Basket of Cupcakes

In the densest part of the woods, at the base of a very old and very large weeping willy, sat a very sad and morbid gnome person.

He lay lifeless on a moss patch staring blankly up into the dense canopy of the tree.

I am such a loser. A weeping willow tree suits me fine. Because I’m a weeping poor sod of a friend.

This was the sort of unhealthy self-talk he gave himself daily since Ella was snatch.

From the corner of his eye, he spotted a giant figure. His heart leapt. Could it be Ella? He ran towards the figure shouting out her name until he bumped face first into Ethan’s shin. Ethan resolved then and there to ensure he cuts his hair when he gets back as well as possibly grow a beard.

“You are not my Ella, but you are her type of creatures. Who are you?” He yelled annoyed. Yori flew down to calm Flimp.

“Flimp!

My buddy, it’s me, Yori! I missed you much. These here hooman’s are Ella’s family. Come to save her they have.” He flew down and grabbed Flimp in a very soft bear hug.

“What are you’s doing living all the way down here? Whatever happened to the tinkering?”

At that, Flimp fell on the spot again in self-pity. “My Ella, she’s gone. I am a loser, couldn’t save her you know’s. Terrible friend I am. Better off living alone.

“How absolutely melodramatic!” Claire exclaimed. “He is worse than you Kiki!” At that, Ethan smacked her over the head and dragged her to one side to give her a good chatting to while the rest of them followed Yori as he dragged Flimp on the mossy ground. Flimp made no attempt to stand up.

“Come, Flimp, direct me to your place,” Yori said, as he walked off with Flimps hand in one, dragging the little man along. Flimp directed him past a few toadstools and some elaborate directions that included two acorns, a rabbit hole and a caterpillar. While they walked for a while in circles, Ben and crew stood in place. Finally, when Yori and Flimp reached the weeping willow, all they had to do was turn slightly to the right. I was all very humorous.

Yori roughly propped a very limp Flimp against a toadstool but Flimp kept on flopping over so Yori decided a good few slaps would jack him up to the present. After a good few smacks, Flimp jumped up.

“Ok Yori man!

My face does not require tenderizing!”

He shouted as he rubbed his glowing red cheeks.

“I don’t know, you finally have a healthy glow to yourself. Better than the morbid face I was looking at a few minutes ago.”

Yori said thru a satisfied smirk.

“Look here Flimp, the quicker we help this here hooman find her mum, the quicker I can go back to my peaceful life. You owe me Flimp! I pulled you out of heaps of trouble many times.”

Flimp sat down again. “Oh, there are ways to save her alright. I met a traveller who had been to Saspine County. I didn’t believe him at first until she showed me a strand of that awful saswatch fur. I invited him to stay the night instead of sleeping under a bush and he was much grateful. He told me about his adventures and how he got into Saspine’s. And I knew then, there is no way I will get there. First one must tame the great phoenix that lives in the forbidden forest. Before I even say so much as a Hi there, I’ll be eaten. Once tamed, it is then in your control to fly up to the floating mountains to locate six totems. Once you have these, a gateway opens to Saspine Country. I’m no use to you, Yori. But if it pleases you, the man left a map to make locating them totems easy for the next traveller. Here, take it.” And he pulled a rolled parchment and handed it to Yori.

“Thank you Flimp! Are you sure you don’t want to join the rescue crew?” Asked Yori.

“No, when I finally see Ella safe and sound, only then will I see a twinkling of life again.

In the meantime, all I serve as is food to many creatures, so my presence will just bring allot of unrequited attacks.”

At that, they left Flimp to his comforting misery and followed Thimble back to the main streets. Time, as Ben noticed was not linear at all here, but he did feel tired. Maybe if he did sleep, he’d away again back home and secretly promised that he will never drink again.

Thimble escorted them to the Inn-takers paradise. A larger than usual Inn that snuggly fitted all of them, although Ben could not stand up straight at all or his head may pop thru the roof. For Ben, he was fascinated that no one in Briar Blane required compensation for anything. That alone told him he was in a perfect dream.