give the insects pause for thought. Sirichai directed them in tightening circles, corralling their foes into a clustered mass.

"Miss Oleanane, you're up!", Ordered Sirichai.

"On it!", responded Elei. Landing in front of Kai and Aliwen, she whipped her arms forward in circles, the tough lignin in her skin fracturing and beginning to protrude in shards. With a rippling crack, the elastic material snapped, catapulting itself forward with a final swing of her arms. A hail of jagged sclerenchyma tore through the swarm, ripping apart bodies, limbs and wings. Elei let her arms go limp.

Sirichai waved to Belek, Gawain and Ponnarasu, who were still airborne. Nodding, they saw off the survivors, pursuing them until they had fled an acceptable distance. The others regrouped on the beach.

“Okay! I’m ready!”, proclaimed Kai, causing the rest of them to jump. He heaved one leg out of the sand, festoned with spongy, coral-like roots. The other followed, and he took up a fighting stance, legs apart and arms outstretched. “Lemme at ‘em!”

A stray miomopteran flew their way. Kai spun into the air, plunging down again fist-first and pulverising the insect in one blow. “Yeah, that’s what you get!” He wiped haemolymph off his wing. “What’s next?”

“We… I think we’re finished,” shrugged Sirichai.

“What, seriously?” Kai rotated his neck with a loud crack. “Man, I was just getting started.”

Sen peered curiously between him, an exasperated-looking Elei, and Aliwen, who was sharing one of Si-woo’s spore cakes. Taking Sirichai aside, he inquired, “Admiral, how are your crew such effective magic users? Si-woo and I were having trouble mustering any strength out here, there are none of our plants nearby.”

“That’s always the problem when you’re out at sea. Probably one of the reasons not many fairies go there,” agreed Sirichai. “When you don’t have a mature forest to draw on, you’re forced to improvise. Kai and Elei have worked out a way to draw magic from their own bodies.”

“Their bodies?”, repeated Sen in a horrified whisper. “But that’s their life force! That could kill them!”

Sirichai looked down solemnly. “A risk they’re willing to take. I don’t ask any of my crew to put themselves in any more danger than I’d put myself. But being away from their forests really started to get to them, and they spent decades casting around for some way to still work magic while sailing. This is the solution they hit upon. And I assure you they’re careful with it, they spent a long time learning their limits, and they make sure to recuperate afterwards.”

Sen raised an eyebrow. “I mean no disrespect, but I really hope Belek hasn’t been doing that.”

The admiral smiled. “No worries there, Maidenhair, I believe they take after your cautious nature. The rest of the deckhands have found a slightly safer source of magic. Let me show you.”

Sirichai turned to his crew. “Ready to unload?”

“Aye aye!”

“Well hop to it then!”

Ponnarasu floated down on a sea breeze and landed aboard the boat. He undid a few ropes and let down the gangplank, the others scurrying up on deck. Sen and Si-woo trailed after them, marvelling at the craft’s construction. She was composed of many hollow Gnetum seed cases, floating vertically and lashed together by supple, living vines. She had a decking of bark, varnish of waterproof resin, and a twig mast with huge, waxy leaves billowing out as sails. A simple craft, really just a raft with extra rigging, but still the most beautiful and seaworthy vessel either of the two friends had ever laid eyes on.

“Welcome,” announced Admiral Baegu, “to the good ship Emping!” The crew cheered, and after a moment, Sen and Si-woo joined in. “Now, to business,” commanded the admiral. “Aliwen, Elei, get those lids off.”

The women knelt and slid sections of the deck aside, hauling up the seed cases beneath. They were dark from long exposure to water, with handles clamped onto them for ease of access, and, as Sen watched in rapt fascination, he noticed the tops had been expertly sliced to form lids. It was these that Aliwen began prizing open, layers of caked, sticky gum popping free with a dry gasp of air.

“Take a look,” she smiled, beckoning them closer. Curious, Sen and Si-woo stepped forth. When they saw what was inside, Sen couldn’t contain a gasp of delight.

“Ginkgos!”, he squealed, hands flying to his cheeks. “Oh Aliwen, oh Sirichai, I don’t- how can I- how did you know?!”

Sirichai laughed. “You’re always one to take the initiative, Maidenhair. As soon as I heard about this place, I had a feeling you’d be among the first here. And establishing yourself on virgin ground is hard, I know, so I thought the little gesture might be appreciated.”

“This is much more than a gesture, there’s- how many are in here? Eight? Ten?”

“All from unrelated plants,” chuckled Sirichai.

“You really don’t know how much this means… how can I thank you enough? With this, I’ll have forested half the island in no time!” He embraced Sirichai warmly, who grinned and lifted him off the ground.

“And don’t you worry, Callixylon, I have a little something for you too!”, the admiral continued.

Si-woo’s ears instantly perked up. “You don’t mean…?”

“Yep!”

Elei heaved open the next lid, and with a gentle rustling, somewhere between sand and leaf litter, the spores inside flowed over each other.

Si-woo whooped and lifted into the air. "Oh my gosh, you remembered me! Nice, this should save me a few return trips."

Enthralled, he scooped a handful of spores, watching as they slipped through his fingers and back into the pile.

"My crew all brought some seeds for their own gardens, plus a few more gifts, should we run into old friends." Sirichai looked to Sen. "This is how your cousin can maintain their skills so far from land. Even an unsprouted seed contains the potential of a vigorous plant, the desire to grow. It’s not quite like drawing magic from a fully grown tree, but Belek has found a way to make it work."

