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Every step was a struggle, and I couldn't ignore the hunger pangs gnawing at my stomach anymore. The thought of food made me dizzy with desire, and my mouth watered at the idea of a hot meal. The day continued on, time unbothered as I grew more and more tired. I yearned for a place to rest- even if it was just for a moment, but I couldn't find any shelter from the scorching sun.
My lack of knowledge about this unfamiliar land made me nervous, and the feeling of being watched only heightened my unease. Although I couldn't see anyone, I had a strong sense of being followed, and the rustling grass hinted that I wasn't alone. But the wind was blowing so fiercely that I couldn't discern whether it was an animal or a person.
As I walked on, the landscape continued to change around me, transforming from the open prairies to small, wooded forests. The sun, unrelenting in its journey, casting long shadows over the trees and rocks. Despite my aching body and numb mind, I pushed on, driven by the knowledge that the castle was waiting for me.
With each step though, the weight of exhaustion seemed to grow heavier, threatening to bring me to my knees. I longed to collapse at the base of one of the trees, to rest and gather my strength. But just as I had made up my mind to do so, the sound of an angry chitter caught my attention.
Curious, I followed the sound until a flurry of movement caught my eye. A reddish honey-colored squirrel with a white underbelly darted from one branch to another, its tufted ears perked up in alarm. But where a tail should be, there was nothing. Cut short as it twitched in annoyance. He was unlike any of the squirrels back in Rothnia. Chittering away as nuts were pushed out of a burrow in the trunk. I could not stop the laugh that escaped my lips as I watched.
Such an interesting sight to behold honestly. He turned on me at the sound, “It isn’t very nice to laugh while others are in distress!”
It took me a moment to gather my bearings, still shocked at the possibilities, I couldn’t believe what I’d just heard. It spoke again, “Well don’t just stand there, be on your way!”
Carefully, I stepped toward the little creature, trying my best not to spook him. “Who are you?”
He scoffs, “Who are you?”
“Serra.”
“Hmm.” He shoved another handful of nuts into the hole before they came flying back out at him.
“What’s your name?” I asked.
“Jesper.” he replied gruffly.
“And what are you doing?”
Exasperated, “What does it look like?”
“Well,” I paused, assessing what I was looking at, “to me it looks like you are trying to shove nuts into a tree.”
“Yes, thank you for your obvious observation.” he huffed, “The problem is, the sprite that has decided to make it its home, keeps shoving them out.”
“Perhaps, you could find another spot?” I offered.
He chittered, his ears and tail twitched as he said. “Nonsense! I found this first, it's mine!”
Oh, he was a selfish little beast. “Would you like some help?”
“No. I do not need help from someone like you.”
Stunned, I replied, “What do you mean someone like me?”
“A round ear,” he said as he shoved yet another handful into the hole. The ringing of the sprite inside echoed, as if it was laughing at him as the nuts came back out again.
“A round ear?” My hand instinctively went to my own ear, brushing the top of it with my fingers.
Jesper turned to look at me, his beady black eyes scrutinizing as he scanned my face, “As I said, a round ear.”
“That isn’t very nice.”
Observing him, I could tell he had grown frustrated with his current task. He rested his hands on the branch before him and addressed me, “Girl, do you even know where you are? What are you doing here anyway?”
With reluctance, I replied to his inquiry, “Yes, I do. I have to reach the castle.”
He sat up abruptly. “The castle?”
“Yes.”
