Silverwood

A companion

Those wizards were so sweet. They gave me food for the journey and some leaves. They said that particular somewhat similar to a mango leaf is their currency. That plant's leaf size set its currency value. I can say the small one, it is ten rupees, a little bigger than that is, let's say twenty. I don't think they have maths here. All goes in presumption. Like it happened in retrospective times. Mina told me that these leaves are not any ordinary ones. Cultivation of this plant is f*******n for others. Only fairies can cultivate above in the clouds. Plants that are grown on the clouds, fascinating. 

On my way, my glance captured many unusual things. I begin from that road but avoided the woods. I swear I will never, ever get inside the woods. They really don't have street lights. In fact, they have an alternative to electricity. And that is of course the magic. The one having magic has everything, but the one who doesn't have it is the miserable person there. And for magic, peoples need crystals. Some can afford it, but many can't. I can't change anything, but I am glad that I gave some source of energy to my savior. 

People on earth said these creatures are mythical. They don't exist. But they do. I bet someone came here like I did and went back too. Told stories of this place to others and it went viral. It gives me hope. A hope that I can go back too. 

They have roads made of big blocks of stone. Vehicles designed quit same. But their vehicle floats in the air. The fuel is a crystal. No one gave me a lift. I am walking alone all the way there. It is a wizard's colony. I have to pass it, then I have to move further. Straight in the north. I can not bear walking that long-distance like this. But I have to. But I don't see any unicorns around. I don't know they even exist or not. 

Why am I here? The sun is a lot bigger here. Five moons, one big sun. What a weird place. The flowers here sparkle. I don't dare to get near to any of them. Crystals are their lives. And my bag is full of crystals. Actually, my friend gifted me that bracelet on my engagement day. Sukanya her name. I don't like her much but don't know why I tolerate her. Maybe because everyone bullied her because of her obesity. And I didn't, so she got stuck to me. I feel it is better to have more people around you. It feels that you are important. But my other friends don't admire her at all. She made this kind of similar bracelets for the whole g**g. But no one liked it. It was odd to return her, so I kept the other in my bag, saying that they all accepted her gift. Look that saved me today. And maybe save me furthermore. 

My food is almost going to finish. I have to use the money given by my savior. Two days of continuous walking made me exhausted. I crave spicy chicken. My life was perfect. I was a princess. Servants used to follow me everywhere. I was getting anything before uttering a word. And here I had to exchange my Gucci high heels with the tackiest shoe given by those wizards. They saved me, I should be thankful to them, but I am frustrated. The house carved inside the rock is very hot like boiling, I had to spend a night in the motel. I miss my comfortable bed, fully air-conditioned room, luxurious rides. 

It is very hard to act as I belong here. It is really hard to mix up. Once I was amazed by watching a guy on a floating bike. I was staring at him. And he scolded me. Said, "What are you gaping at? Never saw a yeti riding a bike before?". No, I really haven't seen a yeti ever. Plus a floating bike, too. 

The weather is too hot, and I ran out of sunscreen. I am too sensitive to the sun. At night their many horror effects scared me. Tonight I don't find any motel around. It is because I am out of the colony. I have to spend the night out under the sky. In this unacquainted place, it is very dangerous to stay out at night. 

I found a small hill. I hopped up. There stood a tree, and I decided to rest there. It feels safe because this tree is somewhat familiar to the one we find on earth. I am too tired. After eating the last supper given by the wizard ladies, I lay down and stared at the sky. It was full of stars. With two full moons and a quarter moon. Soon only two moons will be visible. In no time, my eyes get closed. 

***

The bright sunlight woke me up. I stretched a bit and got fully awake. Hun? This place is weird. The huts that look fix in the ground, move. Many huts are passing me like the land is moving. No! The huts are fixed in their place. I am the one who is moving. It is shaking. One hand of mine is holding the branch of the tree and with that support, I lean forward to see what's actually happening. 

I see a leg. I assume that I am above a giant tortoise. Oh no. What should I do? 

Where is it taking me? I must check it on the map. Woh! It is actually heading in the direction I am supposed to go. Thank you so much. It covered many kilometers that I had to walk. According to the map, I had to cross the river after passing the wizard's colony. Then a cyclops plateau. That I passed thanks to this gigantic tortoise. Now I believe the old saying. 'If you truly desire something, the whole destiny will work on for you to get it.' My favorite actor once said it in a movie. That time I felt it was only a script-demanding dialogue. But no, it is actually true. I am getting what I truly desired. 

The breeze feels good. From high up here, I am safe and secure. I can watch others moving in their vehicle, looking at me. I waved at them. I am going to where I wanted to on a comfortable ride. When I am not that worried about getting caught. And not that stressed about walking, I can finally enjoy the view. 

I see a pink river where the tortoise stopped and drank water; I guess. And guess what it crossed it, and I have easily cleared another huddle. Inside the water, I feared a bit whether I will get into the water, but no, nothing happened. Some fishes jumped over the tortoise. I fetched one for my lunch. But how can I cook it? This tortoise back is full of green grass, I wonder if I can make a fire here or not. 

