Evergreen Forest and Nymphs

This is a story of long ago, when the world was filled with wonders as well as it’s mysteries. This was a world where danger roamed the land and prayed upon the weak, yet even at this uncertain age, the heroic spirit sprang from the heart, of even of the smallest, fattest, and weakest of mortals. It was an age of adventure, of curiosity, and wonder; it was the age of unlimited wonder and undying imagination, and it ran with abundance and richness. There were no walls or boundaries that one could not cross, for the only boundary was one’s imagination and courage. This was the age of enchantment and belief, the age of absolute courage and youthful innocence. It was an age that has faded from our minds long ago, memories and records corrupted by disbelief, to never emerge again from its slumber, and to only live in yesteryears memories and stories of nostalgic dreams to this day…

It was the last days of summer and the autumn season was approaching in the Evergreen Forest. The last golden glitters of lazy days and hopeful nights would soon be buried under the falling leaves of the coming falls; it was going to be a colorful rain of gold and yellow, of reddish and orange, and brown and green. For the coming season was welcomed by the laughers and giggles of children. They were the Children of the Forest and they welcomed the last of the warm seasons, for the dreams of glory days would fade away under the nostalgic sights and dreams, blanketed under the white snow of bitter winder. Yet the warmth of fire always brought joy during winter time, for not even the bitter ice could wipe away their joyful smiles, filled with mischief and games, for soon the snow, white as clouds and light as feathers, would bring snow fights to play…

But even under the warmth of this joyful day, there was one whose heart was heavy. For he was a child filled with sadness and loneliness. This child was a little faun, a folk from the fairy realm, who was abandoned and left behind long ago. There were no others of his kind in the forest, and he felt alone and unloved. But this was not true, for the real reason of his heart being sad was that the Wytue (the Children of the Forest) always made fun of him, and they never befriended him.

Now you probably wonder what are Wytue? Well image young children, with lovely young faces and rosy cheeks, with big eyes filled with wonder and curiosity (the same eyes that children light up when they heard a good story or received wonderful gifts at birthdays), and with very cute and almost pointy ears. They liked to dress in green and brown, the color of the leaves and the trees, for they loved to walk among the trees, sleep under the stars, and feel the breeze of spring and summer.

Some old scholars suggest that they were the original Pixies of old, yet they were not little people but children that never aged, for theirs was a life of mischief and play, of wonder and joy, and also of pranks and scorns. They loved music and songs, they ate candies and sweets when they could, and hunted and chased wild beasts for food and protection; for even if they were children, they knew how to use the bow and arrow, or for the younger ones they were given slings and slingshots. The eldest of the children was given a dagger, and knew how to use it if he or she came under harm, yet that rarely happened. But one should never underestimate these younglings, for they do not trust mortals, especially ‘adults’, whom they consider them to be funny, silly, weird, and very dangerous, so these children cannot be trusted at all if your heart is weak and filled with wickedness… The Wytue are dangerous and merciless, but only to those who seek to harm them or make enemies of them; only those who are of good heart and honest could survive their encounter, and maybe even make friends with them. The Wytue were not cruel or malevolent, just pranksters and mischievous, just like any other bratty kid…

But I had deviated from the story and we have almost forgotten the little faun. Poor little faun, he didn’t know why the other children hated him… for they were mean to him and played hurtful pranks at his expense… only one of the Wytue children was ever gentle and friendly to him. Her name was Sarita, she was one of the most gentle (and tough too, mind you) of the children of the Forest, she was a kindred and gentle spirit for the little faun. Sarita and the faun bonded long ago as friends, for both sought the embrace of friendship; Sarita used to be a wild pixie, and the other Wytue children were afraid of her, but her heart soften as she spend time with the faun. Now, Sarita always scorned several of the other children, especially Tobin who was the leader of the Wytue children, for their bullying ways. Most of the boys (and some of the girls) seem to find a childish delight in pestering the poor little faun.

One day Sarita found the Wytue children bullying the little faun. “Why do you always bother poor Fausty?” asked Sarita in fumes, for she had asked this same question again and again, every time the poor faun cried. And yes, if you must ask his name was Fausty, but it was not his real name, for he never knew his given since he was abandoned, when he was found, he was named Fausty for they could not think of any other name (it had something to do with him having small hands or fist).

