Myth Land (unedited)

XVII

Her silhouette vanished right after our eyes met. How I wished I had darkened fur, so it would be harder for anyone to recognize my presence. Or maybe it had nothing to do with my skin at all. Maybe it was just us.

I tried not to let her distract me and continued my way to the center. The sound of my footsteps imitated the sound of raindrops on the ground. But that voice was no longer heard when Ieiunium popped up inside my head. The picture of the very first day we arrived at the Christmas tree was painted very lively inside my tiny, little brain. I was on her back. Curled myself into a small white fur ball. Then one particular conversation recalled and slowed down my pace.

'We will not be together during the competition,' she told me.

'Why?'

'That, I know is for the best.'

I pursed my lips. Wondered how I would survive without her.

'But I will always be around.'

'Then why can't we just be together?'

She beamed.

'I don't want to be a burden.'

That didn't make sense to me. How can a close friend be a burden to you when the two of you are supposed to be inseparable?

She left me with tons for question of what might happen and what kind of things that I had to face. Her riddles had somehow made me implied that she knew more than anybody did. What if she knew all the risks and consequences, but she left me completely clueless about it? What if she knew at the very first place that some people would betray me? What if she already knew that some people would fake their attitudes just to gain empathy? Or some people would not mean what they said? Or even some people would come or talk to you only when they need you? Yet I had no idea about it. Yet she didn't tell me anyway.

Or what if she gave me hints that I failed to understand?

'But there will always be some people whom you can trust. Just wait and be patient until those people show up just in time,' said a close friend who pulled herself away from a person who trusted her.

Of all things that she shared to me, the most important one was she told me that we must not forget to place ourselves as humans. All the challenges given were meant to train us to be one of them.

It was important for us not to let emotion defeated our intelligence. It was important not to be barbaric. It was important to talk and negotiate. It was all important until I was almost eaten by a snake, and all I had got to do was fighting back. But let me make an excuse for myself: I was only being defensive.

That time I stopped myself from walking.

Why did I feel like there was something wrong with that statement? Why did I feel like there was a huge misunderstanding of an idea which had been taught by the Family?

But what is it?

The sun sought as I arrived at the center. It was only dawn, yet everybody had already awoken.

Some of them had their eyes reddened and watery by the lack of sleep. Some had been wandering here and there with I don't know what inside their hands, but they looked pretty occupied. Some only walked around, slowly but panting, and their eyes stared at some random objects around them.

A soaked grey rabbit was walking around in circle while talking to himself. I can tell you that he panicked over something, but I can't tell you what. He kept on cursing under his breath while punching his face. Sometimes his head. Or his stomach. His body shivered, for I assumed he was drowned by looking at how wet his whole body was. His eyes were blood red.

I tried to take a closer look at him when I saw a muddy crocodile was watching over him. He stood on a rock three rabbit steps away from the mad rabbit making him look bigger than he already was. With a bucket made of coconut shell beside him, he put more and more gold leaves as the rabbit cursed himself with harsher words or punched himself harder than he lost seconds of breathing.

Is that how it works...? I whispered to myself.

I took a few steps back before any of them noticed me like the snakes did, yet it felt as if my feet were sucked into the ground, but I saw nothing at all.

I was trembling. I was shaking. I couldn't feel my chest moving, but sure I was still breathing.

With my heart ready to jump out of my throat, I left the place. Walking aimlessly.

I found a Sequoia tree which I could climb but tall enough to monitor the situation around the Christmas tree. I didn't climb to the peak, of course. Climbing halfway of the tree itself had made me higher than any other tree. Tiring. But helpful.

Still, it was impossible to observe all parts around the Christmas tree. The Christmas tree itself was so huge and tall that I could barely see what was going on on the other side, but at least I found a place where people couldn't see me.

With my back against the branch and my stomach facing the sky like a dead mouse, I couldn't help but think how lucky and free I was for having a helper like Sphynx. She let me did whatever I wanted and appreciated the skills that I did not know I had. Somehow I wish she was there with me so that we could watch the animals together.

The picture of Sphynx in my head was shattered when my stomach growled, I swear, louder than a lion could roar.

I slowly rolled myself until I was on my four feet. Looking down, I realized that everything had turned dark. I could barely see any animal on the ground.

The cloud somehow waltzed away from the moon giving me a slight of light to peek the view feet away underneath my feet.

Oh...

I wasn't sure if I was dumb enough not to notice the existence of a tall solid fence made of English Yew. Not taller than the Christmas tree, but tall enough for any animal—not the Family, of course—not to be able to see what was on the other side.

The fence lied athwart along the Christmas tree, splitting the circle area into two. One side that I could observe, and the other side which God knows what happened there.

My nose told me to be nosy. My stomach told me to get something to eat.

But the warmth of the moonlight sent me to sleep.

-tsl

*Hi you guys! So here's another chapter for you! I really hope you like it although there's not much going on in this part of the story. Feel free to leave your thoughts/comments/suggestions if you have ones. I'd really love to have a conversation with you. And don't forget to vote if you don't mind. New chapters are coming so soon! Btw, I'm writing this on October 23, 2017, and today I find out that "Myth Land" is trending #810 in Adventure. Thank you so much for your support!!! I hope you'll stick with Pearl until the end of the story.

Rise and shine,
The Sunflower Lady