Chapter 35: Chapter 35

I was hanging on the tree for dear life as I looked down at the creatures. The moment I saw a giant talking chipmunk, a red bunny, and a black cat I panicked and climbed up a tree as fast as I could. Honestly? I don’t remember how I managed to climb up. I just remember that one of them tried to grab me and jumped and kicked and clawed.

And then I was up here - stuck and hugging a damn tree.

“Rose, get down from there.” The chipmunk called out.

“No thanks!” I yelled at it. “I am very comfy here!”

I saw the black cat gritting its teeth in annoyance as it marched towards the tree that I was on. “Be careful of the pollen, PRINCE Ace.”

“I know!!” It yelled at the bunny before looking back at me. It’s blue feline eyes darkened before it kicked the bottom of the tree.

“Hey!” I yelled at it the moment the tree began to shake. “I have no cat food here. Go and find your own tree you darn cat!” Stupid feline. “GO FIND YOUR OWN SCRATCHING POST!” I screamed and glared at it.

The cat looked taken aback at my words while the bunny and the chipmunk simply snickered at him. The cat looked back and glared at them. Immediately, the chipmunk and the bunny stopped laughing. The cat returned its gaze at me and frowned. Its whiskers moved at the gesture. I swear, if it wasn’t for its grumpy attitude then I might have found it cute. “Get.Down.Now.” It warned me. “Or else.”

“Or else what?” I snapped at the cat. I already have a somewhat rude wolf familiar, who gives me an attitude from time to time. I don’t need a cat to do the same. “You’re going to scratch the tre until it falls down?”

The cat arched one of its brows up. “I can make the tree fall in an instant if that is what you are daring me to do.”

“Oh wow. Pussy cat has claws. Impressive.” I rolled my eyes at the cat. Somehow, its attitude was slightly familiar that it annoys me. It reminds me of a certain demon. “Let lost!”

The cat took a deep breath. “Try it. Try and laugh and you two will never see the light of day again.” He warned the bunny and the chipmunk behind him. Then it looked back at me with a not so happy expression before placing a paw on the tree. “Last chance. Are you going to go down the easy way or the hard way?”

“You know, for a talking cat you really can’t understand very well, can’t you?” I leered at it. “Well here is a translation for you in cat tongue. MIAO MEOW MRYEOW MEOW MEOW! Miao f*ck*ng MIAO!” I even added a middle finger to emphasize my message. Stupid cat. And I thought cats were smart.

The cat hissed and I saw it drew its lips back to reveal a set of feline teeth. “Hard way it is.” It said and closed its eyes.

Wow. Does it really think it can take my tree? “THIS TREE IS MINE! MINE AL-” I started to scream at it, but was cut off when the air left my lungs as the branch that I was sitting on catapulted me upward and into the air.

“WHAT THE HELL ACE!?”

“IT’S PRINCE!”

As I fell I could hear faint yells below me and barks of orders. Soon, I was in the arms of a very cute chipmunk, who’s eyes were wide with worry. “Are you okay?”

Without thinking, I placed both my hands on its cheeks and started pinching it. “Thank you, Mr. Chipmunk!” I said and started patting its head after it set me down on the ground.

“Wait, what did you just call me?”

Did I somehow offended him? I grabbed the chipmunk’s hands and gave him an apologetic look. “I am sorry, Mr. Chipmunk. Do you have a name so I can address you properly?” A burst of laughter erupted behind us and I looked back to see that the bunny was laughing while the cat simply rolled its eyes.

“Wow. Look at you. Being polite to your imaginary animal friends.” Says the cat.

The bunny took in a deep breath before addressing us - or more likely, the chipmunk. “Cracked a nut yet, mr. chipmunk?” The rabbit continued to laugh upon seeing the furious look of the chipmunk.

The chipmunk looked at me and pointed at the bunny. “Hey, Rose. Can you tell me what animal he is?”

How cute. The chipmunk wants to know the proper name for the animals! Oh this is just adorable.

