He kneels to plant the acorn
And he hears a quiet sound
The sound of joy and the hope of spring
New life in the ground
-Brenda Craven

I happen to be the eldest of the five dryads in the forest. My tree is a very old Weeping Willow tree which I have come to love very much. When I was young I was a tad bit curious about the outside world, since I could not leave my tree without getting sick and eventually dying, but that soon wore off with age and now I see myself as the guardian of the other younger dryads who I love just as a mother would love her children. I do dislike any mortal encroachment in the forest, but by watching and listening to mortals over the centuries that I have lived, I have come to know a great many things. I have learned of gods and goddesses, wars, creatures, and other things having to deal with the outside world. I soon after decided that it would be best to stay in the forest and not go venturing outside. Aliza came to our forest about six months ago. She was quite the chaotic one, though still a good friend for the other people of the forest to have. She has lived in the forest ever since but before the fire she was only another resident of the forest and Gnarlwood more of a protector than she was. She would have protected us, yes, but it wasn’t her duty. Gnarlwood is a very kind treant though he does like to act grumpy all the time, I’m a little more perceptive than that and can see how protective he really is of the faeries and other folk of this forest. The fire was a horrid thing. Since my willow tree is in the middle of the forest, it took a time to reach me, but I could hear the cries of pain and I wanted nothing more than to help the others of the forest. Unfortunately, I could not go so far from my tree with the threat nearby and soon the fire had passed by my tree as well, killing it and me in the process. Artemis however, brought the forest back to life and then a darling child by the name of Aurinia, I believe, restored health to the forest. I am in great debt to those two. Artemis named Aliza the protector of the forest after that and Aliza takes her job very seriously though it may not seem like it at times. She is a very wonderful person to have protecting us though I do think she should have a little more common sense when it comes to things about herself. I think that if it weren’t for me and my constant nagging, she would even have less common sense about herself than she does now. No matter, though. I’m glad to see that the forest is reviving and I’m also glad to see Ashes happy though I do want to meet this fiance of hers. He does sound quite interesting, but I do believe that a talk with him in person is in order. So I will have to do that and see if I agree to this marriage of one of the dryads. Until then I will continue to be my motherly self and protect those whom I see fit.

Nature is always wise in every part.
-Edward, Second Baron Thurlow