“I wanted to let you know that Brendon and I delayed our wedding so that you both could be here,” both sprites sighed in relief, but Joneé continued. “Once things settle out with our new friends, we’ll have the wedding. It’ll give us more time to plan anyway.” Edie and Abbie gave her an exuberant hug to thank her and then left to make the arrangements.

  Since Jay had not been in the Ashcroft Forest long, he would stay with Michael in his house until another house could be built. That would leave three houses open for temporary housing for the Dixon Glade sprites. Fen’s house was the largest of these, so Max and Katherine would be moving in there. Peyton and her daughter Julissa would move into one of the guest houses. James and Jaclyn would move into the other empty guest house. Wendy would move in with Abbie temporarily, and Skylar would move in with Edie temporarily. Wayne, Rufus, and Walt would begin work immediately on houses for Skylar and Wendy, while the others took a little more time to plan their new homes.

  Abbie first went to her house and made a little bed for Muzuru and got the animal some water and food. She told him she would return soon. Abbie and Edie got their job done quickly so that they had time to show the Dixon Glade sprites their accommodations. There were only the few belongings that each sprite could carry, so it took no time to get all of the sprites settled in.

  Abbie went back to her house to check on Muzuru. She found him asleep on her bed and the food undisturbed. He woke as soon as she came in, so she showed him how to use his trunk to latch and unlatch the door in case he needed to go outside. However, she warned him not to stray too far off until he knew the village better. Then she rejoined the sprites in the meeting hall for dinner.

  Abbie, Edie, and Michael were so glad to see all of their friends from the Ashcroft Forest again. Wayne and Trista came over and gave the three of them big hugs. Lenk looked much better rested than the last time Abbie, Michael, and Edie had seen him. He offered to give them each a check-up once they had gotten settled in. Rufus came up and gave Abbie another tight embrace. It was also good to see Catey, Brendon, and Joe, the last of whom seemed to have grown taller during the short time they were gone.

  As soon as everyone had come in and gotten a seat, Joneé and Mac called the meeting to order. The two of them introduced Jay, Max, Katherine, Peyton, Julissa, James, Jaclyn, Wendy, and Skylar to the sprites of the Ashcroft Forest. The Ashcroft Forest sprites all greeted their new friends warmly. Then the council took over the meeting.

  “Now we have some other business to attend to,” Steph began. “As some of you know, Fen has decided to leave us.”

  Abbie heard many of the sprites gasp and realized that most of the sprites had not heard the news about Fen. Feath continued where Steph left off, “There’s no reason to panic. Joneé and Mac have been doing a great job of running everything. Now that we have everyone back, however, we need to decide who will be the new leader of the sprites of the Ashcroft Forest. Mac has done a terrific job filling in, but he has reasonably declined to be our new leader. I’ll give the floor to Kirby so that he can present you with the options that we have now.”

  “Thank you, Feath,” Kirby said as he stood up. He was a sprite that commanded respect just with his presence and wisdom. He was usually given the responsibility of explaining difficult situations to the assembled sprites.

  “Our first option is to make Joneé the head of the tribe. She has done a good job over the last few months and is responsible enough to be our new leader. We would find someone else to assist her, of course.”

  The sprites began to murmur what sounded like assent to this plan.

  Kirby continued, “The other plan that we have is for Max to become the new tribe leader. He has experience leading the tribe from the Dixon Glade. After talking with Max before the meeting, I know he is quite capable of making decisions for our tribe. We would still have to find someone to help him. We wanted to let everyone vote on this and not just make the decision ourselves…”

  “I don’t mean to interrupt, but may I interject something, Kirby?” Bebo asked.

  “Of course, Bebo,” Kirby said, yielding to the other member of the council.

  Bebo stepped forward and said, “Whichever one we pick, we can still have the other assist them. Just because we pick one of them doesn’t mean that we eliminate the other.”

  “Ah, that’s a very good point, Bebo. Thank you for clearing that up for us,” Kirby said. “So should we put it to a vote?”

