Chapter 5: Winter Moon

In the normal course of events, the successful recruitment of Lily and Jasmine into our dryad community would bring a close to that particular episode in the history of the Briarwood. However, there’s one further encounter between Cedar and Lily, and Gabe and Jasmine, that is connected to my tale. Six month’s later, in the depths of winter, Lily is visiting Thingley Bottom in her role as Hazel’s replacement. Hazel is enjoying her well earned rest and she hasn’t adopted human form for many months. There are rarely any visitors to Thingley Bottom at this time of year, and any potential recruits from the local inhabitants have either already joined the dryads, or they never will. Nevertheless, Lily makes a trip to Thingley Bottom once a month to catch up on local gossip and events.

By now, Lily is well advanced in her pregnancy. She’s carrying the only child conceived during that particular Festival of the Full Moon. The following Festivals were all unsuccessful as regards pregnancies despite the enthusiasm shown by both dryads and men. Jasmine attended her first Festival three months ago, and has attended one every cycle since.

When Lily walks into the tavern she’s surprised when she discovers Cedar and Gabe sitting in the tavern chatting like old friends. Lily is unsure whether to approach them, and what she will say if she does. Her dilemma is solved when Cedar sees her and comes rushing towards her.

“Lily! My God! You’re pregnant! Is it mine?” shouts Cedar, loud enough for the patrons of the tavern to hear.

“Hi Cedar,” Lily replies, in a quieter voice. “Yes, I’m pregnant, as you can see. As for the father, then I don’t know for sure. You chose Rose ahead of me at the Festival, so Old Horace fucked me first. He could be the father for all I know.”

Lily is certain that Cedar is the father of her child after what old Horace told her, but she doesn’t want any complications about a father’s access rights to her child. The daughter she bears will be a full dryad, as the dryad genes dominate over human ones in determining gender and race. Fortunately, Cedar isn’t interested in claiming any rights over Lily’s child. His trip to Thingley Bottom is twofold. Firstly he is accompanying Gabe in his search for Jasmine, so that he can apologise for the way they parted. Secondly, Cedar is here with his new girlfriend, Primrose ... or Prim, as she likes to be called.

“Hi, Lily,” says Prim when Cedar introduces them later. “Are you and Cedar old friends?”

“Hi, Prim,” replies Lily. “Yes, we went to school together for a few years.”

“Lily is a dryad living in the Briarwood forest,” says Cedar to Primrose as if it is no more shocking than telling her that Lily is left-handed.

Primrose doesn’t know what to make of the strange announcement, so she gives a non-committal grunt of acknowledgement. She clearly knows little about Cedar’s and Lily’s relationship, and certainly not that Cedar may be the cause of Lily’s swollen belly. Lily likes the innocence that Primrose portrays. Lily’s mind drifts towards the possibility of recruiting Prim into the dryad community, but it seems unkind to Cedar to take two girlfriends from him in that way. However, the fascination that Primrose shows for the legend of Briarwood, tempts Lily to take her to the old oak tree.

The next Festival of the Full Moon is due in three days time and both Cedar and Gabe seem fully aware of the date. However, the exact timing of the full moon this month places the Festival in the darkness of early morning. While the enchantment that locks time also provides light and warmth to those inside the circle, getting to Moonstone Rock on a freezing cold winter night deters many men from participating.

A winter visit to the old oak tree is a journey that only the foolhardy or truly committed contemplate making. Lily isn’t troubled by snow and freezing conditions in her dryad form, so she can make the journey easily. However, in her human form she faces the same challenges any other human would endure. That Primrose is eager to accept Lily’s offer to escort her to the upper valley, speaks volumes for her enthusiasm for the venture.

What Primrose is less pleased about, is Cedar’s intention to attend the Moonstone Rock orgy. His weak justification that he’s only going so that Gabe can meet with Jasmine falls flat. None of them know whether Jasmine will be there, although Lily thinks it likely that Jasmine will attend. Jasmine is eager to follow Lily’s example and join her in motherhood.

“How would you like it if I went off and fucked several men?” growls Primrose.

“But you can attend the Festival and watch how I behave myself,” protests Cedar.

“Right. I will,” snaps Primrose.

“Primrose can attend, can’t she?” Cedar asks Lily belatedly.