by Ivory Autumn
“Come and get it,” a small voice squeaked. “Come…come and get your precious stick!”
“Alright,” Rhapsody roared, stepping towards the foliage. “I think I will!”
“Wait, Rhapsody,” Andrew cried.
Before Rhapsody could take another step, more rocks were launched at him, and a wave of snickering fill the air as he and his friends tried to dodge them.
“You are very bad creatures!” Rhapsody thundered, standing with a dignified posture amid the volley of rocks. “You are very naughty, and very wicked!”
The air was filled with more snickers.
“Brainless beasties!” Rhapsody cursed, shaking his head and scowling. “Your heads are all filled with moth dust, and spider webs. If you don’t treat us better, something extremely terrible will happen to your forest of dandelions!”
At that, the snickering abruptly died, and a blanket of severe quiet fell over the dandelion forest. Even the rustling grass hushed. The low chime of crickets ceased, and the evening breeze held its breath.
“See what you've done, Rhapsody,” Talic cried, hiding behind Rhapsody in fear. “You've made them mad.”
“Pig wash!” Rhapsody retorted. “They’re already mad!”
Talic’s eyes filled with fear. “That's my point!”
“Look!” Freddie let out a frightened gasp. The air above them filled with drifting dandelion tufts, on which the Twiskers were parachuting down all around them. Some settled on the ground beside them, others conveniently glommed onto the travelers’ backs as they fell.
“It’s an ambush! Freddie cried, yanking a furry creature from his back as it attempted to bite him with its sharp teeth.
“Sticky little monsters!” Talic yelled, unsheathing his sword and glaring at the creatures with wrath in his eyes. “Land on me, you die!”
“Help!” Rhapsody's muffled voice called to them from the ground as the tiny creatures engulfed him like a cloud. Andrew ran to his aid, and flashed his sword at the creatures. The sword’s purplish glow filled the dark night with an awesome glow, causing the small creatures to howl in fear, backing away from Rhapsody.
Andrew helped Rhapsody to his feet and watched as the gathering army of Twiskers parachuted from above and joined those on the ground, encircling them from every side.
“Please!” Rhapsody cried, above the din of angry Twiskers. “We mean no harm.”
“You are trespassing. That’s harm enough,” a burly Twisker said, stepping bravely forward. “Surrender your swords, or YOUR lives are forfeit.”
Rhapsody gazed with troubled eyes at the numberless concourses of furry creatures that surrounded them. Their big glowing eyes stared at them in hate, and their sharp looking spears and arrows were pointed hostilely in their direction.
“If we surrender our swords,” Rhapsody ventured, tipping a Twisker spear point away from his face, “do we have your word, that you will not harm us?”
The Twisker captain scowled and shook his whisker- covered face. “You will be treated as prisoners, spies and then thrown into the deep, where the fierce Liondens live, where you shall die. That is all I can promise.”
Rhapsody glared into the glistening eyes of the harsh Twisker. “That is harsh punishment indeed. Thrown to the Liondens.” He sighed. Surely, Andrew could make mincemeat out of the creatures with his powerful sword. But at what cost?
“Lay down your swords!” the captain commanded once again, watching them with careful eyes.
“A minute, if you please,” Rhapsody said, waving his hand in the air. “Let me first converse with my comrades---alone. Decisions like these need…ah…careful consideration. I mean…everybody should be entitled to choose how they’re going to die. Don’t you think?”
“Hurry, then,” the Twisker retorted, folding his arms, and bobbing his whiskers up and down as he nodded.
“You are most considerate,” Rhapsody said, gathering Andrew, Freddie, and Talic close to him. “There isn't much time. We’ve got to act fast. They outnumber us by the thousands, and one wrong move could be deadly for us. Using our weapons is out of the question. Like it or not, these creatures must become our friends. I must be able to get my staff back, and perhaps learn of Ivory's whereabouts.”
“Make them our friends?” Talic exclaimed. “I've had pet black widows that looked friendlier.”
Rhapsody glanced sideways at the gathering of angry Twiskers. “Even so, we must try to get out of this mess as peacefully as possible.”
