The Puppeteer's Assistant

Chapter 7: Lolli

"Hey.. Can you hear me..? Wake up, please..?"

"Huh..?"

Vanessa woke up to find herself in a nice, cozy bed- with a fox plush standing over her. "Oh goodness, your okay! I'm so happy ^^"

Startled, Vanessa sits up quickly and starts questioning her "Wh.. Who are you?? And where am I?!" The fox plush began to giggle and gave Vanessa a warm, calm smile. "My name is Lolli, and your in the home of me and my master!"

"Um, okay..? Then how did I get here..?" Vanessa asks. "Well, so I was taking a nice cool stroll at night.. When I found you passed out in the bramble bushes at the bottom of a hill! So I brought you back here to give you a place to stay for the night, and to take those nasty brambles out! Yeesh, you still have some in you hair!" Lolli begins plucking some out.

"Ow..! I.. Really appreciate your generosity, Lolli. That was very sweet and kind of you, thanks.."
"Oh, it was no trouble at all! Now tell me miss if you don't mind, what is your name..?"

"My name..? Ah yes, my name is Vanessa. It's a pleasure to meet you," Vanessa began to shake Lolli's outstretched paw. "It's a pleasure to meet you too, miss Vanessa."

"So.. What is this town we are currently in?" Vanessa asks curiously. "Oh..! Why this is the town we're in, Miss Vanessa!" Lolli exclaimed, opening up the curtains to the window. Outside of the window revealed bustling streets with people, puppets, and plushies all over town. Street markets were up, along with many stands of such- everyone shuttling around to get the hottest deal of the month. "Why.. This is such a lovely town.." Lolli says in awe, looking back at Vanessa. "Isn't it?"

"Y-yeah.." That's when it hit her, like a ton of bricks towering down upon her in guilt. Vanessa was saddened to know, that soon the Puppeteer would rule over this town, and hurt all of these innocent individuals. "It was such a happy town too.." Vanessa thought. "It's a shame that it has to be destroyed by such a cruel man.. These poor innocent individuals. What did they do to deserve all of this..?"

Just then, she started to snap out of her thoughts from Lolli's cute little voice- trying to tell her something. "Hey, tell you what? Why don't I show you around town? It'll be a better experience for you then!"

Vanessa's eyes had widened suddenly. "Really..? You'd actually take me around your town..?" "Mhm! Of course I'd take you around town! Besides, you need the fresh air anyways. Plus.." Lolli looks at Vanessa's features as the young woman slid on her boots. She had taken notice to the rips and tears in her new friend's dress. ".. You may need some new clothes too.. Heh."

"Huh?" Vanessa looks at her dress, with holes and tares throughout it, sighing. "Yeah, that's about right.." "Okay then, let's head out and go to explore!!" Lolli cheers, marching out. "Yup and away we go.. Whoo." Vanessa says. And then the two go to explore the town.