deeply as to extinguish the anger raging inside, Ama looked at Roarke, sitting where he sat.
- Understand this human, hurt our kind and no being will stand between you and my retribution.
Upon his command, the pack regrouped and bounded off north. Before setting off, Ama turned around and faced Korri.
- I hope you know what you are doing, sister.
- Trust me brother, trust me.
***
“Beetlefactor”
- For someone so weak, you sure are heavy!
- Well gee, I’m sorry! I should have thought of that before I foolishly went and got my ribs punched into the next week!
They were walking north, closing in on their destination or at least Roarke guessed as much. For every hour that passed, the forest seemed to ascend to another level. The trees grew bigger and wilder than any Roarke had ever seen, and he had seen some big trees. It wasn’t just the flora that grew more vibrant, on every other branch sat a bird that Roarke had never seen before. Some of them were short and stout, sitting perched like gray balls of feathers, their chests emblazoned in carmine red. Others had feathers that took on a shining quality that made it look like they were covered in scales of orange and turquoise gems. Curious eyes that watched as they slowly made their way through the green pillars that made up the land. Korri had offered to carry him but Roarke had insisted on that he would be fine with a shoulder to lean on, lest his pride take a bigger beating than his body had.
- Yeah well that was stupid wasn’t it? Make sure you consider that next time.
- Yeah, fuck you too.
They shared a smile as they passed through another thicket, that rose every so often, like green walls separating the forest into roofed halls.
- We’re here.
In front of them were a sight worthy of awe, by some sublime border there lay a grove within the forest. A stream ran between the trees, giving off a babbling that had just a second ago been inaudible. The trees within the grove seemed even more than before, connected, vines and grasping branches creating natural walkways that started at ground level and that continued up into the canopies. Trees with white reflecting leaves allowed the sun more presence than usual, painting the trunks in amber tints.
- Wow.
- I know what you mean, home sweet home.
Roarke had always seen the beauty in nature but what lay before him was on another level. Had he been a man with such inclinations, he could have easily thought he had perished and entered a fabled paradise. Even if he had never set foot here before and didn’t know what this place had in store for him, he felt inexplicably at peace. After he had taken in the grand scope, he saw, upon closer inspection, activity up by one of the tree trunks that acted as one of the main columns of the natural construct.
- Are those..?
- Kappas? Yeah, they are.
- Is our “beetlefactor” one of them? Get it? ’Cause of beetles and benefactor....
- Har har! I got it, great joke.
- I know, it’s a gift.
Shaking her head, Korri turned back to face her missed home, only to see one of the Kappas coming up to meet them.
- Will you be okay to stand on your own for a moment?
- I think I’ll survive.
Leaving her injured travel companion behind, Korri shot off towards the incoming individual, a joyous spring in her step. The other Kappa responded by increasing her speed as well. For she was a she, Roarke could see that now. Velutinous antlers sprouted from a head of lush flowing hair. A river of strands shifting from hazel to wet dirt in color, twisting this way and that as she bounced forth on legs that ended in cloven hooves. Like Korri and Ama, her body was covered covered in a coat, hers a downy one, painted pale brown with details in darker tones. A face
- Understand this human, hurt our kind and no being will stand between you and my retribution.
Upon his command, the pack regrouped and bounded off north. Before setting off, Ama turned around and faced Korri.
- I hope you know what you are doing, sister.
- Trust me brother, trust me.
***
“Beetlefactor”
- For someone so weak, you sure are heavy!
- Well gee, I’m sorry! I should have thought of that before I foolishly went and got my ribs punched into the next week!
They were walking north, closing in on their destination or at least Roarke guessed as much. For every hour that passed, the forest seemed to ascend to another level. The trees grew bigger and wilder than any Roarke had ever seen, and he had seen some big trees. It wasn’t just the flora that grew more vibrant, on every other branch sat a bird that Roarke had never seen before. Some of them were short and stout, sitting perched like gray balls of feathers, their chests emblazoned in carmine red. Others had feathers that took on a shining quality that made it look like they were covered in scales of orange and turquoise gems. Curious eyes that watched as they slowly made their way through the green pillars that made up the land. Korri had offered to carry him but Roarke had insisted on that he would be fine with a shoulder to lean on, lest his pride take a bigger beating than his body had.
- Yeah well that was stupid wasn’t it? Make sure you consider that next time.
- Yeah, fuck you too.
They shared a smile as they passed through another thicket, that rose every so often, like green walls separating the forest into roofed halls.
- We’re here.
In front of them were a sight worthy of awe, by some sublime border there lay a grove within the forest. A stream ran between the trees, giving off a babbling that had just a second ago been inaudible. The trees within the grove seemed even more than before, connected, vines and grasping branches creating natural walkways that started at ground level and that continued up into the canopies. Trees with white reflecting leaves allowed the sun more presence than usual, painting the trunks in amber tints.
- Wow.
- I know what you mean, home sweet home.
Roarke had always seen the beauty in nature but what lay before him was on another level. Had he been a man with such inclinations, he could have easily thought he had perished and entered a fabled paradise. Even if he had never set foot here before and didn’t know what this place had in store for him, he felt inexplicably at peace. After he had taken in the grand scope, he saw, upon closer inspection, activity up by one of the tree trunks that acted as one of the main columns of the natural construct.
- Are those..?
- Kappas? Yeah, they are.
- Is our “beetlefactor” one of them? Get it? ’Cause of beetles and benefactor....
- Har har! I got it, great joke.
- I know, it’s a gift.
Shaking her head, Korri turned back to face her missed home, only to see one of the Kappas coming up to meet them.
- Will you be okay to stand on your own for a moment?
- I think I’ll survive.
Leaving her injured travel companion behind, Korri shot off towards the incoming individual, a joyous spring in her step. The other Kappa responded by increasing her speed as well. For she was a she, Roarke could see that now. Velutinous antlers sprouted from a head of lush flowing hair. A river of strands shifting from hazel to wet dirt in color, twisting this way and that as she bounced forth on legs that ended in cloven hooves. Like Korri and Ama, her body was covered covered in a coat, hers a downy one, painted pale brown with details in darker tones. A face
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