Howl Your Appellations

Planes

BOEN OPEOR

The way back is easier than the way we entered. This is probably because I'm already a bit familiar with the place and still following Nikki's route. Apparently, Mei and Reese has their own routes that they follow although no route is better than the other. Is only a matter of preference. As we walked, I carried with me the little sculpture that I bought. I conditioned myself to just think about it for the time being, so I won't arouse any suspicion or trouble. The three of them just think that I am just obsessed with the thing.

"So when will you guys come back? I feel like I still shouldn't come here alone, even after the tournament." I ask them as we near the entrance and exit. They think about it and let Mei answer, "Well, there's still two weeks before the tournament. I still need to come back to place a notice that I'll be gone for a while. And as for groceries, you and Nikki already bought a handful. We'll make do with our hunted food until the tournaments are over."

Mei blushes and realizes that he didn't answer my question as directly, "So, um, within next week I will come back but I don't recommend you tagging along. This market can be mischievous." he answers.

"I understand. I'll inevitably come back eventually. I know how to get here now after all!" I laugh, knowing that the knowledge won't just come with satisfaction. "Of course, I'll tell you guys in advance. I'm talking about the far, far future." I add, to somehow save face. They already think I'm a little menace right now.

"Well, you have been very cooperative with our demands so far. Keep it up!" Nikki reassures me. It kind of weird that she isn't holding my hand anymore. My hand kinda wants to go back to her motherly hands.

"That's very unexpected of Boen. I'm proud of you, Bud." Reese nudges me. I feel a slight blush rush to my cheeks but I choose not to banter with Reese at the moment.

We finally made it through the portal door and I honestly feel like I've been carrying a bag of stones. I am so worn out. I can feel my feet wobble. Until inevitably,

"'W-whoa! Boen are you, okay?! Dude." Reese catches me before I fall. Thankfully, I was gripping my little trinket so closely that it didn't fall and shatter. Mei checks if there was something wrong with me, he gives me a worried sigh.

"You're just exhausted. But I don't understand why. We're in a different pocket now." He scratches his head, "Hmm, let's discuss this with Imus and the others at the Train, I'm sure they'll be done training by the time we get back. Hop on everyone!"

"Oh! Mei, let me carry the basket for you since you'll be carrying us." Nikki intervenes.

"Oh! Right, here." Mei gives the heavy grocery backpack basket to Nikki, and since I can't stand up properly, Reese had to carry me and jumped on to Mei's rotund full Were form.

We set off and as much as I'd love to sleep in between Reese and Nikki, the roads are too bumpy. Mei's rushing and it's not a very comfortable ride. Still, I'm glad that I'm not walking anymore. If I was allowed to float around, I think I would have been in a better state than now. Does my new found power affect my stamina, now? That's a good theory to discuss with the pack, otherwise that, I can't even think about anything else.

"You, feeling better, Boen?" Reese shakes my shoulders a little. I kinda wanna remove my metal leg right now.

"Hm? Yeah I'm just really tired from walking around. I don't usually get tired but maybe it's some sort of pocket dimension jetlag! Hahahaha" I kid but it doesn't get a laugh from the two of them.

"I've never ridden an airplane so I don't get it but I think I understand. I read a novel about that." Reese replies.

"A novel about jetlag? What's it about?" I ask a bit intrigued, I need something to take my mind off taking my leg off.

""Well, Nike found it at a picnic spot humans used to go to here in the forest. The spot's long gone now because of the fast growing trees and people moving in to the city." Reese gives me a brief backstory of the book in topic, "Normally, Nike doesn't like to read books much, but this book had a picture of a made-up plane. It's tail was colored with the flag of a fantasy country: Peach, Lavender, Aqua, and Deep Blue."

Reese takes a pause to gulp what was in her throat and she continued, "Nike and I, we've never ridden an airplane. Well, Imus and Lissana never got a chance too but what Nike and I had in common was our fascination with airplanes. We'd sometimes run around the forest hoping a plane would pass by. It was our thing. So anyway, he found this book of a pilot who delivers letters to the royalties of the only two countries in their fantasy world. He's the only one they trust to do so because, he's apparently not a citizen of either country. He just fell in from the sky and into the ocean."

"Whoa, that's a really interesting book! Do you still have it? It honestly sounds so intriguing!" my mood's lifted a bit. Learning more about Nike and Reese at the same time was something I didn't know I needed.

"The book's somewhere in my room! I just hope I didn't burry or rip it. I was in a dark, dark place when Nike died." She explains sadly.

I opened my mouth without thinking, "I'm sure it's still there. And if it isn't, then you still have the planes in the sky and the story in your head, right?"

Reese stays silent for a while, but replies softly with a, "Yeah."

We cross the dimension with the flowers and finally reach the first one. The ride stayed silent since Reese closed her mouth. I didn't mind since the silence was necessary. It was necessary until Reese decides that it isn't anymore.

"Now, you guys tell Boen stories about Nike! I can't be the only sentimental one since the Lava Moon started!" Reese throws a tiny tantrum.

"I've already told her a LOT. I deserve peace now." Nikki replies but she's not wrong. I think she told enough stories for me in one day.

"Then Mei! I know you can hear us! Tell us something!" Reese gives his soft Wolf Were body tiny kicks.

Mei doesn't stop running and says, "I'll tell Boen a story when we get back home." This does not please Reese but she can do nothing about it. She sulked all the way back to the Train.