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."

"This is how I speak."

The story was invigorating! Diot connected so much with the two families, it helped that the resemblances were rather uncanny to that of the two familes who sat there listening to this tale. But when they came across that new creature, the one who wailed and who's voice wavered. Diot nearly cried! The poor thing!

It wasn't until the younger of the earth family offered up a small flower to them that Diot regained his wide smile. Wet eyes practically vibrating as he was on the verge of tears. Happy tears, but tears none the less. Hunkering down Diot made themselves even more comfortable upon the young jaguar. Snuggling his father close as the tale continued.


"Speech"

It went without saying that Pounce's favorite story teller was his one and only ethereal doe! To see how others reacted along to her tales, well it made him so happy! The 'small' cub vibrated along, his purr building deep inside as he listened patiently. He was so into the story, though he could be caught occasionally looking over to Booker and Diot. His eyes lighting up while he watched Diot's expressions change accordingly. To just see how much someone enjoyed and cared for her story's. To see them on the verge of happy tears because the resemblance may have hit so close to home!

He just couldn't wait for what plot twist she had in store next!

"Speech"

"Thought"

@Booker
@Belladonna

It's attention wavered between Clover and Diot, watching with glee as his son seemed to be getting more and more into the tale, eyes brightening when he himself was the one who convinced the crying creature to calm down. The numbat himself cared more about the kid's enjoyment that his own, considering he was still twitching just a bit whenever the dragon was mentioned, but even he could admit to being sucked into the story the longer it went on. He blinked in a sort of embarrassed confusion at his own inclusion, burrowing closer to Diot as if he could hide away - after all, It wasn't exactly used to attention, considering he'd been behind the scenes for so long. A wide brown eye fixed back on Clover, and It relaxed a little more, smiling along with the tale.

@Belladonna @Diot @Vicktor