“What do you suggest then?” Andrew wondered.
Rhapsody put a firm hand on Andrew’s shoulder. “You are to lay your hands on one of their dandelions and kill it, as soon as you get a chance. That should give these creatures a scare. If you know what I mean.”
“You want me to do what?”
“Time's up!” the Twisker captain shouted. “Have you made your choice?”
“Yes,” Rhapsody sniffed, wiping an imaginary tear away from his cheek, as if he was deeply moved about what he was going to say. He put on his most humble expression, while giving Andrew a sideways glance. “We have decided to...er...” he paused again, and glanced at Andrew, who was slowly backing up to one of the big dandelions.
“Speak up!” the captain cried.
Rhapsody looked up and nodded, as if he’d forgotten what he was about to say. All the Twiskers leaned in forward, listening with pensive expressions. “Oh yes, yes. We’ve decided, that our situation, is pathetically sorrowful, to be precise. And after considering all the logistics, and all the statistics---the ramifications of our situation could lead us to consequences that are unalterable. As the leader of our party, I have concluded that the outcome of our survival is of the most importance, and it is based upon the very choice you have now laid out before us.”
“And that means?” the angry Twisker snapped, his whiskers quivering with impatience.
“You don’t know what that means?” Rhapsody asked, speaking like a grownup to an ignorant child. “It means that.” he paused, and glanced over at Andrew nervously, and all eyes of the Twiskers followed his gaze.
“What is he doing?” the captain shouted. “Guards, get him!”
Rhapsody let out a forced laugh, and ran towards Andrew, drawing his sword protectively in font of his friend, trying to keep the whiskery creatures from foiling their plans.
“Guards, guards!” the angry Twisker cried. “Seize the boy, and kill the strangers. Their answer is their death!”
Masses of Twiskers thronged in about them, swords clashed, screams filled the air, and small arrows whizzed about their heads.
Amid this heated turmoil, a sudden flash of light filled the forest. All of the Twiskers paused, and watched as a bright wave of energy passed through Andrew's hands and crept up the stem of the dandelion, like liquid silver. The top of the dandelion exploded, and a loud popping rumble shook the earth. A smell like boiled spinach drifted through the air. Flaming dandelion tufts fell about them, like sparks from fireworks.
The mob of Twiskers dropped their spears and screamed in terror.
“Help!” they cried. “The world…the world…is ending! A dandelion killer! Vargas is here! Save us, oh save us!”
“Look at them run,” Andrew murmured, watching as the fleeing Twiskers scattered like frightened bugs whose log had been turned over. “You’d think I was somebody important.”
“That’s because you are,” Rhapsody said, helping Andrew to his feet. Andrew groaned, and nearly fell, but Rhapsody was quick to steady him. “Don’t worry. You’ll get your strength back in a day or so.”
“Oh, is that all?”
Rhapsody let out a loud laugh, then quickly turned as he heard a high-pitched “AHEM!” from behind.
Rhapsody held up his sword defensively, peering out into the darkness. “Come at us again, and we’ll put a curse on every single dandelion here.”
“Excuse me?” a small voice ventured from behind a dandelion leaf. “I believe that’d be an awfully bad idea, espec
ially when one of your own kind is staying here.”
“Oh? One of our own kind?”
“Yes,” the creature moved boldly from behind a leaf, and made its way toward them. Its glowing eyes blinked at them in curiosity. Moonshine shown through the creature’s thin leaf-like ears and its long whiskers twitched. It stood on its hind legs and sniffed the air, then scurried a little closer to them. It stopped and sniffed again.
“Her hair is red as a carrot,” its small voice ventured, “and she’s awfully, awfully bossy, especially for one who should appreciate the fact that I broke every Twisker law today by helping her escape, and letting her into my house.”
“Show us to her then,” Rhapsody commanded. “Quickly.”
The Twisker twitched its whiskers and scowled as if Rhapsody had offended him. “My, my, you’re bossy too. I should have known as much.”
“Bossy or not, we need to see Ivory. Is she safe?”
