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((A/N: Ok before you jump to reading and filling out your constructive criticism, I know that this is throwing you into the middle of a story that you don't know and there's a lot of characters introduced at once. Fact is this is not in my first chapter. Won't even be in my first book. I'm planning for this to come midway through the second or third book. That being said, I wanted opinions on the concept. It's unpolished but I didn't want to perfect it now in case I had to throw it out later. Anyways, please tell me your opinions and what I can do to improve this scene.))



The forest center was calm, ethereal and was littered with dancing rays of sunlight that managed to fight its way through the fingers of the trees. But yet it was far from peaceful for all seemed to eerily quiet. Like lurking just beyond the shadows was something more dangerous than any demon, more fearsome than any mythical monster. It was the earthen eye of the storm, a moment’s breath of safety before being plunged back into the maelstrom. And in the stillness of it all stood a gargantuan tree, towering over all walking across the moss covered forest floor. But its likes had not been seen in the human world. Instead of one solid trunk it was actually thousands of wooden tendrils emerging from the soil to twist together before splaying out at the top to form branches. The woven tree was adorned with leaves of a dark green, deep and soothing but were tinged with a gentle metallic blue. But what was especially unique about these leaves was that they curled vigorously so they resembled a maiden’s ringlet. There were multiple Widows Curls in this forest but none as big as the one in the center of it all. And it was only fitting that a Widows Curl was the heart of woods as these trees were considered to be sentient beings.

Elaine eyed the great tree warily.

Widows Curls were carnivorous trees and while there had been no report (Only rumors) of them consuming anything but small animals, birds and large insects, none of the trees had ever been known to grow this big. They had been traveling around the tree for hours and they had discovered that the tree was 8 miles across and a little over 25 miles around. This was definitely the location of the Earth Dryeda city. Honoum forest had been where they were last seen and this tree was definitely big enough to hold a city inside. And there was the lingering aura of magic. Strong magic. And Elaine figured that it was because there were probably a couple of witches inside helping to cast enchantments over the place to help keep this place hidden and have the grim feeling. The spell had to be recast weekly to keep it up so there had to be at least a couple of witches inside.

“This is it.” The raven haired woman said.

“You sure hun?” Yaelee asked, “They were only last seen here doesn’t mean the Dryedas didn’t go somewhere else.”

“I’m pretty sure.” Elaine insisted, “This Widows Curl is definitely large enough to hold a city inside if desired and there is a distinct feel of magic around the place. Someone here is casting concealing spells to make people not want to be around this area.”

She twisted a lock of curly black hair around her finger thoughtfully.

“The problem is figuring out how to get inside. Or to get them to open up the way.”

Naer stepped forward, his keen red eyes calmly observing the tree in question.

“They are not doing a very good job at concealing if you were able to detect spells used to conceal this place. This could be a trap that they set up.”

The dark elf ran a gloved hand over a part of the trunk, as if to physically check for any possible triggers that could set off a trap.

“Witches are sensitive to the presence of magic.”

Xierra took on a sarcastic tilt, “Imagine that, Naer. A witch being able to detect magic that they use all of their lives.”

“Stranger things have happened.” The dark elf shrugged, “Like an allegedly capable wood elf being unable to defend herself against a few guards.”

Though there was no venom or sarcasm in those words, they cut straight through the fair wood elf. Because no biting or cruel tone was needed to emphasize the truth. Honey eyes clouded over with traumatizing memory as she recalled it all in horrid detail. Her full lips trembled as she fought to regain hold on reality but it became apparent that the brunette was losing that battle. Her slender frame was quivering, her knees feeling weak and suddenly, Xierra felt dirty. Dirty with a grimy feeling on her skin that she had fought so hard to clean and even harder to forget. And just when she was about to cry, Yaelee swept her into a tight, comforting hug, stroking her fingers delicately through the wood elf’s oak colored hair. All the while her silver eyes pinned Naer with a hateful and pain promising glare.

