“Ah, Micah hopes there is not another bizarre phenomenon this time,” he whined, his tail lowered but still wagging.
Elysha looked down at his small form, leading the way to his destination. “Are there any more like Kitty out there?”
“Hopefully not, or that could be a problem for the balance of our world. In any case, perhaps the Forest Council has already dealt with the latest incident in Zhivopia, and we are about to meet those two girls again at their usual place.”
She blinked an eye. “Who?”
“You remember Anais and Nelvya from yesterday, right? We are on our way to meet them again. I’m certain they’ll remember you too.”
Elysha tilted her head, vaguely recalling seeing a trio of children in the ruins the day before. “Oh, them?”
“That’s right, Micah will take you to see them. Micah knows they are still finishing their movie project, but there is plenty of time to talk and get to know them, and Huilji and the others are there as well.”
“Huilji?”
“Yeah, the red-haired girl with the looped braids, fox-like ears, and orange moth wings. You also met her brother Neliel in the ruins, by the way.”
Elysha nodded her head and took in the surroundings around them as they continued on their way.
“Usually their hangout spot is somewhere between the villages of Illumija and Nartti. The path between those two places is popular and busy with people, as it connects directly to the Iröstosa Trail that comes out of this forest,"” Micah went on. “There are numerous trails in the forest, the one we are currently on is the main trail, but before that we were on the Aurosa Trail—hey, are you even listening to me?”
She turned her head back to see Micah’s disappointed look at her.
Elysha tilted her head and replied, “Um, you were talking about the people you wanted me to meet, right?”
“Not only that, Micah also talked about the paths in this forest. Hm, I should show you the map sometime so you can get familiar with it.” Then, he asked, “By the way, why are you holding that basket? Micah could smell something good in it.”
“This?” She lifted the basket she was holding. “Elder Mera told me to give some cookies away to people I meet.”
His ears pricked up. “Huh? She did? I didn’t even know she had cookies.”
“She also told me that I could make friends by giving them away. I already ate two of them this morning.”
“Well, are they good and delicious cookies?”
“Good, yes,” she nodded. “Delicious too.”
As they continued along the dirt path, Micah asked another question, “What is the homework Elder Merakia gave you? Micah knew it had to do with socializing, but what exactly?”
“Hm, I didn’t check, but it’s in my backpack.”
“Can I see it?” Then he turned and looked up the trail. “Oh! There’s a bench at the carriage stop just ahead. Put your bag down and let me have a look.”
The pair reached the small wooden bench, its surface weathered but sturdy. Elysha set down the basket of cookies before taking off her backpack and placing it on the bench. She opened it and handed Micah her homework.
His eyes read the lines and he said, “Hm, so your homework is basically to write about your experiences with meeting new people and what you’ve learned from them.” Then he looked in her backpack. “And using that notebook of yours like a diary to write in.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes so, talk about an easy assignment. Micah can do it in less than five minutes.”
“Do you get homeworks too?”
“Well, only when Micah goes back to school again, yeah.”
After zipping up her backpack, the two of them continued walking along the trail until they got closer to the destination Micah had led her to. “We are getting close to their hangout spot!” he called out.
Elysha’s anticipation grew, but for some reason she felt a wave of nervousness wash over her. Her fingers clenched over her arm and she bit her lips; she knew and had been told that she had met them before, but still the wave wouldn’t go away.
As they were about to arrive, a rush of shadow quickly approached them.
“—!”
Micah jumped out of the way, but Elysha froze in her tracks as the shadow spur lunged at her.
“Ah—!”
She collapsed to the ground, her eyes revealing the shadow to be a wolf-like creature, one that quickly reminded her of a memory from yesterday.
Micah’s eyes widened and he reacted, “Sorcha? What are you doing here?”
“Sorcha could sense that you two were coming from nearby,” she said, before transforming back into human form. Her appearance consisted of a pink overall dress with puffed sleeves and a blouse, along with two pink hair bows. “Also, Ana said not to interrupt while she’s still filming,” she added.
“What? They are still not done yet?”
“Mm-hm, and that’s another reason why Sorcha gave you a surprise greeting!”
Then she turned her eyes back to the girl, who was getting up from the ground herself. She slowly got to her feet, shaking slightly, and said, “Y-You scared me.”
Sorcha’s playful grin faltered. “Oh no! Sorcha didn’t mean to scare you,” she said, clasping her hands together and bowing slightly. “I’m sorry, um, Elysha, is that your name again? Please don’t be mad at me!”
“It’s okay, I am not mad at you,” she said, shaking her head.
“Geez, and Micah thought a horse was going to run us over,” he sighed, brushing dirt from his tail.
“I didn’t mean that,” Sorcha countered, then looked down and said, “Oh! Does Sorcha smell cookies in that basket?”
