MAGISTAN

Chapter 7: Strange Blue Bark Stew

Still stuck inside Dex's den, Sofia sneezed two more times before she looked up to find, Dex, Grimmy and Weeble staring at her from across the room. Stunned, she awkwardly gawked at them with a sick feeling in her gut. Things had gone terribly wrong. This wasn't at all what Sofia planed when she stepped into the tree. She thought someone opened the door after she knocked. But, it appeared that none of these creatures had invited her in. And when she tried to leave... the door was locked from the inside. She wanted to explain why she was kneeling behind a beanbag in their living room. But, before she could muster any words the pudgy creature stepped forward. 

"A spy!" Weeble declared, pointing at Sofia. 

"Look... she's got a weapon," Grimmy noticed while he eyed the spear tucked under her arm.  

Sofia's heart hammered. "It's my papa's," she said, nervously.  

Weeble narrowly looked at Sofia. "L-shell sent you. Didn't he?" 

Grimmy gasped. He dropped the three mugs he was holding, clenched his fist and threw his head forward.  

Weeble turned to Dex, "Do you believe me now?" he asked.  

Dex adjusted his glasses and replied, "I most certainly do NOT!" 

"What?!" Weeble snapped.  

"QUIET!" Dex blurted. He snatched the moss on Weeble's chest and yanked.  

"Eegh!" Weeble squeaked.  

"If I hear one more blurb from you, you're... OUT!" Dex said, harshly.  

Weeble looked away as if Dex's scolding didn't bother him in the least.  

Dex tugged harder. "Understood?" 

Weeble raised his hands as if he surrendered. Dex let go. Weeble cleared his throat. "Spy," he peeped.  

Dex lurched forward and seized Weeble's neck. He lifted him so high that the tips of his twig-like toes were dangling in the air. Then, the blue veins in Weeble's head started to turn black.  

Sofia felt frightened, more so for Weeble's safety than her own. "What's a spy?" she asked, hoping Dex would let Weeble go. However, he didn't. He tightened his grip until every vein in Weeble's body blackened. Finally, when it appeared he might be dead, Dex let go. Weeble hit the floor. He gasped for air.  

"Don't pretend you don't know," Weeble uttered, in a scratchy voice.  

Dex lurched forward.  

"I really don't," said Sofia as she tried to sway Dex's attention.  

Grimmy blocked Dex. "It's quite possible Weeble's right."  

"When have you ever known him to be right about anything?" Dex argued.  

Grimmy shrugged.  

"My point exactly," said Dex while he slowly inched toward Sofia. She stepped back and Dex stopped. He glanced at Grimmy and Weeble, "Come have a look," he said.  

Both Weeble and Grimmy wildly shook their heads.  

"Cowards!" roared Dex and then turned back to Sofia. He extended his arm that grew longer as he reached around her waist and unfolded one of her wings. "See." 

With gaping mouths, Grimmy and Weeble turned to each other. "They're like the Spirit of the Winds," they both said simultaneously.  

Sofia swiftly nodded. "She gave them to me." 

Neither Grimmy nor Weeble seemed to pay any attention to Sofia. Instead, they keenly eyed each other. 

"You know," Weeble stated snobbishly, and poked Grimmy's shoulder with his nub finger. "We're getting married when I reach six feet."