“Because he’s a goat, a half-goat-boy, that’s why. He doesn’t belong here. And he is a crybaby” reproached Tobin irritably, he didn’t think he did anything wrong. He never liked Fausty, and found the concept of hairy legs creepy and a reminder of ‘adults’. Plus, goats were meant to either be milked, eaten, or be kept as pets to ride…

“Yeah, he is a crybaby” shouted a chorus of Wytue children in an unison of voices, they laughed and giggle, between their response.  Sarita fumed with anger, she was mad that they drove Fausty to tears again, sure the faun was ‘strange’ but she didn’t care. Sarita found the faun to be a fascinating and interesting creature… no, not a creature but an interesting child and friend. But sometimes Sarita thought that they were right, he was kind of a crybaby and she wished he had a spine and fought back.

“Why can you just left him be? He never did anything against you. He just wants to make friends and play along us,” shouted Sarita back, and she stared at the other children, daring them to laugh and giggle at her. The others then dropped their eyes and fidgeted their fingers; some even rubbed their feet on the soil embarrassingly. Only Tobin seemed unwilling to droop, and he defiantly stared at her arrogantly.

Tobin could not understand what did she saw in him, he was a weird kid and he didn’t belong in the forest. The creature was even abandoned long ago, by his parents no doubt, for they must have thought he was a freak too. These were the thoughts and feelings that Tobin harbored in his heart; he felt he couldn’t trust anyone that didn’t belong in the forest. But Sarita kept challenging Tobin with her eyes, until Tobin defiantly turned around and scuffed away angrily. They knew that they could stare away all afternoon, and that neither child would surrender, nothing would be accomplish. So Tobin decided not to waste the day away, staring an angry girl, he had better things to do. The rest of the Wytue children followed their leader and decided to join him in whatever adventure he decided to follow that day. Tobin thought it was time to check upon the trolls in the northern borders, it had been awhile and they could be back into their usual mischief.

The Wytue children that followed Tobin was made up of Aryl, Malin, Telin, Bofir, and Ledin, known as Tobin’s company. Aryl was a pretty girl with red hair, she was quick tempered, and sometimes selfish, but loved the other children like brothers and sisters (she thought the faun was a burden and an outsider); Malin was a boy who loved music and swords, he also was a learning artisan and loved ‘magic’ and spells (he thought the faun was weird); Telin was another boy who loved fishing and hunting (he didn’t like or dislike Fausty, he just couldn’t go against Tobin); Bofir was a fat boy who loved to eat but also to sleep (he didn’t care much for the faun, and he feared crossing Tobin); Ledin was the fastest boy as well as obnoxious, he was juvenile who liked pranks (any reasons to tease the faun is good enough for him).

The rest of the Wytue children, like Teryn, Roblin, Athenea, Tolin, and Ellyn tried not to get involved. Teryn loved games and sports and had no opinion of the faun but respected Tobin too much to get in his way; Roblin loved books and was the smartest of the children, but feared Tobin so he shied away from any opinion; Athenea was a precocious and serious girl who loved books but had low opinion of the faun (she would be aloof for she thought of him of being cowardly); Tolin, how was close friend of Tobin and his trusted ‘captain’, had no opinion at all (he preferred to spent his time traveling around); and Ellyn who was the tallest and fairest girl of the children, was also very shy and distance herself from the faun. These were the Wytue children, who Fausty had to deal with in a daily basis (specially their bullying or aloof attitude toward him).

Sarita couldn’t stand the boys (and girls) who were dumb enough to follow Tobin in his misbehavior. “Boys!” shouted Sarita in frustration and she walk away angrily. Sarita dashed toward the trees, she was fuming with anger and disappointment. She couldn’t understand why the others shunned Fausty, he had never done anything but trying to be nice and decent to the others, but they end up being mean to him.

The truth was, that Fausty could be childish in his behavior, and clumsy; none of the children had any good opinion of him, and had little patience for the faun. Tobin didn’t expect much from him.

