The Kingdom of Orenda

Chapter 3: Metallic Companion

"Have you ever been to Hornsey?" Lidya asked her traveling companion made of wood.

"N-o, but I do know exactly where it is. There's a map In the sheriff's station and I've seen it enough times to know where I'm going. Once we get out of Hornsey however, I may need a map." Acer answered.

"How long have you been living in Gale town?"

"A few months at least. I'm very thankful that I was found by such a nice town."

"I am too, thankful that you all were the town I washed up near that is." Lidya smiled. They continued on in silence for a while, no sounds but the wind in the trees and bird songs.

"Hey, do you know what type of trees these are?" Lidya asked.

"Hm? Oh, they're Pirae trees. Do they not have them in your Kentucky country?"

"No-" Lidya suppressed a laugh, "And Kentucky isn't a country. It's a state, within a country. The country's name is America. Also called the United States of America, or USA for short.

"A-mer-ic-ah, did I say it right?"

"Yep."

"And they don't have Pirae trees there?"

"Nope, no flying dogs or people made of wood either. No magic at all actually, except in stories."

"That sounds fairly odd to me, but I suppose you're thinking all of this-" he gestured at the land around him, "is fairly odd to don't you?"

"Fairly would be an understatement. This palace is very, very strange. But- it's also really pretty, It's actually really fun to get to see all this." she looked up at the Pirae trees and smiled.

"The trees we do have in Kentucky are... let me think. There's shingle oaks, american basswoods, buckeyes..." she trailed off. "Which actually- Buckeyes have nuts that are really toxic. They look like chestnuts but should not be eaten, unless they're cooked properly. But I've never tried it and never intend on doing so."

"I don't blame you. I forget their names but I've been told of fruits and plants outside Orenda that work in a similar way."

"Wait- outside Orenda?" Lidya stopped and looked at him.

"Yes, in other kingdoms."

"Oh- the kingdom's named Orenda. I'm not sure why I thought this entire world was called Orenda."

"Neither am I, but as far as I know we just call it Earth. I've never met anyone who called it anything else yet."

"So what are the names of the other kingdoms?" Lidya asked, continuing to walk. Izarra decided she was done resting on Lidya's shoulder and hopped down, growing to the size of a german shepherd and walking beside the girl.

"I'm not too sure, I know the closest one is called Morii. But that's just because I hear Mayor Anderson and Sherif Wesley talking about them every so often."

"Hm." Lidya nodded, then she thought for a second,

"Do the officers at the sheriff's office help out with the animal shelter often?" Lidya asked.

"Some of the time. Gale town is a really safe palace, so the worst things that we ever have to deal with are a cat stuck in a tree, a lightning fire, and one time we thought a woman's baby went missing. But the little tyke just found a really cozy stroller in her parents garage. Little girl nearly gave the entire town a heart attack."

"My cousin did something similar, we were playing hide and seek back when he was three, and he fell asleep in his hiding spot. Which was behind the sofa in my parents', at the time, living room. Aunt Nora was so mad when we finally found him. She still hates whenever one of us brings it up."