Wilder giggled along with Blackberry which transformed into a purring laughter when a second banana appeared. She felt better, then, about leaving the goose here. She looked much more animated and alive then she had when Wilder had entered the small cave. It solidified her belief that nobody was below redemption.

She reached forward and rubbed her cheek along Blackberry's neck before turning away and bounding out of the small hole in the cave's entrance. She looked back, wondering if anyone would go into there to explore. If anyone tried to hurt her, Wilder wasn't sure if Blackberry would be able to fight them off. If only she could stay behind and protect her, but no. She didn't know any spell that would allow her to be in two places at once.

The crack between the boulder and the wall, at least, was small enough to go mostly unnoticed. She hoped that nobody else would be bold enough to explore.

*exit

Blackberry watched Wilder leave, a little surprised at the display of affection, and when she was gone, the cave descended back into silence. But it wasn't the same empty silence she had been living in for cycles. The air was alive with energy as hope ran through the goose once again. She happily tore into her bananas, savoring the taste. Since her mutation, she had eaten nothing but meat. Perhaps she should go back to eating grass and fruits and such. They were certainly much tastier and sweeter.

Once she was done, she resettled herself in her makeshift nest, her head faced towards the opening, anxious for Wilder to return, either with Blueberry or with nose. She hoped it would be the former.

*exit