Sarita trotted to the forest until she found the Big Tree, it was a beautiful evergreen tree, it was some kind of Cypress tree that was forty meters tall and its girth was very stout (its diameter was 11 m. with a circumference of 35 m. if you must know). The Big Tree (as it was called by the Wytue) was the second largest tree in the Evergreen Forest, and it was the home of Fausty. It was a very old tree but it was strong as the roots of the mountains. The Big Tree was a majestic wooden fortress, with a carved wooden hall fit for an elvish prince; and very beautifully decorated rooms carved within the living wood of the tree. The tree was not dead, for it was still alive and growing with splendor; the same hands that carved the living wood of the tree has also helped it to stay alive. The hands that carved the living tree must have been filled with the wisdom of wood, water, and land; those hands avoided cutting any part of the tree that would have kill it, so it would continue to grow and reach a majestic beauty and splendor never before seeing. Whoever built the room and the hall within the tree, knew exactly what they were doing, for it is not easy to carve living wood and keeping the tree alive without killing it. Some stories suggest that it was elven folks that carved the tree, but this will never be known for a long time…

The lady of the trees; daughter of the woods; princess of the forest; and watcher of the evening. She was the caretaker and caregiver of the young Wytue, and she was well beloved by them. Even if she was a young woman, the children only saw her as a friend and as a ‘mother’. The Lady of the Trees, was a wood nymph, and as such she enjoyed dancing with the trees and singing lullaby songs to the young Wytue. She’s been called by many names; Hersia is called in the woods, Kyrae to the mountains of the west, and Kyren in the grass plains to the north. But the children called her Lady Nimfia, for she was a young beautiful maiden, and giver of sweet milks and honeys. The children loved her and she loved them as well.

Now long ago, Lady Nimfia gave to Fausty a place to stay. It became difficult to care for him since many of the Wytue refused to have anything to do with him. Because of this, the Lady tried to make them understand and accept him, it didn’t work. So Lady Nimfia decided that Fausty needed to live away for a while until one day the children would accept him. She never understood why they behaved like this toward Fausty, especially Tobin, the Wytue were mischievous in nature but they were well behaved and gentle when they wanted (and they did not wanted to be even ‘nice’ toward Fausty). Lady Nimfia decided that the Big Tree would be a nice place for the little faun to live in. It was a warm and spacious home, and Lady Nimfia would always sent Sarita with a basket filled with goodies (like honey, pies, fruit, and cookies) and groceries (potatoes, sausages, meat, cheese, and some fruit juice), so he never went hungry. Sometimes Lady Nimfia would come and read stories to him before going to sleep. Tobin (and company) resented Fausty for being lavished with such treatment, so they hated him even more, especially since Fausty was given the Big Tree to live in, Tobin always wanted to move to the Big Tree and he was hoping Lady Nimfia would give it to him someday, but now that would never happen.

Now Sarita knew Fausty too well, every time Fausty got bullied by Tobin (and company), he would ran toward the Big Tree and climb to the top and cry. Fausty would sob for some time, until Sarita would arrive and keep him company. This was a daily routine for the two of them. Sometimes it would be a while (days) before Tobin would bully Fausty again; it was during those quite and peaceful times, that the two of them would just ran into the forest and explore around for hours. Sometimes they would stumble into Tolin, who was always gentle and peaceful toward the two, and tell his wandering tales into the forest. It was too bad, Tolin was always good and gentle, but he had no regard for the faun (who believed like the rest, could not to be trusted, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t feel pity for him), if he had, they could had been good friends in those days.

But today was not such a peaceful day, and as always, after being bullied, Fausty was at the top of the Big Tree crying and sobbing; bitter tears flowed from his little watery eyes. When he noticed Sarita he tried to clean away his river of tears with his little hands.

“Fauny come down!” shouted Sarita with a puffy voice; Sarita called him ‘Fauny’, she thought it was a cute nickname. Sarita was angry and disappointed, for she was tired of seeing Fausty crying and sobbing and she wanted him to fight back, after all he was a boy and boys shouldn’t cry (that’s what she was told). But Fausty was not a boy, but a little young faun and he pointed that fact to Sarita, but she just gruff and called him down. “Its easy for you to say that, you are not the one being bullied. I am!” cried the faun.

Now Sarita was mad and angry to the little faun, but she was also understanding of his pain. Sarita just wanted Fauny to be happy and cheerful and strong too, so Tobin will stop bullying him.

