Today was the day. The whole group could feel it, even the pets. The night had been sleepless and seems like it lasted more than it should have. The sun was finally peeking through the bushes and illuminated the trunk's entrance, waking every group member one after the other.
Ilima hadn't closed her eyes for the whole night. The call was silent until the moon was at it's highest, when Ilima was asked to watch over the group after Giavelle went to sleep - or at least rest. The darkness of the night had something peaceful the pink arborling always loved, watching the stars move around the deep blue sky.. Pew jumped on Ilima's lap, putting itself at ease between it's owner warm arms. The call was back and Ilima's mind couldn't rest. It was too strong, but the young arborling knew they couldn't reach the Migration place at night. There was too much risk for such a small arborling to travel alone, and now that Ilima met her friends she couldn't let them behind, even if some of them were quite anoying..
The moment came where Irene was asked to take place at the trunk's entrance to guard the group. It wasn't the most exciting moments of the trip, thought the brown strudel. She would have rather stayed inside and sleep and not sit here with Arael next to her, watching over the dark and creepy part of this forest. The forest was never a place that Irene liked, especially after the event where she met her mount Arael.
When the sun appeared at the horizon and turned orange and pink, small clouds were rushing through the blue sky. Giavelle walked out of the trunk, ready to fight anyone that would get in her friends' way. She wasn't a morning person but was glad to be the first awake, allowing her to enjoy morning's fresh air. Irene fell asleep during her guard and was laying down next to Arael, snoring like a bear. A smile appeared on Giavelle's face. Mouvement behind her made her turned her head. Ilima was staring at the brown arborling and started walking toward her, trying not to wake up the pets that were still asleep.
"- Good morning Giavelle. I hope you slept well."
"- I sure slept more than you, I heard you moving non stop when I was guarding our camp. Was it the call that was bothering you?"
"- It was. But soon it won't be here anymore. We need to leave soon if we want to find offerings on our way to the Migration place."
"- I already brough an offering for the Tangled Druid. I have a small plantation of various succulents and I'm hoping they will like them."
"- That's a nice attention. I personally didn't thought about it until tonight, but I'll find something on our way, like I said."
"- Sure Ilima! I'm going to wake up Irene so we can move on."
Waking up Irene was one of the worst thing Giavelle ever had to do. The poor strudel was highly iritable in the morning, if not always. All grumpy, Irene ate her breakfast alone with Arael, grumbling on her side of the dead fireplace.
Giavelle was packing the group's belonging while Ilima was taking a walk around the clearing to find an offering for the Tangled Druid. Coming upon a nice flower bed, the pink arborling choose one of the pretiest flowers out of them all. The flower was a simple daisy but if you took a closer look at it, you could see blue, purple and pink lines along the petal's side.
When everyone was finally ready to move the group started walking in the forest again, following Ilima's lead as she was the one who could hear the call the better. The path was easy to follow: so many arborlings walked there that the grass on the ground was trampled. A large pond was forming in front of the group, a large tree at the end of it was intriguing the three friends. A subtle movement caught Ilima's attention.
"- Did you see that? That mouvement?"
"- I didn't see a thing! complained Irene. I'm missing all the interesting stuff today.."
"- I think it's the person we're looking for, Ilima."
"- The Tangled Druid? Isn't he supposed to look like us?"
"- It's a druidic arborling, he's.. more evolved than us."
The group approched what was supposed to be the Tangled Druid. Two eyes appeared amongs the wood texture, staring at the three friends in front of it. The two arborlings showed their offerings and handed them to the giant druid.
"- Here are some wonderful offerings, my friends. I have something for you too, I hope you'll cherish them as much as I'll chering your gifts."
The Tangled Druid gave two golden pupa to the two arborlings and saved a shimmering one for Irene.