⸙ ⸙ ⸙

Over the course of the day, the seed cases that formed the body of the admiral's ship were carefully loosened and extracted. As they came free, the vines, twigs and leaves of the ship folded in on themselves with a little guidance from Sirichai. Wrapping around the few empty cases left, they came to resemble a little shoot growing from a pile of fallen fruit. The admiral was happy to let each fairy fly off with their own crate of seeds or spores, so long as they return them once empty. That way, he explained, they could be stored in one place and lashed back together whenever the sea next called.

Sen's parcel was heavier than the two ginkgo fruits he'd brought from Epiphyllia, and more awkwardly shaped. This time, with the luxury of flying overland, he decided to transport it back to his garden in short hops, first from the beach to the fort, and from there, back home.

Si-woo accompanied him, and after landing, they popped in to the woven fortress to fill the others in on what had transpired. Jess and Glen listened excitedly to how they'd driven off the insectile menace, while Nathair seemed less impressed but hearkened politely all the same.

Some of Sirichai's crew and passengers, along with the pioneers, had already begun sowing seeds and spores around the structure. Once the bare ground was covered by a carpet of green, it would provide shelter from the elements as well as other potential threats.

The two friends spoke with some of the crew, finding out their long-term plans for the site. Afterwards, they hastened to show their surprise gifts to Askarya. They found the third member of their group sitting outside, stock-still, reasonable behaviour for a fairy. Seeing them approach, the lichen-encrusted figure roused themself.

"Hi Sen. Si-woo. How was the boat?"

"Oh, fabulous!", gushed Sen. "Look what we got!"

He creaked open the lid of the cask, proudly displaying the seeds, while Si-woo did likewise.

"Oh, oh wow. Pretty cool," admitted Askarya. "That admiral must really like you."

"You think?", claimed Si-woo, running a hand through his tresses.

"I was talking to Sen," they jibed back. Si-woo clutched his chest and mimed falling over.

They chatted for a bit longer, then Sen and Si-woo started the next leg of their journey. As they lifted on a thermal, Sen looked over his shoulder.

"It's nice that Askarya was happy for us. But…"

"But?", prompted Si-woo.

"Well, now I feel bad we had nothing to give them. It's not Baegu's fault, they're not acquainted, but I feel we should have made an effort. I was so caught up in my excitement it didn't occur to me."

"Hey, don't beat yourself up about it," Si-woo advised. "You deserve to enjoy life's pleasant twists. And Askarya isn't one to take things the wrong way. Well, they kinda are, but next time you see them, just offer to help them with their lichen planting, yeah? No harm done."

"You're right. Maybe I'll fly them out to somewhere we haven't explored, and have it all to ourselves."

"That's the spirit."

[phytochorion]

How the Forest Finds the Island

Chapter Nine - Foundational Facilitator

As predicted, the storms blew in. Sen, Si-woo and Askarya woke from their silken slumber to a cold, unsettled day, and the weather only got harsher. They ventured outside less and less, mostly to check for damage to their plants and lichen. They also used any remaining silk (mostly repurposed from Sen's discarded loincloth) to create strong, elastic guylines, securing their nest against the elements.

Sen was faced with the inevitable fact that, as the ginkgos turned to gold, then let their leaves drift away, so too must he forgo his wings. His body not yet acclimated to the island's seasonality, there was naught he could do to resist this environmentally-mediated process. Si-woo suffered the same fate, while Askarya refrained from any jibes, but looked smug regardless.

Eventually, they retreated entirely, entering a state of dormancy within the nest, and waiting winter out.

⸙ ⸙ ⸙

The rocky landscape faded from deep green to brown as ferns and horsetails withered. Leaves accumulated in deep drifts. Barely a birdont or insect stirred.

⸙ ⸙ ⸙

Spring crept slowly back to the island. With each passing day after the solstice, the days stretched a little more. The soft curls of young ferns extended through the thin soil. Buds on the ginkgo twigs quietly unfurled. Within the battered but structurally sound nest, Sen opened his eyes.

Shuffling blearily through the entryway, he blinked and sneezed in the light. He considered returning to bed, but there were more pressing matters to attend to. His trees needed him.

Clambering up the branch, then down the trunk, Sen was pleased to find that the extensive growth of Askarya's lichen had provided plenty of hand and foot holds. Letting himself fall into the leaf mulch at the base of the trunk, he stood and made his way to the wide creek.

A dreadful feeling struck his heart as he saw that the winter floods had uprooted five of the little saplings. Fortunately, the newly opened twigs on their leaves were testament that they had survived their ordeal, but he wasn't sure if they would last much longer. He raced back to the tree to wake his friends.

⸙ ⸙ ⸙

The next two days were a hard slog. Sen righted the saplings, packed earth around their trunks and used all the generating magic he could muster.

There was still more to do. When he and his friends had returned to the grove, they'd found that more saplings on the opposite bank had suffered the same fate. Once the five on the near bank were cared for, Sen moved immediately across. He repeated the process, and finally gave himself a quick break. All he could do for them now was wait and pray.

In the meantime, he checked on the large ginkgos. They had weathered the storms well. A few branches had been snapped, but they were overall in good health. Sen checked to make sure their wounds weren't in danger of infection, then left them to recover.

Askarya had helped him as much as possible, but both they and Si-Woo had to prioritise their own gardens. Lichens were tough, and damage had been minimal, while he hadn't heard from Si-woo since he left, and could only hope none of his trees had come down.

Once the pressing jobs were out of the way, Sen could slow down and decide on his plan of action. Strolling by the stream and breathing in the spring morning air, he considered his situation.

As he'd been discussing with Si-woo on his raft, they both intended to spread their gardens, but they needed fresh gametes in order to do so. Simply propagating the plants they already had would leave them too vulnerable to pathogenic outbreak.

