Page 106 of Simon

“Wrong. Yes, it’s wrong. Most of the things humans and the supernaturals believe are wrong. Now, we really must stop talking about all this before I say something I shouldn’t.” Sable sat back down on the rock and wiped away the sweat forming on her forehead.

“Kitty whiskers,” Lucy whispered.

“I think I am done with all this.” I scratched the base of my horns and wiped my hand down my face. “I suggest you do not do this to the next faun.”

Sable frowned and wrote in her notebook. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to just info-drop everything, but you asked.”

Lucy jabbed me in the stomach, and I stepped backward. Her strength matched my own now, and I rubbed my side. “Do not be so rude, Simon. It isn’t proper. She just gave us a lot of information here. Sable, he didn’t mean it. It’s just, well, it’s a lot. Emotionally. He can’t see his family. Do they know Simon is okay, at least? Is his family okay? Where exactly are they?”

Sable turned her back to us and crossed her arms. “I don’t know. Is that too much information?”

I huffed and stomped my foot. “That is information I need to know!”

Sable snickered. “I need to hear aplease.”

I lowered my head and scuffed my hoof on the ground. The vines lowered from the trees and picked up Sable under her arms. She screamed as the vines held her steady for me. I didn’t ask them to do it, they just did it on their own.

Lucy jumped in front of me and held out her arms. “Don’t you dare! I don’t care if you are a prince of the whole Wood, you do not headbutt Sable.”

I stood up. “Just a little?” I held my finger and thumb close together. “It would make me feel better.”

She shook her head. “Absolutely not. I know you have been through a lot today, and if you are good, I’ll make you feel better.” She gave an exaggerated wink, which I knew aspleasure time. “But you cannot do this.”

I sighed, and the vines let Sable go. She pulled down her blazer and adjusted her glasses.

“Glad to know you have adjusted into your princely role.” Sable glared at Simon and sat down. “And to answer your question, your parents do not know you are missing.”

I frowned. “They don’t?”

Sable shook her head solemnly. “Poseidon knew you were missing, and he didn’t want them to be upset. He wiped everyone’s memories of the missing prince. Poseidon will returntheir memories of the missing prince once the fauns are placed here in the Wood. You are the test run for the fauns. You are to get the Wood ready for their return.”

That seemed to snap me out of the depression that had built inside of me. At least my parents were not suffering; they hadn’t missed me. I hadn’t missed them until recently. Knowing that I would be in charge of preparing for their return brought a new set of goals for me.

“We lived in the trees?” As I posed the question, I observed the flickering recollections that danced before me like vibrant bursts of light. The imagery was far superior to the dim confines of the cave, where the chill in the air could make it arduous for my companion to ascend the rugged terrain.

Sable gracefully flipped through the pages of her worn notebook, and the sound of paper rustling filled the air. She delicately turned it around, revealing a collection of sketches. As my eyes scanned the pages, I could see intricate drawings of charming little homes similar to the one the Wood had made for us. The sight of these bungalow-like dwellings, as Lucy had called them, brought back memories of one I lived in with my family. They were nestled amidst towering trees. I imagined the limbs of the trees stretching high above, their branches out of reach for the average human, but perfect for a nimble faun to jump from knot, limb or bark in the trees.

Would Lucy be able to climb?

Lucy looked down at her feet. While she didn’t have hooves, she didn’t flinch when she walked with her bare feet over tiny rocks and branches.

“I bet I can climb that now.” Lucy looked up at the tree. “Doesn’t seem so scary anymore.” She elbowed my side.

I dug deeper into our bond, and it was true, she didn’t seem afraid.

“The bond,” Sable said, as if she could read my mind. “And as time goes on, it will get stronger, more confident.”

I ran my hand over my horns. My past and future life’s mystery had been mostly answered.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Lucy

Wewerebothinfo-dumped.

Simon’s emotions were all over the place through the bond, and rightfully so.

He wasn’t alone. He had a family, even a herd. Unfortunately, he was left behind, but he has me now.

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