11 End of Chapter Three || Nightmarish Chauffeur (2/2)
”You knew where I was going?” Essairyn exclaimed.
The nightstalker gave a knowing look and proceeded to trudge towards the base of the colossal tree. Once they reached the roots, the nightstalker lifted its hand and placed Essairyn and Akari onto the highest point it could reach.
Baffled by the turn of events, Essairyn blinked at the nightstalker who had an benevolent expression on its face, or as benevolent as a five-story skeletal monster could make.
It had carried them safely to the tree in such a short time despite the distance. She gave it a small grateful nod and stepped off the large hand onto a bough. Seeing on her land there, the nightstalker backed up and waved before plodding off again into the night.
Essairyn blinked again.
”Did it just escort me here?” she asked, dumbfounded.
Remembering Errol's warning about demons in the night, and the ominous red eyes following her in the undergrowth, she felt a touch of amity toward the night stalker. After her previous two demon confrontations, nighttime would make even the bravest of souls skittish.
Of course, the so-called night guardian's actions were still suspicious and its motive, unclear, but nevertheless, she appreciated the escort. The ride was rather thrilling in spite of the gutsy gamble. She also wondered how she was able to stay on its palm so easily while moving so fast.
”Beats me. I'm tired,” declared Akari belatedly after a yawn, slouching on the girl's shoulder, ”And hungry.”
”Hah, you're always hungry,” Essairyn commented.
”I'm still growing,” Akari retorted lazily.
Essairyn grinned at the cute fox and then leapt powerfully up onto the next branch.
”Whoa whoa whoa! Why're you jumping when you could fly?” the fox shrieked tensely as the girl leapt upwards.
She laughed merrily as the grumbling fox clung onto her shoulder.
”Exercise before bed is apparently good.”
In truth, Essairyn needed to expel her excess energy and anxiousness. This was the first night. If tomorrow she should wake up still in the treehouse, only then would her remaining angst disappear, and the new reality, begin.