He'd have to find someone who knew a reliable route between here and the mainland. Someone with wind magic would be ideal, but anyone who'd made the journey more than once would do.

There were other fairies here. He'd seen clear evidence of them. But despite the traces they'd left, the beings responsible remained tantalisingly elusive.

As he travelled upstream, the ground cover of horsetails and hornworts became thicker, enough even to impede the progress of a five centimetre tall fairy. Doubling back, Sen arrived at the twin ginkgos. Climbing the one without a nest in it for a change, he sat in the highest branches and gazed seaward.

Getting an idea, he stood and turned to face inland. With a deep inhalation, he began to sing. Si-woo had been the only reply his calls had gotten since he arrived, so he didn't expect a response. Still, if there was anyone out there, he'd let them know they weren't alone.

His trills died away. The usual soundscape of chirping insects returned. He sat back down.

An answer reached his ears. Another song, fast and piping, it could almost be dismissed as the exaltation of a little birdont, if it weren't for the definite structure and meaning he could discern within.

Inland.

Fern and sand.

Two others and I.

Not far to fly.

Sen raced back down the tree.

⸙ ⸙ ⸙

"Si-woo! Si-woo! Askarya! There's someone there!"

"Three someones!" Agreed Askarya. "We were listening in!"

Si-woo, who was topless and covered in wet compost, looked like he'd just arrived. "Do you want to go and meet them now? I… might need a minute to get changed."

"Okay, but hurry up or we're leaving without you, I wanna see who this is!"

Si-woo babbled a breathless reply, already halfway down the river bank. He took a flying leap, vanished beneath the surface, and was back by the land route in minutes, his clothes clean but soaking.

"Ready?", he gasped.

"Ready!"

⸙ ⸙ ⸙

They moved at a fair pace away from the creek and across the prairie, the chance to stretch their legs welcome after a somnolent winter.

"I'm placing my bets now," said Si-woo, brushing aside a bristling zosterophyll.

"By that you mean…?", wondered Sen.

"Who it'll be! I'd bargain anything I own that we'll find Tadgh and Steve there."

"Not that you own that much," hummed Askarya.

"C'mon, who do you think they'll be?"

"My money's on Callisto and Aylmer. Have you noticed that they show up everywhere?"

"They do, huh?", nodded Si-woo. "And that song did sound like something Aylmer would make."

"Both of you only named two," Askarya pointed out. "I reckon it'll be Robin, George and Æthelred."

"Who's Æthelred?" Responded a quizzical Si-woo.

"A mycor I know."

"From the sounds of it we're not dealing with a fungi fairy."

"Oh? Don't think we can sing?" Askarya stopped and crossed their arms.

"No, obviously I didn't mean it like that, vascular plant fairies just have a different register, you get me?"

Sen ignored their bickering as he reached the top of a rise just ahead. "You two! Get up here! I've found them!"

⸙ ⸙ ⸙

The three of them scuttled down the weathered scree slope, hopping between jagged, jumbled rocks colonised by moss and lichen. The three fairies they were here to meet stood some way from the base of the slope. They appeared to be in the process of constructing their nest. It was enormous, still in its early stages, and crafted from tightly bound stems of fern, cooksonioid and any other plants growing nearby.

It was quickly apparent to Sen and Si-woo that these were none of the fairies they'd been expecting, nor were they Askarya's fungal friends.

The fairy closest to them was lithe and petit, with long tresses and wings, dressed in a white blouse and pleated shirt. Behind stood two others, the first short and stocky with a moustache and tassled jacket, the second tall and lean, face covered by a wild rag. All three wore wide-brimmed hats. Almost as one, their heads swivelled to face the newcomers.

"Hey!", exclaimed Si-woo. "Hey, it's Joe!"

He took off at a sprint, barely touching the ground as he sprang from stone to stump to stem and skittered to a stop on the sandy scrub. Sen and Askarya watched him talking animatedly and waving his hands about, while the fairy with his face hidden listened silently and nodded.

They turned back to the other two standing on the plain and picked their way down the slope to meet them.

"Well howdy," waved the one with long tresses. "Y'all must've been the folks I was just singin' to!"

Sen smiled. "That we are. Gongsun Sen, at your service."

"I'm Askarya," his friend added. "And you?"

"We're the Pioneers!", boasted the little fairy.

"Might I ask, exactly who are the Pioneers?", queried Sen. "Well, obviously, I know you are, but-"

"The toughest sons-of-bitches this side of Epiphyllia, that's who," interjected the moustachioed fairy, striding over to join them. He thumped himself on the chest. "Name's Jake." He indicated with an open hand to the fairy they'd been speaking with, who curtsied. "He's Jess." Pointing back at the mantled fellow behind him, he concluded, "And that there's Joe."

"A pleasure," nodded Sen. "I take it you know Si-woo?"

"Somewhat," replied Jake. "Joe's an ol' pal of his. They go way back, as I understand it." He doffed his hat. "Head on up this way and I'll show y'all what we've been constructionizin' out here."

Jake led them to the vast web of branches, forming a loosely connected wall that towered above their heads. "Behold!" He spread his arms. "Our fortress!"

"We've been workin' on it non-stop since we flew in," chimed Jess. "Barely had time to stop for a drink, let alone check if we had any neighbours, but once I heard y'all singin' I just had to reply."

"Darn impressive," whistled Si-woo, stopping mid-ramble to crane his neck in their direction. "How close is it to completion?"

"Prob'ly a good few months yet." Jake scratched his chin. "Course, we'll be able to bed down in it long before that, but packin' in every last lil' gap and crevice to waterproof it will keep us busy."

"When did you get here?", asked Askarya.

