2DDLC: Element Guardians! (Sayonika + Natsuri)

Chapter Thirty-Six: Strange

(A/N: Um.. Wow. Like, wow. I'm SO sorry!! XDD- A random month long wait for this chapter was not supposed to happen, and some reason decided to hit me the moment school started. I'm really sorry, this totally should've been out much sooner, and I'm sorry for making everyone wait so long!

I won't go on for much longer, so go ahead and read the chapter! Thanks again for waiting everyone!)

"Are you ready?"

The quiet sounds of the forest only became more apparent as I entered it, heading in one direction with the crowd of animals behind.

I take a small inhale, trying to clear my mind so we can focus on the recurring dream.

Yeah.

"Okay, here's my idea. So, to stop, why not you try and grab onto a branch or a tree?"

I can try.

At the speed I'm going, there isn't any chance I can possibly just stop. If I do, I'll at least stumble forward to try and catch up from the momentum of the movement. Grabbing a tree isn't a bad idea, considering we're surrounded by them for now.

Just how I do that is a little troublesome. I'm not sure if things can hurt in a dream, but at the very least, I'm going to get burned on the bark.

My eyes land on an upcoming tree to my left. It's small but sturdy, and it's branches are sticking out from low angles.

Here goes nothing..

I hastily reach up and am able to latch on to one of the branches, tightening my grip on it so I can try and get it to slow me down.

Even though I stumble towards the tree, I end up stopping just before reaching its trunk.

Huh. That actually worked.

It almost feels like I have control over myself once again as I'm standing still. Like the whole world has gone still.

But there's a sour feeling; it feels like I cheated.

I know this dream is far from a game, but I don't feel like I accomplished anything by standing still. It feels like I should've stopped running by myself, not with the help of some kind of tree.

Still, the main part is figuring out what's going on, and what to do next.

"Hey! It worked. Nice job."

I let go of the branch, turning around so I notice the large pack of a variety animals continue to run, not even reacting to me standing still and in their way.

What now? I don't know if I can talk to them.

"In a group, there's always, at least usually, a leader. What's the closest animal in the front?"

They're all kinda lined up, but I guess...

My eyes land on a brown furred and maned horse with white dots scattered on its sides like splashes of small drops of paint. It's the one in the middle of the group at the front, and is beginning to speed up quite a bit.

That horse?

"That'll do. Go ahead."

What do you want me to do..?

"Isn't it obvious? Ride it. Control it, and then lead the animals back into the forest and not anywhere near that cliff thing."

My mind easily begins to fill with doubt.