Sunlight filters in through gaps in the roots above. Water trickles in from an unseen stream, flowing along a carved path in the soil and rock. Moss and small ferns grow in the water's path. Small bugs hover above the plants, moving in lazy circles through the air.

  One particularly slow gnat is suddenly snatched up in the grubby hand of a grey skinned creature. The gremlin smiles, eyeing its catch through a hole between its fingers. Once its curiosity has been satisfied it gobbles it up like a beast.

  "Gub! Gu gub!"

  Another gremlin approaches with a sharpened stick in its hands. It shouts at the first gremlin for milling about, and they jabber for a moment using sounds I can't comprehend.

  The gremlin who ate the gnat is Muck, a naked boy with mud painting his body in a poor attempt to mimic clothing. The other gremlin--the one with the makeshift wooden spear--is Helmet. Though it is worth noting Helmet wears a mole skin hat, not a helmet.

  "Gu guk? Gu!" Muck protests.

  "Gub gub!"

  Muck looks upset about whatever Helmet just said to him. The mud marked gremlin sighs dramatically, dragging his feet as he leaves the gnat swarms behind to rejoin the others. Today is a very special day--The gremlins are finally going to meet Silva, and get a proper introduction to their creator. I've been able to speak with Gu, but the others find me intimidating. I'm hoping to change that with today's meeting.

  Muck and Helmet move toward the others, who are busy arranging a modest fire pit. Gu and Squish are hauling big chunks of wood to the pit. They've been using little sharp stones and their clawed hands to cut out portions of the false tree roots that occupy much of the grotto. Squish is the only gremlin with a leaf dress--one she made painstakingly by hand in order to appear as dignified as Gu.

  "Gu!"

  Gu shouts a warning as he and Squish hobble up to the unlit fire pit. They set the heavy hunk of wood down in the center of it. The twins--Squeak and Squawk--stand aside with mildly frustrated looks on their grey faces.

  "Gue gu, Gu!"

  Squeak scolds Gu, clearly irritated with him for having ruined a portion of the fire pit's edge. The twins have been carefully arranging little rocks into a perfectly circular border for the fire pit. Each stone is smooth and round from time spent under the trickling streams of water falling from above.

  Luckily Gu doesn't have to suffer being berated for long. Squish chatters to the others, insisting Gu help her fix what they messed up. The twins are satisfied seeing their hard work being mended as it should be.

  The gremlins look like they're going to be ready soon. What about Silva?

  I move my attention to the Wildwood and find Silva is observing his reflection in a pool of rainwater. He fusses with his tunic, adjusting it until he is satisfied with his appearance. He then reaches up and touches his catalyst.

  Silva is ready. It's time I introduce him to his brothers.

  ~

  My eyes reflect the blue swirling mass of mana that makes up Mother's core. She's truly a mysterious being. Her features are humanoid like my own, yet I do not have a gemstone serving as my own heart like she does. I cannot freely control mana so far from my body like she does. Just what is Mother, really?

  "Silva, you're here."

  Mother's myriad voices greet me as she approaches me. She has a habit of appearing from someplace unseen, coming and going like some kind of ghost. I smile down at her with genuine excitement bubbling in my chest.

  "Yes, Mother. Is my brother ready to meet me?"

  "He and his friends are nearly finished with their preparations."

  "Excellent! I'm looking forward to it."

  An amused smile slips onto Mother's barely visible face. Her skin is similar to a human's, with its pale complexion and lack of fur. I can only imagine Mother is an otherworldly beauty that would take any human's breath away.

  Mother gestures past me toward the far wall with a gloved hand. I turn to face it, finding one of Mother's doors. It's made in much the same shape and style as all the other ones. This one just so happens to lead to a dimly lit underground space filled with roots and soil.

  "That is the way to Gremlin Grotto, an area that I plan to soon add to your jurisdiction."

  "How do you mean, Mother?"

  "I intend to turn that little grotto into a section of the Wildwood. You can think of it as the roots of your forest, though for now the tree roots within are nonliving mimicries of the real thing."

  Intrigued, I approach the door to Gremlin Grotto. Cool cavern air hits me as I move closer. An earthy scent of roots and moss fills my nose. I inhale deeply, stepping over the threshold. The soil squishes comfortably under hoof. The door on this side is flush with a wall of a tunnel. Tiny roots hang from the ceiling above, while fungus grows in shelves along the walls. The dim passage curves up and away from where I stand.

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  "This place is nice... I wasn't aware life could thrive with such little light."

  Mother follows me in with quiet steps. She looks much more comfortable in this small passage, as she's shorter than I. She notices my discomfort with the lack of headroom and chuckles.

  "Apologies, Silva. Your brother is shorter than I am, so this area suits him. The space opens up more ahead. Let's get you someplace more comfortable."

  "It is no trouble at all, Mother!"

  I put on a brave face despite my discomfort with being in such an enclosed area. At least the scent of rich soil and thriving flora is here to keep me in a good mood. We move upwards with Mother leading the way, as she's more familiar to my brother and his friends.

