8 The Forest Demons (1/2)
I waded through groves of trees, got stung by thorns and disconcerted at any faint noises.
Bushes moved and I attached myself to Dylan. Temporarily found him as a sanctuary. ”So—something—something's over th—there—”
We stood looking tensely in that direction. My wet palm held onto his shirt. A grey skinny wolf with hungry eyes trod out of the thick of wood. Dylan straightened up and smiled.
”Dylan?” A rough voice was coming from the wolf's direction. I strained my sight trying to see the person who was walking behind that dog.
The wolf came forth, shook its shaggy bodies and threw itself on its hind legs. Very fast, its fur melted together and became one smooth piece of lighter skin. In no time, it had the torso and lower body of a human while the sharpness of the claws and fangs, the fluffy ears, and the tail remained. The guy standing in front of us spoke the same voice I heard before.
”Hello, Dylan.”
Hell! It's a werewolf!
”Cody!” Dylan beamed and hugged the werewolf. They exchanged a few words of greetings before the werewolf observed me with the same hungry eyes.
”This is Leigh.” said Dylan. ”My contractor.”
Cody bore his fangs at me, wait—is he smiling? ”Cody, wolf demon, nice to meet you.”
”A—wolf demon?”
”Of course! What do you think I am? Puppy demon?” Cody laughed. His strong dog smell made me took a few steps back. But I could not take my eyes off of those cute fluffy ears, I wanted to touch it so bad. No, it's too risky. ”Come on, let's go in.” He said. ”Your wings look burnt too Dylan, let us get you some herbs.”
I looked at Dylan astonishingly. So he was hurt from Jimmy's fire after all. ”Are—are you alright?” I asked. It was partly my fault.
Dylan smiled. ”I told you it's nothing.”
Cody led way deep into the shrubs. I looked about nervously wishing someone could tell me where we were going. Taking out an iPhone, I took photos of the surroundings so I could remember the way back, like when we do at a parking lot. My attempt was in vain. All of the photo of trees and trees failed to hint me of where I was. I soon lost the tracks. If the demons were to keep me in here or eat me, this was their best chance.
We went into a thick barrier of hedge-like things and after seeing only leaves for a few minute, we came into an opening.
If I was to tell you what this place was like, it was not big, not small, but spacious enough. Although the whole place was covered with tree canopies, but there was sufficient sunlight coming through chinks. Plants were soft and inviting and their gentle green made the place looked like a fantasy land.
There were all kinds of animals, bears, rabbits, deer, birds, ravens, wolves that stood up like Cody, and--WTF!...is this real?
That guy's lower part was like a horse…what do they call?--Centaur?
And the ones beside him were…half goats?
Seriously…now that I looked carefully, there was Legolas---or maybe it was just his friend-- sitting under a big tree.
What more, they were doing something like a CSR work, planting trees. This is absurd!
I was going to disappear into the hedges again when all the weirdoes spotted us and came running at Dylan. I was pushed aside and ignored. He was popular even among creatures.
”I'm so glad you visit us!” A small Legolas boy jumped at the demon. He turned his big bulbous green eyes keenly at me next. ”Hello.” He said.
”He--hell--” Yeah, hell! ”Hello. Are-are you an elf?” It was a stupid question. Obviously, he was an elf with those pointed ears.
”Oh,” Dylan swiveled his head around. ”This is Chane. He's a tree demon, or what human called elf, yes.”
”Nice to meet you.” Chane said and extended his tiny hands at me. I was obliged to take it.
Tree demon!? ”Ni-nice to meet you. I'm Leigh.” I looked about wondered if I should add my status. I didn't want to say it but would I get out alive if I didn't? ”Dylan's contractor.”
That drew a big smile and gleaming eyes out of Dylan and a Woo-hoo like something out of the creatures.The weirdoes were in awe. That seemed to get me more attention than I needed. They circled me and soon I was in the middle of demons. A few butterflies swarmed my head. When they were close enough, I saw human figures instead of those insects'. I screamed again. ”Fairies!”
”Flower demons.” One of them corrected me with tiny voice.
My head spun like a fairies--no, ferris wheel but a hundred time faster. ”If…if you're flower demons, Cody's wolf demon, then--” I rotated my eyes at the half humans. ”They are horse demons and goat demons, and--” I stared at Dylan. ”You are a bird demon!”
”Sort of.” said Dylan.
”And I'll have a dozen contracts now!”
”You can only have one contract at a time.” I heard Dylan said but the other demons already came taking my hands.