“Yes. Yes, of course she is. What kind of Twisker do you take me for?”
A look of relief crossed Rhapsody’s face. He lowered his sword. “Good!”
The Twisker stroked his whiskers and smiled. “Now that your pointy object is finally lowered, I may be open to negotiation for her.”
“What kind of negotiation?”
“Oh, nothing too complicated. I just want you to write a book about me.”
“You want me to what?”
“Yes. I want you to write a book, and fill it with the brave things I have done for you. I want everyone to read it and know how amazing I am.”
Rhapsody raised his brows. “And what is the name of the brave hero I am to use when I write this book?”
The Twisker smiled even bigger. “My name is Gogindy.”
“Very well then.” Rhapsody took a piece of parchment from his cloak, and using an enchanted feather wrote the words, “Once upon a time there was a brave Twisker named Gogindy, who saved Ivory from death. THE END.” He handed it to the Twisker. “I have written everything I know of you. I hope this works.”
The Twisker took the parchment and stared at it, frowning. “This is not a book! What do you take me for, an idiot?” The Twisker tore up the paper and turned to go.
“Wait,” Rhapsody called. “Please, don’t go. That was all I had to write. But the rest of the book is up to you. It is you, Gogindy, who will fill the pages of your book by the brave deeds you will do. Please, we need your help. I am Rhapsody Rumble, an elf of Levwood.” He paused and pointed to Andrew. “He’s also an elf, with special gifts that enabled him to kill your dandelion. The other two are Talic and Freddie---folk from the far away plains of Hollyhock Hollow.”
Gogindy glanced at Andrew warily. “If that boy is an elf, then why did he hurt something his people helped to create?”
“Better that,” Rhapsody answered, “than shed blood needlessly, don't you think?”
“Hmm,” the Twisker murmured. “I don't know, I just don't know. If you have really brought an elf, whose gifts are near the green things of the earth, then perhaps he can fix the damage he has done for all to see, and restore the Twisker's good faith in you.”
“That is an excellent idea,” Rhapsody replied. “But the boy is tired, and we are in need of food and rest. Will you show us to Ivory and give us a place to retire for the night?”
The Twisker sat on its hind feet, twitching its ears and whiskers apprehensively. “Food, rest? Hmmm. If I take you in, and king Dandywheel finds out, he will have all my whiskers shaved off, and he will hang me by my three tails. And that’s just the normal punishment. If he finds that I’ve helped you in addition to everything else that I’ve done, I’ll be tortured!”
“What else have you done?” Rhapsody wondered.
“Oh, too much to count. There was a man. I found him, helped him. But he left. He wasn’t as bossy as you, though. And thanks to you ugly humanies I’ll probably be stuffed with dandelion tufts and roasted on a spit. Oh, decisions, decisions. Why must they be so hard? Why…oh why?”
“Please,” Rhapsody pled, “we just need a place to rest for the night, and then we’ll be gone.”
Gogindy threw up his hands in defeat. “FINE! I guess one night won’t hurt too much. I can't help but think you human-things are somewhat cute…in an unattractive sort of way. Told myself once before that it was dangerous to keep humanies as pets, but you are so cute…so pink, so hairless, like a helpless rabbit with no fur. If we could only get rid of that nasty smell, and your bossy ways, I'd think your kind would be downright tip-top smaffy.”
“Smaffy?” Freddie repeated.
“Yes,” Gogindy said. “In our language smaffy means, splendid, good, perfect, wonderful.”
“So you think we’re actually pretty good, or smaffy?”
“No, no, that’s not what I meant. Oh, dear. I don’t know what I meant. All I know is that if I'm found out, I will be banished forever. But, so it is with beginning criminals…once they start, they might as well take the next step. I am not very favored as it is. Come, if you must. Follow Gogindy, if that is your desire.”
They thanked the gracious Twisker and then followed Gogindy, as he scurried through the green moonlit forest of dandelions, under huge leaves, over big rocks and past small gurgling brooks, until they reached a dandelion with great jagged leaves reaching outwards.
