The bulky and smooth giant mushrooms caught us underneath this pit.
Dandeline is sitting on my lap while my arms are still locking her waist, and there is Acro flying above us. I can smell her hair directly and smile inevitably. But this isn't a marvelous day to flirt!
"I knew it. There are set traps here."
"You figured? Why didn't you tell me?" she complained in my ears.
"You see, I found a hook on the trees the second you fell. I have no chance to tell you."
"I should've known."
"And watch your steps next time. The sag is obvious actually."
"I don't mind. You're the watchman anyway. Good wolf~" Then she pats my head.
She's having fun sitting on my lap even if we have the fullest capacity to get away from this trap now. When I heard crackling on the wall beside me, my senses automatically pulled Dandeline's head to cover her from showering us with needles! Every hole in the wall launches needles against us. My eyes are wincing for the upcoming body pain then will arise from the pit as the soon-to-be were-hedgehog.
"Don't worry, Dan. You're safe with me!"
"No, you're safe with me." I opened my eyes promptly only to figure out that Dandeline created a dome around us. She unknots my arms on her head, then orders, "Let's just get out of here."
"Right away." I grasp her again on her waist then hang her on my right shoulder to leap on the walls. She's destroying my hearing with her complaints. I got it on the safe ground but she's been drumming my back.
"How many times do I have to tell you to not lift me like this!?"
"But I have to watch my steps! If I lift you the way you want, you'll block my view."
"Whatever, just put me down."
"I'm explaining."
"Hess—!"
I cup my arm to her thighs and the other to her waist to change the way I carry her to the way she wants. "I'm supposed to lift you like this if you're my only view," I said, looking directly into her eyes. Wherein I see the very details of her tawny eyes with my reflection. She's turning back the stare into my eyes without saying anything. I made a teasing chuckle. "You can't keep your eyes off me, right?"
"And you love carrying me, don't you?"
I put her down without playing around the bush of teasing. Matheo isn't around. He must be baited like us. I heard Acro's hoot then she flew toward the north. I follow that common communication that'll surely lead us to Matheo's whereabouts. When I can finally hear his voice, I run quickly with no hesitation to rescue him. The worrisome feeling intensifies as we approach closer! We found him lying down on the dried glass in a small pit together with countless unfamiliar tiny creatures, playing with them.
The noise he's been making comes from the laughter after all. These creatures are supple to him; they are like dwarfs with an image of a wolf pup, they have furs, tails, tall ears, and stance like humans, their two paws do look like paws but move like humans, and they have needles in their tiny sheath around their loins. They're making noise too and it sounds like a puppy in a high-pitch tone.
"This is so unfair..." I murmured for we're treated like criminals whereas Matheo is being treated as a master—without minding to look after us!
"Aww! They're adorable!" When the creatures heard Dandeline say that, they all gnash their teeth violently and form their needles into their clenches. But Dandeline is still mesmerized by them. So, on behalf of her, I gnash my teeth, exposing my fangs, then they were frightened.
"It's alright! They are my friends," Matheo finally gave us an introduction. "We're taking this passage to enter the forest of the Moon's Order pack soon." Then Matheo talks to us. "By the way, these creatures are called Pishney or Pishnies. They're created also by the ancient Eldar referenced after the image of wolves. They are the inhabitants of this forest!"
Dandeline bents down on her knees to caress the pishnies like how she does with her dogs. Then the pishnies play with her, too. Some of them gave her a glowing rose and flower crown on her head. "Flowers? Really?" I mutter to myself.
These creatures are surprisingly more friendly than every human race. One of the pishnies pulls my pants lightly enough for me to notice them. And they gave me a rose, too. Pishnies are coming before me with their flower crown and put one on my head, hang on my neck, and shoulder. "Okay. Thank you. But that's too much—" Still, these guys are trying to make me a walking bouquet! I shift into a wolf to run away from them but they're all chasing me.
Their level of attachment for me is the greatest.
I turn around while still escaping from them, and when I'm getting closer to Dandeline I shift into a pup and leap in her open arms. Acro is resting on her shoulder as well. When the surge of the pishnies approaches, she enchants a warm magic circle around her feet that gravitates the pishnies away. "They like you so much! Maybe they know you," Dandeline assumed, and that gave a hint.
"We can't ignore that probability," Matheo agreed. "Also, they said they captured my son and he's under their interrogation. Let's follow them to their place."
"And how did you know what they're saying?"
"Hm, I communicated with them more often."
"I see. Just like me and my dogs."
["What an instinct,"] I said telepathically.
The pishnies lead the way to their place. And as we get closer, the forest gets brighter and brighter. The things we assumed to see were greater than our expectations when we got there! Bigger trees are aligned, treehouses are built there, flowers are all around, and everything is glowing! As our group crosses the road paved with different paint, our eyes are more pleased than ever.
In front of a stumpy tree with a cave-like doorway is where the pishnies brought us. Inside the darkroom is where Zaeramil is tied down on his arms and legs. "Father!" The pishnies guarding were told to untie him then Matheo helped him up.