“He is called a bunny.” I told the chipmunk, hoping that it will learn something. “They can jump very high and they usually like carrots.”

I saw the chipmunk’s face morphing into something like what a pervert’s face would look like as it looked at the bunny.

No way...is the chipmunk...to the bunny…?

The chipmunk suddenly pointed at the bunny with a teasing grin. “You hear that, wittle bunny? I guess you better hop to it!” It said and let out a very loud laugh as it clutched its stomach from laughing. The bunny frowned at the chipmunk. I wasn't happy at all with the joke.

I placed one hand on my hips and used my free hand to slap the chipmunk. It stopped laughing as it looked at me. A paw placed on the cheek that I just slapped. “What did I-”

“If you want the bunny to like you and reciprocate your feelings, then you better not make fun of her.”

I saw the bunny and the chipmunk both having stunned and disgusted looks on their faces as they absorbed my words. I gasped and placed a hand over my mouth. “Oh I am terribly sorry.” I said. “Was the crush thing supposed to be a secret?” The moment the words left my mouth, silence fell in the air.

It was broken the moment the cat let out a snort, but it quickly covered it up with a cough as it turned its back to us for a few seconds to compose itself. When it was done, it faced us again with a stone cold expression.

“I don’t know what’s more horrifying. The fact that Rose thinks that I am a female bunny or that PRINCE Ace was laughing.”

The black cat glared at the bunny warningly before looking back at us. “In any case, one of you better keep an eye on her. We have to find a way out of this dark forest. There’s something here that makes me uneasy.” It says and wrinkles its snout making its whiskers rise in the process.

I wanna touch it. I wanna touch its whiskers. But knowing cats, it would probably scratch me.

‘Master.’ I looked towards the direction of the voice and let out a huge gasp.

“Jacob White!? The Jacob the werewolf!?” I squealed and jumped on the balls of my feet in excitement. I ran towards him and covered my mouth just in case I was drooling. “Can I see your abs?” I pleaded. “I mean, even though you did not get THE girl I swear I was rooting for you.”

The chipmunk suddenly appeared to my side grumpily with its hands crossed in front of him. “You know I am a werewolf, don’t you? Why don’t you act like that with me when you like wolves so much?” It pouted. “And who is this Jacob the werewolf? How come I have never heard of him?!”

I stared at the chipmunk and couldn't help but admire how cute it was as it made a jealous face. But saying that he is a werewolf? How adorable. “I like that attitude.” I told the chipmunk. “Think big and dream big. You may not become a werewolf, but you will have the spirit of a werewolf!” I pumped my fist in front of me to cheer for the adorable chipmunk.

“But I am a werewolf! I am Prince Ren!”

I bit the bottom of my lips and placed both of my hands on his shoulder. “Listen, Mr. Chipmunk. It is good that you admire Prince Ren. He is strong and capable.” I said and the chipmunk suddenly had this proud look on its face. “Unfortunately, he lacks what you call the thinking part. Both him and his brother if I am being honest.” The chipmunk turned stiff as the bunny laughed hysterically at him. It even went as far as slapping its thigh.

‘Master, here. Your weapon.’ Jacob spoke, making me blush and turn my attention back towards him. He was handing me my hook swords.

Jacob. THE Jacob White was handing me my hook swords and calling me master! I can die happily now.

I took the hook swords from him and arrogantly walked around the group. “Out of my way side characters! I am FAMOUS. THE Jacob White noticed me.” I boasted. I will never clean my hook swords again.

The red bunny frowned at me as I passed by it. “Hey! I am one of the male lead-” Before the bunny could even finish, I silenced it by placing a hand over it’s lips.

“Shh! Are you crazy? Do you want us to get fired!?” I gave the bunny a look of disbelief.

“Stop this nonsense! We are wasting time. We have to go now.” The cat suddenly said. “There is an eerie presence here and I cannot pinpoint it’s location. The forest is somewhat fighting my command. In this place, my ability is limited.”

“Mr. Whiskers have powers?!” I gasped.