"Hmm, sometime within the last two weeks," answered Jess. "Flew across from the old country with the last of the storms." His eyes flicked to the wing nubs sprouting on Sen and Si-woo's scapulae. "You folks been here all winter?"

"Yeah, I thought it would be worse really," replied Si-woo. "A few gales are no match for the likes of us!"

Sen met Askarya's glance in disbelief.

“Y’all must be hungry. I’ll see if we’ve got some tucker,” suggested Jake. They thanked him, and he headed off to rummage around in a mess of satchels, clothes and plant parts strewn nearby. He returned with a burlap sack and they plonked themselves down on a fallen branch. Si-woo clapped Joe warmly on the shoulder and came to join them. Askarya lay prone on the wooden limb, taking keen interest in the varieties of lichen enveloping its decaying bark.

“Ooh, what are these?” Sen investigated, sniffing the pale, hard lumps Jake was handing out.

“Root nodules. Don’t look like much, but they’s as fine as cream gravy.”

Sen bit into his, and was pleased to discover that Jake was barely exaggerating.  Si-woo was soon going back for seconds.

“So what are the plants you’ll be growing here?”, Sen continued, wiping the starchy juice off his chin.

“Coenopterids, all three of us. Or pre-ferns, as some young whippersnappers are callin’ us these days.”

"Lovely."

Sen stretched out, feeling his wingbuds scrape the branch.

"I tend ginkgos, Askarya, lichen."

Jake furrowed his brow. "Ginkgos, you say…"

"Er, yes. Something the matter?", inquired Sen.

"Well, no, but I've been thinkin'- ain't no point havin' yer nest down at ground level, is there? Bugs'll get in."

Sen crossed his arms triumphantly at Si-woo, who glared.

"Problem is, we couldn't spot any stands of mature trees, and the plants we cultivate don't appreciate bearin' the extra load, so we supposed we'd build down here for now."

"But if you moved your nest into a ginkgo canopy, it would solve the problem," Sen concluded.

"Well, I was thinkin' we'd just ask you to sow some o' them trees here, but it's mighty kind of ya to offer."

"I wasn't- nevermind," said Sen. "Alright, sure, I could plant a tree or two here. The problem is that mine aren't at an age to set seed yet."

"I see." Jake took off his stetson and ran a hand through his short tresses. "I s'pose we could always- hrrm, who's that?"

Sen, Si-woo and Askarya followed his gaze. A fairy was silhouetted against the noonday sun, far off but getting closer. As they watched, the shadow descended, making a sweep over their heads and touching down a few metres away in a clubmoss stand. Jess and Joe wandered curiously over to the group.

"Was that… no, can't be, surely," faltered Si-woo.

"I was thinking the same," answered Sen. They exchanged an excited look. Jess raised an eyebrow.

"C'mon, better go meet them!"

Si-woo leapt up, Sen and Askarya close behind, the Pioneers followed at a more leisurely pace.

Just before they reached the clubmoss, the stems parted and a fairy with scar-crossed skin and a high, segmented crown stepped out to greet them.

"Mister Callixylon and Mister Maidenhair," he chuckled. "How did I know you'd be here?"

"Admiral Baegu!", cheered the two boys as one. Si-woo began bubbling over with questions, and for once, Sen didn't stand back, but jumped right into conversation, trying to make himself heard before Si-woo could launch his next spiel.

"All in good time, all in good time," was about as much of a response as they got from Baegu. "Good to see all of you settling in."

Sen and Si-woo nodded enthusiastically. "Aren't you going to introduce me?" Askarya prompted from behind them.

"Hang on-" checked Si-woo. "Are you telling me…"

"You don't know who this is?!", he, Sen and the Pioneers gasped in unison.

Askarya groaned. "Without the theatrics, please."

"This," stated Sen, arms held wide, "is Admiral Sirichai Baegu, master of the three great seas!"

"Voyager without fear!" Emphasised Si-woo. "Navigator of the twin hemispheres! Ceaseless conductor!"

"A real gentleman o' the first water," enthused Jess.

"Okay, I get it," sighed Askarya. "These guys all have massive man-crushes on you. I'm Askarya. Looking forward to getting to know you better."

"Likewise, Askarya," replied Sirichai, taking one of their hands in his and planting the lightest of kisses on top of it.

"I, I, um, okay. You guys go back to talking to him," Askarya commanded, stepping smartly back and propelling Sen with a soft but insistent shove back to where he'd been standing.

"I better let the others know where I am," remarked Sirichai, taking a few steps backwards, then turning and racing away, shifting straight into an ascent with a mighty beat of his wings.

Sen looked to his friends.

"I get the sense that everything is about to work out nicely for us."

⸙ ⸙ ⸙

The group settled down on the sand and conversed while they awaited Sirichai's return. Si-woo introduced his neighbours to Joe. Sen noticed that the fellow hardly spoke a word, though would sometimes softly mumble a response when prompted by Si-woo. He was a little younger than Si-woo, it turned out, but with tanned and toughened skin, he showed his age more clearly than the youthful progymnosperm.

"There 'e is," Jake observed, pointing skyward. The others looked up. Sirichai's silhouette was leading a group of five fairies, with two flanking further out. They watched him circle down to meet them, then stood back as his companions followed his flight path and came in to land. The two flankers came in fast, one scouring out a path in the dust and nearly taking a tumble as she brought herself to a stop. The other wasn't as lucky, his very momentum tossing him crown-over-calx. He thudded into the grit and rolled to a halt in a tangle of spiny wings. Sirichai looked mildly embarrassed.

"He just needs a bit of time to get his land legs back."

As the flankers righted themselves and turned to face the group, Sen's eyes lit up. "Elei! Kai! How wonderful to see you again!"

