She glanced lovingly at her humble abode before veering off towards the moss-covered tree stumps she kept special for occasions like this one.
She saw it-him- take in the perfect circle of seats, generously offered by her trees. She paused, motioning for him to sit down. He complied and she gingerly perched on a stump across from him, ready to flee if necessary.

She stared into his eyes, attempting to unearth the secrets hidden there. Never before had she stumbled upon anything in her forest quite as unique as the being in front of her. His eyes seemed to change each time she looked back at them. Sky blue to forest green to sunset gold. She was mesmerized. She flushed petal pink. She didn't mean to stare.

She cleared her throat.
"All who pass through this forest must be questioned. I don't take lightly to those that wish to do harm-to any other being, beast or plant. Especially in this forest."

He nodded his head, every move more graceful than the last. She kept a composed face, but her hands itch to do something, anything. He clearly was highly ranked; her whole body screamed at her to kneel on the floor and bow her head in submission. She steeled her mind; she had her forest to take care of and all that it contained.

With newfound determination, she looked into his magnificent eyes. "You're name. I do not appreciate how you tried to avoid my question. I still do not know who you are."

A ghost of a smile graced his face, and he scratched the back of his neck. She watched his every move. He contemplated what to answer, and, to her, it seemed as if he didn't know the answer. He admitted to her, quite reluctantly: "I am Rokil."

He waited for some grand reaction. She didn't understand why he was so nervous, but she simply nodded her head. She never heard of such a name. She kind of like the way it sounded. Rokil.

"Rokil." He shivered when his name left her lips. "You said earlier that you are just passing through. To where are you headed?"

  She watched as he picked at luscious moss. "I cannot disclose that information. I am sorry."

She merely looked at him. That was an unacceptable answer. No one came to her forest and walked away without telling her their business there.

Minutes passed. He stared intently into her eyes, trying to compel her to just let him go on his way. He didn't have the time for this, however entertaining this pretty thing was.

Ria never before angered easily, but she now felt it rise, for reasons unknown to her.
She snapped. "You do not get to come into MY forest and expect to go on your merry way without paying! That is simply not how things are done! I have my job to do and you have yours. Respect that and just give me the answers I want. Then you can go and do whatever it is that you are so secretive about!"

She noticed then that something seemed different to her-something unnatural. She couldn't put her finger on it.

  Wind whipped her hair around. She took a deep breath. Her emerald eyes widened, a rose red blush creeping across her cheeks. What was that? She never got angry. She was like her forest-quiet, calm, serene. The wind pushed and pulled the leaves on her trees back and forth.

  She didn't know much about other creatures. She was very much living under a rock. Her forest was, after all, her world, her life. There were creatures that truly did want to do harm, but even those respected her and her forest, answering her questions truthfully. This was the first time anyone ever dared defy her. She was definitely not the highest ranking and she knew that, but her rank was definitely up there. She couldn't understand why this stranger would defy her wishes.

He was silent.

She allowed her eyes to fully take in his appearance; she didn't want to ever forget this frustrating creature-he would never be allowed through this forest again, under her watch, at least. She took in his bare feet, strong and clean, despite his long walk on her forest floor. She could tell her plants trusted this creature. They would have attacked his shoeless feet, leaving scratches and bruises. His pants were made of an unfamiliar material, though it looked as soft as the puffy clouds above them. His toned stomach and muscles arms were clearly sun-kissed. Rosy cheeks and soft lips were the cherry on top. Her piercing eyes met his again. He brushed away a lock of uncooperating blond hair from his face.

"Come," she says, having regained her calm.

He silently followed her. She led him back to where he entered the forest, using a different route than before, so as not to raise his suspicion. She wanted him out and there was no way in Hades that she would allow him to finish his journey through her forest after his response-rather, a lack of response.