The cat’s eyes suddenly twitched at its given nickname. “Mr. what!?”

At that moment, the chipmunk went close to the bunny and said, “ME-OW.” The two started laughing afterwards at the cat joke. The pussycat turned and gave the two a menacing smile that did not go unnoticed from the two. The bunny and the chipmunk gasped in horror as they saw the look on the cat’s face.

“It was him.” The bunny immediately pointed at the chipmunk. “It was all him. I have nothing to do with that joke.”

The last I saw was the cat cracking its paw knuckles as it slowly approached the two. I turned my back from them as I gazed at my hook swords in admiration. Wow. Jacob’s drool.

I have to go and look for the princes. Come to think of it, where did they go? It is very rude of them to leave me.

“Let’s see if a chipmunk’s jaw is sturdy or if a bunny can still hop with one leg.” A couple of hits and screams erupted behind me and I turned around to see the rabbit and the chipmunk apologizing to the cat with a few bruises on their heads. “Stop whining. You two will heal quickly.” The cat snapped at them before turning towards me. “And mutt, go and watch over that girl over there. Make sure that she doesn’t leave your side. I need her familiar’s help in order to navigate this forest safely.”

The chipmunk nodded obediently and headed towards me to offer its cute chipmunk paws. I took it without a second thought because of the pitiful look on its face. The cat started barking more orders and soon we started walking through the forest.

Jacob was walking alongside the cat and barked at him. Literally. Jacob was barking and growling as if he was in his wolf form. He barked warningly at the flowers and even when we were about to step on some weird ground that suddenly rose from the ground and attacked a nearby bird so quickly as if it was a frog’s tongue.

The bunny took my other hand the moment I started screaming upon seeing a pig in a tutu and dancing on it’s tip toes. I kept stumbling on my feet and I was lucky enough to have the rabbit and the chipmunk by my side to pull me up.

“Is it me or is her hallucination making unstable the more we keep moving? She was fine a moment ago.”

“I agree. Her hallucination was calmer a few minutes ago.”

“Something doesn’t want her to leave. That is why we have to leave before it gets worse. Now walk faster.”

I started shaking. Vines started morphing into snakes. Snakes similar to the one that PRINCE Ace and Ren killed back when we were in Tordis. But these snakes were smaller and kept on hissing. One of them swooped down and snapped its fangs in my direction and I had to bend down to avoid it. Unfortunately, the rabbit and the chipmunk were still holding my hands as they walked that I almost face planted on the ground. The two noticed my distress immediately and stopped. Both of my hands were shaking as I looked up. The forest itself was morphing and changing. Darkening as the snakes continue to hiss from the branches of the trees.

“She is being hysterical right now.”

There was a tsk and a grunt. “I feel like I am talking to bricks with you lot! You need to move your feet instead of your mouth! Something is coming and her familiar is sensing it too.”

“Can’t we take a little break? I don’t think she can move.”

“Carry her if you have to. But right now, our top priority is to get out of this dark forest. And-” The cat was cut off from my scream of terror as I pointed at the large snakes heading towards us and fast. I heard a few curses from them and in seconds, I was on the back of the chipmunk as we started running away from the snakes.

“This forest is weird.” I muttered. “Dancing pigs, bird eating mud, and ominous snakes coming after us. There’s even a purple dino singing a family song!”

“We know, Rose.” The chipmunk says.

“You see the purple and friendly dino too?!”

“No! I meant the killer vines!”

“You blind little chipmunk. Those are snakes!”

“Doesn’t matter. You are hallucinating!”

I dared to look back and saw that the snakes were still there. Hissing and snapping. I slapped one of them that has gotten too close for comfort. The bunny saw it too and swiped its paws and the snake’s head fell as it was cut into two.

“Move faster, mutt!” The rabbit yelled at the chipmunk. “Or let me carry Rose!”

“You wish!” The chipmunk says and started running quicker and ahead of the rabbit. I squinted my eyes as something appeared in front of us.

Is that a lever? Maybe that lever can put a stop to all of this madness.

