The forest was no place for a small child.
The somberoues forest was dead quiet. Cheri’s fur was standing on end. She had been wandering through the forest for what seemed to be forever. The soft lull of the crickets nightly music filling her ears with delight. The sun had dipped down from the tree’s view and the shadows danced across the forest floor. The once lively forest laying down and resting from the long day.
Cheri set down her bag and survayed the sky. The search for her lost tribe had been leading her to nothing but dead ends and danger. Reluctantly she sighed through her nose and set down the old bag. The same thought swirled through her head over and over again. Cheri was afraid to admit it to herself but it was true. What if she never got out of here? What if her family, her real family, was gone forever. Lost in the wilderness. Just like she was. She rubbed her cheek over the burlap bag and dozed.
Cheri woke up with alarm. At first the young viscling was startled by the darkness. It could have been no later than three in the morning. Cheri was about to fall asleep again when the eerie sound of rattling interrupted the stillness of the night. The sound was unnatural to say the least. The slithering and hissing of snakes filled the deafness of night. Cheri got up,grabbing the dagger from the burlap sack. Her hands clumsily gripping the leather handle. Just as she did a thick purple fog rolling in from the hillside. The thick fog cling to her fur, swirling around playfully around the young ones ankles.
The forest is no place for a child
“Who’s out there..show yourself!” she yelled out. Her knife swung at no one.
What happened next she couldn’t expect. Cheri gagged and held a hand over the muzzle. The fog stunk like rotten meat. The smell burning her nostrils. The once calm forest reeked of death and mischief.
Are you lost cheri?
The voice sounded concern now. And that damn rattling sound got closer and closer. Cheri stood her ground though, her hand firmly on her blade. Through the glint of the knife she could see the creatures bright glowing violet eyes.
Swiftly she turned around to behold the creature. The beast towered over her easily. From what she could see the rattling was coming from him. The large viscet slid his smooth serpent like tail down onto the floor. His slit eyed staring down at the knife.
“I’m so sorry for the fog cheri but it pesters me so” He talked like he already knew everything about her. Cheri growled at the large viscet. He simply shook his head and opened up a deck of what appeared to be playing cards.” now now cheri, that is no way to speak to a spirit that is trying to help you “ he turned a card over. It had swords on the back of it,pointing down towards the floor. The young viscling shook her head in disbelief. “I fought many monsters bigger than you” she hissed out in defiance. The man shrugged and slipped the card in the deck.” yeah I guess...there's just no way to know my dear cheri~”
With a snap of his fingers the fog transformed into a little table and two chairs. With a huff her sat down,fiddling around with his pocket. “That's why I bear gifts..children still love gifts right?” he poured out a bunch of wires and thread. Cheris muzzle scrunched up,sitting at the table with the serpent like beast. “What is it supposed to be?” she reached out and touched it. As she did the thread swirled around her paw,plucking out a loose scale from her claws.
"ouch!" she rubbed the back of her hand. The little puppet shifted and changed into a mass of fabric and stitches. Before cheri could believe her eyes her loose scale shifted into a living breathing doll. " Beautiful isn't it" he set it in her grasp. She delicately held the bundle of threads. " My names Gift...a forest spirit if you will" said the snake man. He leaned back in the little chair back. "I can't guarantee that I am good or bad but I'll help you out" he chirped to her.
Cheri rolled her eyes and grabbed the stitched up doll."How can you be sure I am not evil" she said with a crinkle of her snout.
Gifts eyebrows perked up. No child did ever challenge him like she did. Gift chuckled and leaned in close to her. The sharp violet eyes looking down at the dragons bright blue eyes. "that's just asking for trouble little missy" he poked the little puppet and it shifted once more. It's mixed match fabric shifting and changing yet again. Cheri inspected the doll yet again. It had a long curly tail with little white puff. It's fur a dark red. "how do you do that" she put the doll back on the table.
Gift scooped up the playfully. "dark magic...a little of your essence..it's really simple" he purred to he eager little viscet. She furrowed her brow.”dark magic is evil..isn’t it?” She grabbed her knife again,nervously laying with the blunt side of the blade.”it
Can be..I cannot lie” he dangled the little puppet by the tail,watching the tiny creature dangle and panic.”anything can be evil if I’m the wrong hands.
Before cheri could relize it the table and chairs were gone.”think about my offer cheri. Be smart” he held her little paw and set the puppet with her.”if you need
my help I’ll know” he stuck out his serpent tongue.
Everything was quiet again. The stench was gone. He
Was gone.
Gift had always loved playing with his food.He slunk back into the darkness. Unknown to the curious explore a little friend was latched to her satchel. This was almost too easy. Way too easy. He was hesitant sure but this little viscling was such a little fireball. Not even mentioning the strange,almost dragon like appearance of her.
Gift shook his head. No he mustn’t get attached to the child. What would the other forest spirts say if he did. He trudged through the swampy domain. His domain. A long green serpent landed on his back from the trees. Gift jumped in surprise at the sudden jolt to his back.
“No I didn’t bring you a meal..you freeloader” the green snake slithered around his shoulders,hanging off of him like a living necklace.
Just as he was going to get settled down in the swamp when a violent shudder went through his body.
Odd. His meals heartbeat was increasing. He fumbled out with little bits of string and spread them across the moss floor. The string materialized into a little viscet. It was cowering over a imaginary object. Gift dug around for more string and set t down. It swirled and twisted into a large beast. It’s button eyes scanning the terrain. Gift furrowed his brows. A small pang of guilt ran through him. Had he really just let a child wander around in the middle of the night. He shook his head and grabbed the string and stuffed it all in his pocket.”let us go Richie” he smooched the snakes head.
