"The Longnecks have finally taken notice." Inari says. Even though she's currently surrounded by fairies, she isn't speaking to any of them in particular. Maybe saying the thoughts out loud makes her feel less alone, or less misunderstood.
She moves her perception through the trees and across the forest to the herd of monsters the humans call Brontobeasts. She can see the panic in their eyes and hear the racing of their hearts. A reasonable reaction. The thing that arrived at the forest a few months ago has finally begun making its presence known. First, it scared away the Mankas, then it massacred the Magnapoly, and now it hunts the Brontobeasts.
The forest is large enough that none of these species went extinct, but it certainly rearranged the food chain.
It was watching her. Inari had long governed the life of the forest but now a new monarch had arrived, one far less compassionate. She tried to communicate with it, at first. Alone and clearly injured, she tried offering assistance, but it was far too leery. Its mind was tortured even worse than its body. Since then, the two goliaths had left each other alone. However, that entente was now at an end.
Inari moved her attention to the path the rampaging Brontobeasts were headed. Woohee stood directly in their way. Given that she was currently the youngest fairy, it wasn't too surprising that she was more of a handful. That certainly didn't explain why she was always getting herself into trouble though.
Inari blinks to the branch above the the blond fairy's head. She's playing around at the entrance of an abandoned dungeon, digging through the dirt. If only she had a little more concern for her own safety. That was what made the fairies special. Their freedom, even from fear.
Inari sighs as the group of humans who entered the forest earlier run past. Woohee, fortunately, has enough sense to hide behind a stone. She's safe again, at least for now. The Brontobeasts have had their paths diverted by four humans that stayed behind, although they seem to have caught the attention of the Manka. They'll all be dead soon. The leader of the fairies turns to leave but notices several small humans who have gotten left behind. They're even weaker than the ants and thus slipped under her vision like, well, like ants. One of them is even wandering off toward the center of the woods. He's returned to the food chain the humans have tried so hard to separate themselves from.
Two small humans pass, and two more approach. They look exhausted. She directs her focus at the smallest of the four, narrowing in, expanding. This one is poisoned by wrath. Tragic. The last two are passing and then she can scoop up Woohee and return to the fairy village, But that's not what happens.
They end up at the bottom of the nearby dungeon, inches from death. It had been centuries since Inari was last angry. Emotions never truly fade. She couldn't see their faces, but the backs of their heads shown the endless hate that species had wrought.
"Well, you're all fixed up." One of them says. Inari stops inches from their skulls. Two ice spears hang silently in the air.
Woohee sees her leader's face and hides. Never before has the young fairy seen her filed with such rage. We become what we hate.
Inari watches as the two humans run back to town, with Woohee's assistance. The wind carries the scent of war. The kingdom to the North has significantly increased their activity in the forest, though the reason is not yet clear. Humans are such forgetful creatures; maybe that's what makes them so powerful. To forget ones failure and try again, to build upon the shoulders of giants. No individual needs to do more than take one tiny step forward. Eventually they add up. Maybe that's what will happen this time, maybe this will be the last battle. They only need to win once.
Inari clenches her chest armor to soothe the pain in her heart. If the humans are taking a step forward, maybe it's time the fairies do the same. survival of the fittest and all that.
Eighty six fairies flutter around the center of the village, eighty eight including Foof and Inari. He's made a convenient visit. It wasn't since the end of the first war that he was last in this village. Maybe he felt it coming. Whatever the cause, his support is more than appreciated.
The leader of the fairies hovers several feet above her flock. How can she turn these children into killer, how could she. It's more tragic than losing them, but she can't do that either. The sacred freedom of the fairies must be tarnished, to protect it.
"Prepare for war." She says. A switch flips. Within a few days, dozens more fairies are produced. They begin training and manufacturing; spells and traps, respectively. They turn into tragic soldiers. Hai and Uug step up into leadership rolls, Rom and Lala handle the logistics. A flame burns in the center of the village; it is being used to make something other than food for the first time.
The fairies have already lost. They only existed to pursue their own freedom, and it has been thoroughly trampled. Only a pyrrhic victory remains, or defeat.
While patrolling, two fairies find a young human. He's the same one that was lost during the Longneck rampage, though much thinner now.
"Leave him." Inari declares.
He'll make a good hostage. Sure enough, the situation presents itself several days later. One of the newly produced fairies get themselves captured, but escapes.
Change of plans.
Inari tests the boy Nick. He's lively. He carries such sorrow and yet he always seems to smile. It must be because he's forgetful, as are all humans. That's the only explanation. He carries the boy off and returns with information.
The Dragon Core. Mobilizing was the right move. There's no telling the damage such a spell may cause. Half the forest could be leveled. It would be better not to know. The information is paralyzing. All that can be done now is hide and prepare.
Woohee is hit hardest by the war preparations. She is made to work the hardest to account for her constant mistakes. Someone needs to be used as an example, a point of comparison. The new fairies need to know what happens to those who fail, they suffer. Woohee works so hard she sleeps any chance she gets.
Then there's that boy, Nick. She runs off to hide amongst his group. It's the only joy I can afford her.
"Haha, Woohee's a doof!" They jeer and laugh, every time she makes a mistake.
"Woohee is not a doof." She protests. Every insult drives a wedge through Inari's heart; but she cannot react. This is necessary. Woohee may never understand, but that's a sin the leader needs to be willing to bear.
Inari watches from a distance as Woohee works. The little fairy is grinding up a powder in a mortar and pestle, but her frantic moves cause it to spill out over the sides.
"Woohee's not a doof." She says to herself, tears welling up in her eyes. Inari reaches her hand out instinctively to wipe the tears away, but stops. She can't. This is the way she has chosen, these are the necessary sacrifices. "Woohee will make the powder so good everyone will say, 'Great job Woohee!'"
Tears pour down her face and land in the vessel, instantly ruining the ingredients, but she can't tell.
"Woohee will do a great job and then Woohee will tell Nick, and, and..."
No powder remains in the vessel. A useless sludge has formed around the base, but the mixer is none the wiser.
"And then the cookie..."
Inari turns away. It's too much to bear, but it must be borne. Soon the newborns will come by to harass Woohee. As they must. It will all be worth it. Maybe. Maybe they will win and maybe it will be worth it. Hopefully.