From her bag she pulled two apples, feeding one to her horse. She didn’t need to tether him at night, he wouldn’t leave her. He was sniffing around, looking for a tasty patch of grass, and she removed her blanket from where it was rolled up. Biting into the apple, she relaxed against the tree, and took a deep breath. Tonight, she’d see the faeries, she was sure.

From her bag, she removed the jar, hoping to catch one, though she never had. They were too clever to be caught.

Soon, she felt herself drifting off into sleep, and jerked away a little while later. Her horse was asleep, but she heard the quietly sung song. The faeries!

Stealthily, she rose from her makeshift bed, clutching the faery jar. She peeked around the enormous tree trunk and withheld her gasp of delight.

The faeries were out in full force, and the clearing behind the tree was ablaze with their magic and light.

She watched with delight for long moments, as they flitted from tree to tree, singing, chattering, in voices she could barely hear, but together they made a harmonious hum.

Forgetting her jar for the moment, she sank to the ground to watch. Without thinking, she slipped the lid of the jar off, and swiped the jar through the hum, quickly snapping the lid back on. Terrified, the faeries in the jar screamed, and huddled together. She held it up to look at them.

Tiny versions of humans, with wings, she thought, turning the jar. But their faces were scared, and sad, and they pointed at her in fear.

The others had noticed and the clearing had gone silent, staring at her, then they rushed together and formed a swarm in front of her.

“Oh, I won’t hurt them!” she called. “I just wanted to see them, and watch. I would never hurt you!”

One darted forward, and to her amazement, began to grow until he was as tall as her. He was surrounded in gold light, but she could see he was handsome, with pointed ears under his golden hair and blue-green eyes. He face was set in a hard grimace.

“You trapped my people!” he pointed to the little jar in her hands.

“I—I couldn’t help it,” she said softly. “I did hope to see and maybe catch one of you, but not to hurt you! Just so I wouldn’t be so lonely. You’re so beautiful, and there’s so many of you!”

“Why are you lonely?” he asked, his expression softening. “Don’t you have any family?”

“No,” she said sadly. “I ran away from them. They were mean and cruel people, and I just wanted to be myself.”

“You have your horse,” he pointed out.

“He doesn’t talk much,” she said.

“Maybe you don’t listen properly,” he shrugged.

She looked down, and when she looked up again, she gasped. More faeries had taken their regular size, and now she was surrounded by human-sized, glowing faeries. Some glowed other colors, but the first one glowed the strongest, brightest, gold.

“I don’t have anyone,” she sadly.

A mischievous gleam came into his eyes. “You could join us.”

She brightened. “Really?”

“Sure. But you have to let my people go first.”

She stared sadly at the jar and the terrified faeries that were beginning to dim.

I’m sorry,” she said sadly, unscrewing the top.

The faeries zipped out, and away from her, chattering angrily.

“What do I have to do to join you?” she asked.