“Naer!” Elaine snarled with an uncharacteristic viciousness, “You will remain silent on that matter if I have to curse you into oblivion myself! Now shut up unless you have something useful to contribute!”

The offending dark elf quirked the corner of his mouth in amusement, “As you say, my mistress.”

The water witch scowled at his words. She knew he spoke that not only as a way to defy her command to be silent but also as a way to show that just because he was traveling with them did not mean he would listen unless it suited his interests. His point had been made to Xierra so he did not need to pursue it any further. But how she hated it when he called her his mistress. And he knew that she hated it, which was why he called her such. Sometimes she lost sight of how he used to be her enemy. How if the circumstances weren’t so dire, he would still be her enemy.

‘Oh the places circumstance forces us.’ Elaine thought.

“Well what wonderful progress we’re making.”Isaac said with derisiveness, his Irish accent still thick as ever, “Fighting amongst ourselves, we’ll find a way inside in no time!”

Elaine ignored him, quite used to his dour nature.

“Any ideas on how we’ll get in?” Yaelee asked, “If they went through so much trouble to hide their city, it won’t be possible to force it to open.”

“I do have one idea. But I think we should wait it out first. There’s a chance that some of the Dryeda routinely leave.”

“What makes you say that?”

The blue-eyed witch glared at Naer when he spoke, “They need to eat don’t they? That means that there will be hunters and scouts to leave and gather food.”

The dark elf laughed, “Stupid girl.”

“I can get started on cursing you now to keep you silent if that’s what you want.” Elaine said plainly, giving him a nasty look.

“They are Earth Dryedas little witch. They have the ability to grow their needed plants almost immediately and this location would be a very strategic location. Widows Curls are carnivorous so they could take what animals this tree consumes while using their abilities to keep it alive. They have no reason to leave the safety of their new home.”

Elaine felt her hope sink. He was right. There would be no inhabitant of this tree leaving anytime soon. And that meant they would have to try her idea. Something she was not eager to do. The witch bit her lower lip in worry.

“Then that means we have to try my plan. We make them come to us.”

Naer cocked a brow, “And how do you propose we do that?”

Her mouth was set in a grim line, “We attack the heart of the forest. We attack their tree.”

Thank you! :3 Yeah, I know it's rough. I have a HUGE urge to go back and fix it all and polish it but this is actually a scene I thought of that will come into effect MUCH later and I didn't want to get really attached to it in case I have to throw it out.

Let's just say when I wrote this scene the computer made me it's slave until 4 in the morning. I was staying with one of my friends and when she went to bed at three I said to her, "Help! The keyboard's got me by the hair! It won't let me go!" xD Hopefully if all goes well, I'll get to keep this scene. :]

Anyways, enough of my rambling, thank you so much for taking the time to review! I'm glad you found it an interesting concept! :3

Haha YAY! I like urban fantasy too though recently I've given up on finding good books on them. There has only been one series I've stuck to in that genre and that's the Hollows series by Kim Harrison (I love the characters so much)

Random: do I get extra points for not having vampires as a center piece in my series? xD

Haha yeah, romance comes into it but I still feel that she pushes the plot line more to me but that's my opinion. The entire first book is about the main character breaking her contract with a supernatural police force and trying to stay alive while they try to kill her. And there's a fairy that swears on tink and disney. Once I got to that, I was sold. xD

And YAY!

That's only the first book. The rest is she sets up her own Runner company (which is basically what that supernatural police force was.). But the main girl just keeps getting more and more trouble come around her. xD

Well I'd had the idea bouncing around in my head for forever but you know how it is when you have a bunch of plot bunnies bouncing around in your head. I only started seriously working towards making a series with my idea since this past october. I still have so much to do. I have to make several cultures, religions and gods, terrains, plant life, animals, sentient races, cities, other continents, the relationships that each continent will have with each other (still debating on that one), lore, spells, charms and at least two roughly drawn maps. Phew. I still have a lot more characters to make and lay out my plot more concretely and.....

I have a lot of work to do. xD