“Welcome to my humble, but comfortable home,” Gogindy said, his long whiskers twitching. He jumped onto a dandelion leaf nearest the ground, and a large opening appeared, revealing a doorway, and pleasant light that glowed from within.
They quietly slipped through the door, feeling rather surprised by the spaciousness inside. It was a comfortable round room, lit by pleasant glowing mushrooms that gave off a warm yellow-green glow. Small, wooden stairs were built into the side of the dandelion, spiraling up its tall green walls. Each set of stairs led up to separate wooden platforms, over which hung small hammocks.
“As you can see,” Gogindy said, pointing to a hammock that held the sleeping form of Ivory, “she’s safe and sound. Ivory wake up, I have brought your friends to you.”
Ivory immediately awoke, jumped up from her bed, and hugged her friends. “I’m so glad you’re all alright.’
“Yes,” Rhapsody murmured, smiling as Ivory kissed his cheek. “Me too. Thanks to Gogindy here.”
Gogindy smiled and proudly led them to his kitchen table, with a small glowing mushroom placed in the center.
“A smidgen of a snack, would you desire?” Gogindy asked them, bustling around the room, setting food on the table. “A small tasty treat, perhaps?”
“Yes, that would be nice!” Talic exclaimed. “I’m starved.”
Gogindy looked up at Talic in surprise. “Starved? I’m not sure if I can help you with that particular ailment. I’ve heard that starving humanies eat weird things like old shoes, ropes, and cockroaches. I’m afraid my menu doesn’t have any of those things.”
“Good!” Freddie interrupted. “Because we only eat the good food. Starving people only eat that bad stuff because there isn’t anything else to eat.”
“Really? That’s splendid news. All this time I thought that…well…that’s what they…or you liked.”
Cool night air filtered into the room, as a tall man wearing a long dark cloak with a hood covering his head, stepped into the room.
The group at the table froze. Rhapsody quickly stood and glared at the man, drawing his sword.
The stranger stared back, his hand swiftly moving to his own sword.
“STOP, YOU SAVAGES! There will be no sword banging, no blood gushing in my house, never, never, never, NEVER!” Gogindy sang out, crawling onto the table and banging two pot lids noisily together. “There’s no need to fill the air with salty, human-stinky, perspiration---neither of you are enemies I specs.” Gogindy nodded towards the stranger. “Sir, Drown-Rat, put your sword away. These strangers are none other than the ones the girl told you of, before you so rudely vanished.”
“Oh,” the stranger put h
is sword away. “Why didn't you say so?”
“I just did,” Gogindy snapped. “Why on earth didn't you knock, and where have you been? Do you know how worried I was, how frightened?”
“You were worried about me?”
“No, I wasn’t. Never! Now tell me where you were.”
The stranger chuckled bitterly. “If you must know, I was stealing a horse from the bandits who stole a bunch of horses from the east caravan. Lucky for me, those bloodthirsty brutes were camped not far from here, dead drunk. They never saw me. Got the very best horse, too.”
“You should be very proud of yourself,” Gogindy said, sending the stranger an angry look. “Stealing from a thief only causes trouble! You have better not led those bandits back here. Or I shall throw you back where you came from. Now you must take these strangers and leave! And I hope you didn't bring that horse near my house. I don't need that grass-eating animal digesting my door.”
“No one saw me come here. And I promise you your door is safe,” the man said, stepping nearer to the table. “I can assure you of that.”
“Good, good,” Gogindy exclaimed, waving a plate of food in front of the man. “Now eat, so you can leave. And by the whiskers of St. Twisker of old, you must be sure to leave as quietly as you came. Because if you do not, I will die if I am found out. And let me caution you, that if such an event happens, you will be cursed with itchy sleep and haunted by my whiskers, for the rest of your tormented life.”
“With such a curse hanging over my head,” the man chuckled, “I will do my best to keep your safety in mind.”
The stranger bowed low to the group at the table. His serious face was hidden under his hood, so that all they could tell of the man that he was tall, and well built, with a commanding presence. “Forgive me,” the man said. “I believe we haven't been properly introduced.”