A/n: Heyyy guys...

Sorry for not updating, I had school and had ZERO TIME to write, but I have a little rn, soooo here you go!

Sorry that it's so short!

This book is in @wisegirl2pointo 's writing competition! And I need a few more chapters by August 31, so I'll try to double (or maybe even triple) update this one tomorrow.

Also, I might add some PJO to this book, we'll see.....

Anyways, enjoy!

I'm woken up by the sound of Biana's twinkly voice saying, "Thank goodness they have a decent taste in clothes!"

I sigh. I never liked this chapter in the book, but I can't skip it now. It's all Dells going, "elves are SOOOOO PRETTY" which they are, but being a human  living with elves makes me feel a little bit insecure. But here we go.

I get up and brush my reddish-brown hair out and carefully weave it into a braid. I then pull on one of the tunics that I assume Calla had sent up to my room, and grab a pair of comfortable looking leggings. And they have SO. MANY. POCKETS!!

I look at myself in the mirror, feeling a sense of satisfaction. I look pretty good. 

I walk down the hall to Biana's room right as Sophie begins to say, "Show me Councillor Oralie."

I stop midwalk, too scared to turn the corner. I forgot. They also call Councillor Oralie about the Wildwood Gnomes. And find out that they are sick. But... 

I can't say anything. It would mess up the time line. I need to stay as much out of stuff as possible, or something weird might happen, like Keefe dating me, or the group never meet Tam and Linh.

I can't do that. It would break my heart, and unbeknownst to them, the character's.

"Is the infection at Wildwood connected to me trying to read King Dimitar's mind?" I hear.

I want to burst in and stop the conversation. I want to pour everything that I know out. I want to help them save Calls. But I know that I can't. I know that it would ruin everything.

"...Do we want to put him through that without proof?" Della is asking.

I watch as Sophie looks at Biana, and she shakes her head. Sophie look's relieved. 

And that's when I walk in.

"Hey guys! I just woke up. What are we- woah, why do you look so depressed?" I act like I'm surprised.

The three of them share a glance. "It's nothing important." Della assures me.

I sigh. I figured that this would happen, but it was worth a try.

"Why aren't you in a gown?" Biana asks. I blink. There had been a gown in my room, come to think of it, but I hadn't thought to put it on. "Are you gonna wear that to meet the collective?"

"I didn't think that I was going to come to meet the collective."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm well, not... an elf."

"That's right! I forgot. You look like one of us, soooo... but anyways, yeah, I think they want you to come too."

It takes me a minute to process what she's saying. She just said that... that... I look like... and elf? What?

I move on from that and say, "yeah, I'll change, just give me one sec." And run to my room to go change.