Spirits

In the dark forest that night, four people could be seen sitting in a circle.

There was a girl with waist length hair and silver eyes, whose hair were blowing as though she was standing in the wind.

On her left, sat a big man with long beard and hair and brown eyes. He seemed not to have showered for God knows how long because his hair and beard seemed to be filled with soil and dust.

On his left, sat a woman. Her mouth was curved into a motherly smile as her blue eyes looked at the little girl in her lap. Her hair were spread behind her on the ground and would definitely reach to the ground if she stood up. Her hair were also dripping wet, which she had pushed back so as not to let the water fall on the little girl.

On her left, sat a man with red eyes and wavy hair. He looked stern as his head was down deep in thought and his hair seemed to be on fire.

The girl with waist length hair said, "Hey, Undine, do you think the little one is hungry? Was that why she fainted?"

The woman, Undine, said, "Come on Gale, you should understand that much. It might not happen to us, but the humans, they get tired after bending for a long time. Droid, could you please explain it to her? I don't have the patience." Then she went on to again stare at the girl in her lap.

Droid, the one whose hair were made of earth, put his finger on his lips, "Shh, Gale. Can't you see that Drag in thinking."

Gale: "What's there to think about? I say we keep her and raise her. That way, I'll also have someone to play with me."

Undine: "We can't just keep her!!!"

Droid: "Yeah, think of the shock she will get if she wakes up to.....this." He said, gesturing at the four of them.

The three began arguing. But they closed their mouths Drag looked up. He said, "We will have to let her go."

Gale: "But you saw how the people were treating her back there."

Drag: "We cannot be seen by her. Unless we are sure she has a pure heart."

Droid: "Well, she does. Otherwise, the forest would never have let her come in."

Drag: "That's true. Yes. But she is still a child. Who knows what will happen when she grows up."

As he said this Gale and Droid looked down.

Drag looked at Undine. He asked, "Undine, what do you think?"

Undine: "I think that we should not spoil another life."

Gale opened her mouth but Undine silenced her, "I also want to raise her myself. But we cannot take the risk."

Droid: "So, she has to go?"

Drag: "We will meet her once she is perfect with the elements. If she has a pure heart. If she doesn't, she can live among the other humans and die with them. We cannot afford another Julius."

The four sat there, very quiet for a long time before Drag said, "Undine, can I trouble you....."

Undine nodded, "Of course." She then stroked the girl's head.