Myth Land (unedited)

XXV

I left the festival for the place that didn't make anything better, the dull one. As soon as I arrived, Ieiunium was waiting at the exit. She was worried that I had gone for too long, and she thought she would find me there.

Without saying a word, she pulled me in her paws and warmed me. My frozen chest was melted. I swallowed my tears that dried my throat because it was barely there. Maybe it was how it felt to be Ieiunium. Maybe watching and witnessing too many sorrows made you feel numb that you could no longer find tears behind your eye balls. Maybe the swelling emotions drained as you kept on being exposed to the triggers. Then you became as dry as Sahara. Still not even a single particle of sand could hurt your eyes.

That time I wondered, do humans feel the same way?

Ieiunium placed me on her back with her tail then we headed back to our hiding tree. The sun turned our skin into orange as the moon queued for its time to rise. Walking straight, my head suddenly felt dizzy, and I almost fell off Ieiunium's back. I hugged her back as hard as I could to steady myself, but she was also shaking that it was hard for us not to squeak. It was not an earthquake I knew for sure. The land stopped shuddering, and we could finally see what was happening.

All types of monkey and wolf came down from the Christmas tree, and the masters got up from their seats to show respect. The two legged masters stood on one of their knees and lowered their heads. Similarly, the four legged ones folded their feet close to their body. Their stomachs and noses were a centimeter away from the ground. Meanwhile, the servants froze on their feet and bent their heads every time a highness threw a glance at them.

A glistening wolf appeared, freed himself from the barrier of crowd. He got onto the highest mountain-like rock very close to the Christmas tree. High enough for us to see.

'Animals from all sides! Please welcome, King Baboon!'

Don't ever hold your breath to hope that he would come down from his comfy seat at the peak of the Christmas tree. He just showed up there like a star on human's Christmas tree decoration.

Everybody cheered.

'All sober and healthy animals will be evaluated. Please come closer to the Christmas tree when we call your name. King Baboon will keep his eyes on us. There will be around fifteen names called at once, so pay attention,' Licht interrupted.

'You do not have to bring your golds, yet. But do show us what you have been doing. Bring the evidence. Prove us. Is that understandable?'

The servants nodded.

They started to call our names one by one from both sides. I was still with Ieiunium, and I could see our neck tensed.

'Shall we take care of our own selves first?' she asked.

I had no choice.

It stressed me out that I needed to be apart from Ieiunium, but she was gone in a blink of an eye. I took two sheets of leaves that I had carefully hid in the hiding and went back to the Christmas tree.

The time where I got back, Insulsus' name was called. I couldn't see her because she was on the opposite side, but King Baboon seemed fine and satisfied. More. He smiled so wide that he almost ripped his mouth.

Not long after that, Ieiunium was called. I couldn't see her because the crowd and larger animals blocked my view. I didn't know what happen, but King Baboon laughed at her, and so does the other reputable animals.

They kept on calling names, but mine was somehow forgotten. The moon had replaced the sun, and the air was getting unacceptably cold.

'Pearl.'

It was Licht who called my name.

I hated it. I hated to be the center of attention. I hated it when people's eyes were locked on me as I walked closer to the Christmas tree. I hated that my feet were shaking and my lips were dried.

But there both Licht and the Christmas tree were suddenly standing right before my eyes.

I looked around me, but I couldn't find Sphynx.

'Young lady,' said King Baboon, 'I am impressed that a weak tiny creature like you survives to live until today.'

'Um, thanks?'

'Now tell us what you have been working on!'

With my heart beating as fast as a cheetah's run, I spoke like a human and did what Sphynx had taught me.

I recited a poem.

-tsl

*Continue reading thenext part to read the poem <3