The trio moved stealthily, each step deliberate and quiet as they followed the soft sound of snoring. The vibrant canopy of the forest cast dappled light across the ground, illuminating their path.

  After a few moments, they came upon a small clearing where the source of the noise was clear: leaning against a tree bigger than most around it, was Gus Ralphman.

  He was sound asleep, his black hair sticking out at odd angles, made messier by a book that had fallen onto his face. Beside him on the ground lay a makeshift spear, abandoned in favor of his nap.

  Tsubasa stopped in her tracks, crossing her arms and muttering under her breath. “I knew it was him.”

  Dama tilted his head, puzzled. “Wait, you knew it was Gus? Can your hearing differentiate specific snores?”

  Tsubasa turned her head with an amused look, though her tail flicked with irritation. “My ears aren’t that sensitive, Dama, especially not at my age. No, I knew it was Gus because I’m the reason he’s out here in the first place.”

  Dama blinked, glancing between her and the snoring Gus. “Huh?”

  Tsubasa sighed, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I told him earlier to scout the forest for any immediate threats. After Koul, Liam, and some of the other men dealt with a bear recently, I’ve been having the men take turns scouting to ensure the forest stays safe.” She pinched the bridge of her nose, a mix of frustration and exhaustion crossing her face.

  Her expression darkened and tail bristled as she continued in a low, sharp tone. “I knew he was a bit lazy, but to think he’d sleep on a job like this…” Her voice trailed off ominously, her silver eyes beginning to narrow.

  Even in her hushed voice, the intensity of her anger sent a shiver down Dama’s spine. He instinctively took a small step back, his unease apparent. Beside him, even Mumu—a towering figure himself—shifted uncomfortably, his ears drooping as he mirrored Dama’s retreat.

  Tsubasa’s tail swayed in agitation, her gaze fixed on Gus as if debating whether to wake him with a stern lecture or something more…dramatic.

  Dama watched in growing unease as Tsubasa’s tail began to sway faster and faster, like a pendulum gaining momentum, until it abruptly perked up, stiff as a board.

  He froze as he heard the first sound—a small giggle. It wasn’t a soft, pleasant giggle either; it was the kind that sent chills down one’s spine. Her petite form then began vibrating, her shoulders shaking as the giggle grew louder.

  And then it happened.

  Tsubasa turned to face Dama and Mumu, her laughter erupting into full-blown, high-pitched cackles, the kind reminiscent of a witch plotting some devious scheme. Her silver eyes gleamed with mischief, the intensity of her laughter filling the clearing.

  Dama and Mumu instinctively clung to each other, trembling. Mumu's stitched smile now seemed less comforting and more unnerved, while Dama gulped hard enough to be heard, his throat dry as he stammered, “G-Granny Tsubasa?”

  She tilted her head, the laughter settling into an unsettling grin. “Oh, I’m more than okay...” She replied with a suspiciously sweet tone. “A bewitching idea has just struck me is all...”

  Dama’s eyes widened in terror as he tightened his grip on Mumu. “A…b-bewitching idea?”

  Tsubasa nodded like no tomorrow, gesturing to the still-sleeping Gus. “Yes, but in order to pull it off, I’m going to need your help. Both of you!” Her grin widened, but the dark glint in her eyes said otherwise, making Dama feel anything but reassured.

  Noticing his growing hesitation, Tsubasa waved a hand dismissively. “Relax, my boy! It’s not dangerous at all, it'll be harmless...”

  Despite her words, the ominous energy radiating from her made both Dama and Mumu lean away. Sharing a nervous glance, the boy and his stitched companion sheepishly nodded, resigning themselves to whatever mischievous plan she had concocted.

  A few minutes passed, with Gus still in his deep, blissful slumber, nestled under the leafy canopy of the forest.

  Rays of sunlight filtered through the gaps above, casting warm, dappled light across his face. The soft rustling of leaves and the occasional chirp of birds created a soothing symphony that only deepened his sleep.

  Ironically, as he snoozed, his dream mirrored reality: he dreamt of himself lying beneath the trees, lazily contemplating what he would do if the Chiefess caught him napping on the job.

