It wasn’t only that she went to sleep tired.
There were days when Demi was tired even when she woke up. That had been true in the world she had come from, so perhaps it was not surprising that it remained true in this place.
Still, the day was warm and sunny, and the forest was calling.
Demi set out with her usual party: Glimmer, Dollop, Finella, and little Tina.
The forest was lovely. Being out and under the trees always made her feel alive, and it did much to reenergize her. It did Demi’s heart a world of good to see the forest healthy and thriving. She was very partial to forests and felt she had a special connection to them. Back in her own world, she had often engaged in forest bathing: the act of going into a forest simply to absorb the ambience. She always felt both relaxed and energized after spending time in a forest.
The younger girls were also enjoying themselves. They seemed absolutely at home in the woodland.
On this particular day, Demi decided that it was probably best to check up on the lean-to, so they made it their first stop. It was close by, since it was only a short distance into the wood.
Demi hadn’t visited the lean-to since she had vacated it on her second day, since the house had been completed that evening. She had built it as sturdily as she could, but it was still a temporary structure. It hadn’t been all that long since she’d built it, but she felt it was still worth checking to make sure it was all right.
When they came upon it, Demi was again taken by how cute it had become, all bedecked in growing flowers. The dead stick that had become a little tree was all leafy and in full flower now.
What even is “being a Harvest Goddess”? Demi wondered vaguely to herself. If I stuck a piece of lamppost into the ground, would it grow into a lamppost tree?
She didn’t even really have to think on it for very long before she came to a conclusion.
Probably.
She went over to gently touch the previously dead stick and again verified that it was absolutely a living tree, with a root system and everything. She could feel the green wood under her hands when she touched it.
I’d honestly love to see a time lapse video of that transformation, Demi reflected. I guess I can add ‘raising the dead’ to the list of “Harvest-Goddess-related activities.”
Since the lean-to looked intact from the outside, Demi decided to check the inside. The little girls were also excited to see inside the little flower house.
But when she moved aside the woven mat that served as the door, she was surprised to find that the little house was occupied.
There was a person cuddled up under a green blanket, with only one of their eyes visible.
Demi and this unknown person were both so surprised by one another’s presence that they both yipped and jumped, and the noise and unexpected movement caused Glimmer to be thrown from his perch on Demi’s shoulder with an indignant cackle.
“Ah, I’m sorry! I hadn’t realized that anyone was using it. Please pardon me.” Demi began her rapid apologies even as she scooted backward on her feet so she could let the door fall closed again. Behind her, Glimmer scrambled to get out of the way.
“Tata onee-chan loves the little house!” Tina explained, throwing her hands into the air.
Oh! Demi thought all at once. It’s Tata! That’s Tata! It’s the missing dryad!
Well, that was the solution to a mystery she hadn’t even realized existed. The fifth dryad was Tata, and here she was. She’d just been napping.
After a moment, Tata hastily appeared from behind the mat doorway.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I was using it without asking,” she apologized, keeping her eyes on the ground.
Demi fluttered her hands. “It’s absolutely fine,” she insisted. “Please use it as much as you want.”
“Someone ought to use it,” Glimmer announced haughtily, still flustered from his tumble. “It’s not as if we’re going to sleep in it any longer.”
This brought a rosy blush to Tata’s face.
“Really?” she asked tentatively.
“Well, there’s no use in it sitting empty, is there?” Glimmer stated with an aristocratic sniff. “Besides, it is the duty of the goddess to care for her beloved children.”
It’s still hard for me to think of them as my children, Demi thought wryly to herself. Especially when we seem to be about the same age.
“Of course you can use it,” insisted Demi. “Please enjoy it. I think it will make the lean-to happy to be of use to someone.”
Tata was apparently so touched by Demi’s offer that she flushed happily and nodded vigorously, although she didn’t speak.
Recalling that Tata was shy, Demi smiled at her then collected the little girls.
“We’ll be going now, so please continue resting!” she said, leaning down to scoop up Glimmer and deposit him on her shoulder.
The quiet dryad nodded again, and as they turned away, she shuffled back into the little flower house again.