Chapter Four
Ready. Set. Pounce?
Wind swept through the trees, creating a magic-like jingle, as though tiny bells hung from the leaves. I lay in the shade of a tall oak, arms behind my head, and stared up at the swaying branches. Sunlight bled through gaps between them.
Clanks of swords against shields sounded in the distance. Warriors, my knights amongst them, were training hard, keeping their minds and skills sharp and their bodies strong. The exercise was a good way to burn off all the muffins they’d devoured for breakfast too.
A good way for them, not for me. I wasn’t a cardio person. I was a ‘sit on my butt and eat potato chips while watching murder documentaries and criticizing the killer’s mistakes’ person.
God, I missed TV.
A rough laugh drew my attention to the meadow. Lake ran through the knee-high grass, chased by a vicious cutie whose fluffy black ears were the only thing visible above said grass. The puppy caught his prey and bit at Lake’s trousers, tugging him down to hide within a thick patch of wildflowers.
I smiled. Giving up murder documentaries and modern conveniences was a small price to pay for being here with the people I loved.
Spending my days with them, preferably in peace away from the chaos of war, was all I wanted.
Even with all the uncertainty around my destiny as the Hallowed Saint, I wouldn’t trade my life for anything.
Movement came from the branch directly above me, rustling the leaves.
My first thought was Rowan. He often perched in trees and liked to observe everything around him, usually accompanied by his handy-dandy flask of rum. But this wasn’t big enough to be a person, not even a small one like my spy.
Two vibrant, green eyes appeared within the leaves.
“What the…?” I rose to a sitting position and tilted my head.
Something orange and fuzzy then pounced. I screamed as it landed on my face.
It was as if the fates were taunting me. Right after thinking how blessed I was to be in this amazing fantasy world and how I wouldn’t return to my old life for anything, a strange creature materialized and tried to send me to an early grave.
“Evan?” Lake called out in panic before rushing over.
The patter of paws and tiny growls came with him.
I, however, dared not even breathe. Because the fuzzy creature had moved to the top of my head and curled up.
I sat ramrod straight, moving only my eyes to look at Lake and Oreo.
The puppy halted in step and cocked his head, one ear flopping, while Lake’s expression hovered between shock and curiosity.
“What is it?” I asked in a harsh whisper, scared out of my wits. The creature shifted around and sniffed my hair before making a chittering noise. “Oh god.”
Lake slowly approached and dropped to one knee beside me. “It’s… well, I’m not quite sure. I’ve never seen anything like it before.”
“I think it wants to eat me,” I said, still whispering. Trying not to make any sudden movements or be too loud. “Please, Lake. Help me.”
“He means you no harm, lad,” a gruff voice said from a short distance away. Varys walked toward us, dressed in a dark blue kimono and leather sandals. “He’s simply curious.”
The curious little terror sniffed my hair again before leaping off my head.
And landing right into my lap.
I… had no idea what I was looking at. The thing was about the length of a ruler with big green eyes the size of grapes, a long body with orange fuzzy fur, a squirrel-like poofy tail that jutted upward, and four tiny paws, toe beans included.
A twig protruded from the top of his round head with a small green leaf attached.
Along with its large eyes, there were two small slits for a nose and a mouth but no other features. Just a flat, furry face.
“What are you?” I asked, amazed, and slowly reached forward to touch its head.
Right as my hand made contact, the creature closed its eyes and chittered, moving its back feet in a way that made its furry butt wiggle.
“You’re a happy little fella, aren’t you?
Cute too. Like super cute. Not scary at all. ”
Cheep, cheep.
“His species is called an arbordu,” Varys said, having reached us beneath the tree. “They are tree-dwelling demons. Very social and gentle in nature.”
It was the first time I’d spoken to the demi-wolf since my powers exploded from me in the throne room. Did he know the truth behind those powers? If so, there was no wariness in his eyes or visible tension. He even offered me a warm smile as our gazes met.
“Well, it’s nice to meet you, little guy,” I told the tree demon in a cutesy voice, scratching the top of its head. “You’re really friendly. That explains why you pounced on me. You just wanted to play, huh?” Another cute chitter. “I’m sorry I thought you were going to eat me.”
Oreo sprung forward and growled at our fuzzy new friend. He’d clearly reached his limit on allowing another creature to touch me.
“Be nice,” I gently told the puppy. Something, it seemed, I had to tell all the males in my life, lovers and fur babies alike.