  The thought unsettled him in his dream as he shot up from his resting place and looked around, the image of Tsubasa’s piercing silver eyes and her ever-vigilant fox ears flashed in his mind, but he waved it off with a lazy chuckle. "There’s no way," his dream self muttered confidently, "no way she’d find me here. The forest is huge, and this spot? It’s perfect. She could search for hours and never stumble upon me.”

  Satisfied with his own logic, Dream Gus leaned back against the tree with a smug grin, at ease. The real Gus, meanwhile, snored away his duties, blissfully unaware of what was to come mere seconds later as screams for help erupted from deep within the forest.

  Gus jolted awake, his heart pounding in his chest as the frantic cries for help echoed through the forest. The screams tore through the serene ambiance like the jaws of dog through cheap meat.

  Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

  "What in the—" he mumbled groggily, his hand fumbling to swipe the book off his face, only for it to tumble to the ground.

  The voices, a chaotic mix of two distinct yet similarly high-pitched tones, grew louder with each passing second. The forest around him seemed to vibrate with their urgency. Bushes rustled violently, and heavy footsteps crashed through the undergrowth, heading directly for him.

  Scrambling to his feet as he grabbed his spear, Gus's panic only heightened as he accidentally slammed the back of his head into a thick, low-hanging branch. "Ow! What the—who even—what’s going on!?" he stammered, clutching his head and wincing in pain. His eyes darted around, trying to piece together what he’d just woken up to.

  Before he could fully regain his senses, the bushes nearest to him exploded with motion. Out sprang two figures—arms flailing, faces pale, their expressions the picture of abject terror. Their mouths hung open, letting loose a chorus of incoherent shouts—it was Dama and Tsubasa.

  “Oh, thank goodness,” Dama panted out, “we found someone!”

  Tsubasa quickly chimed in, her voice frantic, “Gus! We’re in trouble!”

  Both of them started talking over each other, their words overlapping in a chaotic flurry. “We were running, and then—” “It was huge! I swear, the biggest—”

  Gus, now fully upright and gripping his makeshift spear, stared at them with wide, frantic eyes. His initial relief at recognizing Tsubasa turned into a sinking pit of dread. He thought to himself, "No, no, no! She can’t be here. If she sees me like this, I’m dead. No way she’ll believe I was just resting my eyes."

  His internal panic only grew as he realized Tsubasa wasn’t slowing down her torrent of words. Just as he tried to fake a confident stance and respond, he was jolted back to reality.

  “Gus!” Tsubasa snapped, reaching up and pinching both of his cheeks between her fingers.

  “Ow! Ow ow ow! Chiefess!” Gus yelped, flailing slightly as Tsubasa gave his cheeks a firm tug.

  “Did you hear anything we just said?!” she barked, her silver eyes narrowing dangerously.

  “Wha—? No, I mean, yes! Wait, what’s the problem?!” Gus stammered, his voice rising in pitch as the pain from his cheeks mingled with the panic in his chest.

  “We’re being chased by a bear!” Dama blurted out, pointing frantically back toward the dense forest they had come from.

  Gus froze, his face pale as he registered the words. His mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water, unable to process the situation.

  Before he could even think of a response, a deep rustling sound emerged from the undergrowth behind them, accompanied by the faint growl of something massive approaching.

  All three turned toward the sound, their fear intensifying as the rustling grew louder.

  After a few agonizing moments, filled with the unbearable tension of rustling leaves and distant growls, a massive shadow burst through the bushes. It landed in front of the trio with an earth-shaking thud, its silhouette unmistakable: a towering, bipedal bear, its hulking form outlined against the fractured sunlight filtering through the trees.

  Gus blinked rapidly, his mind racing in disbelief. "This cannot be happening," he thought, a desperate plea reverberating in his head. "Why couldn’t someone like Himon be here instead of me?" He gripped his makeshift spear tighter, though it offered little comfort. "I’m too young to die!" his thoughts screamed.