“They are cookies,” Elysha said, nodding her head again and holding out the basket for her to see.
“Can Sorcha have one?”
She pulled out a bag and handed it to her, much to Sorcha’s delight as she took it before giving her a hug. “Thank you! You are the best!”
“Hey! Where am I in that scale?” Micah asked.
Ignoring him, Sorcha looked around before saying, “And guess who’s also here with me! It’s Billi!”
Their eyes turned to the white rat who walked up to them and stopped. His red beady eyes and pink ears looked back before hiding behind Sorcha.
“Wow, you even brought your pet too with you?”
“Billi is not a pet, he is my friend!” she retorted, pointing her finger at him. “Call Billi my pet again and Sorcha will make you my pet too!”
“Sheesh, Micah was just joking,” he sighed and looked in the direction where the movie project was being filmed. “So what do we do now? I still suggest we go over and let them know that we are here.”
“Nope, can’t do,” she shook her head. “Ana told me that she will call out to us when they are all done.”
“What? Then what?”
Her eyes turned to Elysha, then, with a bright light bulb in her head, she took Billi into her arms and ran off, calling out, “Follow me! Sorcha has a place for you to see!”
~ ❈❇❈ ~
The two followed Sorcha as she led them to an unknown location, which piqued Micah’s curiosity as he asked, “Hey, where are you taking us?”
“You’ll find out soon enough! It’s very close from here!”
They continued on until the trees parted to reveal a sunlit clearing. Sorcha finally stopped, and Elysha’s took in the scene as yellow and red flowers dotted the area, and in the center stood a large fallen trunk, its surface mossy and weathered by time.
“Where are we? And what is that?”
“It’s a tree log—and a special one at that!” Sorcha replied, running ahead to set her rat on it before climbing up and sitting on it, tapping it with her bare palm as a gesture. “You two! Come sit down next to me!”
Micah leapt onto the log with ease. “Woo—!”
He settled down, and curled his tail around his paws.
Elysha went over and took attempts on climbing up. “You got this!” Sorcha said, encouraging her.
She grabbed the edges of the mossy log and pulled herself up with a soft grunt. Sorcha reached out for her hand and helped her to sit down beside her.
“See? Sorcha knew you could do it!” she said with a big smile.
“Th-Thank you,” Elysha nodded back, running her fingers over the bark as she looked out over the grounds: the sunlight shining through the trees and over the field of flowers around them. Then she turned to see Sorcha take the cookie from the bag and shove it into her mouth with a bite.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
“Mm! Yummy!” she smiled happily, swinging her legs back and forth. “Thanks for the cookie, Elysha.”
As she took the last bite, Sorcha sucked the chocolate from her fingertips and wiped it on Micah’s fur.
He froze in mid-yawn, his ears twitching as he stared at the sight of chocolate smeared on his fur. “Hey! What are you doing? Micah is not a napkin!”
“I can’t wipe them against my cute clothes, or else they will get dirty.”
“So a tree log isn’t dirty for you?”
Sorcha turned around and asked, “Hey Elysha, would you like to know why I picked this place for us to visit?”
“No,” she shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“You see, my momma used to spend time here with her best friend when they were younger. They used to sing and play instruments and have a lot of fun.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes so! For momma, this place was a treasured memory for her.”
Then another light bulb flashed in her head and said, “Oh! Momma is in my village today, so you and Micah can come visit and meet her!”
“I’ve never seen your village before. That’s where your home is, right?”
“It is! And you can also meet my daddy and all of my brothers and my sister, too!” Sorcha swung her legs restlessly, barely able to contain her enthusiasm. “And you can get to see my room and all of my cute clothes and toys!”
Suddenly her ears pricked up and Sorcha jerked her head in a certain direction. “Oh! Ana and the others are done now, we can go meet them all together.”
Then she jumped down from the log and stretched her limbs, Billi following after. “Come on, let’s go and see them!”
Micah leapt to the ground while Elysha slid down the log with her basket in hand. They followed Sorcha to where everyone else was, down the trail to another clearing that was a hive of activity.
Voices and laughter reached their ears, and when they arrived, they saw a small group of children gathered near a makeshift stage made of wooden planks and other objects. It took them a moment to realize their presence.
“Oh! You are here!” Ana spoke first and ran over to them. “Sorry that we took a little longer than expected, but we are all finally done now!”
“Micah has returned, just as he promised,” he said with a nod of his head. “And I brought Elysha with me.”
She froze shyly as the rest of the group approached, before Sorcha spoke up to ask, “Wait, have you all met Elysha yet?”
They exchanged glances and Neliel replied, “I remember that Nevi, Ana and I met her yesterday in the ruins.”
