Dec 18 2015, 03:29 AM
She smiled indulgently at her audience, watching all their spellbound expressions and their collective breathlessness, and she was happy her lovely Pounce so liked her little reference to the play fight they had earlier. She would do anything for her cub, anything to see them be happy.
"They continued on, all happily chatting the time away, and this time they hardly noticed the scenery changing back to their green forest. The little one of the light family was happy bantering heroic nonsense at they rode on the bone dragon's back, and the dragon happily obliged them, while the light and earthen families intermingled and spoke about their interests and their histories. They hardly noticed that it was getting late, and the lights along the walls were starting to dim, signaling the end of the day.
Soon they all came to a clearing in the forest, one with a very strange feeling to it. The plants they passed by seemed sapped of life, wilting and grey, which gave them all pause. The dragon stayed particularly silent. Soon they heard a sniffling and crying sound, such a gutless, heart-wrenching sound. They all encountered the creature in particular that was making the sound, this dribbling wet thing that looked like it belonged in a swamp, like it was made of plant matter. It turned its sad eyes to them all, and with a wobbling voice, it said, "Wha-what are you doing here?"
The smallest of the earthen family walked up to the creature, and with their small, polite voice, they said, "Why, the witch summoned us, and we've been sent to collect you."
The creature started to cry anew, its tears like this strange sort of mud. "A -hu-hu-hu," They sobbed, "They don't want to see me! They think I'm worthless, they said as much!"
The dragon, its normally deep and booming voice subdued, said, "That's nonsense. She wants to see you, otherwise we wouldn't be here."
The young one up close to the creature used its lively plant magic to coax a small flower to life, and they plucked it and offered it to them. "Please....cheer up? We want you to come with us."
The creature stared in disbelief at the little one, then took the offered flower with a hesitant smile. It brought the flower to its mouth, and they all watched as the color and the life in it died and faded away, while the wet foliage surrounding the creature looked just a little more bright and lively.
"I suppose I could," They offered quietly."
@Vicktor @Diot @Booker