  He turned to Tsubasa, his voice laced with panic. “Chiefess! What should we—”

  His words died mid-sentence as he realized there was no response. He glanced to his side, only to find that both Tsubasa and Dama were no longer standing beside him.

  Hearing distant, high-pitched screams, Gus whipped around to see the pair sprinting away at full speed, arms flailing wildly in the air.

  "Seriously?!" Gus croaked, his voice cracking as he realized he was left behind.

  A guttural growl snapped his attention back to the looming bear shadow. Its glowing eyes locked onto him, its massive paws looming over him as it prepared to strike.

  Shaking like a leaf, Gus raised his spear, pointing it at the shadowy figure. “S-Stand back!” he stammered, his voice trembling as much as his hands.

  Taking cautious steps backward, he failed to notice the gnarled root protruding from the ground. His foot snagged on it, and he tumbled onto his back with a loud thud, his spear rolling out of reach.

  Before Gus could scramble to his feet, the shadow lunged at him with terrifying speed. Gus’ breath hitched, and he shut his eyes tightly, bracing for the end.

  Darkness consumed his vision, and he waited, heart pounding, for what felt like an eternity.

  Then, he felt something soft land on his head, the sensation more akin to a pillow than a brutal paw strike. Still trembling and unable to comprehend his survival, he cautiously opened his eyes.

  Instead of a monstrous bear mauling him, he found himself face-to-face with someone all too familiar: Mumu.

  Blinking in disbelief, Gus’s mouth fell open as his brain short-circuited. “Wha—what the hell is going on!?” he finally shouted, his voice cracking.

  From behind, Tsubasa’s voice rang out, calm but laced with mischief. “What’s going on?” She stepped into view, a sly grin on her face. “It’s called a prank, Gus.”

  “A p-prank?” Gus stammered, still trying to piece together the bizarre chain of events.

  “Yep!” Tsubasa confirmed with a cackle, doubling over as she slapped her knees in laughter. “Oh, man, you should’ve seen your face! Priceless!” Turning to Mumu, she gave him a thumbs-up. “Great job, Mumu! And Dama, get over here already!”

  Still sprawled on the ground, Gus finally processed what she was saying. Realization hit him like a thunderbolt, and his face flushed red, a mixture of anger and embarrassment. He shot to his feet and pointed at Tsubasa. “What the hell, Chiefess?! That wasn’t fun—!”

  But before he could go any further, Tsubasa fixed him with a cold, piercing glare that made him freeze mid-retort. Her expression shifted from playful to authoritative in an instant. “You want to talk about not funny?” she said, her tone icy, as she began stomping over to Gus with her pointer finger extended towards him. “Let’s talk about you sleeping on duty while you’re supposed to be scouting for threats! What if there really was a bear? You’d be dead in seconds—and worse, you’d put the village in danger because you didn’t report back!”

  Gus’s shoulders slumped as he shrank under her withering glare, his earlier defiance melting away. “I-I…” he mumbled, unable to meet her eyes.

  Mumu and Dama stood off to the side, watching as Tsubasa tore Gus a new one. Dama leaned toward Mumu, a sly grin spreading across his face. “You know,” he whispered, “that prank was kind of funny.”

  Mumu nodded in agreement, his stitched face curving into a smile.

  Dama tilted his head back to gaze at the forest roof above, sunlight piercing through the lush canopy in thin, golden beams. The gentle sway of the trees and the soft rustle of leaves filled him with a quiet joy. "Moments like these—fun like this—should be something everyone can enjoy."

  For a fleeting second, an image of Giona’s face flickered in his mind, her shy smile and big, hopeful eyes. The thought caught him off guard, and his smile widened. He wondered how she might react to a prank like the one they just pulled. Would she laugh? Would she be scared? The uncertainty gnawed at him.

  His gaze fell, and he sighed softly. "Gosh, I know for a fact Nini would love this, maybe Giona too. I hope they're alright..." he thought, his mind drifting to the cabin where they were alone.

  -

  Next: (Extra Chapter 10) Giona and Nini

  https://patreon.com/TheWorldofAetherNexus?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink