Píp the cat lay on a large, sunlit stone by a river, deep in the forests of Dimkarat. Another, translucent and glowing, Píp the cat stood on the same large, sunlit stone and looked at herself in disbelief.
«This is so weird.» She rounded herself a couple of times. «Am I... dead?» She bowed down and listened to her body breathing. «Apparently not.»
Ból, the tree spirit, flowed out of the young tree next to the stone: a nexus of amber light with enormous roots, sinking into the mossy ground, and gigantic branches full of leaves, stretching far over the sunlit canopy of the forest.
«This is even weirder.» Píp stared at him with big eyes.
It is? Ból laughed, and colorful streaks swirled through the nexus and up its branches.
Píp looked back at her sleeping body. «Do you have a body somewhere?»
Not for a long time. The words carried fond remembrance and memories of a tree on the side of a mountain, from a fragile, small seedling to an ancient, tired giant.
«Can I go back?» Píp carefully booped herself on the nose and jumped in surprise. «I FELT THAT!»
It is still very much you, and you can go back any time. Ból flowed onto the stone, cradling the body in fine roots. You must care for yourself.
Píp nodded.
Now, remember how you promised to listen? A gnarled face appeared in the nexus and looked directly at Píp.
«Yeah?» Her ears focused on the face.
For now, do not go alone. There were more memories in these words of getting lost in an alien world without direction and light, without a place to bury your roots and drink the sun.
«Ok, I'll stay at your side.» Píp shivered. «Now, about those trout.»
#writing #microfiction #smallstories #tootfic #fantasy
