Despite the current condition of the planet, there was one thing that seemed to remain untouched.  Beautiful even.  As Maggie strolled her way back to the Nymph Park, her green eyes squinted as she stared straight at the horizon.  A huge orange ball was drifting lazily to its hiding place behind the mountains that seemed to be erupting with fuchsia clouds dipped in sparkling gold.  At this time in the evening the sun cast a creamy haze of red orange over the city.  What was so unfortunate not to be touched by the warm light was dripping in whimsical shadows of purple blue and grey.  From this angle, Maggie could not even tell that the slopes were covered in the ashes of her fallen friends and beloved forest.

Arriving to the park’s entrance, she finally tore her eyes from the melody of colors that reflected dreamily across her features.  With a grin of sudden mischief, she pulled two small green apples from the pockets of her overalls.  The male Nymphs standing guard were just barely noticing her presence when the playful blonde launched the apples in their direction.  Large, graceful hands easily grasped the fruit as lips were quick to press against the smooth green skin to take a juicy bite.  A giggle escaped from the girl as she tossed a hand up in a wave of approval as she headed onward.

The first view of the park was almost as breathtaking as the evening sunset.  A large fountain greeted each with a stunning display of sparkling water cascading from the flawless white pitchers of three Nymph beauties.  The girls were forever frozen as they danced freely among lush greenery that gave a sense of secrecy, sanctity and mystery.  With the setting sun still casting a warm pallet, the usually castor skin of the girls had almost a ‘real’ glow to it.  As Maggie twirled her way down the path, she paused for a moment to glance up the statues, a knowing grin playing at her pink lips.

 Past the fountain was an open field of bright green grass where many Nymphs would join together to socialize, lounge, dance and possibly even take root for the night.  The evening time was perfect for such occasions.  Chores and planting having mostly came to wraps for the day, the hard working Nymphs would gather to play.  The entire area was lit up by wisps of twinkling lights that seemed to nosily float about the space, hovering over groups of Nymphs as the drink wine, somersaulting around circles of dancers, alighting paths for pairs of Nymphs as they walked away together, bodies engaged in a passionate embraces. 

Maggie couldn’t help but feel a tiny twinge of jealousy at the latter.  When was the last time she had been so carefree to get lost in another’s arms, concerned only about the feelings of ecstasy the other would so graciously give and receive?  Had it been so long ago?  Definitely before the forest burned, perhaps even longer.  With a shake of her blonde waves, she banished the thought and bypassed the field of Nymphs after a handful of friendly smiles and exchanged blossoms.

Young saplings were growing quite nicely along the edges of the field.  Not too long planted, but already at a height above Maggie’s head.  Like children, even plants seem to grow faster on Hellifyno.  Though it was a challenge to get them to take root, survive and thrive past the early chapters of their lives.  With the state of the land, the air, the water supply and sometimes even the overall moral of the planting Nymphs, it was a wonder any saplings and plants had sprung at all.   

Maggie dipped under branches and between trunks till she arrived in a small shadowed clearing.  The smell of damp soil filled her nose as she breathed a deep sigh of satisfaction.   This was this closest thing she had to a home; a patch of rich soil among rows of baby trees, in a city park, in perhaps the only vaguely safe place on her entire home planet.  Maggie wouldn’t linger on those thoughts either, not now anyway.  It had been a long day of planting and gathering, she was more than ready to stretch her limps toward the rising moon and get some much needed rest.  Then of course, do it all again when the sun showed his glowing face in the morning.