"Are you alright?" Puff asked
"Yeah. Thanks." Dog replied
"For what?"
"Everything."
"..."
"Okay then, let's go to sleep. I'll do the watching for sometime. If I feel sleepy, I'll wake you, Puff, up so that you could switch my place. We don't want us getting eaten while we're sleeping." Panda said
"Do you have any form of defense?" Puff said
"Well, I did create some wooden spears." Panda replied
Puff laughed.
"What?"
"You really think you can harm him with those?"
"Yeah, poke the eye."
"If you can really hit him with those."
"Who's 'Him' anyways?" Snowbear asked
"A monster, born of the fear of all living things. His dark impenetrable skin, the wings with blades that can cut through rocks, a tail with spikes, and his red glowing eyes that inspire fear and nightmare for everyone who sees him, and much worse to those who encountered him." Puff grinned
"SSSTTTOOOOPPPP!!!!" Dog shouted
Dog was shaking. She is scared by this story. She is scared to do anything. All she wants was an adventure with butterflies and flowers and birds and bees. She started crying.
"Stop this nonsense. There are no monsters." Cat angrily shouted
"Dog, tell us your story. Sharing something will help you." Puff calmly asked
"I don't want bad things to happen. I just want to live. I'm scared." Dog said
Parrot and Cat came into her aid and tried to cheer her up. It worked...a little.
"You know that there shall be something bad in this cruel world. Denying it makes it worse. Believing into a false promise will end you." Puff explained
"Is that why you always wear a mask?" Snowbear asked
"No. This is like my source of courage to accept things. One day, my dear little Dog, you shall find a weapon to fight your fears. My weapon is this mask, what is yours?"
"I still don't know yet."
"Hmm...Time will reveal everything, my friend. Now you must rest. I'll guard with Panda for now."
"Good night."
Puff looked back, then continued his way to the post.
Later, while Panda fell asleep, Puff was Indian-sitting on the ground, staring at the beautiful night sky. The full moon was shining.
"Such beautiful night, no?" Puff said
"Yes, yes it is."
She rushed out the bush and sat beside Puff
"..."
"..."
"..."
"About what you said earlier..."
"..."
"About something you are still afraid of. I want to know."
"..."
She noticed some tears fell again from the inside of the mask.
"I am still afraid, afraid of this certain monster. I must fight him, but I cannot do it, not because of I am afraid but because of I have no power."
"If you are not afraid, then why do you fear this monster?"
"Because I don't want any of you getting hurt. If I am going to fight this monster, you shall come to my aid. It's better none of you must know what it is, where it is."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"You are afraid that we might get hurt by this monster?"
"Yes."
She leaned towards his face that is still staring into the night sky. She hugged him real tight. He was stunned. He cried more, silently.
YOU ARE READING
The Dreamland
FantasyA group of unlikely animals started to ask themselves who can they trust as the herd travel to find The Dreamland. Will they survive the a week of travel with their unlikely companions? How are they going to face such dangers when if they can't feel...