“Come down Fauny. You know I am not mad at you, I am just angry at Tobin,” shouted Sarita. But Fausty was scared of Sarita (she can be scary in a ‘big sister is mad’ way), she can be mean sometimes toward him for not being ‘though enough’. “No, you are just going to yell at me. And tell me I should be a brave boy so I could fight back,” muttered Fausty between wobbles and sobs. Sarita sighted with frustration but she kept clam, “Is ok, I won’t yell at you. I am just going to talk to you. Please come down Fauny!” shouted Sarita with sincerity. But Fausty shook his head with a big no.

At this point Sarita was filled with frustration, so she filled her little lungs and cried, “FAUNY COME DOWN OF THE TREE THIS INSTANT. OR I AM GOING TO CLIMB UP AND DRAG YOU DOWN, SO HELP ME IF I DON’T SLAP YOU. I DON’T CARE WHAT IT TAKES, I WILL CUT DOWN THIS TREE IF I HAVE TO!!”

At this moment Fausty was scared to death and trembled with fear, Sarita looked very scary and she was very mad. But then, Fausty saw that Sarita’s anger shifted to sadness and she had a very pitiful face. Fausty couldn’t help but to feel ashamed and sorry, all his fears fled away and decided to climb down. Carefully with his little hooves he climbed down from the tree and dashed toward Sarita. He gave her a huge hug and sobbed away in her tummy. Now Sarita was a little bigger than Fausty, so it always felt as if she was like his big sister. Fausty was not very old, he was at the tender age of 8, but he looked as if he was actually 5 years old (his height was 39 or 48 inches), and Sarita was a big girl with a height of 56 inches (don’t be fooled, she may look like 10 years of age, but she had outlived many mortals that I know of. I don’t know how old she is, but that didn’t stop her from being a kid)

Fausty’s face was in such a mess, his cheeks were covered in dirt, and his nose was running with mucus. While Fausty buried his face on Sarita’s tummy, she caressed his hair with tenderness; she whispered in his ear to sob away but that he must be a strong boy. Both of them stood still, the forest was quiet and it seem to watch such tender scene with sympathy; a gentle breeze caressed the two children and finally Fausty muttered in embarrassment, “I am sorry, I am sorry I am such a weak boy… I am sorry I am not strong…” babbled Fausty. But Sarita said in a soothing voice, “Hush, no more of that. You are good boy, and you are strong, you just don’t know yet. I know one day you will stop crying, but for now we should just play and forget about it. Now lets go wash away those tears, the lake is not very far and it is crystal clear, the waters will wash away the tear and sadness in your heart.”

So Sarita led Fausty by the hand to the Crystal Lake and the little faun washed his little face and eyes. He felt better now and he gave a huge grin to Sarita, she just laughed and tickle the little faun with joy. So they spent the whole day playing in the lake, swimming, fishing and hunting butterflies. When it was lunchtime Sarita unveiled a bag that she brought, it was filled with honey buns, cakes, some meat, and two bottles of milk. It was the daily victual that Lady Nimfia gave to Sarita to take it to Fausty. Now Sarita (and the rest of the Wytue) didn’t like meat (with the exception of Tobin and Tolin), but she enjoyed the milk and the honey (and the cakes). After their tummies were filled they took a nap under the trees, near the pond and whisked away their worries in dreams.

That night Sarita went back to the Homely Home, in the Green Hill, this was the house of Lady Nimfia, and also the home of the Wytue children whom enjoyed living within the warmth and love of the household. After Sarita had her supper (with the rest of the children), she wanted to talk Lady Nimfia in private.

Some of the Wytue children decided to play their musical instruments and sing songs, a few decided play a few games and listen to the music while they were at it. In another room, lighted by few candles, Lady Nimfia and Sarita had a serious conversation. “Lady Nimfia, Fauny was crying again, he was sobbing at the top of the Big Tree. You should have seeing him, his tears were like waterfalls and his cries the most heartbreaking of sounds. Why is Tobin still harassing little Fauny?” asked Sarita with concern. Lady Nimfia looked at Sarita with sad eyes, “Child, I wish I could do something about it. I had tried disciplining Tobin about it, but it only makes it worst. The boy will not learn for he does not want to learn.”

