The candles glistened and crackled flame within the home all the same. Despite the fight outside, the home remained nearly silent with only snoring and sleeping snort’s heard about. Lian was very careful when he stepped inside the home, quietly shutting the glass door behind him while grabbing his belongings. He was in fact so careful not to make noise, he nearly had forgotten what just transpired as the home's walls remained so brittle to noise that any sound that even remotely resembled a mouse's was loud enough to crack an eyelid wide open. It was here that Lian chose to take a moment to study the houses general layout, more-so than he had during his previous dinner experience, making sure that the exit he had chose before was indeed the right or only one. The house had a broad cross shape, with various small rooms sprouting from corners. Wide corners and long corridors made it easy for Lian to locate different key areas of the house such as the balcony, kitchen, and what he thought could be an exit. Lucky for him, this exit was only a couple of strides from the balcony, in his mind… a couple of steps away from the beginning of something much larger.

"Guess it's time to go. I’m sorry Taylum. This house was very kind to me, and you didn’t deserve that but...this comes first." thought Lian to himself as he attempted to pick up the baby in one arm and the fox in another.

The fox was a little too lively at first but after a bathroom break in his crate and a bit of petting, the fox was yet again asleep and ready to be held. The baby had allegedly been at the care of Nessiah, whom she claimed to have tired out and changed while I was asleep. Luckily, it too was sound asleep, even after lifting it. Lian found it strange that he had awoken the child yet, however considering the circumstance, he stood gratefully.

Lian took a few steps towards the exit and scanned the home behind him, hoping he had not awoken anyone with the foxes’ racket. He approached ever closer to the intricately designed exit and marveled at the many the design and locks it had. The door itself was adorned with a forest theme. It had winding vines, strange fruits, and odd looking trees; something of an arboreal fantasy, something Lian would think too beautiful to be true. At the center of the door was an etching of a strange animal. The creature bulging eyes resembled that of a frog, yet it’s shape bowed like that of monkey.

“ Does this thing exist? Do I even want to open this door? I don’t have time for this...” Lian thought to himself as he stared helplessly at the door’s bulging eyes.

“Damn it! In all the chaos, I forgot to ask Taylum about these weird locks!” Thought Lian, reaching his hands towards the locks.

The door was quite a bit larger than Lian and the locks were just the same. The locks themselves rivaled the design of the wooden door but unlike the door, the locks were etched into a fruit design blending well into the engraving of the door. The lock holes were unlike anything Lian had seen, instead of the traditional hourglass-like shape, he was met w/ a strange triangle design. The design itself was simple, but the hole within was deep and winding, even echoing a small wind.

"Hey!" Whispered a sleepy voice

“Taylum!?” Thought Lian to himself

“Where’s Taylum?” whispered the voice.

Lian turned around to see a little girl. It was one of the children. At this moment Lian felt a moment of relief as Taylum had not awoken yet the child’s unknown intent kept him alert. It was too dark to see at first but Lian recognized the voice as it slowly crept into the candles light.

“Lenelia?” Asked Lian.

“I hope your not trying to open that door.” She laughed, her eyes reflecting light like that of an animal.

“That was the plan.” Replied Lian, gesturing Lenelia to shush.

“Where is Taylum? He was also part of this plan?” She asked suspiciously.

“What plan?” Asked Lian

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

“He was going to let you go. He knew you were going to go because...and I quote “he had those crazy eyes ya know”, so he had get this old bag Lenelia used to carry us in.” She explained.

Lian could only stare at her in awe, thinking of what he had done and why Taylum had provoked him the way he did.

“A test?” Lian thought to himself.

“You just going to stare me or are you going to tell me where Taylum is? Because he is not in his room or passed out by the fridge.” Said Lenelia, progressively louder.

“Shhh…! Alright! Alright!” Said Lian in a panic.

“He is...outside, sleeping on the porch. He didn’t have the energy to make it back and just set up shop outside.” Said Lian hesitantly.

