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He had not been to see a puppet show in centuries. The children giggled as one puppet attacked another. He glanced behind to look at her, but her eyes were glued on the puppets, an excited glow lighting her face.

They found seats in the back of the small gathering. One of the children nearby stared at Alison in wonder. Qwinn grew slightly anxious; however, Alison didn't even notice the child.

The puppets yelled at each other in high-pitched Vidarian voices, then a woman puppet appeared, who was ridiculously endowed, and smacked them both. Alison laughed along with the children. Qwinn found himself actually relaxing and smiling along with everyone.

He realized that many townsfolk were watching them, but he decided he was going to enjoy himself. So far, nothing bad had happened in town, beside Kesni. This was the biggest step Alison was going to have to make…besides marrying him.

He pushed the thoughts from his mind as the child waddled over and without a hint of fear, climbed into Alison's lap. A soft gasp escaped her lips as she stared at the small chunk of a child that was making himself comfortable in her lap.

After the initial shock wore off, her smile returned and she picked him up, helping him get more comfortable as they watched. Again, Qwinn was surprised and proud of her and…extremely attracted to her.

ALISON WATCHED AS A LOVELY puppet came into view and the background of the stage was changed to a landscape filled with mountains and trees. Someone narrated in a booming Vidarian voice. Though she was lost, she watched the puppet raise its arms towards the heavens.

Qwinn leaned closer, whispering in her ear. She stiffened slightly in awareness of his closeness, but kept her calm. "They are telling the story of Ahanu and how she grew lonely on the beautiful Earth."

Alison watched a few forms appear beside Ahanu. They looked like animals. More and more appeared, disappearing soon after to make room for more puppets.

"She created animals, but they did not make her feel loved," he continued to whisper in her ear.

Another form appeared. One looked like a Vidarian. The puppeteers bowed the Vidarian to Ahanu. "She created the first Vidarian, to love and worship her. After, she created many more beings, Elves, fairies and forest dwelling creatures."

More forms appeared and talked with each other, but the Vidarian stayed with Ahanu.

"She fell in love with him. But as she created more beings, he began to drift from her. When she created humans…." Qwinn drifted off. Alison turned to meet his gaze, surprised at the confusing emotion she thought she saw there.

"What happened?" she asked softly, urging him to continue.

"He fell in love," Qwinn answered, almost in a whisper. Alison couldn't help but notice the way his eyes consumed her face. Her heart skipped a beat as she licked her suddenly dry lips. With effort, she turned her eyes back to the puppet stage. The Vidarian stood by the human and Ahanu cried.

Alison frowned. "Why didn't she destroy the humans if they stole him from her?"

"Ahanu loved him. She did not want harm to befall him. So, she let him chose the human over her and live on the earth."

Alison was confused. "Why haven't I heard of any Vidarian's in history? I didn't even know you existed before…I came here."

"When the humans grew to be too many, we hid ourselves. They grew jealous of our ways and our deep connection with Ahanu," he answered, also watching the stage now. "You see, our life spans are great compared to humans. We feel no rush to take land or create an empire and rule as humans do. We merely live and enjoy. When the time comes we will build, move, or fight."

"So, relationships became secret?" she asked, trying to follow along.

He nodded. "Ahanu still loved him and all of her creations, so instead of walk the Earth with only a few, she spread herself in the air, the trees and the Earth. Ahanu is all around us, watching over us. She gives us our power."

The puppeteers walked the human and Vidarian off the stage and Ahanu disappeared, trees, appearing where she was.

"That is a sad story," Alison commented, turning her eyes to the small child that was sitting in her lap. He was holding onto her finger with a good grip as he watched the puppets. He was a small and stout, black skinned and bald. He had large ears and red dots where eyebrows should have been.

Immediately the puppeteers switched to another story, this one comedic. The children laughed, including the little one she was holding. His laughter caused her smile to grow. The town had seemed like such a threatening place to her a few hours ago. Other than the stares she got and the young man who made her afraid, she hadn't expected any of this. She hadn't expected to find herself in the center of the town, watching puppets with Qwinn, and holding onto a Vidarian child.

Suddenly she heard someone yelling in the hissing language. Obviously, that someone was very angry. She lifted her eyes and looked around to find a large woman pushing her way through the crowd toward them. She instantly stiffened. Qwinn stood, speaking calmly in Vidarian to the lady. The woman hardly listened as she reached around him to grab at the child in Alison's lap. The child reached toward the woman, who picked him up and muttered something at her. Alison swallowed down her fear as the woman glared daggers at her before turning into the crowd and disappearing.

Qwinn sighed and shook his head, turning toward her. By now, everyone in the square was looking at her again. She fought to keep her tears back. She had never seen such a show of hatred toward her. She hadn't been doing anything wrong. The child had come to her!

Qwinn held out his hand to her, his face as smooth as stone. She accepted it, glad for him to rescue her from this. They walked to the edge of the town, where their Ou'tani's had been tied.

Adalia ran to meet them. "Are you alright?" she asked Alison.

Alison shook her head, not meeting her eyes. Adalia muttered something to herself as she pulled Alison into a hug. "Don't feel bad. Mothers get protective, that's all."

She was still quivering as she hugged Adalia back for a second. "I'll be fine."

Qwinn helped Alison up, climbing on after her. He said something to Adalia then clicked his tongue, causing the Ou'tani to move forward.

As they rode, Alison couldn't help but replay the look the mother had given her as she ripped the child from her arms. She slumped without noticing until Qwinn cleared his throat. "Are you alright?"

"I'll be fine," she repeated the same answer she'd given Adalia.

He slowed the Ou'tani and directed it off the path. For a moment she felt uncomfortable, not knowing where they were going, but then again, she didn't know where anything in Vidar was.

