45 The Escape Part 1

As my vision cleared I looked over to see Kibbles stare at me in amazement.

" YUKI YOU'RE AWAKE!" He said happily as he jumped on me. He rubbed his face up against mine as if he was a puppy after seeing their owner come back from a holiday.

My whole body felt stiff. I ignored Kibbles for a second to stretch.

" Of course I am awake! " I said with a parched throat.

" I thought you were going to leave me all alone here!" Kibbles sniffed looking up at me.

" What do you mean?" I said in a questioning tone.

" YOU HAVE BEEN ASLEEP FOREVER!" Kibbles screamed as he dived into my arms. All his grievances came out like a waterfall on my chest.

I at first thought he was being melodramatic but after noticing how long Kibble's hair had grown, I began to worry. His hair had wrapped around my body like a blanket as he grumbled on my chest.

" You said you would be right back! RIGHT BACK REMEMBER YUKI?! And I waited and waited! All this time, I thought something bad had happened!" He said pitifully.

He buried his head in to my chest more.

"I am sorry for sleeping so long, I really didn't mean to scare you," I said as I patted his head.

The crying went on for a little longer as I soothed him like one would a child. He finally sat up. His face looked a lot more mature than it had been before.

" How long was I asleep for exactly?" I said startled.

I sat up and as I did my own hair reached near my butt.

" It was so long I had lost, count Yuki.." Kibbles said as he lifted me up gently.

" Don't scare me like that again okay?!" Kibbles said as he hugged me.

" Mm, I will try not to," I whispered into his ear.

At that moment Puff had come to our side. He now came up to my waist. He looked up at me and nodded once as he used his head to gesture for us to leave the cave.

The light strained my eyes. I simply kept them closed as Kibbles dragged me out by the arm.

I closed my eyes and simply allowed Kibbles to lead me to the log to sit. For some reason, the way I saw the world here was very different. I could feel the Earth under my feet pulsate as if it were alive, I could feel the log underneath me completely void of life and the trees all around were singing.

I opened my eyes slowly.

{ Level 1 Earth has become available 60 DD }

{ Level 1 Fire Magic has become available 60 DD }

The sounds of the system chimed in my ears as my vision began to clear.

Being asleep for so long would have frightened me before. But what I had experienced as a plant has reminded me that I could do nothing about what I could not control. I merely enjoyed the warmth of Kibbles by my side and the hum of the plants around me.

" Did you connect with your magic?" I heard a windy voice speak.

" I think I did" I replied.

Puff nodded it's dragon head.

" Who are you talking to? " Kibbles said still latching on to me.

" Puff I think?" I said simply.

" Puff can talk? I didn't hear anything! Are you sure you're okay?" Kibbles said worried at how calm I was.

Puff snorted at Kibbles then faced me again and spoke " Have you realised what a soul scape is now?"

" Mm I think so. It's You isn't it Elder Ent?" I said with a smile.

" Finally the sapling gets it! If not for your cat friend I would have been able to pull you out already!" Puff said with a touch of anger.

The essence of the ent had gone on to explain what had happened and why we were all trapped here. Although I was slightly surprised it was not enough to startle me.

After I had finished getting the answers I relayed what I had learned to the puzzled Kibbles as an interpreter.

" I get that the tiger is your fear and the tortoise is your kindness but what were the wolves?" Kibbles asked questioning.

" Anger probably?" I said uncertain.

I thought back to how I felt about having to carry Kibbles around as he startled those monkeys who chased us.

Although it was only a guess I was fairly sure.

" So you were angry at me back then!" Kibbles said shocked.

" It doesn't work like that" I replied quickly.

" Oh," Kibbles replied.

" Do you know how to escape now?" Elder Ent had said changing back to the subject at hand.

" Mm I have to find the right beast that connects to my emotions when I use Earth magic," I said after a moment.

I held up my hand and a bright green glow filled my palm. I touched it to the log under my feet and a small sprout came up one of the dead branches.

" Have some rest sapling, it seems you have figured it all out. I was starting to get restless in this soul space of yours." Puff said as he walked off to the fire.

" Mm I will think about what emotion I need to connect with in order to use magic and then we should be able to leave," I mumbled to myself.

" We can leave soon?!" Kibbles said excitedly.

I nodded in response.

Kibbles jumped up and started running around and flipping. It seemed that since I was asleep he had become a lot more agile. He reminded me of a ninja. If ninjas went around saying " Yay!" and " Hurray!" while doing the acrobatics.

I smiled too. We had spent a very long time here and I too was tired of this place. I will be happy to see my family again. I really had missed them.

I thought about what Riku, Ren, Ki and all the others were up to as I gazed out into the distance. I started to reflect upon how this journey had changed me and how much I surprised myself.

There may be a lot coming for me in the future but I finally felt prepared for it all. With my family, Kibbles and all of my friends I know that I will be strong enough to face the Male Lead from Romance Fantasy ++ and whatever he tries to throw at me.

I watched Kibbles as he was celebrating and smiled.

I realised that I don't think I could have completed this challenge if Kibbles wasn't here. Although he had caused some problems at the start, his insights had helped me learn magic and his company had kept me from feeling lonely.

[ I am really lucky ]

" Hey Kibbles!" I said out loud to the boy who was currently doing a handstand.

" What is it Yuki?" Kibbles replied as the blood rushed to his head.

He fixed his stance so he was standing upright and looked at me.

" I just wanted to say thank you for keeping me company here," I said bluntly before smiling.

Kibble's face flushed redder then it had been when he stood on his head. He scratched the back of his head before smiling back at me.

He stood up dead straight and put his hand over his heart as a soldier would to a commander.

" My name is Kibbles, I was made by Meowster Cupid to assist you, whether it is napping in your bedroom or following you to the depths of hell! Where ever you go I will!" Kibbles said decisively as if making a promise.

What he said made my heart feel full and then my stomach gurgled.

We both laughed heartily.

" You have been asleep for a long time! It looks like I should go catch some dinner!" Kibbles said as he ran off from the campsite. He grabbed a makeshift spear near the campfire and headed to the fishing spot.

I walked over to the campfire and leaned on the elder ent.

" Your pulse seems very steady I could hear your essence humming when I was talking to Kibbles." I said as he listened.

" Mm I used to be a tree, I have lived a very long time sapling," Puff said quietly.

" So long, I am guessing the gods felt pity for me and gave me sentience. I watched the world flow by and my power and connection to the Earth had become the strongest. That was when I met the first headmaster at the academy" Puff seemed to mumble as he drifted off into sleep.

I sat there with my eyes closed listening to the words and hymns of the plants and the steady rhythm of Puff's earth essence.

As I drifted into a nap and the forest became silent once more.