Turwin Snoing

                                     Turwin Snoing

                                  By Wolfariusorca
                              Dedicated to Deena Hoblit.


Her rosy naked feet gently sunk and crunched against the newly formed snow. Her lips released icy wisps of air before her. She didn't know where she was going, or who she was looking for. She just knew, she knew there was someone she was destined to see again.

The girl wore an old Victorian ball gown. It was embellished with a silvery dusk blue, adorned with crystal jewels it sparkled like snowflakes being offered to the sun. It drifted around her body, flowing aimlessly. It wasn't practical, but it didn't hinder her as she made her way through the secretive forest.

Her gloved hands grasped the skirt. Periodically she would brush back her lengthy ebony locks from her face. The girl's cheeks advanced from their wind kissed rosy hue to a tormented sangria.

As the girl continued her search the gently falling snow changed to a chapped blanket driven by the wind. Pursed lips, brow furrowed with determination, she made her way to a clearing in the silent forest. A circular range of virgin snow hidden within the depths of the gaunt, soaring, wildwood. It was enchanting. She made her way into the middle, admiring the circle of trees around her.

She could envision it in the spring. Birds tweeting over head, Does guiding their fawns through the trees. Eastern Grays, Bearded Beggarticks, Thimbleberries, Indian Blankets, Chicories, Mouse Ears, and so many many more wildflowers called this home. They were from all over the world, yet they had joined at this one place. Their sweet perfume tickled her senses. One more thing caught her mind's eye. Wheels of mushrooms cluttered this space as well.  

"Fairy circles…" She exhaled with wonder. A single tear spilled from her eye as a wave of nostalgia crept from the pit of her stomach to her heart.

She blinked a few times and wiped the tear from her face. It was winter once again. The wind had gone to sleep and flurries of snow fell peacefully to the ground once more. A sudden snap to her left captured her attention. She knew…she thought she knew. Her breath slowed, her emerald eyes darted between the angled trees. Her heart smashed against her chest. Blood pulsed inside her head threatening to carry her away.  She was about to head towards the noise when he slowly stepped out between the trees.

"Turwin…sweet heavens…how do I know your name? How do I know you?"  The words spilled from her mouth as more tears rushed from her eyes.


The girl gazed at the man before her, her eyes drifting over him taking in his features. He was tall but not lanky. He wasn't robust either, he simply looked toned. His hair was shaggy and fell lightly upon his shoulders. The tresses were a deep moss green. How peculiar and wonderful she thought.  His eyes were uncanny. Rubescent red, spotted with gold freckles. From his head twisted an extravagant antler rack.  Finally, Turwin was draped in other worldly clothes embellished with hues of green and gold.

He strolled across the clearing towards her. "We were once companions in this world." Turwin stopped a few feet away from her. His gaze locking onto hers.

"I know you…I think. Somewhere deep inside my heart, I know you." She shook her head trying to remember. "Tell me." She sighed and looked into his eerie familiar eyes.  

"I can't tell you the name you once answered to. I can tell you who I am and why you were banished from the lands. I want to see if you can remember first." He extended his hand to her. The girl slowly stretched out a gloved hand, willing herself to remember. "Remember me…"

She gasped, covering her mouth before exclaiming "Turtle king! Turwin, the king of turtles. And I, I a maiden of the forest! This is my forest, this was my home! My forest was a great retreat to your people!" She spun on the spot beaming at the trees around her. Suddenly she flung her arms around the king.  

Pulling back hastily she looked up at him. A delighted grin burst from her. A smile crossed his lips. "When did you get antlers!?! I am not suppose to be here, and I don't care! Come, come run with me Turwin!" She snatched his hand and took off across the clearing. Laughter bubbled from her as they ran through the woods. In a fit of whimsy they danced in the snow, twirling in each other's arms quickly before dashing through the trees once more.  

It wasn't long until the girl and Turwin collapsed into a soft snow bank. She looked at him, propping herself on her elbow. "Okay, so, for real this time…the antlers. What is going on with them?"

A shadow of sadness crossed his eyes. " I'm no longer the king of the turtles De…he stopped himself for a moment, his gaze drifted to the tops of the trees. "I'm the forest turtle king. My kingdoms range from the goopy marsh forests to the northern arctic forests. I am lord over the forest terrain and its' creatures." His eyes darted back to hers.

The girl frowned. "Hence the antlers. Comes with the job I suppose." "It does. It is a sign of power and who I am."


She slowly got back to her feet and fluffed out her dress. She looked straight ahead into the forest before her. "Turwin, why does that bother me? What happened, what sent me away from here?"

"You sent yourself away." He stood behind her now. "I didn't, I wouldn't. I love this place."  He placed his hands on her shoulders. "You did. For you also loved the turtle folk as I did. You liberated them to another realm when dark times befell our lands. Their souls were tortured and they called out to their lands, their woodland neighbors, and you answered."

The girl turned around, glaring at him. Her cheeks burned from the wind. Pain lingered on her face. "Where were you?" "I was detained my woodland dancer. It was truly a dark time where forests burned and blood was shed unmercifully." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The winter air waking her senses.

"Alright, so I freed the turtles. Where? How am I here now? Why can't I come back, what is keeping me away?" He shook his head. "You crossed into another realm and you didn't free all of them. You freed the modest, the weak, the tiny, and the limited of the turtle race. It was an accident. A chance of a spell that carried you and them away, to a new world. Even now you truly aren't here with me."

"I am here. I am right here. " She reached out and grabbed the folds of his clothing. He smiled a sad smile at her. "This is a dream. It is real and at the same time not." Those were the words and allowed her to feel herself slowly being slipping away. She felt like she wasn't fully there anymore. At any the moment  the wind was going to carry her away.

She opened her mouth to speak. Her eyes wide with concern and sadness. "Know this woodland dancer, songs are sung about you. About your travel to a new world, songs about how you saved many turtle folk. My giant mushroom tortoises sing your name, my scrubby turtles chant your story into the streams, you are loved. We all remember and honor you. Your time is almost up."

The girl looked down at her naked feet, they were slowly becoming translucent. She knew her time was up. Her body was waking up in a different land, a different world even.  "I don't want to leave this place." Her grip tightened on him, trying to anchor herself. "I know" he whispered.

He bent down and wrapped her in his arms. Turwin gently kissed her earlobe before these last words to her. "I don't know the world you live in, the land you now dwell in is called Dalton. You are surrounded by wee turtle folk and they are thankful. We will meet again, if only in your dreams."


Just like that she was whisked away. It was like a bubble had suddenly popped, she cast into nothingness. Her eyes flew open. She sat up in her bed. For the life of her, she couldn't remember what she had dreamed of but she was happy and warmth crept all over her. That day was going to be a whimsical and wonderful day.


The end. Or is it?