“Pull the lever, Jacob!” I yelled and raised a hand to point at the said lever. A snake wrapped itself on my wrist and started to haul me up and away from the group. “WRONG LEVEEEEERR!” I screamed as I was being taken away with no idea which idiot pulled the wrong lever to make the snakes go berserk.

The last thing that I remember was being dragged on the ground and away from the group of animals. Jacob ran swiftly after me with a growl of frustration. ‘Damn it, Master!’

***

The moment I came to my senses, Custard was licking me awake. ‘Master? Master, you are awake!” He yipped with joy and continued to slobber me with kisses.

Eugh!

I pushed my familiar away and rubbed my head. “Custard, where am I? Where are the princes?” I asked as I looked around us. We were in a grassy plain field with a thick layer of mist floating all around us. I reached out and grabbed Custard since I was afraid of losing him in this place.

Custard stood by my side as well. ‘We got separated from them when the vines took you. They were not able to catch up.’

Oh boy. This is not good. “I suppose you can’t find them with your sense of smell?”

‘I can try, but it will be difficult with the other strong spiritual scents in this place.’ Custard said and started sniffing the ground.

I looked around us and screamed when I saw a figure standing behind me. I jumped and did a kick directed at it. My foot hurts as soon as I make contact. “Gah! Damn it!” I clutched my foot and jumped on the other as I tried to make the pain go away.

‘Master, that is -’ The human figure wobbled and leaned back. Then we heard a crash and Custard flinched. ‘-a holy statue. Was.’ Custard grumbled to correct himself.

I looked at him and smiled sheepishly. “Oh um...Oops? That was self defense!” I reasoned with him. “And maybe we can still fix it. We just have to go and have a look at its current state.” The fog started to clear up a bit and I could faintly see a stone pedestal where the said statue once stood. “I will go up and have a look.”

‘Master, that is rude.’

I ignored him and I jumped up and perched myself on top of the pedestal. I looked on the other side and saw that statue smashed into pieces. I gulped. “Custard, I have good news and bad news. Bad news is that we cannot fix this.” I heard my familiar grumble in dismay. “But hey! Good news is that we can still make a run for it and pretend this never happened! Let’s go!” I now stood up on the pedestal as I turned slightly to give Custard a proud grin for my wonderful idea.

‘Me too, Master. I have good news and bad news. Good news is that I found the people that you are looking for.’ He said and tilted his chin to the group of figures standing in front of us drawing closer and closer. My eyes widened as I drew the wooden hook swords from my back in order to fight if I have to. ‘Bad news is that you just broke their sacred statue.’

The fog started to part and I can already see about six of them bringing torches up to light the way. It is them - well not exactly the same people but I can feel it. Somewhere in my gut I can tell that these people are part of the same tribe that I saw in my dream.

Same animal skinned clothing only covering the important parts of their body. But despite the lack of proper clothing, they looked clean. About two middle aged women have their hairs tied behind their back and were holding bows and arrows. They both have their hands covering their lips and I could see tears forming in their eyes. Three men, who were about the same age as the females, gasped as they saw me. The last guy looked just about in his mid 20’s, dropped his weapon in shock.

Somehow I have the feeling that they were not happy about me destroying their statues. “I am so sorry. I swear I will pay-” I was suddenly cut off by a strong gust of wind that finally broke what little strength my hair tie has. Without my hair tie, my hair came loose and flowed freely in the air and I had to spit a few strands off of my face.

“GODDESS!” They all yelled in unison that I have to pause from shaking my head furiously to get rid of the stray strands from my face. Custard and I exchanged a confused look before looking back at the tribe, who now lowered all of their weapons except for the torch.

“Excuse me?” I questioned them.

Suddenly, they all dropped on one knee and bowed in front of me. Without moving our heads, Custard and I exchanged glances. “Right…this isn’t-”

“Goddess! The statue of the goddess finally came to life! We welcome you, goddess, to our humble land!”

Despite being a wolf, Custard’s jaw dropped - an expression that mirrored mine.