“Really?” Asked Lenelia suspiciously.

“Really.” Lian smiled.

Lenelia widely smiled at Lian, slowly exposing a set of canine teeth in her mouth. Her mouth grew wider and wider as she inched closer towards Lian and into the candles light. Lian backed up in response and found himself uncomfortably against the wall.

“She has teeth!? And her eyes!?” Lian thought to himself as his eyes widened to that of Lenelia’s.

“You forgot this. Taylum told me to give it to you in the event that he’d sleep through this.” She smiled and laughed.

“I knew you’d be scared!” She snickered between the cracks in her fingers.

Lian nodded his head in both confusion and relief. It took everything he had to contain his utter bewilderment.

“You got me. If it looks like I’m scared, it’s because I am.” Lian awkwardly laughed.

“Look, I don’t know where you come from but if you head out there you’ll see much more of this.” She explained.

“What is…this?” Lian tried asking while reaching towards her grinning teeth.

“Nessiah said it’s because I was sick, and the doggies saved me.” She explained.

“Something gave you those teeth?” He asked.

“No. There mine.” She smiled and laugh.

“Right…” Smiled Lian.

Lian was now more confused than ever, however, he knew he was on borrowed time and chose to take this as a warning of what he may indeed encounter.

“You’ll need this. It’s a special bag made to carry babies on your back. This one carries two but you can modify it to carry larger or smaller things by pulling ropes on each side.” Lenelia proudly explained.

“Nessiah wasn’t kidding, you sure are smart.” Smiled Lian.

The bag was similar in appearance to that of a potato sack. It appeared raggedy yet it’s interior pulley system really allowed a surprising amount of flexibility for its passengers. Merely touching the soft and fluffy interior of the bag was a pleasure as it provided a sensation of embrace, like a baby sleeping bag.

“Like this?” Asked Lian, attempting to put the bag on his back.

“Uh-huh.” She nodded.

Lian couldn't help but stare at the baby carrier for a moment, regretful of what he had to do, regretful of the disrespect he provided despite the warm hospitality.

“Hey Lenelia, when Taylum wakes up...tell him I’m thankful for everything and for the kindness of everyone here.” Said Lian.

“Acourse!” She smiled clutching onto her beloved stuff animal. What it was, even Lian couldn’t tell.

“You can’t escape you know.” Said Lenilia ominously while she sank into the darkness.

“What…?” Said Lian with audible shivers.

“Without this.” She laughed again and popped right in front of Lian gleefully. Lenelia extended her arm enthusiastically revealing a neatly packed box wrapped in string.

“The key?” He asked.”

“No you dumbo. That’s baby food Nessiah had left over from us. It’s still good she said.” Continued Lenelia mockingly

“I’m just going to put this in one of the pockets of the bag.” Said Lenelia.

“Thank you. But how am I supposed to open the door?” Asked Lian.

“With your hand! Like this.” Laughed Lenelia.

“The door was never locked.” Thought Lian to himself.

“What the point of this door if it’s not locked.” Asked Lian.

“During the festival, no door is locked.” She said creepily.

“Why?” Asked Lian curiously.

“Granas.” She spoke ominously, extending her frog-like stuffed animal into the light.

Lian could only nod his head at the prospect of another giant creature, let alone one as mutated as the one on the door. If children could have a set of teeth straight from the mouth of a beast, what else can the world of New Dwarden offer Lian?

After a couple of waves from Lenelia, Lian gathered the sleeping baby and fox and went on his way. Each step closer to the peeping light under the wooden door. The closer Lian got to the exit, the harder it was to lift his dragging nervousness. A desperate drive shoved Lian forward, he could only muster a shaky thumbs up to the girl while walking into the shadows beyond the exit. Lian knew it was a relatively cowardly response, especially to such an understanding girl, but as his ambition rose to the surface so did uncertainty. The least Lian could do for the family was to pretend to be confident as the shadow of the door closed behind him.