Genesse smiled at the question of her parents. She was proud of them, of course, and loved talking about them when she got the chance.
âIt is rare to hear of them! However, only my mother was a Nymph like me. Even though I had a human Father, my Mother passed all of her abilities to me.â She smiled, hands signing along with her words as she spoke. â Him and my mother were such a lovely pair. Obviously she was much older than him, and youâd think a relationship between an immortal and a human wouldnât be a good idea, but they got on so well.â She stopped, not wanting to rant too much. âThey were fantastic. I was very luckyâ
Genesse giggled, not surprised. She knew she was young, and Effieâs lack of knowledge of her true age did not shock her. She wondered if one day sheâd reach a point where she just stopped counting. âWell, I can only hope I look as good as you at your age!â She joked, knocking Effieâs arm playfully. âIâve read stories about Artemis, she seems wonderful.â Genesse hoped to meet her one day, but she had no idea how to even go about that, or if the legendary woman was even still around.
âAs for your friend- I would love to meet him, maybe! Youâll have to introduce me.â She said, winking. She was excited for Effie to see her home. It wasnât the flashiest of places, but she took pride in it. She had built her with her own two hands, and she loved it for what it was, and knew Effie would know hard work had gone into it. It would be hard to leave it behind when she found a home, but she knew bigger and better things were coming. She swatted playfully as Effie poked her side.
âAh, that is so sweet! Iâd love to see your home! I promise I wonât take advantage of your kind offerâ She laughed, winking again.
Effie listened along, rapt, as Genesse explained her family. So unusual! Sheâd never met any dryads that she hadnât grown up alongside, and it amazed her to know that there were other groups, with different heritages! Of course, she wasnât foolish enough to believe that every forest spirit had lived alongside her in Greece, but still. The use of past tense hadnât escaped the dryad, though, and she asked carefully, âYou have outlived your parents?â
The compliment, though joking, made her grin, pleased, and she gave a huff of amusement as she lilted sideways into Genesse. âYou must eat your greens and be nice to the forest, no? A good life means good skin!â When she was younger, some of the older dryads had said that Artemis punished naughty dryads by making them grow old and wrinkled like humans. Effie was secretly quite glad sheâd avoided that. âShe was kind to us, to let us all live under her protection. Very powerful, no? I am sure she is still walking the earth somewhere.â Last time sheâd returned to Greece, the goddess had not been present - but the forest was as lush and vibrant as it had ever been, which meant that Artemis could not have abandoned it.
Ah, a wink! She hoped it was not a wink of wicked intentions. It would be nice to introduce them, though! Genesse would like Aspenâs stall - it was one of Effieâs favourite places, after Aspenâs own home. So lovely! He was getting so talented... âI will! He has a deer friend. She is... big.â Very big. The dryad giggled and squirmed away from Genesseâs swatting hand, nodding eagerly - âYou are very welcome!â Â