“Then force him to stop, if words wont do, then punish him,” shouted Sarita with concern, she was frustrated that Lady Nimfia had allowed Tobin to go unpunished. But Lady Nimfia just said, “How could I? He is not my child; I am only your caretaker and provider. Even if I did punish him, it will do no good. For his heart will never change his ways. Tobin would only learn once his heart sees its error,” then she caressed Sarita’s hair, “I know you feel for the little faun. For I do feel the same, yet it is up to Fausty to stand up and grow up. He will always be a crybaby if he keeps running away, he will only grow to become a coward unless he stops running,” spoke Lady Nimfia with concern. “Remember when I found all of you for the first time? You were all sleeping and dozing between the waking world and the sleeping world. I could feel the stir of your hearts within the trees, waiting to be born and awaken. You were young and beautiful trees whispering for freedom, muttering wishes of games and races, you all wanted to be awaken and see the world with eyes…” said Lady Nimfia. Sarita nodded her head as a reply; she just quietly listened to the words of the wooden nymph. “Yes, you were such younglings. And I whispered the awaking words, to each one of you; it was if all of you were waiting for me. It felt my heart with joy, for I felt as if I was not alone. Is true, I felt alone before I met you all, alone and in despair, until I met you all. Yet, I knew you were not children of mine, for I did not gave birth to you, nor did I stirred the ‘first awakening’ within you, for you were half-sleepy when I met you all. As such, I do not control your minds and hearts, but I knew I could guide and mold you, until one day you could grow up into something wonderful… or awful. For you see, I could force Tobin to be good to Fausty, but Tobin will never grow up to be good, only to ‘behave’ good behind a deceptive mask and feign friendship. For you see Tobin is being honest to his heart, and only by having a change of heart will Tobin learn and become good. But Fausty is also another matter too, for he is weak and timid, and he will grow to become a coward and distrustful unless he grows to become brave and valiant; Fausty heart is filled with doubt and fear; he will always depend on others for help than his own. Even if Tobin left Fausty alone, no one will ever push him and challenge him to become more, the faun will never learn to grow and move on to become better and wiser. I fear Fausty will become a wild Satyr rather than a Noble Faun, only you and Tobin will help him to change…” replied the Lady in tears.

Sarita was confused by the nymph’s words, “What do you mean me and Tobin? How could we help to change him… and how does Tobin helps him?” asked Sarita with doubt. But Lady Nimfia gave her a kind smile, and not a scorn if the little girl couldn’t understand her words. “My child, Tobin is helping him even now. Tobin is the hammer that is hammering Fausty with courage, strength, and confidence but only if Fausty musters the courage to take it, for he will be tempered with strength. But only your friendship, Sarita, will soften him to become trusting, loving, and brave; your strength will become his strength, and your courage will become his. But only the two of you will change the little faun or he will either become wicked and evil or despaired and alone. I do not which fate is worst. But that is not all, I see that Tobin’s heart would change because of the faun, and yours too,” said Lady Nimfia.

Sarita was perplexed, “Me?” asked Sarita in doubt, she was confused as to what she meant by that. “Yes, you. Don’t you know? Can you not feel it? You changed the moment you laid eyes on the little faun. I remember you, before the change, you used to be a wild child, uncaring and sad, you were what mortals call a ‘tomboy’ but worst. But ever since you met Fausty you became soften and became a sister to him. You have learned to be good, somewhat patient and caring, not just tough. Who had a thought that Wild Sarita would become sisterly, tender, and kind to someone who was so different?” replied Lady Nimfia with a tender chuckle. Sarita didn’t found her words amusing and she puffed with annoyance, but she knew her words were honest and kind; for she remembered that she used to be wilder and uncontrolled, and even impatient than the rest of the Wytue, even Tobin found her to be too much to be dealt with. “Was I that bad?” asked Sarita embarrassed, but Lady Nimfia replied tenderly, “Oh, you weren’t bad, you were just unwrought, and untamed. You have changed and you are still changing. But you are still Sarita and that is good, for I see potential in you,” and she gave a gently smile, Lady Nimfia caressed Sarita’s cheek and gave her a kiss. “You will grow well as long as you have Fausty and Tobin at your side, as well as the rest of the Wytue… but” then her voice changed, “for that to happen, things must be set in motion…” and Lady Nimfia’s face turned sad and melancholic, as if she saw something precious slip away in her mind.

