[Straylor Leonard]

There was a moment of silence, which was generally disappointing to most people. But the halfling remained, his eyes filled with intent and determination to locate his lost Visa. He had a Test, and Eldrew wasn't about to fail it.

Another casual breeze swept through the woodlands ... and then, the impossible. Did the tree just twitch? Eldrew heard the tree moved at first, his eyes immediately darting to the treeline where its branches were, swaying toward the heavens. The breeze had long passed, yet ... some of its branches clicked?

Then quite abruptly, the same high-pitched laughter filled the woodland air like music. "Hah! You are a funny creature, talking to trees!", the green-skinned girl said as he simply manifested on the tree that Eldrew was speaking to. "Anyway, you're clever. Allen!" She kicked the tree well-naturedly, "wake up!"

There was a momentary groan as the tree seemed to stretch, its branches shaking causing some leaves to fall lazily to the forest ground. Then, it started to change. Its leaves began to blend into its branches, while its branches blended into its massive trunk. The girl easily hopped off the large branch she stood on, diving toward the ground, before her form suddenly warped and twisted into that of a small golden songbird. It flapped its wings, landed, then transformed again into the gold-haired dryad from before.

The tree, on the other hand, continued to shift, slowly shrinking from the giant it once was into that of a stout creature. Within a few short moments, Eldrew would witness a dwarf dressed in blue and red robes standing where an ancient tree once stood. He looked sleepy, as if just woken from a long nap. The dwarf looked .... younger than the average creature that the cether's met over his adventures. His visage hinted at a much more pleasant heritage, outside of the usual blacksmithing, stonemining, weaponsmithing kind.

He had a kind smile, and he waved at Eldrew then bowed solemly at the dryad. "Serale", he chuckled causing his blond beard to bounce lightly. "Sorry 'bout that. Got tired, I guess?"

"Gah, of all my apprentices!", the dryad said in playful tones, "I expected more from you, Allen, much more. Sad brightening, sad brightening. Nevertheless, please return our little friend's Visa."

Scratching his chin, the dwarf waddled over to Eldrew and handed him his Visa -- good as new. "It's all part of the test", he whipsered with a grin, "she's a good teacher, promise!"

"No whispering in class!"

"Sorry!" Allen straightened up and attempted to unwrinkle his robes.

"Welcome to the Naturan Druids Copse", the dryad said, "you may now call me Your Grace or My Majesty if you wish. And I accept you as my student in druidism ... Eldrew who is pronounced like Andrew."