Hazelnut Lantern Way.

Our story takes place deep into the pasturelands, far beyond the shores. Lush meadows blazened with the hot glow of the sunlight shimmering off of the pink and red leaves as they fluttered in the breeze. Nestled comfortably by the river, tucked away amongst the trees sat a lovely little barkwood structure, so small many would likely mistake for a birdhouse.

In this house, this tiny cottage house, is where you’ll find a sprite named Aggey. Everyday Aggey watches out for the forest around, keeping up gardens and tending the trees. She would be seen as a gardening bee, sort of nurturing life like a guardian being.

Once the sun rose, when the day would begin. Listen, birds outside chirping and singing. With each moment passed, Aggey raced and replaced all the potted plants hot in the sun with the shade. Once they all drank their fill she would race off away to the gathering fields filled with wheat that she tilled. Sowed the soil, and harvested once in the year.

Everyday some more fertilized dirt to supply, so the plants would grow strong and rise up to the sky.

Like the trees in the distance, oh how beautiful, my! With the light from the stars shining brightly at night. Soft, the sounds in the distance. Then, with the first morning light, oh how nice! Oh, how wonderful, charming.

Every day, Aggey would save last to venture off beyond the meadows waiting peacefully near the forest edge. There, she’d find four of the loveliest flowers. One red, one blue, one colorfully wild.

And one orange one, too (a marigold who was more stunning to Aggey than anything else she knew). To someone less trained who may not realize how this beauty became what it is here today, Orange flowers are only found far, far away. Normally, you would never see one in this kind of place.

All of this, and still here in this garden one sat. With its friends blue and red, also the colorful lad. Yes, these flowers were something to Aggey, she had no doubt about that.

So, things went on for some time like this for the Sprite Aggey, with her morning routines to keep cheery and happy. Until one day, one fateful day for the poor sprite.

Show awoke to a gloomy sky darker than night. Worried something was wrong, she sprung to life, grabbed a light and dashed outside to find if her plants had survived. With each fluttering step, she checked carefully:

Wooden crates safe, all the fruits in their place,

The bananas are looking good, too.

All the water spouts seem to be running,

Seems the place has not suffered ill fates.

WAIT!

Quickly, as fast as her sprite wings would carry her.

Over the hill, please be safe! Please be there!

With each fluttering breath grew despair. Turn the corner to see what she knew would be horror. For the plants that she loved most, uprooted and flew from her.

Days passed. Still, the plants did not see her. The door never broke its seal, there was no life within. The plants grew concerned, what had become of the sprite that grew them to love?

Why had they not seen her emerge? Was she stuck inside somehow?

Did she even wake up from her sleep anymore? Had she slipped out a secret door? Where had she gone?

Speculations from whispers sprouted into full rumors. Soon, the whole valley put in their word. After much dispute and conversation, still no answer came. Simply wait every day as the same thing would happen.

And that something was nothing. Nothing happened at all. Aggey stayed inside (hopefully), never came out.

So, one day as some small creature was laying about, some sunflowers called out

“Hey, you there! You Hare! Will you help us sunflowers?”

“What is it?” He said.

“Oh joy! Surely, you know of the house down the way?”

“The one out by the plane?”

“Yes, the same.

There’s a sprite there, our friend, check on her,

Okay?”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Thank you!”

Then he hopped away, off to see if the sprite was okay.