Owen scanned the booths once more.

Them.

His gaze alighted on a pair of what he assumed were women. Except they were over six feet tall, white as milk, and naked except for where vines crisscrossed over their bodies, barely saving their modesty. Ropes of ivy also grew from their heads, twisted and braided into dark curtains that nearly reached their ankles.They were laughing together, heads bent close in their shared joke, and though their eyes shone with an unsettling amber light, Owen figured they were his best bet.

He walked over to them, trying to appear confident and at ease. A feat he had never been able to pull off when it came to Emma. The one on the left, who was angled more in his direction, spotted him approaching. She tapped her companion who turned to appraise him.

"Hello," said Owen when he was within earshot. His palms had begun to sweat again.

"Hello there, sweet soul," said the one of the right. She gave him a smile that revealed sharp white teeth. Her voice was high and lilting, sweet in the way of birdsong.

"What's a young thing like you doing in a place like this?" asked the other.

"I don't know," replied Owen. "I'm not really sure how I got here. "

The two women looked at each other, mouths turned down, and returned their sympathetic glances to him.

"It's all right, sweet. It sometimes takes younger souls a while longer to accept their passing."

Owen's brow furrowed in confusion. Passing?

"Yes, it can be hard. They often don't see if coming. Such a shame," said the other.

They think I'm dead, Owen realized.

"No," he said aloud. "I don't think you understand..."

"We're not supposed to interfere with a soul's passing-"

"But perhaps we could make an exception this once..."

The one of the left reached out to take Owen's arm, the tendrils of vines sliding over his skin. Suddenly, the spirit gasped. Her amber eyes sparkled with curiosity.

"He's still alive, Fauna."

"Are you sure, Flora?"

"See for yourself."

The one called Fauna reached out and trailed her fingertips across Owen's cheek. Her skin was soft as rainwater.

"A human..." she said wonderingly. A dazed sort of look overcame her as though the information was hard to take in. Her vines made a rustling sound as their movement over her body quickened, tiny flowers shedding in a shower of petals to cover her bare feet. "A human..." she repeated.

"In its corporeal body-"

"In the Spirit World-"

"Zabaria was right."

Owen found it hard to follow the conversation as the two switched on and off. Not to mention, he had no idea what they were talking about. He shifted his weight nervously, looking over his shoulder to scan the crowd. It seemed they were being largely ignored by the other spirits.

"Listen," Owen interrupted, dropping his voice. "I need your help. I was kidnapped by Bebinn. Tricked. And I need to find a way home."

The two forest spirits didn't seem to hear him though as they turned toward each other with identical worried expressions.

"Should we take him to Zabaria?"

"And risk Bebinn's revenge?"

"What if we bring her here?"

"She cannot leave the Garden-"

"Surely for something like this she would-it goes against the laws of nature..."

The spirits' voice got lower and more hurried as their conversation went on. Their agitation was clear as the vines writhed over their bodies, leaving red marks in their delicate white skin.

"Hey!" said Owen, regretting his outburst when a passing spirit looked over curiously at the three of them. The forest spirits finally seemed to realize he was still there and appraised him gravely. "Can one of you please tell me what is going on?"

"You should not be here," they said in tandem. Their amber eyes flashed again. "Humans do not belong in the Spirit World."

Owen had to resist the shiver that crawled up his spine. "Does that mean you'll help me find a way home?" he asked, hopefully.

"We cannot interfere with Bebinn's domain," said Fauna.

"But we know someone who can," added Flora.

"Zabaria oversee the Garden of Souls. She will not be pleased to hear of your arrival."

Owen fought to keep his grin in check as his heart leapt in his chest. He took an eager step toward them. "Can you take me there?"

Fauna shook her head, her vines swinging and shimmering in the carnival lights. "You must remain here. We will tell Zabaria of you and let her decide what to do."

Owen tried not to appear disappointed. They were going to help him!

Take that, Lira, he thought smugly.

"Watch for our return," said Flora. "And tell no one what we spoke of."

"I will," said Owen. "Thank you."

He stepped aside to let the two pass when a horrendous screech split the air. The hair at the nape of Owen's neck rose at the shrill sound, and the forest spirits froze, their eyes wide with fear. From above came the sound of large, flapping wings.

Owen's head snapped skyward to see a monster descending upon them. A massive bird-like creature with a body made of smoky feathers and the face of hideous woman that elongated into a crooked beak flew towards them, talons extended.

Flora and Fauna gave a shared cry and took off, moving like wind over the fairgrounds. Owen ducked as the thing swooped low, knocked to the ground in the torrent of air from its wings. He turned over, blinking dust from his eyes, to see the creature snatch of the woman, talons piercing her arms so blood spattered the ground as she was lifted off her feet.

"Flora!" her companion screeched.

Fauna swung skidded to a stop and, with one fluid motion, swung a vine over her head, gave a mighty heave, and lassoed Flora's foot. More vines snaked up the tether, coiling into a thick rope around the struggling spirit's leg.

"Run, Fauna!"

The bird-woman screeched at the resistance, straining against the vines. Owen scrambled to his feet, rushing to help Fauna pull her friend to safety. The vines chaffed against Owen's hands, burning welts into them. His shoulders strained with the effort and he pulled with all his strength even as the grisly bird dragged him and Fauna across the ground.

For a heartbeat their struggle was equal as the two held the bird at bay, Flora dangling like a ragdoll above them. Time seemed to stand still...until it was ripped apart with an ear-splitting snap. The vines recoiled, knocking the two of them backwards in a heap of tangled limbs. Flora was still yelling as she was carried away over the tents and into the crimson-tinted sky.

Owen tried to help Fauna to her feet, but the spirit was sobbing, her vines covering her body in a protective casing.

Out of nowhere, Lira appeared at Owen's side. With a surprising amount of strength, she hauled Fauna to her feet.

"You need to go," commanded Lira. "Now."

Owen had never seen someone so fearful yet so in command at the same time. Lira took control with the air of a first responder arriving at the scene of a horrific accident. "It's coming back for you once it's done with her," she continued. "Don't let her death be in vain."

Fauna stopped crying, and looked at Lira. The forest spirit nodded, wiped her face, and took off with the wind once more. She had disappeared from view in the space of a breath.

Lira turned to Owen with lightning in her eyes.

"What have you done?"

__________________________________________

Hi everyone! Sorry for the long update wait! Luckily, I have a whole bunch of writing stockpiled for this story from my long hiatus from Wattpad so I'll be able to get back to weekly updates :)

To be honest, I wrote this chapter rather quickly just cuz I was super excited to get back into it, so it probably needs some editing. But in any case, let me know what ya think!

Thanks everyone =)