Lady Nimfia seemed sad and contemplative under the moonlight that pierced the night; she muttered for a while, but Sarita could only make out few of the words, “…it must be done… even if I don’t want to…”, those were the only words that Sarita could remember. Lady Nimfia’s face shifted into concern and dread, but then her face changed back into her kind self, she noticed Sarita’s concern and she tried not to scare her, “Do not worry, it is grown up’s concern, I had been babbling nonsense,” then the wood nymph turned toward an old wooden chest and she knelt down to open it. Sarita followed her with curiosity and interest. The wooden chest was very old and strange; it had an iron lock and had strange inscriptions along the surface and sides of the chest. Lady Nimfia brought the chest from a far away and strange land; it gave a lot of pain and exhaustion to bring it, but she felt it was worth it. Lady Nimfia told Sarita that it was a gift from the old days, and that she kept her most treasured mementos within it. “I will show you something, but you must promise not a word to the rest of the children or they will bother me to show it to them as well; this is only meant for you. You must promise that you will tell no one,” whispered Lady Nimfia with seriousness. Sarita agreed with all her heart to tell no one; she was very curious to see what was inside and she felt a little special by being given the honor to see it.     

Lady Nimfia pulled the wooden lid, the cringes gave a cry as she opened the chest, and Sarita’s eyes widened with curious delight. The chest was filled with strange souvenirs, items, and some articles of clothing; there was not enough time for Sarita to study each item closely and to know what they were. Lady Nimfia pulled something wrapped in a white silken handkerchief, it had some strange brown stains along the white surface and it had gathered dust, as if it had been laying forgotten at the bottom of the chest. Lady Nimfia felt it was time to pull the item and to be given to some use.

Lady Nimfia stood up and called Sarita to look at her, Sarita stopped looking what was inside the chest and looked at Lady Nimfia with anticipation “I don’t hope that you will ever understand now, of what will happen later. But I do hope you will learn and grow with strength. What am I holding here is the key of everything. Some day all of you will understand,” Lady Nimfia then unwrapped the handkerchief and Sarita saw something wonderful. It was a large white gem, the stone was the size of an apple but it was more wonderful and precious than a fruit. Sarita was in awe of the white gem and in her heart it kindle an attraction to its beauty; Sarita wondered if it was a fallen star from the sky that Lady Nimfia found laying on the garden one day, for its beauty was like those glittering lights in the night sky. “Is it a star?” asked Sarita in wonder and in a hopeful voice. But Lady Nimfia felt silent, as if her question brought back bitter memories, “It is a white gem, a precious stone of beauty, we once called it ‘Aistrae’s Stone’ or the Star-Maiden’s gem. But its real worth does not lie in its beauty bur what lies within it. This stone was given to me in trust, and now I will give it to you. Listen Sarita, listen very carefully, for this stone will open the door that lies within the depths of the lake. In there you and Fausty will find a treasure that had longed to be found. This treasure is guarded out of fear and love, and you must bring it out and use it wisely.” Then Lady Nimfia gave the stone to Sarita, the wood nymph entrusted Sarita with one of the most burdensome task, but Sarita wont learn its truth until later. For now Sarita was awed and enthralled; she picked the stone and lifted it to her eyes with joyful delight.    

“What must I do with it?” asked Sarita with curious delight. Then Lady Nimfia took Sarita under her arms, “On the first days of autumn there will be a Harvest Moon, at the lake shine the gem to the light of the moon. Something magical and wonderful will happen, but for the rest I cannot tell, in your travel you will meet mysterious and enchanting people, do not tell them I sent you, or they will try to stop you, for many do not long for the end to come,” said Lady Nimfia in a sad tone. “What end?” asked Sarita with dread, there was something on the voice of Lady Nimfia that awoke sadness and fright. Lady Nimfia reproved herself, realizing she was scaring Sarita; the wood nymph tried to sooth the fear away from the child’s heart and assured her there was nothing to fear. “These are the last days of summers, there should be no tears in your eyes. Now, do as I say and never forget the words that we spoke tonight,” then she gave a loving kiss to Sarita’s forehead and called it a night. Lady Nimfia was ready to retire to her chamber and sleep this night.

Tobin and company were now sleeping in their beds, it was already very late and Sarita felt a little sleepy. She couldn’t believe they spoke to the late hours of night! Sarita first hid the white gem from peering eyes (she knew the other Wytue would bother her to talk about it), she decided to hide it in her wooden jewelry box that was given to her as a birthday gift. Sarita got herself ready and she slept wonderfully.