Elei strolled over, lifting Sen off the ground with a firm hug. She had tresses as tough and jagged as her wings, and a magnificent crown composed of two great strobili adorning her temples. "Nice to see  you're doing well, Sen."

Kai limped up behind her, picking sand grains out of his teeth. "Yeah bro, haven't seen you in forever. Thought we'd be here first, to be honest."

Sen giggled as Elei plopped him down. "How long have you been at sea?"

"Lost track ages ago," yawned Kai, stretching his arms and wings so high above his head that his joints began to audibly creak and pop. He swept them down with a sudden crack and a flurry of sand. "Ugh. Feels better."

Elei scoffed.

Meanwhile, the finagle they'd been escorting were also sorting themselves out. The group that had looked like five in the air turned out to be seven, as two were being carried. One was a tall and wispy fairy with white tresses. He had one long, shovel-shaped wing, while his other wing… well, he appeared just to have the one. He was stepping down from the arms of another fairy Sen recognized, Aliwen Añpe. Tall, firmly built and with gigantic wings, she was the only one apart from Sirichai who didn't appear tired from the journey, though given how far they must have travelled, Sen presumed she was just good at hiding it.

Beside them, a pale, wingless lad who could only be a fungus fairy was tumbling out of the grasp of an absolutely shattered looking boy with brush-like wings and bags under his eyes. An older woman with a sharp yet matronly air was keeping an eye on them. Ponnarasu Kompu, an old friend of Sen's, was the sixth fairy in the group, and the seventh was… Sen made a squeak of delight and hurried forward.

Behind the others, doing a good job of pretending they weren't there, was a fairy with dark, mid-length tresses and a downturned gaze.

"Belek!" Called Sen. The fairy looked up, startled, and a small smile flickered on their face. Sen weaved through the crowd to clasp Belek's hands in his, their heads tilting forward so that their crowns touched. "Belek, my dear, it's been so long since I've seen you, how have you been?"

"Not too bad, Sen," Belek answered, looking groundward again. They let go of each other and stepped apart. "Admiral Baegu was kind enough to consider me fit for his fleet, so that's been my employment for a good while."

"And how are you finding it?" Sen inquired.

Belek folded one hand over the other. "I'm managing. It's tough sometimes, especially when there's a big storm, or a sea monster. Still, we haven't lost a cargo yet. He's very proud of that."

"As well he might be," supposed Sen. "His reputation rests on it." He looked over his shoulder and waved to Si-woo and Askarya. "Come over here, there's someone I'd like you to meet!"

His friends waved goodbye to Kai and Elei and sauntered over. "Belek, these are my good friends, Byun Si-woo and Askarya." Sen pointed them out in a genteel fashion. "Si-woo, Askarya, this is my wonderful cousin, Belek Ürüŋ!"

"Wow, nice to meet you Belek!" Askarya greeted them, enthusiastically shaking hands. "Pardon my asking, are you... are you hermaphroditic as well?"

"Um. Yeah, I am," answered Belek.

"Ay, me too!", cheered Askarya, holding up both hands. After a moment's surprised hesitation, Belek grinned and high-fived them. "Yeah, I have a nose for these matters," laughed Askarya, skipping back to the crowd.

"Huh. Don't think I've ever seen them quite so happy," noted Si-woo. "It's nice. Ahem. I'm Si-woo. Pleasure to meet you, any cousin of Sen's is a friend of mine."

He gave an amicable bow, which Belek reciprocated.

"Come, Belek, you've got to introduce me to your crewmates," urged Sen, motioning his cousin back into the throng.

"Oh, haha, sure," obliged Belek, a little trepidatious but in high spirits all the same. "You know Ponnarasu and Aliwen, right? This is Missus Quacey," they announced, bringing Sen face to face with the stern looking woman. "Missus Quacey, my cousin, Sen."

"Charmed," she proclaimed, curtseying in time with Sen's bow. "And really, ye must call me Cullodena, the both of ye. Belek here has told me of you before. You have quite the reputation to live up to."

"Um??" Sen turned to his cousin so fast he nearly gave himself whiplash. Belek remained poker-faced. Sen looked back at Cullodena. "You really think so? Well, I must do my best not to disappoint." He hoped from the twinkle in her eye that she was pulling his leg.

"These are me weans," she continued, pointing first to the taller boy with pale hair. "Nathair, and his chavie, Glen." She indicated the mycor who was currently providing him with a sip of water. She then waved a hand in the direction of the shorter boy. "And of course Gawain. And his ladyfriend, Aliwen."

Aliwen caught Sen's eye and they exchanged a cheery wave.

"Now that we all seem to be caught up," announced Sirichai, striding into the centre of the group, "who's hungry?"

⸙ ⸙ ⸙

The Admiral’s crew didn’t lack for provisions, it turned out.

“These were meant to last us the whole journey,” smiled Gawain, waving a sheaf of dried stalks. “Well, they did their duty, and then some. Bloody glad to see the last of them, to be honest, subsisting off hardtack for years will humble the strongest stomach.”

“You make them sound so appetising,” sighed Askarya.

Cullodena and Belek were unpacking their own supplies. Jake turned to his pals.

“Joe, why not get a fire going?”

Joe nodded, raising his arms. With a wrenching motion, he seemed to strike embers into existence. Elei and Kai warily shielded themselves with their spiny wings, while Nathair yelped and sprung back.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”, cautioned Sirichai.

“What, the fire? Shucks, I’m so used to havin’ one I forget some folks ain’t comfortable around ‘em. Want me to put it out?”

Kai peeped out from behind his wings. “I’m fine with it so long as bandana dude doesn’t take his eyes off what he’s doing.”

“No fear of that, I can assure you,” drawled Jake.

Sirichai looked back and forth. “Everyone else feel the same way?”