“Oh, you did? Sorcha didn’t know that.”
“You also knew her too, didn’t you?”
“Sorcha also met her only yesterday, but not at the ruins.”
As they chatted, Elysha turned to see a girl with aubergine hair standing nearby. She recognized her face at the same time the girl noticed her gaze. “Anjel?”
She smiled and replied, “Hehe, you remembered my name, even though it only has been less than a day.”
“I didn’t know that you would be here too.”
“Well, Ana invited me to be part of the movie project she is making, even though I am only a side character. Ah, have you met Mariju?”
“Mari-who?”
“That’s me, I’m right here.”
Elysha turned her attention to Mariju as she came into view. She had a friendly, yet dazed and distant expression on her face, as if she had just woken up.
“Mariju is my friend,” Anjel said. “My best friend other than Sorcha, but I am good friends with everyone else here too!”
‘Her hair looks like tree leaves…’ Elysha thought as she looked at her long, bushy green hair, though her yellow-green eyes complemented her appearance.
Mariju waved her hand and said, “Hello, my friend told me about you.” Then she pointed a finger at her chin and asked, “I hear you are Elder Merakia’s pupil, are you?”
Elysha nodded her head, “I am, yes, I think. What about you?”
Mariju blinked her eyes. “Wow, that’s interesting. And as for me? Well um… I used to think about becoming a mage’s pupil, but I don’t think I could keep up with the amount of knowledge and spells I’d probably have to learn.”
“Hey you three! Come over here!”
A voice called out and the three turned to see Ana waving at them. As they approached, a different voice responded to another conversation. “Is that what Sorcha heard? So they HAVEN’T found the demon monster yet?”
“This is what I have learned so far,” Neliel said. “The investigation team is still trying to access the situation, including the damage and the accounts of the witnesses who saw the phenomenal creature. However, sadly, they’re struggling to find any clues or leads as to where the creature went.”
“Really? But how can I get closure about what almost happened to my Billi? Not only that, but I was almost turned into a pancake!”
“I understand how your anger, Sorcha. Zhivopia is where Huilji and I lived. What happened to our home cannot be forgotten.”
Sorcha clenched her hands and teeth and said, “If they can’t find that demon monster, then…”
“By the way, where is your sister?” Nevi asked.
“She went to find a restroom.”
When Elysha, Anjel, and Mariju joined the group, Ana asked, “What were you three talking about?”
“We were just getting to know each other,” Anjel replied.
“Oh, well, that’s good!” she smiled. “Now that the filming is finally done, we just need to make sure that the post-production process is done and ready before the festival.”
“You are very efficient and hardworking, Ana.”
“Haha, ah, that’s just because I just want to get these creative projects done and out of the way once and for all,” she sighed. “Thinking about it makes me want to melt into a pancake…”
“Hey! If you want to get turned into a pancake, you better help Sorcha find that demon monster!”
Ana flinched. “What—you listened to what I said?”
Neliel took a step forward and asked, “Ana, there should still be plenty of time for what we have left on this project until the festival, right?
“Um, absolutely, including all-nighters and sugary drinks, haha!”
Nevi shook her head in disapproval. “That sounds unhealthy.”
“Anyway,” Ana turned her attention back to Micah. “What was it again that made you bring that girl along?”
“She has homework to do that involves socializing and meeting other people,” he replied. “In short, her homework is literally about making friends.”
“Wait, you mean a homework assigned by the Elder Merakia?”
“Yep, that’s right!”
Ana spat out laughing, “Haha, meanwhile we are all on spring break right now.”
Elysha tilted her head at an unfamiliar term. “Spring break?”
“Yeah, every kid in this forest is on spring break right now—except for a few unlucky ones like you. Which means no homework for us.” Then a new question popped into her head and she asked, “Oh, by the way, how old are you?”
“How old am I?”
“Yeah, do you not know your age or what?”
Elysha took this into her mind, trying to get an answer, but nothing came out. She shook her head and replied, “I don’t know.”
Ana raised her eyebrows. “What? How can you not know your age?”
“Sorcha thinks she’s younger than me.”
“She kind of looks like she’s seven or six years old,” Nevi suggested.
“That’s younger than Sorcha!”
“Um…” Elysha touched her fingers nervously and stepped back.
Micah stepped in and said, “Uhh, Elysha is a kunau,”
They turned their attention to him. “She’s a what?”
“A kunau!” he repeated. “She’s a kuniju-naufenüvji.”
“Oh! I get it! I know what you mean now!” Ana said.
“I remember you telling us that back at the ruins from yesterday,” Nevi added.
“Yeah! That’s what I meant!” Ana chimed in. “Remember the whole thing with Kytela.”