  “Actually, before we vote, there’s something I’d like to say,” a voice said. Abbie craned her neck to see who it was. Edie was not surprised to see Joneé ascending the steps onto the platform in the front of the room.

  Joneé walked up beside Kirby so that she could address the room. She began, “I want to thank you all for the support you’ve given me in the last few months. However, I need a break from the stress of leading the tribe. Since Brendon and I are still planning our wedding, I think that I need some time to myself and then with my husband. I would be more than willing to help Max and Katherine settle in and to show them how things run around here. I would be more than willing to move back into my role as assistant.”

  “I think that’s a very wise decision, Joneé,” Kirby said, patting her on the back. “We still need to take a vote, however, to make sure that all of the sprites here are comfortable with the new leadership. All of those who are in favor of Max leading the tribe, and Joneé assisting him, please raise your hand.”

  Abbie wasn’t sure how to feel about all of the changes in the Ashcroft Forest. Everything seemed to be happening so quickly. However, she was glad that Joneé would get a break that she definitely deserved. Abbie raised her hand to vote in favor of Max leading the tribe and looked around. All of the sprites raised their hands except for the sprites of the Dixon Glade. She was curious as to why they had not raised their hands. It seemed odd that they would not want to support their own leader. Abbie did not have long to wait for an explanation.

  Max stepped up and whispered something in Kirby’s ear. An expression of confusion crossed Kirby’s face. He looked behind him at the other members of the council. He called the council over into a huddle and quickly discussed what Max had told him. They looked as confused as Kirby, but they yielded the floor to Max.

  Max looked slightly nervous and embarrassed to be having to deliver the news he had. “I’m sorry about all of the confusion, everyone. As I’ve just informed the council, I cannot accept the position as leader of the sprites of the Ashcroft Forest.”

  All of the sprites gasped. The confusion on their faces mirrored the expression of confusion that Edie had seen on the council’s faces. They had all just voted on this. How could Max simply not accept the position?

  “I know this sounds horrible, especially for those of you who don’t know me,” Max stated. Abbie looked over at Edie’s face and her crossed arms and knew that she had already lost her patience with Max. “However, I always tell the truth. The truth is that although I have been the temporary leader of the sprites of the Dixon Glade, I am not the real leader of the tribe,” Max stated.

  The room exploded into chatter. Abbie looked at Edie with a look of confusion. Michael seemed to have just realized what was going on. He seemed to be looking for someone.

  Max tried his best to calm everyone, but Kirby finally had to bang on the stand in front of him.

  “If you can give us some time to regroup, I would appreciate it. The situation is complicated, but I think we can sort it out. I appreciate you considering me for the position, and I apologize that I cannot accept it,” Max finished before sitting down.

  The council looked flustered and whispered back and forth to each other. Finally, Kirby stepped back up, and the sprites quieted for the most part. “Well, it looks like things might not be as settled as we thought,” Kirby laughed. “We’ll adjourn the meeting for now and recall everyone when we get things worked out. Thank you all for coming.”

  The sprites all sat confused for a moment before they realized that Kirby was not joking and not going to explain what had happened. They loitered as they slowly left the room. Abbie and Edie waited with Michael as the rest of the sprites left the building. All of the sprites that passed had a look of uncertainty on their faces. Edie and Abbie understood the feeling. A few stopped to ask them what happened. Edie and Abbie answered honestly that they had no idea what was going on.

  “What was Max talking about, Michael?” Edie asked.

  “This isn’t a good place to talk about this, Edie,” Michael replied. “Let’s wait until everyone clears out. Max may tell you about it himself.”

  “Michael, where’s Jay?” Abbie asked, looking around.

  “He’s around here somewhere. I was actually looking for him earlier. I was hoping he would turn up when the room cleared out, but I do not see him. Maybe we should go look for him,” Michael responded.

  “Michael!” Max called from the front of the room. “Can you come down here?”

  Michael nodded and began walking down the stairs. “I’ll talk to you later,” he called back to Abbie and Edie. All of the sprites had left except for the sprites from the Dixon Glade; the council; and Joneé, Mac, Edie, and Abbie.

