| Rowana pressed herself closer to the bough. Excitement tingled from her eyes to the soles of her feet. Since her “Tree Ceremony”, she had spent her days exploring the wood on her own. Each new day brought fresh experiences, laughter, sadness, glee..... and even horror (but that’s another story!). Mimi, had warned her, at the end of her “Tree Ceremony” - “Stay high...Stay alert! Learn all you can - Run at the sight of a squirrel or a man!” Being a sensible Sprite at heart, Rowana had decided to keep that one in her memory box. Sprites are tiny folk - so it was obvious that remembering everything was tricky! So, some advice or knowledge was kept in a box, which they could either carry with them or leave at home as they wished. Her dark sparking eyes flicked down again into the glade - was this a ‘Man’? Mimi had said they were of great stature....loud... with hairy bough-like limbs...and tiny ears - which would be of no use to even a Sprig! This thought reminded her that it was her turn to mind Ashala, Mimi’s spring-born Sprig. Tossing her hair in annoyance, then instantly pricked by remorse...Ashala was fun, giggling when you waggled your ears at her, gasping with surprise when you ‘revealed’ - she was too young to be able to hide herself against the bark or in the fluttering leaves. Rowana herself still found that tricky; getting into the rhythm of the wind and leaves, anticipating the ebb and flow of a light breeze. Capabilities improved gradually as perceptions sharpened through experience. Rowana closed her eyes, shutting off the sight below. That ‘Man’, if that is what the creature was, would have to wait. Focusing her mind on flight, she flipped her cloak aside, sprang to her feet, toes gripping the bark before.... launching herself off....arms spread.....her cloak now stretched out to capture the air...keeping her safe. Lifting...lifting...swooping.....sliding passed leaves, twigs, buds, towards her family’s Kin-Den - once the home of birds, now a Sprite House! Chapter 2 | 
