Always Be Appreciative of Opposable Thumbs

Chapter Thirty-One: Return of the Muse

 Several days passed. Or maybe weeks? While day and night occurred normally in Tuffet, it felt as if far more time had gone by.

Perhaps it was the dazed, lazy feeling the town brought on, perpetuated by its residents. No one worked in Tuffet. At least, Willow didn't see anyone work. They only seemed to make merry. Anytime she wandered through the town, people suddenly appeared and began dancing or singing or putting on some sort of show. Oddly enough, she never saw the same person twice. Maybe that was her own fault; she had a hard time differentiating between individuals. For some reason, their faces did not stick in her head. They were completely forgettable. Lovely and welcoming, but forgettable all the same.

Everyone loved it in Tuffet. Sera was basking in her new dragon-less state, and the abundance of food kept her in a pleasant mood. Hugo, too, was much more relaxed than he typically was. His smiles came easily, and he seemed content to spend most of the day in Willow's company, which she had to admit was quite agreeable to her.

Yes, everyone was truly happy staying in Tuffet. Although, she wasn't sure about Jyoji. She hadn't seen him since they had first arrived. Worry niggled at her mind with each passing day that he did not appear.

"Do you think he's all right?" she asked Hugo as they watched a group of dancers perform an elaborate routine with ribbons.

He furrowed his brow. "Is who all right?"

"Jyoji. We haven't seen him in days. Do you think he got lost?"

"It's a rather small town. I don't know how he could get lost in it."

"This is Jyoji we're talking about. As sweet as he is, he could get lost in a burlap sack."

One of the dancers—a very muscular, rugged fellow—spun around several times, wrapping his pale pink ribbon about his body and ending his performance with an impressive split. Those watching from the sidelines clapped and cheered as the dancer breathed heavily, sweat trickling down his face.

Hugo turned back to Willow. "Well, I think they're finished here. We could go look for him if you'd like."

The dancers grouped together to congratulate one another on a job well done while the onlookers crowded about them to offer their own praise. "Yes, I think that might be best," Willow said as she rose to her feet. "Jyoji is a sweet person, but I'm afraid his naivete could get him into trouble, even in a town as seemingly harmless as Tuffet."

Together, she and Hugo made their way through the cobblestoned streets. Willow anxiously plucked at her skirts, eyes darting about in search of Jyoji. As they passed by cottages and gardens, folks waved and called out greetings to them.

"It's an awfully friendly place," Hugo said as he waved back.

"Yes, it is."

He looked over at her. "You don't seem entirely comfortable here."

Sighing, she shook her head. "It's a lovely place with lovely people. But I just get this feeling."

"Feeling? What kind of feeling?"

She hesitated. Hugo watched her intently, and she knew he wouldn't brush off her concerns, as ridiculous as they may seem to everyone else. So, determined to confide in him about her unease about the town, she opened her mouth and let out a ferocious roar.

Wait, that wasn't her.

Hugo, too, looked confused, and as they both searched for the source of the noise, they were met with the sight of a giant red dragon flying over their heads.

No, not just any red dragon. Sera's red dragon. That was Sera.

"I thought she was cured," Hugo said as his eyes followed the dragon's movement across the sky.

"Maybe the magic isn't all that permanent," Willow said, her fingers twitching. If that were so, when would she return to her non-human state?

"What're we looking at?"

They turned to find Sera munching on a hunk of cheese behind them. "Sera?" Willow said. How she could be both here on the ground and up in the sky?

"Yeah?"

"How are you here?"

She looked down at herself, swallowing a mouthful of cheese before looking back up at Willow. "Like, how did I get here in this spot? Or how did I get here, like, how was I born? Cuz if you don't know how the birds and the bees work, I'm a little concerned. Especially since you are, in fact, a bird."

Shaking his head, Hugo pointed up at the sky. "No, how are you here while dragon-you is up there?"

Following his gesture, Sera's eyes widened, and her mouth fell open. The dragon was still there, spitting out fire and spiraling through the air. She let out another earthshaking roar and dove down, disappearing behind a cluster of cottages.

Dropping her cheese, Sera shook her head in disbelief. "How the—"

"Oh, great creature of might! I give to you the air from my lungs, to let your flames burn bright!"

Hoofbeats approached from behind, and turning, they saw Jyoji riding towards them atop Okami. His eyes were fixed on the spot where the dragon had disappeared, so he didn't see them standing there and was about to run into them. At the last minute, though, Okami had the sense to stop, nearly tossing Jyoji over her head in the process. He righted himself and finally noticed them gawking at him.

"Oh, my good friends," he said. "Did you see her?"

"The giant dragon spitting fire?" Sera said. "Yeah, we saw her."

"Isn't it wonderful? My muse has found me!" He held his arms up to the sky and began to sing. "Oh weakness, be my strength! Let me die to find you!"

Wincing at his off-key voice, Sera shook her head. "When did she show up?"

He returned his attention to them. "I'm not entirely sure. How long have we been here?"

Willow and the others looked at each other, but none of them could give an answer. Every day seemed to bleed into the next, becoming a hazy passing of time.

"Never mind, the timing is not important," Jyoji said. "What's important is that my beloved inspiration has returned to me. And I've never felt more alive!"

Another roar pierced the air, and the dragon rose back into the sky. She spread her wings against the sun, illuminating her red scales so that she appeared to be in flames.

"Ah, my heart!" Jyoji cried out.

"She's going to set something on fire," Hugo said.

"Would I be so fortunate," Jyoji sighed. "Excuse me, my friends, I must away. I am bursting with poetry and wish not to lose the magnificent being that inspired it."

Spurring Okami onward, he chased after the dragon while rambling on about dancing and singing and burning down houses.

Sera heaved a sigh and shrugged. "Hey, as long as it's not me he's chasing after, I couldn't care less. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need more cheese."

As she wandered off, Willow turned back to Hugo. He was wearing a baffled but slightly amused expression. Again, she was struck by how at ease and relaxed he was here. Normally, he'd be ranting about how they were all going to die in a sea of flames or how Sera needed to stop thinking with her stomach. Seeing him laugh off this situation was a little strange. To be honest, she sort of missed his grouchy grumbling. But if this place made him happy, was it right for her to make him worry just because she had reservations?

"So what were you saying about that feeling you're having?" he asked her, still sporting that easy smile.

Forcing a smile of her own, she shook her head. "Oh, it's nothing. Just a feeling."

He furrowed his brow. "Are you sure? You can tell me. You know you can tell me anything."

"I know," she said, reaching for his hand and pulling him back towards the town square. "But it's nothing, really. Let's go find out where Sera got that cheese."