  Abbie finally turned and shrugged at Edie. Edie rose, and the two of them turned to leave the room. They heard Joneé call them from the front of the room. “Abbie, Edie, could you come down here too?”

  The two of them nodded and followed Michael. When they reached the front of the room, Max addressed them. “Do you know where Jay is?” Max asked.

  All three of them shook their heads. “Look at me. We have to find him. Edie and Abbie, will you go look for him?” Max requested.

  “Absolutely!” Edie said. Abbie agreed too. She was beginning to worry about Jay, and she wondered where he could have gone. She wondered if he knew anything about what was going on.

  Edie had no idea where to start looking for Jay. She and Abbie searched the additional rooms of the meeting hall and found no sign of him. Then they walked over to the house he was staying in. He was not there either. It was beginning to get dark, so the two sprites split up to cover more ground. Edie would continue to search through the houses and around the village. Abbie began to look through the forest and the clearings surrounding the houses.

  Edie went over to her house and Abbie’s house. He wasn’t there. Abbie floated as quietly as she could through the trees. It would be hard to find Jay at this time of night because his forest-green wings would blend into the trees around him. Abbie had almost lost hope of finding him when she remembered something. A stream ran along the north side of the Ashcroft Forest. She wondered if Jay might have gone to that stream to think.

  Abbie flew up to the stream silently. At first glance, she didn’t see anything around the water except rocks and trees. Then Abbie made out the form of a sprite perched on one of the rocks. He had his feet trailing in the water and was looking down into the pool…lost in thought. She flitted over and landed quietly behind Jay.

  “The stars are beautiful tonight, aren’t they, Abbie?” Jay asked, not startling at her sudden presence.

  “They certainly are,” Abbie agreed as she slid onto the rock beside her friend. She looked up at the sky as she spoke. The night was alive with thousands of tiny sparkles. Even though they looked like they had been carelessly flung there, Abbie knew that each star had been placed carefully in the sky. Knowing that even the tiniest details of nature had been planned gave Abbie reassurance and peace. She sighed at the happy distraction and looked back over at Jay.

  “So why did you leave?” Abbie asked gently.

  “I don’t want to talk about it,” Jay replied. He turned his head away from Abbie and slumped on the rock.

  “Please, Jay?” Abbie prodded. “You know you can talk to me about anything.”

  Jay sighed, “I just don’t want to get into it.”

  “I don’t mind,” Abbie said honestly. “Besides, Jay. You told me I could tell you anything. It’s only fair that I would return the favor.”

  Jay was silent for a moment. He looked only slightly annoyed at her prodding. “OK, then,” Jay replied. He kept his eyes trained on his feet and took a deep breath.

  Chapter Ten

  Jay’s Decision

  Abbie waited patiently while Jay gathered his thoughts. Jay began, “Abbie, I don’t really know how to tell you this. I always tell the truth though,” he took a deep breath and looked away again. “I guess I’ll just tell you this straight out. Abbie, Max isn’t the leader of the Dixon Glade sprites.”

  “I gathered that much, Jay,” Abbie said with a note of sarcasm, but followed with a wink and a smile.

  “Abbie, I knew this time would come. I just don’t think I’m ready to take on all of that responsibility again. That’s why I had to leave,” Jay told her.

  He was quiet for so long that Abbie finally said, “Yes, that’s what I figured. I don’t understand though.”

  “Abbie, I’m the real leader of the Dixon Glade sprites. When I became separated from the tribe, Max was the next to take over my responsibilities as leader, but he knows that I should actually be the tribe’s leader. I just don’t want to do it anymore, Abbie. I know exactly why Fen left so quickly. I don’t want to have all this responsibility. I feel so drained,” Jay said.

  “Jay, I don’t know how demanding the position was in the Dixon Glade. Here in the Ashcroft Forest, however, you’ll have plenty of people to help you with whatever you need. You don’t have to worry about the stress. We all try to work together,” Abbie told him.

  Jay explained, “Abbie, it’s not just the stress. I don’t have anyone to support me. Joneé at least has Brendon. Plus, I don’t know any of the sprites here.”