As they talked, Anjel turned and asked, “How old are you again, Sorcha?”
“Sorcha is eight years old.”
“Oh, I see. I will be turning eleven soon, hehe.”
“Does that mean you will join the older kids club with Ana and the others? Don’t leave Sorcha and Neria out like that!”
“Hm, no, I won’t leave you all because of a number, hehe.”
“Hey! I’m back!”
A voice shouted from the other side of the clearing. They turned to see Huilji emerging from the trees.
“You were quick,” Neliel said.
“I had to run fast because the nearest toilet was in the Nartti village. A girl has to pee, okay?”
“Why don’t you pee in the bushes?” Micah asked.
“What? I am not feral unlike you!” Then, taking in the view, she spoke, “Oh? Is that Elysha I see?”
Elysha saw Huilji approaching. Her red braided hair bounced slightly as she walked, and her bright orange eyes sparkled.
“Uh… hi,” she said softly, clutching her basket closer.
“Hiii,” Huilji greeted, albeit tiredly. “How are you today?”
“I’m good,” she nodded nervously. “How about you?”
“I feel great now that my bladder has emptied itself,” Then, Huilji nose sniffed and her fox-like ears perked up, saying, “Oh? Do I smell something?”
She turned her eyes to the basket in her hand. Elysha noticed and held it in front of her. “These are cookies, do you want some?”
Huilji’s eyes sparkled as she clasped her hands together. “Cookies? Oh, you’re already my favorite person!”
Elysha pulled a cookie bag out of the basket and handed it to her. Seconds later, other children joined in, wanting cookies as well.
“Cookies? Did someone say cookies?” Ana asked, already reaching out.
“Hey! Don’t take them all!” Sorcha complained. “They’re Elysha’s cookies, and she’s being nice enough to share!”
“It’s okay. There’s enough for everyone,” said Elysha, who had already counted the cookie bags.
“Yay!”
Everyone took a bag and ate them together. Micah sighed with a flick of his tail, “Well, looks like you’re the most popular person around here now.”
Elysha noticed that the basket was already empty. ‘Someone took multiples,’ she thought to herself.
“Mmm! These are good!” Huilji reacted, munching on her cookie. “Did you make them yourself?”
“No, I think Elder Mera made them. She said I should share them with people I meet.”
“Well, talk about a smart idea,” Ana said. “Food is the fastest way to connect with people. Everyone loves a good cookie.”
She turned around and asked, “Hey Nevi, you told me once that you wanted to open a bakery, right?”
“Well, yes, but it’s only an idea.”
“Be more determined about it, possibilities are only possibilities if you don’t have enough drive to make it happen.”
“Hey! We should play a game!”
They all turned to Micah, who had a puckish grin on his face.
Neliel blinked his eyes. “Game?”
“Yeah! I can be the host and turn our surroundings into a theater for a storytelling adventure!”
“Oh no, not this again. This will take a long time,” Nevi said with a hand on her face.
Huilji pointed a finger at him and shouted, “Hey! Last time, I died an unnecessary and embarrassing death! I was laughed at and mocked by you and your other friends!”
“You died by the Lord of Probability, not by Micah, do you hear me? I was just describing the scenario.”
Her face flushed, as if a flashback had slapped her face. “You… You even wheezed at me!”
“Wait, didn’t I learn from yesterday that you took Elysha on a trial?” Ana spoke up. “Wasn’t that something only the deity Iröstos could do?”
“Oh come on! What else can I do to satisfy Elder Merakia’s request from me?”
“Sorcha has an idea!”
Everyone turned to her as she stood resolutely in front of them and declared, “We can all go and visit my home together! Elysha has never seen Nartti Village, has she? Let’s give her a tour!”
“That sounds like a good idea,” Anjel nodded.
“I preferred sightseeing to mind-boggling activities, so I will take her hand in this,” Mariju commented.
“Hmm, well, Sorcha’s idea isn’t bad, but how about we make this all fair and square?” Micah said. “Let’s vote on what to do next!”
The group exchanged glances and Ana raised her hand, “I agree with that! A vote sounds fun.”
“Alright, but we each get one vote,” Neliel added.
Everyone walked up and held a small stone in their hand. They cast their votes in front of either Sorcha or Micah. Elysha was the last to vote.
After throwing her stone into the winning pile. Sorcha threw her arms up in the air. “Victory!”
Then she turned to the losing competitor and stuck out her tongue. “Hah! Sorcha beats you, Micah! You only got one vote, and that was from yourself!”
He narrowed his eyes and groaned at Sorcha, his tail flicking in mock annoyance as he flopped onto his back with a dramatic sigh. “Ugh, whatever. You won this time around.”
She grinned triumphantly before turning around. “Come on, everyone! Let’s go to my village!”