(That's fine, life happens.)

"I'm sorry to hear that. It's always sad to hear such things happening. I hope she is holding together. She's lost so much by the way she looked way back when," Kial said as the finally reached the barrier, "With you and three hatchlings, I would bet she has more resolve to live. I hope to meet her some day. I would like to hear her life's story if she is willing to share."

"Maybe." she said.  She then smiled wide and gasped.  "WILLOW!  I'M HOME!" she yelled, running inside the barriers and climbing the nearest tree with a purr.  "Oh, okay.  The rules.  You can go through the barrier if you have pure and good intentions.  The barrier itself notifies me when something is trying to pass through that isn't supposed to.  Most of the creatures within this forest might not treat you well if you come in unannounced, so I'm going to tell Konoki about you.  He's my previous adoptive father.  I will permit you to kill only one being a day, since I have chosen to protect all living beings.  But there are also rogue dragons that roam inside and outside the barrier and you are free to kill as many of them as you like.  I have a strong dislike of them and I want them out of my forest.  Ummm...  give me a moment to think of the rest..." she said, rocking on a branch of the tree.

"We only take what we need, no more. We use everything so as to not dishonor the creature by turning it into waste. We fallow the ways of the ancients while also tieing them into our modern lives. Bones are used to make tools and decorations. Furs and pelts are used to make leather and clothing. If it can be put to use, we will use it. Even the scraps are given a use by making them into compost to help crops grow," one of the keepers said, her cloak lined with bones and other sorts of decorations, "We believe it is wrong to not use every part of a creature we hunt. The one being a day rule will be more than enough. The hunters work in groups rather than on their own, same as the foragers."

As the keeper spoke, Midnight stepped through the barrier, freezing for a moment as the Willow's prescents hit her. "What is this I am feeling," she asked, looking to Goldenscale.

"It's Willow.  She's the oldest being in the forest, but she's a Willow tree.  Here, they'll come soon." she said with a smile.  Wit that, she rose on her hind legs and rose her head up, using a sort of chirping noise.  Minutes later, Konoki, Willow and Moonlight appeared.  Goldenscale jumped to the ground and walked the group over to the keepers.  "Alright.  Keepers, the griffon in Konoki, the woman is Willow, and the large furry dragon is Moonlight.  They shall be your guides in the forest." she said with a smile.  Willow walked up with a smile, Moonlight bowed her head in greeting but made no move, and Konoki kept his distance since he was unsure of these humans.

"There's no need to fear these human Konoki. They will only attack you if you attack them. The six in black coats, standing up fron are the beastkeepers of the nearby human settlment. They've taken an oath to respect and maintain nature. They would do so at the cost of their lives if need be," Ahnah said, letting her disguise fade as she approached Konoki.

"Konoki, leader of the forest flock. One of the gryphons I work with speak greatly of you," the bone lined keeper said after returning Moonlight's bow, "While he doesn't think you should be putting so much faith in Goldenscsale, he says your decision is held in high regards."

"Two spirits of nature in one day. Either we're extreamly lucky, or we've done something very wrong," Kial said, getting down on one knee in from of Moonlight and Willow for a moment, "It's nice to meet you two."

"I wish mother could see this. She would have been happy to see the spirit of the moon and a willow," Midnight said, taing a small step back from Moonlight and Willow, "I can only hope she's at peace now."

Konoki stepped forward.  "I have chosen to put such faith in a wonderful daughter such as Goldenscale.  She has done much to make the forest thrive and we are all grateful for her.  Everyone in the flock has accepted her as a part of the family." Konoki said in rough english for the humans to understand.  "She has taught us much.  Where she was crippled from an attack when she was much younger, she ended up showing the flock that she had the spirit to continue living and worked hard to keep it like that."

"Likewise, Beastkeeper.  I see you have met my daughter already and she trusts you.  Trust is something she doesn't give easily unless she feels it is ready to be given." Moonlight said.  "I have watched from above and I have seen how well you treat others as well as your companions.  Though I am sorry to hear that the one you called Tyler is gone, I am glad it is so.  And you have been in the prescense of one other nature spirit besides us for the past couple days." Moonlight said.  "My dear Midnight, when we die we are put to rest, and those who do will get their time to live again.  All is well for those who did well and even for those who willl get another chance." she said with a smile. 

Willow walked over to Kial.  "You may stand.  You do not need to do such things, especially not for me.  All I do is watch over the forest and help Goldenscale when needed.  It is nice to meet someone like you.

"She is an insperation. Even if I couldn't see one's past, i would see her this way. Her connection with nature has inspired me to look deep into bonds that tie us to nature. Every creature needs it to live, but no one have even been able to define exactly what it is," the bone lined keeper said, pulling her hood up to activate a morphing spell, making her a gryphon to better speak with Konoki. "Since my magic draws on the energies of nature, understanding this force will make my magic stronger while reducing the amount of energy drawn. Goldenscale's connection is much stronger and direct than most beings'. As such, I have it burned into my memory as an example to refer to for years to come."

"No spirit of nature is any better than the next. Every one serves as a piece of this world, be it a spirit of a single tree to the spirit of the moon itself. To us, all spirits of nature are equal in importance," Kial said, standing back up, "All spirits of nature deserve our respect, regardless of origin."

