Foreverafter: An Odd Adventure, Part Two: Guardians

Audrey (she prefers Odd) is bored by small-town life until one day a flying island drifts overhead. With the prospect of an adventure literally before her eyes, she and her best friend Kite climb a tall building and jump aboard. They learn no adventure is a safe journey when they must battle the stone monster they discover inhabiting the island, ultimately crash landing in the forest of Brackwood.

There they meet Cecil, an employee of the forest’s owner, and find themselves tangling with yet another strange creature—the gobber! They meet with the leader of these monsters, a living mustache named Gran Quarry, and cleverly save him and his subjects from their ancient foe: the llama.

Having saved the day, Odd and Kite leave with Cecil to meet with his mysterious employer, hoping to gain acceptance into this magical land and possibly learn of the powers hidden within each of them . . .

 . . . Your permission as guests of Brackwood is official." Cecil led them around a corner, back into the clearing.

A huge structure dominated the area, the shape of a huge mansion. It was as tall as the ceiling of trees around it, casting the entire clearing in shade. At the base of the building, it appeared that the structure had not been simply built, but appeared to have roots that blended from the grass into the walls. It was as if the trees had conspired to form themselves together into the shape of a house, complete with coiled layers of flattened roots that made up the stairway. Even the four-sectioned windows and the doorway looked as natural as they did functional.

Let’s not just stand here gawking, Cecil broke the silence. Let’s go meet with my Employer, the Owl Witch of Brackwood.

The manor of the Owl Witch of Brackwood dwarfed all expectations. The curious structure loomed larger and more extravagant than anything Odd had ever seen. The walls of it grew from the soil, ancient trees fitted to mold an elaborate mansion. The roots coiled and zigzagged at the front door to form a natural staircase, and a thick layer of carpet-like grass filled the yard around it.

Come on guys, we’re guests! Odd shouted back to her friends. Kite and Cecil still stood back as she rushed ahead of them.

She’s right, it’s rude to keep your host waiting, Cecil said, before glancing up at the window of sky. Though I think we might be a bit early. He thumped Kite on the back heartily to get him to move forward. It was still only just dawn, and the pink of the sun had barely touched the encroaching blue sky. As Kite walked across the lawn, Odd stopped shortly before the doorway, placing her hand on her chin thoughtfully.

Something was definitely wrong here, she decided. While she didn’t know the customs of this land and was far from an expert on doors, in her experience they normally possessed a knob.

Oh, look at that. I guess we are early, Cecil said, hopping up the steps to the doorway. The door was smooth as if someone had laid a door frame against the wall with no intention of cutting the doorway there. He rhythmically tapped his knuckles against the so-called door.

After a moment of silence, a shriek rattled the sky above them. Covering his ears, Kite quickly glanced back at the forest. From just beneath the treetop ceiling, a leviathan of an owl blasted through the foliage and shot out like an arrow with a single wing flap. Cecil ignored the ruckus and patiently looked straight ahead at the door. The enormous bird flitted over to a tower that stood at the top of the manor and somehow shoved its enormous body through a window.

What is that!?

Don’t worry, Kite, Cecil assured him, just give her a moment to make herself decent. They heard rapid footsteps from inside the manor. He smiled back to Odd and gave her confirming nod, and she grinned excitedly. On the other hand, Kite’s stomach crumpled like paper. He hadn’t considered that the Owl Witch might literally be an owl.

The seconds started to stretch into minutes as they stood patiently. Kite looked over to Odd, who rocked between her toes and heels, barely containing her anticipation. He turned to Cecil, who stood with statuesque poise.

"So I need to ask, what exactly made you and the old mustache think that she, Kite pointed to Odd, was a wizard of all things."

I don’t know if she’s a wizard or anything, but she’s got a lot of personality traits that lend themselves to magic, Cecil replied.

I don’t see it.

Well it can’t hurt to find out, now can it? he said, and Kite looked at him suspiciously.

What exactly are you getting out of this?

What? N-nothing! It’s my civic duty to look out for guests in my Employer’s territory.

That, plus I promised he could help me find my dad, Odd piped up. He’s so bored around here, but he’s too ashamed to admit it.

You’re looking for your dad? Kite asked in surprise. You never showed interest in that before.

I’ve never been on an adventure before. I’m trying new things, she said with a smirk. The quiet pitter-patter of feet grew louder behind the door as if they were closing in. Kite still held out hope that it wasn’t going to be a giant bird.

