Rose Ashland ran through the large grove of trees around her mother's property, revelling in the feeling of having nature all around her. However, today she didn't have time to waste. Her mother, Tristana Leeland, had sent her out for some of the healing herbs she was out of, and with a plague ravaging the land, she knew they would be needed soon.

Finding the sage and aloe that were needed, she started home while contemplating why her own last name and Tristana's were different. The older woman had never given her a direct answer about this, always responding that Rose would know the right time to ask when it came. As she stalked into the kitchen, Rose decided that this was that time.

"Mother, it's time you tell me about how our names came to be different." she said abruptly, taking her mother by surprise.

"Well, I guess we ought to start out with me telling you who your father was." Tristana said, clearly unsettled by the idea.

"Wait! What do you mean, was? Is he dead?" her voice escaped from her lips, and she grimaced. She didn't want to hurt her mother, but this conversation was bound to do so.

With a wince, her mother shook her head and continued. "He disappeared some years ago, right after you were born. He wasn't exactly normal, but when he moved in near here, I fell in love with him. Gabriel was a big bear of a man, with pale skin and long, straight white hair. His eyes were brown, just like yours. And most importantly, he had magic,magic so powerful that he built this whole cabin in an hour. You see, his mother was a river nymph, and the queen of the forest."

This shocked Rose a little too much, and she started coughing violently. Her mother rose, going and getting her an earthenware cup filled with spring water before continuing.

"We both were deeply in love, and we bore you. Unfortunately, things started to go wrong. His magic got out of control and it scared him. It was for that reason that he left. He couldn't bear to see either of us harmed. His mother, however, visited with you often, and it was her that gave you that name."