No one believes her tbh)))

Rowan watched Alvaro's face carefully, "You don't 'owe' me anything, Alvaro. If you want to tell me, you can, but if you don't, do not worry about it." Rowan was honestly curious about the events that had happened, but it may not be the right time for Alvaro. It was all still raw.

Alvaro sighed, his chest aching with grief and his eyes watering with unshed tears. The death of his leader, the death of the forest's watcher, was so much. So, so much for his soul.

"No, I do Rowan, you deserve to know what's happened. Why I'm worried for my people's safety, why I worry for our- your children." He paused, gathering himself to tell a story that he hadn't spoken in years.

Mostly because he had been one of the very few who even remembered the events. "Pixies are unlike faerie folk, though humans have twisted and warped us till we have become the same thing in their lives. We are not the same. Pixies have been a long time enemy to faeries, we clash in the way we work with the forest. Faeries work with the forest, help it grow and thrive, pixies use it for its magic, as they always have. It is where the rivalry began. When I was a child, we were in the middle of a war with the pixies, many of my people died back then. The death toll was very high, now that Kori is dead, I am the only one who even remembers it all. Though the stories have been passed through, generation to generation, it is still a hard subject for most. The faerie folk barely made it through, and only with the help of powerful witches were we able to succeed. We haven't had problems with the pixies since, but it seems they are coming back." Alvaro paused, letting Rowan take all of it in before continuing.

"Pixie poison is what killed Kori. Pixies are experts in sneaking, magic, and poison. WIth the help of the forest, they are unstoppable. Pixies are mostly humanoid, and are borne from a faerie and witch pairing, as well as a pixie and pixie of course. Pixies tend to be tiny, but are able to grow large whenever it is needed. Pixies blend with the trees, and no one alive, other than myself, has seen a pixie's true form. I-I actually have a brother, he's a pixie. He's my twin." Alvaro let that sink in.

Alvaro was no pixie.

But he was no faerie either.

is he a witch with duck-taped on wigs.

-

Rowan listened intently. For some reason... Rowan seemed recalled it. Perhaps it was a story her mother told her, saying it had been passed down from her nursemaid as a child. It hadn't been pixies and faeries, but rather vaguely called "two forces of nature"... Rowan didn't mention it, and tucked that memory alway.

She stayed silent until Alvaro was finished, and even a while beyond that, soaking it in and turning it over in her mind.

"I am so sorry."

Those were the first words out of Rowan's mouth, "I am sorry that you feel that you bear this burden alone. It... must weigh heavily..." Rowan wasn't sure was to say, but kept her gaze locked on Alvaro's, "I am not sure to what extent I can help, but I will help." The twin matter was something else... what does one say to that? Rowan did not know, and did not want to mess up while trying. So, she simply patted Alvaro's hand, and tried to say with her eyes what her mind was screaming.

-

-

Her mind was screaming she was sorry that he was hurting, sorry that his family was torn, confused about who Alvaro was but knowing in the end he simply that - Alvaro. And she trusted him.

I-

No. What the hell..

~~~~~

Alvaro nodded, running a hand through his light brown hair with stress suddenly covering his face. "You being here is already helping, but now I worry for your safety. Pixies aren't discriminatory, they'll attack anyone who seems to be allied with the faeries, which means you and the children are in danger, as are my people, again."

Alvaro had really hoped that for the rest of his long life he wouldn't have to deal with anymore wars, and it would remain rather uneventful, yet here he was.

"By the way, as I know it's confusing since my twin is a pixie, but don't get it confused. I am no pixie, I am a faerie, with particularly strong magic is all. I suppose that's the witch blood and all." Alvaro understood that his parentage was very confusing to much, especially with his twin being... who he was.

Rowan listened carefully, and organized her thoughts, "I... Think one of the safest actions for the children is to remain on the ground, then. Pixies can fly, and up high would most likely be their first target. And I can take care of myself - remember, I'm immortal. Maybe that'll make me kinda immune to their magic."

Rowan sat back on her heels. She wondered how strong the pixie magic really could be, and if her minor form of magic would be useful in any way, "I trust you. We will figure it out."

-

-

((i'm low key excited for rowan to meet alvaro's twin, and become friends or whatever, and just be confused like "OH WAIT THIS IS THE TWIN???))

Alvaro gave Rowan a sad smile, his eyes watering a little though he quickly rubbed them away. Oh how quickly he'd grown to like Rowan. She was nice and kind and just... good. She did what she though was right and was his closest friend.

He wouldn't trade her for anything.

"Thank you Rowan, you have no idea how much this means to me. Just stay safe okay?" He really couldn't lose Rowan. Her and the children were all he had left.

Rowan nodded solemnly, "I will be careful, so you better do the same!" Her knees popped as she stood back up, and Rowan peaked over the doorway down the tall tree, and grimanced, "I do not know how I can get down, to be honest." Rowan looked back at Alvaro, "If you want to, you can come see the children? They would be happy to see you are safe. Nakia and Hyll felt what happened."

Alvaro nodded, picking himself off the floor and walking over to Rowan. "Yea I'll come see them all, and I can give you a ride down. This tree is the tallest so it's even worse than mine." His wings flickered into existence and flapped rapidly as he flew out the doorway and turned to face Rowan. He held out his hands for her to take so he could carry her down.

Rowan took Alvaro's hand without hesitation, "I don't think I'll get used to heights anytime soon," Rowan grinned at herself, "And yeah... this tree is giant."

Alvaro gave Rowan a small smile, he seemed exhausted already from the previous event and yet he still found the willpower to smile at Rowan..

"It's not a problem, you live on the ground for a reason after all." He grinned before gently gliding down with Rowan, holding her hand tightly before setting her down on the grass. His wings quickly disappearing as he slowly loosened his grip on her hand, not wanting to let go so soon.