Karola's Hunt
By Deirdre O’Dare
Karola, daughter of Diana, knew this forest. She knew every tree and rock, every glade and glen of it. The forest was the only home she had known. This day she had gone out with her bow and a quiver of arrows, more to be roaming free than seriously hunting. But this was the day she found him in her woods.
Child of a careless mother, or perhaps merely a busy one, she had been reared as much by the Dryads and Kelpies as by her mother. Of her father Karola knew nothing at all…in truth not even that she had one.
Spring was newly come to her forest the day she met the stranger. Birds trilled among the delicate new leaves, while rabbits and squirrels chased one another through the flowering bushes in carefree joy. Although Karola had heard there were others of
