Chapter 126

“My hope is that Mistletoe will grow on this tree one day. It will take a long time for that to happen, but when it does...well maybe by that time your own grandchildren will find protection from it.” His eyes were misty.
“We need water for it.” Xander announced, giving his grandfather his arm to brace himself so he could stand up.
“Right. You can use one of the horse buckets.” As he straightened, his old bones creaked and complained.
“I'll get water from the creek. I think fresh water will be best for the sapling. I'll meet you back at the house in awhile. I want to sit here for a bit. Will you be okay walking back by yourself?” Xander wondered. His grandfather was looking frail lately. It worried him. When he put his hand on the old man's back he was shrugged away.
“Just fine, Xan. These old bones have a few miles left in them yet. Go on with you.” He scooted his grandson toward the pasture and turned to go.
“Be wary of forest nymphs, Xan. They can only bring you heartache.” He threw over his shoulder.
Will walked up to the paddock, once more swung his tall frame over the fence and plucked the bucket off the wooden post. The little filly came up to him and sniffed at his pocket.
“No sugar cubes today, Elfie.” The young horse gently used her teeth to tug at his arm, forcing his hand out of his pocket. He produced a golden delicious apple for her. She whinnied with delight and nudged him with her head. He lay the apple on his flattened palm and held it out to her. She gingerly took the treat off his hand and chomped it in two bites. He smiled and stroked her flanks, before giving her a push away.
He swung the gate open and headed to the small creek. He dipped the bucket into the water to brimming and set in on the ground to tie the laces of his sneaker. As he stood up, he froze. Not a hundred yards away a green shape knelt in front of the sapling. The sapling seemed to have a green glow surrounding it. He stood riveted to the spot, watching.

***
Mistie held her hands around the infant sapling and sent the healing energy of growth and health down into the roots. She murmured to it quietly.
“You must miss Mother-tree. Why can they not understand that each time they take, we weaken.” She sighed heavily. “Do not fear. You will grow big and strong like Mother-tree. I will take care of you and when it is time, I will give you one of my own. Soon, little sister you won't be alone.” The glow faded. She stood and pirouetted on her tiptoes, humming softly to herself as she danced back into the woods.
“Hey!” A familiar male voice called out to her.
She drew a cloak of protection around herself, merging with her surroundings.
“I can still see you.” The voice called.
How was that possible? She had hidden herself in time, hadn't she? She turned slowly and gazed back at the boy. His eyes met hers. He did see her! He was staring straight at her. How could she have been so negligent? She turned on her heel, wild hair flying, and sprinted behind a tree.
“No wait. Don't run. Please. I won't hurt you. No one else can see you. Just me.” The voice told her. She heaved deep breaths into her lungs and collapsed against the tree, fearful.
She peeked out from behind the tree and watched as the boy entered paddock, slammed the gate shut, and dashed past the surprised filly. He struggled over the fence, not looking where he was landing and winced. She heard fabric tear. The look on his face showed pain. His knee was bleeding.
Shit!” He exclaimed.
Mistletoe gasped at the string of angry words her super sensitive hearing allowed her to hear. The words and the pain she felt radiating off of him hurt her heart.
“Fuck that hurts! Goddamn, please don't let me get tetanus. Please don't let me get tetanus. I should have gotten that shot when I had the chance. Crap.” He ignored the blood seeping into his clothing, picked himself up, and limped toward the woods. Towards her.
The earth healer in her drew her forward to meet him. His jeans were ripped and she could see an object impaling his skin. He was coming closer to her and she told herself to be brave. He was hurt. He needed her. This was who she was.
He stumbled and landed on the ground on his good knee, catching his breath. She closed the space between them and knelt before him. He was clutching the object, trying to yank it out. Alarmed, she closed her hand over his to stop him. The head of the nail touched her skin and she cried out in pain, yanking her hand away. She shook her head no and scrunched her face up, confused.
“Are you OK?” He asked her. “I'm Xander. What's your name?”
She stared at the nail, bewildered. How was she going to help him if she couldn't bare to touch the pain? She blinked at him. Xander, it was a good strong name she decided. She hadn't spoken to a human boy before and wondered if it would be wise to speak now. He needed her help.
