Witches and kisses

The footsteps of the hunters seemed to fade away. They were running away from the library. Fools! Grizelda giggled as she floated to the second floor, in the form of a book. She bumped into the railing before landing to the cold stone floor. She kept cackling to herself as she slowly crawled further away.

"Grizelda?" she heard a familiar voice somewhere above. It was a playful yet shrill voice, one that would make the hunters curse under their breath.

It's hard to look up when you're a book, but Grizelda tried her best. She didn't see anything out of the ordinary. Hunters would not have noticed a difference, but she did. As she looked at a teddy bear sitting on a loveseat, she knew who it was.

"Fungilda?" Grizelda asked.

The teddy bear transformed. It popped a bit, and in its place was a small moss-green witch with black hair and freckles. She was wearing a purple gown and had her broom in her hands. Fungilda giggled, the same shrill yet playful giggle that drove the hunters wild.

The book floated next to Fungilda and transformed into Grizelda. She was a witch just as tiny as Fungilda, but her skin was light blue, like moonlight, and she had red hair on a bun. She had a black gown and a black hat to match it.

"Have the hunters bothered you today?" Grizelda asked.

"A bit. Like always," Fungilda answered. "They usually fall for a decoy and start chasing it and give up on me. But I saw them catch Willow today."

Grizelda gasped. "Willow? What happened to Willow?"

"Well, they captured them at the labyrinth," Fungilda told. "But you know Willow. They will pop up somewhere else sooner or later."

"That is very true," Grizelda said. She moved her little legs a bit and sighed. "Being transformed all day long is pretty damn tiring, you know?"

"That's why I choose the teddy bear," Fungilda said. "It has limbs. I can walk if I need to."

"Aren't you usually a fungus?"

"In a forest, maybe. But if I am a mushroom in the library, someone is going to notice."

"Good point."

Fungilda looked at Grizelda for a moment. Grizelda couldn't help but notice it, but she tried to look at her feet. She was ready to complain about them once more, say how she felt like her shoes were not meant for all this running and hiding, but before she could, Fungilda said: "Let's go to the roof."

"Sure," Grizelda said surprised. "Why."

"It's fun to look at the hunters bumbling about from there," Fungilda giggled.

Fungilda jumped off from the couch and ran to the window. Grizelda followed. They climbed out of one and ran to the roof. They sat down at the edge and looked out to the labyrinth next to the library. Fungilda giggled and pointed at the labyrinth.

"See?" she said.

Grizelda squinted. She spotted a purple-skinned witch running away from hunters. They turned into a flowerpot, flowers the same colour as their bright red dress. The hunters passed the witch, looking for them but unable to realize they were the flowerpot.

Fungilda giggled again. "See? See?" she said and pointed again. "I told you Willow would be fine."

"And you were right," Grizelda said. "Let's just hope the hunters won't notice us next."

"You worry too much," Fungilda said and shook her head. "Can't you just enjoy the moment? Look at the sunset! It's a beautiful night! The hunters will go to bed soon, and then we can do whatever we want!"

Grizelda looked at the yard. It sure was beautiful. The sunset made everything warm and golden. The hunters and their ugly faces had gone behind the library. Everything moved gently in the light wind, except for the flowerpot, which was Willow. That pot was moving very fast towards the trampoline. Everything was wonderfully serene. Apart from the flowerpot jumping high up into the air, making loud bouncing noises.

"It is very beautiful," Grizelda admitted.

"You know what is even more beautiful?" Fungilda asked.

Grizelda blushed. She hadn't expected Fungilda to be so bold. "What?" she asked bashfully.

"Fungi," Fungilda said.

"...What?"

"In the forest. So many different colours. Bright fungi everywhere. So many poisonous species..."

"Sure. They are... great," Grizelda said.

Fungilda giggled. "But not as great as you," she said.

Grizelda rolled her eyes. "I almost thought you were here just to talk about fungi, Fungilda," she said.

"Nope," Fungilda said and gently placed her moss-green hand on top of Grizelda's. "I brought you here to get away from the hunters."

Grizelda wanted to look away. She knew she was blushing even more. But she didn't want to turn her head away, especially when the only other thing to look at was the flowerpot still jumping up and down on the trampoline. Fungilda came closer and gently touched Grizelda's nose with her own. She tilted her head and their lips met each other. Grizelda closed her eyes. The kiss was warm, comforting, calm. It was everything she had hoped it would be.

They didn't let go until they heard footsteps approaching the window. They turned around to see three hunters.

"Witches," one of the hunters said, pointing at Grizelda and Fungilda.

"Get them!" a second one said, aiming a potato at Fungilda said.

"Whelp," Fungilda said and got on her broom. "I'll see you later, Grizelda!"

"You too, Fungilda," Grizelda said, transforming into a wooden box and falling off the roof.

She watched as Fungilda flew away, avoiding the potatoes being hurled at her. Grizelda giggled to herself, wondering when they would have time to meet on the roof again.