I break some branches from the tree and placed them on the surface. I searched in my bag for a lighter. No, I don't smoke at all. But my dad, sometimes. Whenever he is under stress. On that evening, I snatched the lighter from him. Not allowing him to smoke. I never thought that a simple gesture of care will help me this much. I made a fire. After all the difficulties. I remembered my campfire. Somehow cooked it. It was totally bland. But I have to eat it. I miss the pizzas, noodles, and all kinds of street foods. I noticed one thing when a person is in a situation with no food. He or she misses the most basic dishes with street foods. No authentic, continental, or other stuff. At least I have learned some survival skills in our camp outing. 

I feel like I am on a boat. It is dangling. I feel dizzy. Better to take a nap. I laid down again. And my eyes are about to get close. 

"Stop!" A guy's yelling sound came.

I got up to see the matter. An elf passed me on a bike and others chased him. That event startled the tortoise to such an extent that it started to shake more. No! 

"Calm down, big guy. Please calm down." I am patting it to calm it down. But nothing is working. 

Oh no, it changed the direction. Don't, don't don't! It moving faster. The surface is getting softer. The tree falls out in no time. I had to hold on. I grabbed the grasses. No, those grass got off too. It seems hard to hang on. A pack of moss green Komodo dragons surrounded us. They are green and the reptile I am on is green too. Soon the reptile I am on transformed from a tortoise to a Komodo dragon. 

It can transform? 

It started running faster. I am hanging onto it. If I fall, I'll get smashed under their feet. It is a nightmare. Where are you running? I guess they got prey. Woh! They are competing with each other for prey. They are pushing each other. It is a fight. I will get mashed between them. The race is on and they are competing hard. It is frightening. The dust stopped my vision to go further. 

Soon my vision came when the one gets to the first position. I see a small raccoon of orange color limping but running fast to save its life. They all are after that raccoon. He is injured. But wants to save his life. I am in that situation as well. I want to save my life too. I have to find a way to get out of this problem. But what can I do? The dust again. I covered my eyes with my arm. I heard some roaring sound.

"Ahh!"

Fortunately, I fell into such a place near the rock that protected me. I am safe. 

"Huff!" Exhale a breath of relief. 

The pack moved straight. Maybe it is the last day of the raccoon.

"Goodbye, buddy." 

About to leave but heard something. Like a child is crying. I am scared but, I should check. After gathering courage, I peeped inside a hole. There is a marigold color cat. It is so adorable. There is a way to get near to him. The cat looked at me with that cute kitty eye that can melt any human's heart. He is injured. 

"You are injured too?" 

Wait! It is the same spot where the raccoon had the wound. Don't tell me that you transform too. If you do so, you are the most scariest thing in this world. I moved back out of fear. 

"No, I can't help him. He is an animal who can transform into any deadliest animal on the earth." 

"But he's injured."

I am fighting with my own thoughts. I have a dilemma. I am moving forward to him a few steps then moving away. This back-forth movement of mine continued for some minute. Then finally I am going to help him. With a shaky hand, I am trying to reach out to his claws. 

"Nice kitty." I hope it works. 

The cat cooperated. I reached out to him or maybe her, who knows. I don't want to check that either. I always carry a handkerchief with me. And some beauty products that contain some medicinal properties. I tied that on his claws as a bandage. I hope it will heal him. 

I stepped away from him soon. The surrounding looks safer now. The Komodo dragons went away earlier. It is a desert. In my map, the desert part is on the right. So I am in the east. Fine, not much damage is done. I can still get on the way. 

I am thirsty and tired. Walking on a sunny day. There is an assurance that it is going to be evening. But another worry that where I'll spend the night. 

What is that? I heard something moving. Turn around to see it. Found nothing. Again. Something is following me. I can sense someone's presence. 

I start running to avoid any danger. The sound approaches faster. While running, I fell down. No! I closed my eyes.

"No!"

"Bhuff!" Dog's soft bark.

Opened my eyes and saw a puppy with my handkerchief in one leg.

"You little. You scared me to death."

He started liking me.

"Okay... stop...stop."

He is adorable. 

"Hey, don't follow me. Go back."

He tilted his head. 

"Hey, orange candy. Go. Shu.. Shu.."

He keeps following me. 

"You are adorable. But scary too. I can't take you with me. I can't afford any danger. Go."

After a big sigh, I moved forward. But it keeps following me. Fine follow me. But please don't eat me. 

I am inside a forest of some weird-looking trees. My stomach is crying out of hunger. I am leaning on a tree and trying to rest. 

"Bhuff!"

"What happened?"

Wow. Such a loyal animal. Don't know from where but he brought some fruits. He transformed into a monkey and start eating the fruit with its two hands. So it is edible. 

I dig in too. After our dinner, he came near to me. Playing cute. Asking me to pet him. I can't resist it. 

"You can come with me. In my journey, I need a travel companion."  

We slept cuddling each other.