There was an uncomfortable silence. “The lads and I will sit back a bit, but don’t mind us, keep on with what you’re doing,” volunteered Cullodena.

“Ah, yes,” added Sen. “I’m fine with it so long as it’s something you want.”

“Mighty generous,” noted Jake. With a nod from Sirichai, Joe resumed his magic. On close inspection, Sen could see the stems of the shrubby ferns nearby responding to his call. They bent in towards him, with strange buds unfurling and bursting, creating bright sparks that flew to him and gathered in a scintillating cloud. Jess called on a burst of wind magic to sweep a scattering of dry twigs and leaves into a pile, which Jake surrounded with pebbles, his earthcraft forming them into a flameproof wall. Sen had to admit, with the fire out of sight, it felt properly cosy.

Cautiously, everyone gathered by the fire pit, moving larger twigs and stones into position as handy seats. The food was shared out and chowed down, tough and flavourless as it might be. A lot of catching up was done. Sen got the full tale of the voyage from Ponnarasu, who had a memory for every twist and turn along the way. Sirichai and Si-woo ate and talked and drank and joked until late into the night. Askarya got into a deep discussion with Kai, while Elei and Jess found a lot in common. Gawain dozed in Aliwen’s arms.

Growing drowsy one by one, the group gradually dispersed. Joe quietly guided them inside the wickerwork fortress, where everyone found a spot to their liking and drifted off to sleep. Soon only Sirichai was left. Joe went to sit with him, and they kept watch in companionable silence. A few hours before dawn, Joe extinguished the last embers and they retired for a little rest, darkness sweeping in once more.

[phytochorion]

How the Forest Finds the Island

Chapter Seven - Blurring the Boundaries

Before he knew it, Sen found patches of green and red lichen brightening the trunks of his trees. He had to admire Askarya's eye for composition. While sharing the same living space, both of them mostly got on with their own business, but they were happy to stop and catch up when they passed the other by.

The height of summer rolled around, and as Sen had feared, the little creek began to dry up. It didn't disappear entirely, though, and the roots of the ginkgo saplings had now developed enough that water was no longer a serious concern. Unfortunately, despite his efforts, two of the saplings that had been afflicted with rootworm didn't make it. He was observing the algal flora of the creek one day when he saw that their leaves had yellowed and were beginning to fall. The others still had their summer foliage, but it looked like autumn had already come for this pair.

Sen did what he could to stabilise them, but ultimately death took them, and they were reclaimed by the soil.

⸙ ⸙ ⸙

For the next week or two, Sen wandered in a cloud of apathy. Death was a natural part of life, it was true, but it cut him to his core when he lost something so important.

Si-woo and Askarya had come to stand with him the day after the trees had died. Si-woo performed a ritual to appeal to the souls of the island, beseeching safe passage for the souls of these two little trees back to where they had been given life.

Sen had appreciated that. And he still had the rest of the grove to care for. But all the same, the excitement and wonder of finding himself in a freshly moulded world had dulled somewhat. With his motivation ground down, he wished he had some new task to distract him, but there was nothing except his routine. Photosynthesize, water, check for parasites, sleep. Repeat.

One evening he sat looking out across the plain. It was much the same as it had ever been. The ground cover was getting denser though, and patches that had been bare earth and rock before were now claimed by new kinds of moss and ferns, slower to get here but suited for a life where others couldn't thrive.

Askarya, who he had barely seen since the funeral, poked their head through the leaves.

"Mind if I join you?"

"Go ahead." Sen managed a smile.

The lichen fairy settled down, legs kicking in the air. They were silent for a few minutes.

"What's the good of magic," wondered Sen "if it can't save what we love?"

Askarya pondered this. At length, they spoke. "The purpose of magic is not to overcome the natural world, but rather, to help us find our place within it."

Sen looked at them sidelong, eyebrow raised and trying not to show how impressed he was.

"Don't you sound wise all of a sudden. Is that your own realisation?"

"I'd like to say yes, but truth be told, I heard it from my uncle."

"Well, he sounds an insightful man."

Sen tasted the air with his delicate crown, picking up mostly the smell of dust.

"You mentioned your cousin before. Do you have any other family?"

"No, just those two," sighed Askarya. "My cousin's name is Likhith. We're not on bad terms or anything, but he can be a little shit. Had a whole island to himself and wouldn't even share it."

"Hey, look on the bright side," enthused Sen. "You wouldn't have met me otherwise!"

Askarya snorted through their nose. "My uncle is Pankaja. He's old, very old. To listen to him, you'd swear he was the first one out of the sea when the planet was young. I don't know if I fully believe that, but he's a treasure trove of information and stories, all the same."

They trailed off, watching the sun dip down.

"I miss him. I have no idea where he is now. Keeps a low profile, so whenever I meet up with him it's down to luck more than anything. Still, it's never lonely. Have you met Khajee?"

Sen gave them a blank stare.

"No, of course you haven't," mulled Askarya. "Well, no time like the present."

They stood, walked backwards and spread their arms, the lichenous thalli all over their body raising. Sen watched, enthralled.

Askarya began to chant silently, lips forming syllables he couldn't quite catch. They moved their body and limbs, fluid yet frenetic, before throwing their head back as a warm glow enveloped them. Before Sen's dazzled eyes, the gentle light took on the form of a figure standing alongside Askarya.

They were the same height as the lichen fairy, dressed in flowing robes and a loose headscarf. The most unusual thing was that they seemed translucent, especially at their edges, as though in the process of fading into the background. Sen had to squint and adjust his focus a few times to make sure his vision wasn't playing tricks on him.

"Gongsun, I'd like to introduce you to Khajee," smiled Askarya, "my partner."