Neither said a word until they had reached a line of trees. Now Alison was very uncomfortable. Qwinn clicked his tongue and the animal listened. They headed straight for the trees, which had black trunks, dark blue leaves and glowing moss on them.

As soon as they cleared the trees, Qwinn stopped the animal and climbed down, helping her down after. Her eyes were taking in her surroundings. There were small insects flying around that glowed and it seemed that the plants themselves glowed. He tied the Ou'tani then took her hand, intertwining their fingers.

Alison was bombarded with so many emotions, she was heady. They walked the rest of the way through the trees. She watched as Qwinn looked back and forth cautiously, to make sure nothing dangerous was around. As they continued to walk, the light from glowing vegetation increased, until they reached a clearing.

The sight before her caused Alison to pause and take everything in. They were in some sort of grotto. Grass grew tall, to about her knee. Glowing insects danced through the clearing, making it look like the grass moved to a rhythm unheard. In the center of the clearing was a single tree that grew different from the rest. The trunk grew tall and sleek. It also emitted a brilliant light from veins of blue that ran up the trunk and to the leaves. A majority of the insects flew around the leaves and flowers that grew on the tree.

"Palnus tree," Qwinn said.

She vaguely remembered him telling her that the palnus flower was his mother's favorite.

"It's beautiful," she breathed.

He smiled at her as he urged her toward it. The ground was soft beneath her feet as she walked across the small field to the enchanted tree. Qwinn bowed his head to the tree in reverence then turned to Alison. "This tree has many powers. My people rely on it. There is only one like it in all of Vidar."

Alison studied the glowing tree. The blue veins had a transparent sheen. If she looked closely, she could see fluid flowing through the veins to the pace of a heartbeat. It was almost as if the tree were…alive.

Qwinn took her hand in his and guided her flat palm toward the trunk. Fear lit her heart for a split second, then when her hand touched, immense calm. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply for a moment. The sweet smell of the trees flowers filled her nostrils and swirled in her mind. She could feel that the tree was warm and that it did seem to have a heartbeat.

"Ahanu lives here."

Alison opened her eyes and looked at the tree again, in a new light. When she pulled her hand away from the tree, a sticky layer of blue remained, causing her hand to glow. She smiled and laughed slightly as she tried to wipe it off, only to get blue on both hands.

Qwinn chuckled at her, until she turned and placed a hand on him, leaving behind a complete glowing impression of her hand on his collarbone.

He dipped his finger into it and wiped the blue onto her cheek. She laughed as she pulled away, moving carefully so as not to harm her leg. He playfully smiled at her.

Her heart lightened, the woman from the town almost forgotten. Qwinn's smug smile caused a playful mood to come over her. She pretended to walk away, before turning back and lunging, her palms aiming for anything that she could mark.

She managed to catch him by surprise for a split second. A smear of blue covered his bicep before he grabbed her arms easily. He chuckled as he tried to bend her arms, forcing her to mark herself.

Alison squirmed, only for him to smear her opposite arm with blue. He laughed victoriously as she continued to fight. Though she knew he was much stronger than she was, he was only holding her firm enough that she wouldn't escape.

Before she knew what she was doing, she growled at him before lunging and throwing him off balance. Qwinn let go and danced away, taunting her. She chased after him, her palms out to paint him. He remained still until she was a few inches from him then darted away. The more he teased her, the more determined she was to paint him.

When she realized that chasing wasn't working, an idea popped into her head. She pretended to stumble and hurt her ankle. She fell to her knees, groaning in "agony". Immediately, Qwinn was by her side and falling right into her trap. As soon as he was close enough, she grabbed him with both hands, succeeding in covering him in blue.

A victorious and slightly evil sounding laugh burst from her mouth. Never had she felt so accomplished before, and all over a silly game. He looked at her painted handprints in surprise. "You are sly."

She smiled proudly, just before he knocked her onto her back. She gasped in surprise as Qwinn pinned her arms over her head and smiled mischievously down at her.

A million emotions and thoughts raced through her head at that moment. She was embarrassed for being caught off guard after just doing the same to him; she was also embarrassed about the fact that her legs were completely exposed. Her heart lit with fear at her vulnerable position. Adrenaline coursed through her veins as she struggled against him and awareness rocketed through her at how his body was pressed against her in order to keep her pinned.

His smile grew as he dipped a finger into the glowing paint on his arm and proceeded to draw designs on her cheeks. She flailed her head, only managing to get even more blue on her. She laughed in frustration as she tried to break free. Now he was doodling on her neck. She was sure that he would be able to feel her pulse jumping.

When his hand brushed her collarbone, she shivered. His hand froze in mid-stroke, as if just realizing the position they were in.

He swallowed hard and slowly released her hands, as he moved away; however, not very far. He sat up, quickly looking away from her. When she was free, Alison also sat, covering her legs as much as she could while brushing her messy hair out of her face. She didn't know what to do about the awkwardness that was like a wall between them now. He sat quietly beside her.

She wasn't angry at him for what he'd done. In fact, she was surprised at how she'd reacted toward him. But how did she tell him that? She studied him for a moment, thankful that she was slightly behind him, so he couldn't see her curious eyes. Her heart was still thundering in her chest at how close he'd been. She could barely form a complete thought in her mind. Therefore, instead of think too much, as she had a tendency to do, she dipped her finger into a smudge of blue paint and slowly wiped it on his arm.

His eyes immediately followed her finger, but he didn't try to stop her. When she was satisfied with the long line she'd drawn down his arm, she pulled away. His eyes met hers, questions swirling in their deep black depths. She didn't know how to answer his questions, she didn't even know how to answer her own. So, she gave him a kind smile, and laid back down in the long grass, looking up at the bubble in the center of the cavern.