“Calm yourself, young one.” Varys knelt down and patted the puppy’s head. “I know it’s not easy, but you mustn’t be overcome with jealousy. Your human is special. I’m sure many other demons will be drawn to him as well.”
“They will?” I asked. That was news to me.
“Demons adored your father too, remember?” he answered. “They felt safe in his presence. His taming ability as a dark mage was part of the reason, but I feel it was his kind heart that truly won their trust.”
Warmth prickled at my sternum. It was a bittersweet feeling: the joy of learning how great a person my dad was but also the ache of having missed out on getting to know him myself. Both he and my mom had died before I’d been old enough to remember them.
The orange blob of fuzzy cuteness rose up on his hind legs and placed his front paws on my chest, nuzzling his face against my chin.
Was he… comforting me?
“Ah, you’re such a sweet boy.” I lightly scratched the fuzzy demon’s back. He chittered again and shook his tush from side to side. “Where’s your family, huh? Did you wander off?”
“An oddity among his kind for one to be alone,” Varys pointed out. “They often travel in pairs. If I were to guess, he was cast from his nest.”
“Cast out?” I asked. “Why?”
“The color of his fur, probably.” The demi-wolf frowned. “They normally have either brown or green fur. It allows them to hide in the leaves. Also, he’s smaller than average. More than likely the runt of the litter.”
My heart sank, and I nuzzled the arbordu’s head, much like he’d snuggled me earlier. More chitters sounded, accompanied by another butt wiggle. The cuteness damn near killed me.
“Well, I think your fur is pretty,” I told the tree demon and gave him more head scratches. “You remind me of a pumpkin.”
Oreo bared his teeth and inched forward.
He tried to nudge the other demon off me, but the arbordu ignored him, soaking up all the attention.
I reached over with my left hand and scratched the Fenrir puppy’s ears.
He licked my palm and curled up against my thigh, as if accepting the compromise.
I could shower them both with affection. No biggie.
The problem came when another set of fluffy ears drooped.
Lake stared at the two demons with a forlorn expression. He wanted head pats too.
A soft chuckle left me. I’d be sure to make it up to him later. Maybe with a picnic lunch in the garden and a nap together after. My wolf loved his naps.
Booming laughter came from the path beside the oak tree. Three demon warriors walked past, their weapons clanking as they headed to join the others on the training field. Two males and one female, each holding battle axes bigger than me.
The arbordu emitted a tiny squeak before jumping on top of my head, then leapt back up into the tree, scurrying through the leaves. Poor little guy was scared.
“It was nice meeting you,” I called up to him, trying not to be too sad that he’d left. I couldn’t keep every cute creature that crossed my path—even if I wanted to.
“Sad toad face,” Lake softly said, poking the tip of my nose.
“You’ve spent too much time with Ro.”
“Not enough, I’d say.” Lake smiled at me before facing the field of wildflowers. A spring breeze found us beneath the oak tree and rustled the strands of his silver hair. “No amount of time with any of you will ever be enough.”
My heart wobbled. I felt the same. Hallowed Saints were said to rise in times of great conflict. Meaning, with the awakening of my powers, my destiny could come calling at any moment.
How many more days like this would we have together?
As a gentle breeze swept through the leaves, a peppery scent came with it. One that left little doubt as to who’d decided to join us beneath the oak tree. He could hide from my sight but not from my nose.
“Ah, pup,” Rowan’s raspy voice came from above us. He materialized on the branch, having been concealed within the shade, and sat against the trunk, dangling one leg down. “You really do love me. I’m touched. My black heart is all aflutter.”
Lake sneered up at him. “Come down here so I can whack you.”
I laughed.
Cheep.
A fuzzy orange lump inched along the branch toward Rowan but didn’t get too close, as though unsure of this new person in his tree. Happy tingles poked at my chest. I had thought the arbordu left, but he’d simply been hiding.
“Aren’t you a curious little fella?” Rowan scrutinized the demon. “Just know, if you bite me, I’ll bite ya back.”
“Be nice to Pumpkin,” I called up to my feisty redhead.
“Pumpkin?” Lake asked.
“His fur reminds me of one,” I responded, watching the arbordu slowly approach Rowan. The demon stopped about five inches away, then crept to the edge of the branch and peered down at me. His fuzzy butt wiggled in visible excitement. “I think it suits him.”
“As do I,” Lake said with a warm smile.