  “You’ve got me, Jay,” Abbie said quietly after a moment. She knew that Jay had been hinting at something more than she could offer, but she also knew she didn’t want him to feel alone. “I’ll support you. I don’t really know all that much about leading an entire tribe of sprites, but I’ll do whatever I can to help you.”

  “You know what, Abbie? That’s what I love about you. You offer to support me before you know what I can do,” Jay said. He reached over to stroke her hair.

  Jay looked into her eyes for a moment and then looked away. He seemed to be looking at something far away. Abbie waited with him until Jay finally agreed to go back.

  Abbie flew beside Jay back to the meeting hall. Edie saw them flying by and followed them. The three of them walked into the meeting hall together and paused in the lobby. Abbie hastily explained the situation to Edie, who took it all in stride.

  “Jay, you can do this. There are plenty of sprites who will help you with this,” Abbie reassured him.

  Jay took a deep breath and then walked into the room where everyone else was. He walked down the stairs and to the front where Max stood. Abbie could tell that Max had told the sprites of the Ashcroft Forest the situation because Joneé, Mac, and the rest of the council stared at him as he approached. Max, on the other hand, embraced him as though he hadn’t seen him in a while.

  “There you are, Jay!” Max exclaimed. “We’ve been waiting for you.”

  “You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to, Jay. I’ll stay and carry on the duties of leader if you can’t or don’t want to take it on,” Joneé said smoothly.

  “No, Joneé,” Jay replied. “This is my responsibility, and I have to do it. I know that Abbie and Max will stand beside me and help me with whatever I need.”

  “I’ll support you too, Jay,” Michael stated. Then one by one, all the sprites from the Dixon Glade confirmed their loyalty.

  “Are you sure about this, Jay?” Bebo asked.

  “I am. I know that it’s my responsibility to lead,” Jay replied with certainty.

  “Alright then, we’ll call a meeting in the morning to announce that you’re the new leader of the Ashcroft sprites. Why don’t we all go home and get some rest tonight?” Kirby suggested.

  All of the sprites agreed and left. The council would get up early the next morning and call the sprites to assemble at the meeting house. Jay, Michael, Edie, and Abbie went over to Michael’s house to talk. When they got there, Max and Katherine were waiting outside. Michael invited them in and knowing that it had been a long day, Michael got everyone a snack of some bread and jam. The sprites all sat down in the living room to eat and talk.

  “Jay, you handled that very well,” Abbie told him.

  “I know that you wanted me to continue on for you,” Max told him. “I just couldn’t do it.”

  “I know, Max. It’s OK,” Jay replied.

  “What happened, Jay?” Michael asked.

  Jay rubbed his forehead hard and then looked around the room. “Michael,” Jay began, “after we couldn’t find you, I felt that I had failed as a leader. You had stayed behind with me to look after everyone, and you got hurt. I know that it was an accident, but I felt responsible. I didn’t know what I would do if you were dead.

  “I worked relentlessly in searching for you and trying to find a new site for the tribe to live. Early every morning I would lead the scouts out, and we’d stay out until late in the evening. Max handled the affairs of the tribe while I was gone. When he saw that the tribe was in danger, Max did what I would have done, and what I would have expected him to do. He took care of his fellow sprites.

  “I wanted to walk away from being the leader. It’s a lot of pressure, but I was reminded tonight that I can’t hide from my responsibility. We all have a job to do, and none of us can run away.”

  “I quite agree, Jay. We can’t run away from the tasks and responsibilities that we’ve been given,” Max agreed.

  “Max, I’m going to need a lot of help here. There are still more sprites from the Dixon Glade who are missing. Even without the rest of our tribe, there are more sprites here in the Ashcroft Forest than there were in our tribe. What I’m trying to say is that I need someone to help me. I think it would be good to keep Joneé on with us because she knows and really cares for all of the sprites here. I would also like you to consider helping me as well. You don’t have to tell me right now, but I would like you to consider it,” Jay told his friend.

 

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