The sun continued its slow descent, casting long shadows over the winding path as Eleo and Tony walked side by side. The bunny kid, still brimming with energy, skipped along, his large ears flopping with each hop. Tony, on the other hand, moved with a dignified grace, his bony limbs clicking softly with each step.”Hey, Tony,” Eleo began, a hint of hesitation in his voice.Tony glanced down at him. “Come on, kid, spit it out. What do you want?””Can I… uh… can I ride on your head?” Eleo asked, his eyes wide with hope.Tony let out a hearty laugh, the sound echoing through the forest. “Sure, why not? Hop on.”With a delighted squeal, Eleo leaped onto Tony’s shoulders, settling comfortably on the skeleton’s head. He rubbed Tony’s smooth skull, chuckling to himself. “Dang, you have no hair!”Tony laughed again, a dry, rattling sound. “Of course I have no hair, you silly rabbit! I’m a skeleton. Hair’s a luxury I left behind long ago.””Don’t worry,” Eleo said, trying to reassure him. “I don’t have any hair either!”Tony glanced up—or as much as a skeleton could—and responded, “Uh, you do, kid. You’ve got plenty of fur.”Eleo laughed, his giggles ringing through the trees. The pair continued on their way, Eleo riding high on Tony’s shoulders, the bunny kid’s small paws resting comfortably on Tony’s skull.A few minutes passed in comfortable silence before Eleo, ever curious, started up again. “So, Tony, can you, like, poop? Or eat? Or pee? Or drink? Or… kiss?”Tony chuckled, though it came out as more of a raspy clatter. “Lots of questions, aren’t there?” He paused for a moment, as if gathering his thoughts, then began to explain. “Ah, little one,” Tony’s voice was a dry rasp, yet filled with the wisdom of ages. “You see, my kind—skeletons—are quite different from beings like yourself. We don’t need to eat or drink, nor do we experience the urges to relieve ourselves. Our bodies, if you can call them that, are merely bones held together by ancient magic, a relic of the life we once lived. There’s no flesh to nourish, no organs to maintain. We’re sustained by a force beyond physical needs.”He paused again, the faint glow in his eye sockets flickering as if recalling memories from a time long past. “We don’t feel hunger, nor do we thirst. Our existence is simpler, in a way. Without the distractions of bodily needs, we focus on other things—like guarding secrets, upholding ancient pacts, or, in my case, enjoying a good conversation.””As for kissing…” Tony’s grin widened, though it was more a shadow of mirth than anything else. “That’s a bit tricky without lips, wouldn’t you say? But our race finds other ways to express affection, camaraderie, and loyalty. A clasp of bones, a shared tale, or simply standing watch through the night. These things bind us together.”He lowered his voice to a near whisper, “You might think our existence is lonely or cold, but in truth, we cherish the connections we make, even if they’re different from those in the living world. Our bonds are not of the body, but of the spirit, and that… is something far deeper.”Eleo nodded thoughtfully, absorbing Tony’s words. “Yep, that helps a lot. Thanks, Tony.”Tony let out a satisfied clink as he settled back into his stride. “Glad to hear it, Eleo.”As they continued walking, the sun now dipping closer to the horizon, the peaceful silence was suddenly broken by the sound of hurried footsteps. Ahead of them, a young girl, no older than Eleo, came into view. She was running at full speed, her face a mixture of fear and determination. Her dark skin glistened with sweat, and her eyes were wide with urgency as she sprinted down the path.Eleo and Tony froze, watching the girl rush toward them

Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.