THE FOURTH REALM: GREEN — The olive tree's hospitality

Beside the path stood an olive tree with generous branches. Skyblue bowed to it and asked permission to spend the night. Its branches lowered to meet her. As she embraced the trunk, she thought she heard a few words:

“At your own risk.”

The dragon raised her head.

“What’s that?”

The leaves stirred. She pressed her heart against the bark to greet Ernesto and heard it again:

“At your own risk.”

‘I’m far too tired,’ she thought.

She entered the shelter the olive tree offered. She didn’t even open the satchel. All she wanted was sleep.

She was just about to drift off when voices began calling her from outside. At first she mistook them for a dream. Then came the pounding of hooves and a shout that left no room for doubt:

“Get out of there!”

Skyblue came out. Several pegasi surrounded the olive tree. They were all talking at once, beating their wings and pointing toward the path.

“This is our territory!”

“You can’t stay here!”

“You’re in the wrong place!”

The word “territory” sounded strange to her. Throughout her journey, the trees had been free to offer her hospitality themselves. Apparently, here they needed permission, too.

A rush of cold filled her chest. Skyblue searched their faces for a friendly gesture, but found only impatience to see her leave. She heard a threat and understood that this was no time to argue.

She gathered her things, thanked the olive tree, and walked away. It hurt to leave it with its branches still outstretched.

She walked until the shouts were behind her. Then she stopped, pressed a paw to her chest, and waited for her hurried breathing to slow.