"Its good to hear that she will rest in peace. She deserves it after what she went through under Tyler's control," Midnight said," the pedals of her tulip spreading out as she got closer to Moonlight, "Tyler needed to be dealt with. I'm glad Ahnah took care of him."

"She is something no one expected.  It is because of her strength and her connection that she was able to create the barrier on the ouside of the forest as well as a similar one around the dragon's cave.  She has also managed to destroy several different dark beings though it slips my mind on how she did it.  She acts much like a child, but at the same time she is very mature.  She cares deeply for the forest and most of the plants you see here were grown from her magic though they are just like normal plants.  I wish there were more beings like her that cared for creatures and plants on such a deep level." Konoki said with a smile, loking over to Goldenscale, who was playing with the trees and was communicating with them to see what she missed.

"Well said.  I just wish that all living beings did the sam with each other.  It would make things much nicer.  But such is the nature of the world and of different species.  I am glad, though, that there are a group of people at least that think that way." Moonlight said.  Willow had gone to play with Goldenscale, since the two had never been separated from each other for that length of time before.  "Tyler was a man that I would call vain.  He wanted complete control nothing more, and I wouldn't have been surprised if Goldenscale had killed him the first time she met him.  Since she knows what it's like being treated that way, it is unacceptable for someone to be treated that way.  I do hope that all is well with all of his freed companions now." she said to Moonlight, putting a paw on her shoulder as she spoke.  Once she had finished speaking, she removed her paw and curled her tail around it once more.

"While we aim to survive and grow like other humantowns, we focus on minimizing our impact on nature and protecting  from those who would destroy it. Goldenscale has shown me through her history that there is such more we can do to live alongside nature more closely. Oh, before I get too far, I'm Miru, the dryad of our town," she said, watching Goldenscale, "Using Goldenscsale as an example, we can work towards restoring nature where it once was."

"I'm sure they've all found better places to live. The first thing they did, once released, was leave his pens. Those that were like me, left once they were given a new connection with nature. I noticed that each one seemed to take ona different element," Midnight said, shuttering as the roots of the tulip pulsed from Moonlight's touch, "I hope they find a place where they belong."

(Sorry for my long inactivity!)

Konoki smiled.  "She is a good example to go by.  Though her past has been rough, especially for a child of her age, she still has managed to retain her calm and peaceful demeanor.  I hope she does the same for others she meets." he said with a smile.

"They will always find a place in the world.  Though there might be a few who might not, someone always will accept others." Moonlight said with a smile.  

"She'll be a good influence, wherever she may go. Even if they don't make the best of it, they'll learn something from her," Miru said with a smile, "She has this sense of peace about her."

"I can only wonder where they'll end up. Hopefully somewhere safe," Midnight said, wincing as one of the roots from the tulip spread further into her shoulder, "I also wonder why I was given this black tulip over some ofther color or plan."

"That she does, though I don't know how she does.  No matter what happens to her, she always remains happy and optimistic." hesaid with a smile.  "I hope she does continue to teach others, the way she has for you all."

"The black tulip matches the color of your scales, which helps camoflouge it better.  It is also attached to you so that you are no bound to any one place, like Goldenscale is.  She too is attached by a flower, but by a much greater force as well as a purpose.  Because she has found a way around it, she can travel away from it, but other creatures aren't as fortunate.  That is why the tulip is attached to your chest instead of the ground itself." Moonlight expained.

"It will be tough for her, but I know she'll be able to spread nature's influence. She is a stuborn one, and with a good cause," Miru said with a smile, "Even if she only manages to pass the knowledge to a few people, that is more than enough to start a road to recovery."

Looking down, Midnight stepped back as Moonlight's shadow grew darker and pulled away from her. After a moment, the shadow bubbled up into the form of a dragon before  settling down on a final shape. "The tuliip is black to represent the element that has chosen you. Kyne will need help from every major spirit of nature to get back on her feet, and you and Goldenscale are but two of those who will provide that help. You are the chosen spirit for Shadowbinder, for me," she said, keeping low to the shadow she had spawned from, "The others from Tyler weren't as lucky as to be chosen for this task though."

"Um... Who's this Kyne," Midnight asked after locking eyes with Shadowbinder for a moment, "Why is she so important?"

"Something that may prove to be tough for others won't necessarily be tough for Goldenscale.  She has endured hardships since the time she was born, so she finds a lot of things easy.  You won't believe the things he has done.  And helping others is something she has often said she does best, so I wouldn't be surprised if  others leatned from her." Konoki said, smiling and watching Goldenscale as she played in the trees.

"Kyne is the Earth's very spirit and elementals like Shadowbinder are a part of it.  Once the tablets are found and brought to her resting tower, she will awaken.  Am I correct in this, Shadowbinder?" she said, turning her head to look at her.

"I've seen her past, and she does handle things differently than anyone else. I can tell she loves this forest very much, and everyone in the cave hidden within," Miru said, starting to watch Goldenscale as well, "Mayumi, Tieral, and the rest of her family are even closer to her than one would think at first glance. Even the late Frost has remained with her."

"That would be correct. Once all eleven elemental rune are found, the seal can be broken. From there the champions of each major nature spirit  will need to help Kyne recover from her hibernation, and protect her from the Shade who will likely attack," Shadowbinder said, "There will be a total of fifteen champions. Once the spirit of the sun chooses, only the remaining elementals need to choose."