  We emerge to an open area with sunlight streaming in from small holes in the ceiling. Water trickles down from some of these gaps, forming little streams that feed into various tunnels and holes. In the center of the space is a small village. There's a fire pit alongside several round mud huts. The structures are simple big mounds with a little hole dug out of one side to allow entry.

  Mother was not exaggerating when she said my brother is shorter than her. She was actually understating it, as he and his similar looking friends are all scarcely a meter tall.

  "Gu gu!"

  One of the short beings excitedly exclaims, speaking in sounds rather than words. He runs out to greet Mother while the others hang back with worried looks on their beady eyed faces.

  "Yes, I am happy to see you too, Gu."

  Mother embraces Gu gently. The way she scoops him up into her arms and holds him makes me feel a pang of jealousy. Why does Mother treat my brother with such affection? I know it is immature of me to expect Mother to lift me into her arms and hold me like a child, but I yearn for such doting treatment.

  "Gu?"

  "Gu, meet Silva. He is your brother."

  "Gu, gur gu?"

  I watch Gu climb down from Mother's arms. The small being has claws and sharp teeth. I can tell Mother designed him and his kind to be predators. Killers, made to cut and tear flesh. Apparently there is more to them than meets the eye. Their homes and Gu's uniquely amicable personality hint at hidden intelligence.

  Gu walks right up to me and stares up at me with his beady dark eyes. The creature's nearly flat nose twitches as he sniffs my furred legs. I would feel a bit put off by this, but the innocence in Gu's eyes is far too endearing to turn away from.

  "Gu," He puts a hand on his own chest.

  Is he introducing himself? I respond in kind, giving my own name.

  "I am Silva. I am the custodian of forests, guardian of trees, and protector of woodland animals."

  "Gwah gu gu!"

  My stiff introduction actually has the opposite effect I was intending. Gu appears amazed by my words, and seems to puff up with pride. He looks at me with respect and admiration I didn't think he would be capable of expressing. He then gestures to his meager village and the others waiting awkwardly at a distance.

  "Gu!" He shouts to them.

  Apparently this was some sort of signal, and within moments the group scrambles to fetch several wooden objects from behind a dirt hut. They raise the items to their lips and blow. The sound of the air moving through the wooden instruments is loud and oddly musical.

  They're horns--something I've never seen before, but know.

  Mother looks just as surprised as I do by their impromptu blowing of the wooden horns. She seems pleased, as once they're finished she begins to clap her gloved hands together quite enthusiastically. Two of the girls strike a pair of shiny rocks against one another to produce sparks. They manage to light the fire pit on their first try. Mother seems even more impressed.

  "That was lovely, Gu! You and the other gremlins put this together yourselves?"

  "Gu gu!"

  Gu replies to Mother, but he is quick to turn to face me. Is he seeking my approval? I offer him a nod in case that is the case. The other gremlins are watching Mother approach them. She coos and congratulates them on their horn blowing and the lighting of the fire. I'm not sure why she seems to like them so much. Another sting of jealousy creeps up on me as the gremlins start warming up to Mother.

  Why do they get to sit on Mother's lap, and not I? For shame.

  "Gu?" Gu speaks to me.

  I look back down to the gremlin with muted enthusiasm. He's giving me puppy dog eyes. I don't know what to make of his interest in me. Why is he not more interested in the attention of Mother? She is more noteworthy than I.

  "Guo gu!"

  The gremlin seems fascinated by my antlers especially. He points at them while jabbering, his clawed hands making small grabbing motions.

  "My antlers? Well... they're a part of me. They grow on their own."

  "Gu!" Gu makes mock antlers with his clawed hands over his head.

  "That is... well, yes, I suppose you could make your own antlers."

  My comment is apparently enough for Gu to get ideas. He hobbles away from me to rifle through a pile of wood cut from the dead roots that make up much of the grotto. He takes a few particularly unrefined pieces and holds them up to his head like they're antlers.

  "What are you doing? That is... My antlers are much more refined."

  "Guh gu, gu."

  "I suppose you could make them better by carving them to be more accurately shaped, yes."

  Gu nods and sits down at my feet. He takes the pieces of wood and uses his sharp claws to cut away chunks of them. I watch, not realizing I'm getting invested in his activities, as he carved the wooden pieces into oddly accurate depictions of my antlers. Just smaller in scale.

  "Gu gu?"

  Holding up the wooden antlers to his head, Gu looks a bit like me.

  If I was a gremlin without hooves, that is.

  "You've made them look perfect, but you need some way to secure them to your head."

  "Gu..." Gu seems sad. He doesn't have anything for that.

  "Well, if you've got nothing for it I suppose I can help you."

  Reaching down I gently take the two antlers from Gu's hands. I call upon the mana in both the wood and my body. Gu watches, eyes wide, as I grow living bonds between the two carved antlers. Living green leaves and stems connect the two pieces with a plant based circlet.

  "Gu gu?!"

  "Impressive, isn't it?" I smirk, feeling a tad smug.

  Gu takes the antlers from me and places them upon his head. He has the biggest toothiest grin on his small face as he wears them. I think the little guy is growing on me.

  "Gu?"

  "Why did I do that for you? Well... We're brothers, aren't we?”