Cecil, good morning! spoke a cheerful voice. The door was pulled inwards, revealing a woman and not a monstrous owl, to Kite’s relief. She smiled widely at them. Her sharp features made her look a little mischievous. She wore a flowing gown, made out of some sort of fabric that produced a pattern not unlike many layers of messy feathers. Her hair was the same grayish-silver color as her gown, though she didn’t have the skin or appearance of a woman any older than thirty. Maybe the owl was her pet, Kite wondered.

Good morning, Mistress, Cecil answered with a shallow bow. I apologize for arriving so early in the morning, but please allow me to introduce your guests: This is my friend Audrey, and her escort Kite. As he gestured to them, Kite bowed similarly to Cecil, and Odd simply waved her hand.

Audrey, Kite, allow me to introduce my, uh—

"Employer." A gruff voice finished Cecil’s sentence. Standing at least a full head above everybody else, a man stood behind the door. He had been the one to open it for the lady.

Yes, my employer and Keeper of Brackwood: Lady Gardnir, the Owl Witch. The woman lifted her dress in a curtsy, revealing her bare feet.

Please, come in. I’ve been dying to hear about the journey that brought you here, she said. And Cecil, the Far-Strider and Wild-Strider are here as well. I hope you’ll introduce them.

Cecil grimaced at her words and led the visitors inside. As Kite passed the door, he noticed the man who had opened it was gone.

Inside the manor, they could see how truly enormous it was. The walls were grown of the same wood as the trees outside, but they branched off into rooms and hallways like an ordinary house. Across from the entryway was a staircase that led up to a second floor, though not much of that was visible behind the woven root railings. Even the floor was natural, without much noticeable difference between the outside lawn’s grassy ground and the floor beyond the doorway.

Kite, the lights in here are like the lamp-posts! Odd said, tugging at Kite’s sleeve and pointing them out. Sure enough, a chandelier hung from an arrangement of sagging vines that covered the high ceiling, and it emitted the same sourceless light as the lamp-posts that stood on the flying island. Or rather, that used to stand there.

Oh Cecil, you always insist on bringing home the strangest little pets, Gardnir commented facetiously. She willowed away from them, and towards one of the side rooms. They followed her, but Odd stopped, hearing a crack beneath her shoe. There were more twigs and brambles in here than in the actual forest, and yet she noticed that their host walked daintily on bare feet.

Don’t worry Odd, Cecil whispered, she’s the Keeper, so the Brackwood takes care of her.

Oh, I see. That must be why she doesn’t leave footprints either . . .

They were led into a large sitting room. Here the earthen carpet became a soft kind of moss. Elegant armchairs and couches grew neatly around a flat, wooden table. At first glance, it appeared that the only thing not grown naturally was the cushioning on the chairs, but that too proved to be some sort of spongey growth. There were two people already sitting inside, awaiting the arrival of Cecil and his guests. A boy and girl who wore outfits similar to Cecil—they must be the other Striders that Lady Gardnir mentioned, Kite presumed.

The boy sat hunched forward, focusing his icy blue eyes on Cecil. His ginger hair was all but shaved from his head, and his hood sat lazily on his crown. A tight grimace sat on his lips. The girl, however, sat back comfortably. Her face had longer features, and she cocked an eyebrow at the newcomers. She wore a different outfit from the two young men, as her hood extended into a shawl-like cloak, over which her long black hair lay loose.

"Welcome back, Near-Strider, the young man addressed Cecil. Anything to say for yourself?"

Ahem, Cecil cleared his throat and grit his teeth. Audrey, Kite, these are my fellow employees. Monty, he said, pointing at the boy, and Cyan, motioning to the girl.

And to you two: these are my friends Audrey and Kite. They are my guests until I can get them back home. He finished introductions, obviously uncomfortable.

Your title is Near-Strider? Kite chuckled. Doesn’t have the same ring to it as just Strider. Almost sounds like you never leave home.

No, Monty’s just teasing him, Cyan said. He doesn’t have a formal title besides Strider, unlike the two of us, she said as she stood from her seat. She grabbed a straight handled cane from beside the couch and curtsied.

For example, she continued, "My name is Cyan, the Far-Strider of Brackwood. It’s my job to act as a courier and messenger for Lady Gardnir. I get sent to other territories regularly, so my