Page 34 of Sequel to the Easter Bunny

“Want me to bring you across?”

“No, I can’t go with you, so I might as well start heading back to the Valley before it gets dark. I’ll hold down the fort until tomorrow morning.” She waves at me before turning back to climb up the embankment.

I’ve got my shoes half on when she gets to the top and turns back. “Conjure yourself up a bag and wrap the bird up before you head back in. It’ll be easier to handle that way.”

“Thanks.”

“Good luck.” She offers me another smile and then heads into the forest, back the way we came.

It’s just me and Juun’s peacock now.

“Hey pretty bird,” I hold out my hand and hope. “How about you let me take you home, yeah?”

It looks up at me, the tiny crown of feathers on its head bobble and it takes a curious step forward, before turning sharply and pecking at the ground.

“You don’t understand a thing I’m saying, do you?”

Sighing, I look at my hand. A bag forms on a thought. Where it came from, I have no idea….

One look at the bird tells me catching it is going to be impossible, and the sky has started to dim.

It was foolish to think it might be that easy.

But maybe it could be easier.

The bag is oddly shaped, but it has handles and I hold it out in front of me, considering.

Let’s see if this will work.

I imagine the bird in the bag, watching it instead of the peacock and with a snap…

“Gods!” I have to correct my posture, to grab the handles with both hands.

The peacock is heavier than it looked.

The shrill sound it makes…

“Quiet.”

I say it sharply enough, the bird snaps its beak closed and looks up at me, tiny eyes wide.

“Good bird. Let’s get you home.”

I sling the handles over my shoulder, carrying it like an overstuffed purse, and the tail feathers drag behind me.

Two down… and they’ll only get harder.

The cave is cold and dark, and it looks like it doesn’t go anywhere at all… but when I close my eyes a doorway ringed in pale blue beckons me. I step through, eager to leave the chill behind.

Diminished Returns

Like most things tied to the old gods’ realm, there is no fade, only darkness to light as I step out of that invisible doorway and into the lobby of the spire.

The creature jumps away from the game it’s playing and turns to me with eyes so wide, he sprouts another one in the middle of his left jowl.

He almost seems afraid of the peacock under my arm. But if he wants to ask questions, I don’t have time.

I have a box to check off.

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