The Gardener of the Dark Forest

TLC 01/12

A species of Elf, particularly strong and secretive.

The deep woods of Oriceran were dense with tall canopies that towered far above the Oriceran ground below, cutting off most of the sunlight. Many of the trees were species brought from Earth, most of them transported over thirteen thousand years ago before the portals closed. But there was a legend of a gardener of the forest who was part human, part Dark Elf who still made the occasional trip to bring back different seedlings to plant in his garden. It was rumored he even collected rare species of animals and insects and set them free in the darker parts of the vast forest. No one had ever met him but he made a good story to scare young elves.

In Book 1, Somers tries to steal plants from Oriceran to take back to Earth. This is from a scene where the Gardener catches him in the act. A great roar went up from the dense forest, making the ground rumble. The plant shivered and drew back. Somers started and tried to steady himself. He could feel the ground shake under his hands as the forest roared again, closer this time. He looked at the portal, still hanging over the path behind him, his bathroom just on the other side. “I can still do this,” he said, gritting his teeth and turned back to pull out a handful of the plant. The plant moaned piteously, screamed and went limp in his hands. “Got it,” he said, hoping the grasses could be revived. He got up to make a run for it. He had only taken a few steps before something in the forest roared again, shaking the ground so hard he fell to his knees. A large male lion with a full rack of antlers leaped into the clearing. It was carrying a tall, muscular Elf with dark purple skin and thick brown hair. Plants and bugs wove in and out of his long hair. “Thief!” the Dark Elf shouted. “No one steals from the Gardener!”