She blinked her eyes as they met the harsh sun for the first time in almost three years. Something had happened, something terrible...

Since leaving the glade and returning to the forests of Yew there had been little in the way of excitement for the dryad. Most of those that worked in the forest knew well enough to give her small grove a wide berth. They knew the trees there were protected and didn't wish to raise the ire of the dryad who lived there. The one or two who had in the last few years were never seen again. Rumors of how they vanished were more than enough to keep the rest away.

She had been able to seclude herself away. Burrying herself among the roots of the huge Yew tree that she had become one with, she allowed herself a rest. For nearly three years she lay there nestled in the roots and the earth, until one morning...

As her eyes adjusted to the light she drew in a deep breath in shock at what she saw. Around her the lush forest had become a marsh. Birds and other creatures she called friends were gone, replaced by aligators, slimes and other creatures more horrid that she had never seen before.

She looked back over her shoulder to her tree, afraid of what she might find. A scream escaped her, she could not stop it. Her beautiful Yew had been stripped of all it's folliage. The surface bark seemed covered in a slimy substance and here and there among the branches were glowing orbs or pods, pulsating as if alive.

Her scream had attracted attention. She turned just in time to see a large creature bearing down upon her. It seemed composed of rotting wood and slime. She turned to flee back into the roots of her tree. To her horror she found that she could not. Her tree was dead, or replaced with this thing before her. She had nowhere to run. The Bog Thing behind her gripped her ankle and pulled her back into the swamp...

Today...

Ahead of her the forest was still alive and teaming with life. Life she had once been in tune with and close to. Now, as she walked silently through the brush, the small animals of the woods ran in terror at her aproach. Birds called out sounds of warning and flew away quickly. Bears would growl at her yet not come close, wishing only that the dryad would continue on her way and leave them be.

From behind her came a rustle of branches. Turning her head she smiled as she watched her new friend come crunching through some low bushes. The alligator looked up at her and growled low. It rubbed its long snout against her leg before turning to fall in behind her. Together they continued to move through the woods east of Yew.

Delphianne paused as they came upon a pool of water. She bent to the pool and drank thirstily. When she had drank her fill she regarded her own reflection. Skin the color of bark was now covered with a pasty, slime-like coating. Hair of brilliant green still covered her head but looked more like wet weeds then the spring leaves it was before. A single tear ran down her face, but that was all she would allow. The creature of the forest she once had been was gone, to be replaced with a creature of the swamp. Through some cruel twist of fate or act of magic, Delphianne had been transformed right along with the forest that had been her home.

Up ahead she heard a low voice singing softly and saw the figure moving through the woods. It was a healer, a wanderer, traveling the lands in search of those in need of aid. A small smile crossed her lips as she looked back at her pet. She needed no words, she only nodded.

The gator moved with lightning speed. Delphi sat back and listened as the screams of the healer filled the air and then fell silent..

After her pet had had it's fill she rose again and they continued on there journey. Soon she would be home. A part of her still held on to some hope. The land had been poisoned, and so had she. If any could find the reason why and set things right the elves could. The other half of her drew her in another direction, to a land far off called Ilshenar. There she was certain she would find those responsible for what had happened. She knew in her poisoned heart. She would make them pay.