Hi there - I usually submit stories in the 'Erotic Couplings' section, so 'Non-Human' is a little outside of my normal genre. I'd be grateful to receive your votes/ comments, to help me decide whether I should write more enchanted stories in the future. Thanks :-)
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Basking in the rich evening sunlight, the most beautiful autumnal arboreal display of burnt ochre and deep crimson surrounded them. George and Veronica had been so looking forward to a few nights away at a luxury rural retreat and the location certainly lived up to the hype. It was impossible not to marvel at, and draw inspiration from, the wonders of nature surrounding them. Consequently, earlier that day, almost immediately upon arrival, they had excitedly decided to go hiking, to explore their new environment. It had seemed like such a good idea at the time but, having been out for a good proportion of the day, they were both starting to grow weary.
'George!' protested Veronica, rolling her eyes in despair. 'I'm sure this isn't the way back.'
'Trust me,' replied George, turning a local map ineffectually around in his hands. 'I do vaguely know where we are.'
'Only very vaguely, then,' sighed Veronica, with a shake of her head. 'We walked along this very track about twenty minutes ago.'
For the past hour, they had been trying to re-trace their steps and gain their bearings. The situation was starting to get a little more urgent now, as the shadows began to lengthen and the air slowly grew chillier. Besides, Veronica was more than aware that their luxurious tree house awaited them. Naturally, she was exceptionally keen to get back and enjoy the delights of the Γ la carte restaurant, whilst her muscles were crying out for the jacuzzi bath she'd spied on arrival.
'It's definitely this way back,' stated George decisively, leading them down a narrow, little-used path.
'Are you sure?' murmured Veronica, clearly not convinced.
'Positive,' he declared, taking his wife's hand with an affectionate squeeze. 'This way, Mrs. B.'
As they progressed down the path, the trees thickened and darkness encroached.
'I'm not sure I like this,' admitted Veronica cautiously. 'We seem to be heading further away from civilization, not towards it.'
'This is the right way,' declared George, sounding less confident than Veronica would have hoped. 'Look, I can see something up ahead!'
Peering forwards into the gloom, Veronica had to admit her husband had a point. There seemed to be a glimmering, dancing white light, only a short distance away. Unfortunately, as they approached, it disappeared, leaving only a narrow, babbling brook.
'It must have been a reflection on the water,' said George despondently, looking around him in confusion, unable to identify the light source.
'Oh, look!' exclaimed Veronica in delight. Her attention had been drawn to a nearby crab apple tree, beneath which stood a perfect circle of twelve red and white toadstools on a springy carpet of soft, green moss.
'That's amazing!' admired George, approaching it. 'Each toadstool is so perfectly positioned, they might have been placed there using a protractor and set square.'
'I can just feel the magical spirit flowing through the air,' observed Veronica, closing her eyes and inhaling deeply, suddenly at one with her surroundings. When she opened her eyes once more, it was with horror, to find George standing in the center of the fairy ring. 'George!' chided Veronica. 'Don't stand inside it!'
'Why not?' he chuckled. 'You don't really believe in all that fairytale creature nonsense, do you? You know they don't exist in the real world?'
'Just get out,' instructed Veronica, refusing to get into an argument with her husband on the subject. She was entitled to her opinions, whether or not they aligned with George's.
'Fine!' he laughed, raising his hands in mock surrender. Unfortunately, as he went to exit the fairy ring, his foot slipped on a damp twig. Momentarily losing his footing, he clumsily knocked over one of the toadstools.
'Oh no!' exclaimed Veronica. 'What have you done?'
'It was an accident, Sweetheart,' explained George. 'I'm sorry. But it's not the end of the world.'
Dropping to her knees, Veronica scrabbled around on the woodland floor, trying to undo the damage. However, it was hopeless; the toadstool was beyond repair.
'That's going a bit far, isn't it?' he smiled blandly. 'I'm sure it will grow back.'
'That's hardly the point, George! You've ruined something that was perfectly formed.'
'I'm sorry,' he repeated. 'But something good has come out of this detour.'
'What?' sighed Veronica, pushing herself back up to standing, a worried look etched across her face.
'Our treehouse is located on the biggest lake in the area. I reckon, if we follow this stream, that's where we'll end up.'
'Fine,' she exhaled, accepting his proffered hand. 'Just don't go causing any more trouble.'
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Feeling extremely pampered and content, Veronica and George sat in the oversized furniture on their tree house balcony later that evening, gazing up at the stars. Fortunately, once George had suggested they follow the stream, they had found their way back to their residence very shortly afterwards. Their jacuzzi bath had succeeded in working its magic on their tired bodies, after which, they had headed to the all-inclusive restaurant for a most delicious meal.
'Are you ready for bed, Sweetheart?' asked Veronica. George visibly jumped at her unexpected words; hardly surprising, given how quiet and peaceful it was. Up until then, his concentration had been entirely taken by watching the reflection of the moonlight bouncing off the flat surface of the lake below.
'Of course,' he smiled, shuffling to his feet.