After I'm done changing into the clothes that the beautiful puma faced creature left for me which I have to admit that it looked way too revealing on me. It covered a bit of my chest and showed much of my legs. In fact, it seemed like I was wearing an underwear instead which I regretfully did not wear this time or else it would looked strange wearing it under this weird outfit.
I soon began to find out why after going outside.
The air felt sticky and uncomfortably hot despite the presence of so many trees.
The hut I was staying looked like it was part of a huge tree. It was definitely a wonder when I glanced around. What I saw is something that the human mind can't fully comprehend. Even though I've been staying here for a quite a while and see strange things daily, it still amazes me and took some time for my mind to fully conceive on what I'm seeing.
The trees are unlike what I've seen on earth. They are humongous, colorful (not the usual green), and its branches spread like a vine in different directions. Some of the creatures uses the branches as some sort of road while others used the small stream of water that flowed from the ground to some of the branches that seemed large enough to accommodate several huts. It looked magical.
It turned out that the hut I'm staying is where Lion used to stay before. Unlike the temperature outside, the temperature inside the hut is adjusted by him to make me comfortable.
While I was busy looking around, I heard sounds of high pitched laughter. I saw several small creatures which I assumed must be the offspring of the healer, since they looked like miniature versions of her.
At this point, I was alone outside the hut since Lion left to get food for us to eat. Ghost and Sly are busy getting orders for the mirrors and at the same time, promoting the grilled bbq place and the ice cream shop. Don't ask me what they named the shop since I still can't understand the weird symbols that they used nor understand hearing it. There is a limit in the human mind to fully grasp something outside of normality after all.
Suddenly, with laughter, the small creatures jumped from the branches and fell towards the ground.
LION WHERE ARE YOU???!!!! I screamed inside my mind as I am too panicked to move.
Oh sweet cream. The healer is going to murder me.
My legs started shaking and I began to think of reasons to give to the healer why her offsprings killed themselves while playing.
My mouth felt dry and I just stood there, too perplexed to do anything.
Suddenly, someone hugged me from behind and my heart nearly leapt out of my chest.
It's Lion.
He kept nuzzling my neck while holding me tighter. He must have noticed me in a state of shock as he stopped nuzzling and looked at me with a puzzled look on his face.
I killed them! I nearly sobbed as I told Lion everything that happened.
Lion smiled at me and assured me that I didn't kill them. He remembered something and told me to hold his hand.
Why? I asked him with a trembling voice.
He put a finger on his lips, signaling me to stay silent.
With a twinkle in his eyes, he asked me if I trust him. I slowly nodded even though I felt apprehensive on whatever he is planning to do.
We walked towards the edge of the branch and jump.
CUSS WORD!!!!!!
I closed my eyes instantly as I squeezed Lion's hand. I can feel his tail curling around my waist as we fell down fast. He yelled something which I don't understand as I struggled to open my eyes.
He urged me gently to open my eyes as I can feel us falling more slowly.
I slowly opened my eyes and was again speechless on what I saw. We are still far from the ground but I began to make out shapes of all sorts of creatures on the ground and huts of all kinds of sizes scattered here and there. I looked back and saw how far we actually leaped. It's like jumping from a building higher than the Burj Khalifa on earth. Yes I did visit it when I was back on earth and that's how I could tell that the tree I'm currently residing on is way taller. I wasn't aware on how tall this tree actually is since the "ground" that I assumed earlier is just one of the other tree branches. A light colored mist somehow covered in almost all areas, making some sort of artificial light since the rays from the suns cannot penetrate the thick leaves of the highest branches, making it seemed that we are in a different world.
This world is getting stranger each day.
I can understand why this place is some sort of haven for the preys as enormous flying predators cannot pass through the thick leaves. Going through land might proved too difficult as the branches has too many twists and turns, draining the patience of the hunter.
We finally landed on the ground with a soft thud. At least gravity doesn't seemed too harsh here. I can see the healer's offsprings running everywhere.
Good. They nearly gave me a heart attack.
....
I wonder where Pinky is?
I asked Lion while we were eating fruits at a clearing filled with tiny strange looking flowers.
Pinky is basking in the sunlight at one of the highest treetops, he told me nonchalantly.
After we are done eating, Lion signaled me to sit on his lap. I sighed and sat down on his lap while he eagerly nuzzled my neck again.
He wrapped his tail around my waist while his fingers continued to play with my hair.
He asked me what is troubling my mind since I looked a bit distracted.
I don't know my purpose in this world. If I were a novel, my novel would be rejected since the story has no particular direction, no plot at all. What am I doing here?
I was silent for a while, engrossed in my thoughts. Lion must have understood since he didn't talk but just embraced me. He placed his chin on my head and hummed some sort of a comforting tune.
I snuggled to him, needing comfort. His embrace became a bit tighter and I nuzzled his neck.
I finally told him about my thoughts. He listened without judgment while I pour out to him whatever is on my mind.
After several minutes of talking, I coughed, feeling my throat getting dry.
Lion magically conjure up a vial on what seems to be water inside. He made me drink and it soothed my throat. Satisfied, I pulled his arms closer and he happily obliged, hugging me with a tight embrace. He closed his eyes while he placed small kisses on my cheek.
How about you open your own clinic? So there's no need for you to go to different areas. Just do what you used to do back in your previous world, he said in a comforting voice.
I told him in a tiny voice that I'm afraid of being condemned as a result of the change it might bring to this territory.
Lion laughed and assured me that he would do everything to keep me safe and that his magic power is strong enough to destroy this territory.
Okayyyy. I definitely don't want him to get upset.
Don't rush, he continued. It's okay if my pacing is slow. There's no need to rush and not everything needs to be known. Sometimes life's purpose is the journey itself, the way we learn more about ourselves, welcoming changes and continuing on learning and discovering things.
He appeared relaxed, untroubled about anything.
He's right. I was too focused on knowing my direction that I forgot to have fun.
I held his face on my hands and smiled at him.
I hope you will be beside me every step of the way, I murmured, nuzzling his cheek.