Sen blinked. "Wow. Um, alright, I… ahem, it's a pleasure to meet you, Khajee."

They bowed to each other.

"Likewise, Gongsun," the hazy fairy answered in lilting tones. Now that the light had faded, Sen could see that all throughout, from their skin and filamentous tresses to their clothes, Khajee was suffused with a deep ochre tint.

"So, how long have you been together?" Inquired Sen.

The two looked at each other.

"Spathian, was it?", estimated Khajee.

"Yeah, early Spathian," confirmed Askarya.

"Wow," Sen repeated, "that's quite the commitment."

"No kidding, hasn't always been easy, but we made it work," teased Askarya, putting an arm around Khajee, who rolled their eyes.

"Having someone there for you when times get tough is essential, you know?", the orange-hued fairy added.

"Yeah," nodded Sen, though to tell the truth, he wasn't familiar with the feeling.

"Well, if that'll be all…" Khajee trailed off. "Good to get to know you a bit better, Gongsun."

"The same to you, I'm happy to chat any time!"

Askarya watched them contentedly, then tilted their head back and uttered a string of syllables. Just like that, Khajee was gone, the only sign of their existence an orange glow fading around their partner.

⸙ ⸙ ⸙

Late summer had come and gone. Autumn rolled around. The savoured rains arrived, to the relief of all.

Sen finally felt he could relax. His surviving trees were thriving, big enough to accumulate some defensive compounds and fend off parasites on their own, now that they were no longer water-stressed.

With little to do, he ended up visiting Si-woo more often. The progymnosperm fairy had lashed a bundle of dead branches together into a raft, and it was here, floating on the lake, that they met up. Some of Si-woo's trees were already mature and starting to spread their spores, so he collected any which remained unfertilised and pressed them together with water and spilled resin into little cakes.

One day, drifting on the current under the fading sun, Si-woo mentioned that he'd been back to the spot they had visited together.

"Tadgh's terracing is working as planned. You should see the place, with this rain it's already transforming itself from dry overlook to verdant fen!"

"I'd love to, perhaps I'll fly out tomorrow," mused Sen. "I wonder if Askarya would object to being carried?"

Si-woo snorted, taking a bite of his cake. "Dare you to try."

Sen laughed, looking around. "Water level's come up a bit. I'm sure your trees are glad."

"Oh, totally! And with all the spores they're producing, they should establish in this area nicely. Problem is, though, if these ones keep reproducing with each other, they'll run short on filial diversity in no time."

"The same with my ginkgos," noted Sen. "I only brought two seeds, both from the same tree. And the other cuttings are extensions of myself, so they’re all ramets."

Si-woo looked coastward. "I don't fancy flying all the way back to Epiphyllia. Transporting spores is a nightmare in any case. They spill like nobody's business."

"I wonder if there's an easier way," continued Sen. "The flight I made nearly killed me, but I'm not familiar with the climate or air currents around here. Perhaps if there's a strong prevailing wind, or other islands to use as stopping-off points, it'd be more feasible."

"The climate here is unpredictable," added Si-woo. "These islands are diverting whole air masses around them as they grow."

"I've noticed," murmured Sen. "Epiphyllia is drying. It's what pushed me to fly out here in the first place, and you, I take it. And I'm certain we won't be the last."

[phytochorion]

How the Forest Finds the Island

Chapter Six - Exclusion

Sen frowned. Things could never just be easy, could they?

The little ginkgos had come down with a case of root-knot nematodes. The miniscule worms were attacking and deforming the plants' vital underground structures, and already some leaves were yellowing. He'd have to act fast.

Sen had dealt with nematodes countless times throughout the evolutionary history of his Order, but it was always a pain. They weren't like insects, that could be scared off with a burst of magic. They were a persistent, systemic infestation, the kind that wouldn't budge once it got established. Prevention was better than cure, they said, but unfortunately Sen had failed to prepare or prevent. Still, cursing his shortsightedness wouldn't solve the problem. Time to get to work.

Sen flew to the most afflicted sapling. The main problem with deformed roots was that the plant would have trouble taking up water and nutrients. If he could ensure it got enough of both, it should be able to survive and grow large enough that some root damage wasn't an issue. Introducing more water to the soil would also make it more hospitable to nematodes, but he'd cross that bridge when he came to it.

Kneeling, he placed his palms on the soil and focused. He could feel the slight shifting of grains as tiny animals moved through it, the sensation of vital chemicals being drawn into the roots of his trees. In his mind's eye, he found the water table. Encouraging it with gentle magic, he overcame the forces of gravity and inertia, drawing on water's natural tendency to spread to drier places.

The saturated soil responded, moisture gradually rising to heed his call. Once the earth around the afflicted ginkgos was sufficiently wet, he moved to those that weren't yet affected. He placed a hand on one ginkgo, communing with its inner workings. Cajoling it into producing specific hormones, he tempted predatory invertebrates into writhing closer. The tree would continue producing these hormones for a week or so, and during that time the invertebrates would be more inclined to visit it. They, in turn, would feed on any damaging nematodes trying to nibble the roots. Sen repeated the process for each healthy tree, forming a protective barrier of natural enemies. He'd check back once the hormones dwindled and see if the worms were still a threat.

Job done, Sen took to the air and found a nice cluster of leaves where he could sit in the sunlight. He began to run through potential problems and how to deal with them so that he wouldn't be surprised again. He could use some more magic tomorrow to safeguard against further diseases, but there were greater dangers out there.

This landscape was in flux. Formed from volcanic rock, it was still in the process of being colonised and populated by a diverse flora. Sen did not know when the first plants had reached this place, but judging by the lack of forest cover, it couldn't have been more than a few decades ago. The archipelago as a whole was likely older than that, as the climatic effects of new, bare land appearing in the ocean had been felt for a long time. There were likely full-fledged forests and stable ecosystems further afield, but here, everything was to play for.

