The Dryad 121 Cooking Fundamentals

"You remember that family I told you would play in my woods?" I nodded remembering the songs she sang when Mist was unconscious. "Whenever the little girl would make a face like that she would get whatever she wanted." I fought back the urge to roll my eyes.

In short order there was a flurry of comotion, much more than should reasonably be able to be caused by two spirits, as they busily tried to get everything ready to make dinner. In the end Fume was sitting on the ground with a pot of water resting in her hands. I was begged by Ivy to form a pot since hers was left behind when she ran from Maximus. The pot was formed out of dense wood. It would not last as long as a metal pot but it should be enough to get through this meal. Fume was watching the pot intently as she worked on controlling her flames at just the right temperature.

The older three in our congregation of spirits were having a hard time keeping a straight face whenever we looked at the two. But the three of us had more important tasks to do than make dinner. I still was doing everything I could to find Maximus. Cocoa was helping me probe the humans for signs of magic while Tide was searching for Mist. Even if Mist was still paralized, Tide should be able to resonate with her or any other water spirits. She had the best chance in finding Mist out of any of us.

"Breakfast is ready!" Ivy happily called out waking me from my anxiety. The more I had been searching, the more it was clear to me that Maximus had somehow managed to escape my searching yet again. My nerves were starting to feel like a frayed rope everytime I thought about Mist and Faun. Mist was just a sprite and could not be away from the water.

"You do know that breakfast is something that is usually eaten in the morning," Rine said looking at Ivy curiously. He was a true fairy and really able to put his worries aside and enjoy the moment.

"I know that!" she said with a smile. But before anyone could question her, she continued. "The only thing I remember how to make without my notes is porridge, so we are having breakfast."

I just shook my head at Ivy, who was already walking around without a limp, and took the bowl she gave me. I really was not in the mood for food right now but I know Ivy would be hurt if I did not try some. As I continued to scan the humans, I forced myself to eat the food mechanically, something that was made even easier by the complete lack of flavor. But it seemed that not everyone shared my opinion.

"This is so amazing!" Fume said, taking a bite. "I made something."

"Yes WE did," Ivy said, clearly not willing to let her efforts go unnoticed. She then took a bite after distributing food to everyone. Her face changed after her first taste. It seems I would have to comfort her. All I could really say is that it was better than anything I have ever made. It was not a lie but even I had to admit it was misleading given that I had never even tried.

"This is so much better than anything I have made before! You were a big help!" Ivy exclaimed after she processed the flavor or lack thereof. I involuntarily shuddered at the images that were conjured in my mind of her previous cooking attempts. I looked at her in disbelief but it seemed to be true. She quickly ate her bowl of food and hurried off to get seconds.

"Amazing. This is so different from anything I have had before. Can I please have some more?" Fume asked Ivy politely.

"Yes please. I am glad you like it." Even from the tone of Ivy's voice it was clear to tell that she was smiling. How could they like this tasteless gruel so much? I asked myself as the mystery of the functionality of their taste buds pulled my mind away from my searching. I looked over to see the two young spirits eating with great haste. Even Rine seemed to be enjoying this meal, albeit a bit more subdued.

Was it my taste buds that were not working? I glanced at Cocoa and Tide and let out a sigh. The bowls near them had remained nearly untouched. It seems I was not the only one to think this meal was lacking. Seeing that I was not the one with an issue, I did my best to get back to my searching.

It was not long before Ivy, Fume and Rine managed to finish off the pot of food. "It's all gone," Ivy said sadly as she went up to get- fifths, was it? I had stopped counting. "We have to try this again. Leafy should be here soon. She can teach us even more recipes. Will you help me?"

"Of course I will. I have never had this much fun in my life," Fume instantly agreed.

It was a saddening to think about how true that statement was. I really have not lived up to my name as the first dryad. I abandoned her in that pit for such a long time that even making a sad excuse for porridge is the best time of her life. But despite how badly I had treated her, I would not be able to help her fulfill her wish.

"I am sorry, but I don't think Leafia will not have time to teach you more right now. I plan on heading out once we have gotten the supplies that they need. Or I should say I hope that they will come with me. I really need their help if I am going to find Mist and Faun," I said, pouring water over the happy meal. I really hoped that they would be willing to come with me. It was presumptuous of me to a.s.sume that they had rushed all this way just to help me.

"Where are you going to go? We have not been able to find them yet," Cocoa asked. This time I was the one doused with harsh reality.

"All I can do is try south. We will head to the kingdom south east of the Fankling Duckdom and head back up to Yana where I was looking before." I was frustrated that this was the only course of action I had but I could not come up with something better.

"That is going to take a long time?" Cocoa said.

"It is, but it is my only hope." I set the remnants of my 'breakfast' on the ground and stood, gazing up at the stars that were starting to appear. "I am going to head out and meet my companions. You are all welcome to stay in my woods as long as you want. But Fume, no more than one tree a day please, and not around this pond, I am fond of it." For better or worse I knew that Tide would keep an eye on Fume. But I also realized that she was just young and didn't realize the damage she was causing before.

Part of me wanted their help. But I could not ask them. Maximus was very dangerous, especially to us spirits. I was not going to let any of them get hurt because of me. Faun, Ivy and Mist were all harmed because I did not act soon enough.

"Laurel, wait." Tide called out to me as I was starting to walk into the woods.

"What?" I said turning around. I know the frustration in my voice was much greater than Tide deserved, at least this time.

"You are never going to be able to find them in time. A water sprite can not be out of her water for long."

"I know! That is why I am leaving." My voice raised as tears formed in my eyes. "Do you really think that you have overlooked her these hours you have spent searching? Is waiting here going to get me anything other than Mist being further away?" My voice failed. Did you have to tell me that it was already too late? That Mist and Faun were already lost? I needed a little hope to get through, to keep moving forward. Did you have to take that from me?

Tide looked at the ground and shook her head. We both knew we would not be able to find Mist using our powers. The faces on the other girls fell seeing Tide admit defeat. Or at least I presumed she was giving up. "Then why do you not ask her?" she said, keeping her voice much calmer than I was able to. Did she just not care about my friends being taken? It was clear that she didn't.

"You know she won't help! She never helps! That's her one rule. Just let me go! It's not like you even care if I find them, she won't either," I said, falling to the ground and punching it. She is the one person who could fix everything but she never moved for anyone.

"Faun was my friend too," she said her voice cracking a little."You just need to ask the right question," Tide said while I continue to pummel the soil with more and more of my strength. Divots were starting to form. Part of me was hoping she could feel them. So she would realize my frustration. Cocoa's face was slightly shocked at my behavior. But Ivy and Fume just glanced at each other, looking very confused.

"You two always seem to know each other so well. I am sorry I came along and interrupted your billions of years together. Does that make me the b.a.s.t.a.r.d child that neither of you wanted? Sorry that I could not stay the same forever. That I wanted every day to be a little different. Neither of you liked that my roots sucked up your waters and broke your rocks."

"If you want to go back that far, should I start calling you Alga?" Tide said, showing her first bit of frustration. Somehow it made me feel like I was winning. But her calling me by that name made me flinch. "It had been just us for going on 3 billion years with almost nothing ever changing. Of course it was a shock to see you, who could not sit still for a season." She took a breath and released her frustration. Cocoa raised her hands trying to get both of us to stop, but there was no stopping the tide.

"This time I am not going to let you run when we are trying to help." I watched as Tide raised her leg and stomped her foot into the ground. The force of her stomp sent ripples into the ground. Moving even faster than the ripples, a wave of energy shot through the earth.