Not What It Seems

After a couple more day of travelling, Vudu and I finally made it to the Southern Enchanted Forest. I could feel a physical difference once we stepped into the border of the trees. As Vudu guided me through the branches, our progress slowed due to the lack of a path. We were surrounded by unfamiliar sounds. The smell was different as well. Everything that I passed or touched seemed different in some way or another.

“Careful here.” Vudu’s voice said as he slowed. “There’s a slime trail. Slippery.”

He stopped and held both my arms while I stepped over the area that was indicated. After passing that, he continued to help me past any obstacles in the way. He was silent. Either he was focusing too much on the forest, or he was deep in thought. Vudu being this quiet was a little unsettling. I missed his jokes and tricks. Where did they go?

“Vudu?” I called.

“Hmm?” He responded, but from what I could feel, he didn’t turn to look at me.

“Are you okay?”

He continued to walk. “I’m fine. This is just the first time I’ve had to navigate the Forest with someone, so I have to make sure I pay attention and avoid any dangers.”

My hand squeezed his. “But you haven’t made really any jokes in the past few days.”

“I have more important things to focus on.” He responded.

I pulled him to a stop. “I’m worried about you, Vudu.”

He turned towards me. “You should be worried about yourself.”

“Looks like I don’t need to, because you’re doing that for me.” I responded while pulling my hand away and crossing my arms.

“Zeriah,” He sighed.

“You’re not even calling me Firefly anymore.”

This caused him to quiet for a few moments. I stood there in silence and waited for him to respond. I had noticed a change in his behavior for a while now. Not so many jokes, more concern for me. Though once and a while he would tease, it still wasn’t like before. I wanted him to know it was okay to still have fun despite the situation. I wanted him to know that he could still be himself.

“I just...” he finally spoke. “I just want to make sure that you are taken care of. The time for jokes is not right now. They waste too much time.”

My hand went to my head. “Vudu, I’m grateful that you care for me so much, but you’ve always been a wise cracker and a joker. Just because I am in this situation, doesn’t mean that you can’t do that. I know you’re worried about me. But not hearing you laugh at your own jokes worries me. I want you to have fun and be funny. It’s a part of you, and you shouldn’t have to stop that just because of what’s happened.”

“Are you telling me to stop worrying about you?” He asked. “Because if that’s the case, I’ll have to tell you that’s impossible.”

I chuckled a bit. “No, I’m not telling you to do that. But I am saying that if you want to crack a joke every once and a while. I’m fine with that. I’ve missed your jokes, and I think you do too.”

He was silent for a moment and grabbed my hand. Turning it so my palm was facing up, he used his finger to place two dots and then a half circle under them. A smile? Was that what he was trying to tell me? Was he showing what he was feeling with a simple drawing? The thought made me smile as well.

Taking my hand again, we continued to walk through the forest. After several hours, we found a place to rest for the night. Vudu had created a fire and I sat leaning against a tree. Though this forest felt vastly different from any place I had ever been, I could hear things that seemed to bring music to the woods. It was peaceful and, for lack of better words, enchanting.

“Firefly?” Vudu sat next to me. “I wanted to discuss with you about how we get into Diab.”

I turned towards him. “What do you have in mind?”

“I’m certain we will reach the portal by tomorrow, and so far, only Ripper knows of my sympathies towards you and other mortals. He would have told people to be ready to drag you away by force, and to imprison me.” He explained. “My plan is not pleasant, but I believe it will get us in, and I will be able to get you the antidote after that.”

“I understand.”

“I must warn you though.” He continued. “In order for it to be real enough to fool the others, I can’t tell you the plan in detail. I just need you to trust me.”

I reached over and touched his arm. “And I do.”

His hand covered mine and gave it a small squeeze. It didn’t take me too long to fall asleep after that conversation. The warmth of the fire, the sounds of the forest, and the comfort of Vudu next to me was all I need to rest.