"We've been looking around for you!"
"What's going on? Why are there tiny Lycans here?"
Dandeline addresses the answer to him willfully brought by her affection with the pishnies. And Zaeramil is frowning from the way she tells the story. Probably because of the unwelcoming trait of these creatures for new faces. The next place we're headed to is the treehouse. They use spiral staircases attached to the giant trees. Other pishnies use swing elevation to go up faster. And our weight might break the cord which makes stairs the safest way to avoid damage to their property. And I don't mind the effort since I'm in Dandeline's arms—which made me think twice.
I hop out in front of her, then shift to a big wolf. ["Hop on me!"] She clings on my furs instead to support her weary knees then the rest of them emulate her, the only one who hopped on me is the tour-guide pishney.
"Good wolf," Dandeline said.
There are bridges connected to each tree. Terraces outside each treehouse. Thick woods underpinned the treehouses. Everything is made in woods. And because of the wind, it's a perfect place for relaxation. The pishney lends us a vacant treehouse. They came inside except me and Dandeline, I was waiting for her to come first but she's enjoying the view on the terrace. The doorway is designed for pishnies that make it necessary for me to stoop down before entering. And I bumped my head on top of the doorway because of an extension. Being tall has disadvantages, too.
The ceiling is within my reach. The house is as small as a single room and the cot is rolled on the floor, the source of light is coming from the glowing flowers in the vase displayed on the top corners of the room. It's a perfect place only for sleeping. "How cute! This is our room?" Dandeline is coming in and I instinctively cover the extending with my hand before her head bumps there as well.
"Cute, right?" I added to her comment.
"They allow us to rest here for a while as they prepare to travel with us to the forest of the Moon's Order pack," Matheo translated what the pishney was saying. Then the pishney approaches Dandeline, holds her hand, then takes her outside. She came along with the pishney like her child. Matheo said that her room is separated from ours. I lie down on the cot with my hands under my head. My feet exceed the limit of the mat and that sucks. This is better than grass. "How do you like it? I have a lot of memories with Lanasia in this place."
"Why didn't you tell me everything about this, father?" There are feelings of betrayal and deception in his voice.
"... It's my own way of protecting you."
"With lying?"
"Let's talk about it outside."
"Uhm, you two stay here," I suggested. "I'll go outside." I left the room silently. Zaeramil is such a fan of tension. Perhaps he's at the stage of puberty.
I sought out Dandeline's room and Acro directed me the way. Dandeline's room is on the next tree. It slightly frightens me to cross the narrow bridge then I thought of shifting into a pup before I cross there. The treehouse is higher and bigger than ours. I knocked on the door.
"Who is it?"
"It's me."
The door opens on its own. The room is wider for a single occupant; there's a spiral stair to the rooftop, and the source of lights is the same as the previous room but more. Other than this cute living room with a round table, there's an extended space for the bedroom. "This is so unfair," I murmured. Dandeline squints at the doorway telling me to come there. Other than her, there are few—I think a female—pishnies in this room checking the dresses in the wardrobe with her. Acro plays along with the little creatures.
She picks a pink half cloak, then tries it on me while attaching the brooch. "Don't tell me that's the substitute for the burnt coat."
"It looks cute on you! But of course not. Maybe a bonnet can replace that."
"No."
"Oh, I'll show you something~" She pulls me on the wrist going up to the rooftop. And I never thought it's a jaw-dropping place. The space is surrounded by glowing leaves of the tree, the floor is smooth and clear as glass, there are no fences by the edge, and the lights coming from beneath are like tiny glitters because of the height. I peek beneath this tree and the view makes me feel giddy.
"Dan, it's so wonderful!" I squeal in excitement! I sat on the end of this rooftop and hung my feet in the air. The sky is empty and dark but the lights beneath are countless. We can watch the playing pishnies right here. They're as cheerful as innocent children. Dandeline took the space on my right side to sit down, hanging down her feet as well.
"It's wonderful indeed," she said. "It's fascinating that an Eldar can create their own world. I never regret joining this expedition~"
"Have you thought about becoming an Eldar?"
"Yes. But it didn't become my goal. It's enough for me to be a Moon Priestess as my livelihood, live peacefully with my dogs on an isolated island, and nothing more."
"You know, the moment I stepped into this place, I felt the tender embrace of the site. It's like an acquaintance waiting and rejoicing for my return. And that feels home."
"You did? Then you might be related to the Eldar who made this! In my opinion, this isn't your home yet. Your real home is where this path leads you. And we're almost there."
"And my mate is there?"
"Mhm, probably."
I stare at her for a silent moment. "... I would not be where I am right now if I never met you."
"Sure. You're welcome." She flips her hair.
"But why is this place necessary? I've been thinking about that. Why was I hidden? separated? Why is this place a secret?"
"We'll figure it out by the end of the road."
I thought right that this is a perfect place to converse with her. I find it romantic even without confetti. I hope this isn't a strong infatuation. Or maybe I'm hoping for the wrong thing.