Deep in the depths of Morden Forest, in the stump of a once-beautiful tree named Ere’thar, lies the colony of fairies belonging to the Costella tribe. A proud and adventurous bunch who spend their time growing their numbers and working under the guidance of King Ruffullo MDCC—the seventeen-hundredth to bear the crown.
Fairy life is short in Morden Forest. Two weeks, give or take a rainstorm, an inattentive owl, or an unfortunate disagreement with a spider. As a result, the Costella tribe approaches life with great urgency. Reproduction (the fuckening) produce thousands of new fairies, and within hours they are already assigned jobs such as pollen hauling, crumb gathering, or “standing watch,” which mostly involves pointing at things and yelling very loudly.
The stump itself is a bustling little kingdom. Sap lanterns glow in carved tunnels, beetle-shell shields hang from the walls, and the royal court convenes daily upon a throne made from a thimble stolen long ago from an unsuspecting traveler. Beneath the rule of King Ruffullo MDCC, decrees are issued frequently—though they rarely last longer than a generation, which for the fairies is roughly three days.
To the creatures of the forest, the Costella tribe is considered something of a nuisance. They steal nectar, quarrel loudly, and multiply with alarming efficiency. But to themselves, they are a glorious civilization—ancient, noble, and destined for greatness… provided they survive the week.