The crux of all this was, the environment here was unpredictable. Without deep layers of humus, roots and denuded sediment, water retention was poor. Sen had found a good spot by the creek, but any shift in rainfall or topography could be enough to deplete it. He should probably talk to Si-woo about it.

Sen became aware of… someone. Through some sound or smell, he knew there was another fairy there. He looked out through the leaves, and immediately spotted a figure balanced on a thin ginkgo twig. They didn't appear to have seen him. Cautiously, he parted the leaves and approached.

As soon as he moved, the other fairy sprung to attention. They had no wings, and their crown was formed of little stalks with swollen sporangia at their tips. They wore a lungi skirt around their legs with nothing over their torso. Their most striking feature was the encrusting thalli sprouting from head to toe across their body.

Sen bowed. "Gongsun Sen, at your service."

"A pleasure." Replied the unfamiliar fairy. "My name is Askarya."

"What brings you here, Askarya?" Inquired Sen, moving a little closer and sitting down on the branch.

"I'm looking for somewhere to set up shop," they replied. "I've travelled to the islands further east, but my cousin got there first. I can't compete with him, so I've had to seek pastures new. And this place seems nearly unoccupied."

"I was thinking along similar lines," nodded Sen. "I believe there to be other fairies here, but it's far from a climax ecosystem. You're only the second I've met."

"Who's the first?"

"Byun Si-woo. Do you know him?"

"Name rings a bell. I think we met a few times, long, long ago."

"I'm sure he'll be happy to catch up," chirped Sen. "And may I ask, what kind of plants do you tend?"

"Not plants, lichen," Askarya corrected.

"Oh! You're a fungus fairy!"

"That a problem?"

A hint of a defensive edge crept into Askarya's voice.

"No, sorry, no, I didn't mean it like that, I was merely surprised!", fumbled Sen.

"The lack of wings didn't tip you off?"

"I was missing mine for a while, I assumed you were in a similar situation."

"No, some of us don't get to fly," they muttered.

Feeling like he needed to rescue the situation, Sen went out on a limb (metaphorically).

"Er… you're looking for somewhere to stay, you said? Is this a spot you were considering?"

"Yes, in fact. I've been looking around and it's by far the best location I've come across." Sen couldn't help blushing at that. "I thought I'd wait to see if there was someone already in residence and ask before moving in. You know, to be polite."

"Naturally, I mean, I'd do the same, I mean," Sen inhaled very determinedly, "what I mean is, you are more than welcome to move in here."

"Fantastic," beamed Askarya, bowing even before Sen could. He hastily copied them, then pointed down the branch.

"I prepared a temporary resting spot down here," he suggested, heading towards it. "Haven't used it much since I built my nest, but it should still be warm and dry."

"Sounds delightful," remarked Askarya, peeping inside as they reached the hollow burl. "I appreciate your hospitality, Gongsun."

Askarya took a further look around, inspecting the bark of Sen’s tree.

“Do you mind if I encourage lichen to grow here? I can assure you, it poses no threat whatsoever to your plants.”

“Ah, yes yes, I know,” agreed Sen, eager to make them feel at home. “The thing is though, ginkgos shed their bark at a fairly consistent rate. It may be hard for your lichens to get a foothold.”

“True,” mused Askarya, scratching their face and shaking loose a few spores, “but if there’s nooks and crannies in the bark, that’ll give me enough to work with. And it looks like there’s plenty more good locations around here.”

The two of them watched as the last light of the sun vanished behind the mountains.

“I don’t get lonely easily,” confided Sen. “I’m happy with just my plants and I, for the most part. But I can’t deny that it will be nice to have another fairy here.”

“Same here,” said Askarya. “Growing out on the sea cliffs or in the desert is beautiful, but sometimes you just want to be part of a community, you know?”

The lichenised fairy yawned and cracked their joints.

“I think I’ll see if this shelter is as comfy as you made it out to be,” they teased, and with that, slipped through the gap, took stock of their surroundings, and lay back. Sen remained standing outside, hearing a muffled confirmation of, "Yeah, this'll do quite nicely."

"I'm glad you like it! If that'll be all, I'll turn in for the night as well. Sleep tight."

"And definitely don't let the bugs bite," replied his new neighbour.

[phytochorion]

Askarya

Name: Askarya

Pronouns: They/Them

Class Represented: Arthoniomycetes

Age: Induan, Early Triassic

Height: 5.3 centimetres

Eye colour: Red

Magical Proclivity: Balanced

Spells: Pancha Bhoota, Maha Bandha, Māyā, Samskara, Rasāyana

A slender fungus fairy with skin encrusted by various forms of lichen. They’re dry and sardonic by nature, but trustworthy and no-nonsense. This isn’t to say that they’re completely immune to getting dragged into drama.

As a lichen, they occupy a role somewhere between the other fungus fairies and the plant fairies, not fully meshing with either community but liaising between both. As lichens are photosynthetic, however, their preferred habitats tend to be more similar to those of plants, and thus, Askarya spends the majority of their time in the company of the phytofairies.

Their symbiotic algal partner is named Khajee and represents Trentepohliales. This Order is part of Class Ulvophyceae, known as green algae, but certain Trentepohliales contain abundant carotenoids which grant them a vivid orange colour. Khajee normally resides as a comfortable, mutualistic presence within Askarya’s body, as their own physical form is less substantial than that of other fairies. If either of them wish, Khajee can appear alongside Askarya, an incorporeal yet supportive companion with a gentle, amber aura.