“Mistie.” She replied, whisper soft. Xander stared at her in shock.
“How is it you see me, Xander?” She nudged his hand away and placed her hand back over the nail. She closed her eyes and focused, drawing energy from the earth, barring herself as best she could from the pain. The nail resisted, trying to push her hand away. But little by little the nail began to work its way upward. Each small movement caused Xander to grit his teeth and groan in pain.
She knew the faster she could get the object out, the better. But it took time. She reached her other hand out and lay it on his chest. His hand came up and linked with hers.
“It hurts. But, please continue. The faster it's out, the better.” He echoed her thoughts.
She nodded and bowed her head. Her mind searched his, linked with it, and she sent a wave of calm to ease the pain he was feeling. She took the pain within herself and saw a vision. She chanted as she worked. It really was a minor injury, considering, but she saw a sickly greenness spreading from the wound into his body. The piece of metal was somehow diseased.
She saw the boy in bed, sweat pouring down his face, painful spasms wracking his body, gasping for breath. This strong, fit, healthy human weakened by an affliction. She shut the image out of her mind, her heart racing. It didn't matter what the pain or illness did to her, she must remove all traces from him.
***
Xander watched. The girl's eyes were closed, she was stringing strange words together, her expression stoic and shuttered. Again he wondered to himself who she was. Had he fallen and bumped his head, even now suffering a concussion?
He knew he should have headed back to the farm house so his grandfather could extract the nail. But, she had called to him. Was he in a fevered hallucination?
All he knew was the touch of her hand on his chest burned through the fabric of his shirt and lit something inside of him. An ache filled him, an unexplainable longing for something which he knew in his heart was unattainable. The pain had stopped and he was able to focus more fully on her. He lifted his hand to her face. A few wisps of her hair lay against her sweaty brow. He tucked them behind her ear half expecting to be caught and held by it again. Need whispered across his consciousness.
***
Mistie felt when the object left his body and all traces of disease with it. She also felt overwhelmed by his thoughts and emotions. She was hot and itchy and uncomfortable and needful. She knew these were inside of him and did not understand it. She heaved a deep sigh, moaned, and collapsed. It had been too much for her. She was used to healing trees and plants and animals. Once she had helped a small boy who had fallen and scraped his knee on a rock, not a grown human man. She closed her eyes and gave in to the weakness.
***
Xander looked down at the girl in his arms. Her eyes were closed, her cheeks pale, her breathing slow. Now what? He wondered. He held her and cursed his body when her soft feminine curves pressed against his hardening cock. At least she couldn't feel what she doing to him. That would have been embarrassing.
“Hey, Mistie.” He said softly, doing what he'd been aching to do since first spotting her. He slowly ran his fingers through her hair, lowering his head to her ear. It was oddly pointed. He touched the tip with his finger, curious.
“Mistie, wake up hon.” She stirred and shifted in his arms, the warmth of her awakening sensations in his body. He had to get her off of his lap, now, before he did something stupid. “Live for the moment, Will.” He said out loud, recalling the sage advice of his grandfather as he brushed his lips across hers. Her lips softened and moved beneath his and still her eyes remained closed, her breathing even. He hoped she was just sleeping. Just a kiss. He told himself. He coaxed her dry lips apart with his tongue. She responded by opening them further.
***
Something moist and warm was against Mistie's mouth. She was being kissed. Mother-tree had taught her about the ways of humans, preparing her, warning her away from them. She had watched other dryads partake in the delights of the flesh. She smiled in her dream and kissed back, slowly opening her eyes.
She noticed two things right away, and took a moment to realize the third. The first thing was that she wasn't dreaming. The second was that someone was actually kissing her. The third one was that despite the warning bells going off in her head, she didn't want him to stop.
She slid her arms up and wrapped them around his neck, pressing against his body. His hardness pressed against her softness and she grew wet between the thighs. She sat up and pushed against his chest. He wasn't prepared for her reaction to his kiss. Quicker than a wink she stretched her body over his, pressing his back to the ground.