Papa Bois

Papa Bois is a compact, hoofed Fae—part man, part stag—who moves through the forest like a living root. A field naturalist would note him by smell, sound and temperature: Smell: a thick, earthen musk of crushed green cane, wet leaves and ironwood sap; Sound: the faint scrape of hooves on leaf litter, a low whistle like wind through bamboo, and the sudden hush of birds; Temperature: the air around him feels warmer and slightly humid, as if sunlight pools where he stands. He smells of the understory and carries the slow patience of old trees.