Never Meant To Be - Pearlescentmoon's Double Life

3: Tilly

Heading into the dense growth of the jungle, she treks through the many ferns and undergrowth. Cracking way too many sticks for her to remember. They all snap under her iron boots.

She had to push aside the overgrown ferns.

The plants were constantly hugging her legs. Pearl was glad she has armor on because the plants looks annoying to go through.

But her pup was unlucky. Being short and small, it contested with the undergrowth. Jumping on top of a tree root that pokes out from the soil.

"Come here, baby." Pearl called gently, stepping over the grass to her pup. Scooping it into her arm. The dog squirmed about to get comfortable against her iron chest plate. "Sorry doggy. I know it doesn't feel nice but it protects me from the mobs."

The dog barked up at her, and look around as she walked on.

"Now... we have the whole day ahead of us. Let's go meet my soul bound, alright?" Scratching the pup's head fur. The soft texture of it made her heart fuzzy.

So cute!

Pearl was sure her soulmate would love the cute little thing too.

A few minutes of walking, she stepped out into a narrow stream. Covered in stepping stones and scattered leaves.

"Ohh. This looks fun."

Pearl took a diligent step onto a stone. Feeling the water making contact with her iron boots. It was as if they were jumping up to take a quick hit at her feet, then diving back down. Hit and then retreat.

Her foot tottered a bit as she stepped onto another. She knew the first second when she crafted these iron boots that they were gonna be difficult to move in.

It was just that she had it easy traveling on smooth grass and flat cave ground the whole time before this. Her heart lept slightly as she half hop her way from one stone to another.

The stream leads her and her dog on for a good twenty minutes. Opening into a wider stream area where the path ends. So she hop off the stone she was on. Legs shaky, absolute noodle legs later.

"Haha. That was fun. Right?" She set her furry friend down.

Light from the sun was at a perfect angle here. With the jungle trees hovering above her, it feels good. The coolness washed over her skin. Reminding her of the air conditioner back in real life.

Wiping away a few beads of sweat, Pearl chuckles.

"You don't think my partner will feel bewildered at the strain I put them through with the stepping stone travel method right?" She went down to her knees, using one hand to hug her knee and the other to pet her dog's back.

It bends down to lap up some water.

"Say, what should I call you?" Pearl asked the dog, its ears perking up at that. Looking up at her. The brilliant silver-washed blue eyes stared intensely into her own blue eyes. "I don't want to go on calling you doggy. Unless you want me to."

The pup continued to stare into her. As if waiting for something to happen, sitting down on the smooth rock surface, wagging its tail.

"Hm, how about Tilly?" Gazing down at her furry friend. "You like that?"

Her given response was a sigh from her dog. A happy-sounding one.

"You do." Pearl smiled, giving Tilly a few more rubs on its back. Carefully pulling Tilly's back toward her, and raise its tail to check the dog's gender to make sure she can keep the name.  "You're a girl too. So it fits."