Wild Monster

by Matthew Harrington

  "It will feel cold right now but if you drink enough the feeling might be gone sooner. It depends on your stomach as well." He suggested with a smile, then looked at his food again.

  Cane did as instructed, sipping at the water. It felt like he was drinking straight ice but he didn't comment on it. He just kept drinking the water slowly.

  Will chuckled at this and continued to eat. He had a feeling Naril was not going to ask Lilly the question, so he decided to go ahead and do it himself.

  "Lilly. Why is it you give out gifts on your birthday?" He questioned, looking at her briefly before returning to his food.

  Lilly gave him a strange look, wondering why he would ask a question. He already knew the answer to but shrugged it off.

  "Because, you silly head, my life is a gift and I want to share it with everyone." She said with a huge smile, eating some more of her dinner.

  Naril looked at the father when he asked the question he was meant to ask and turned his gaze to Lilly when she answered. It was a rather cute and very wise answer for a little girl at her age. Despite him looking nearly as young as her, he was twice her age and had the time to develop a bit more. Hence why he was surprised about it.

  Lilly looked towards her friend, noticing he was looking at her. She raised a brow, then smiled back at him.

  "I already got your gift but is there anything you really want?" She asked curiously. She was being quite serious and she expecting a serious answer. She would hate to give him a gift he wouldn't like. Elves tend to be too nice, so he wouldn't say if he didn't like whatever she gave him.

  To say the least, the elfling was rather surprised when she said this. He didn't expect a gift of course, seeing she only knew him since a couple of days. He surely didn't deserve a gift. She doesn't really know him; neither does he know her truly... But then again, this is what his people act like. No one is an enemy or a stranger. Everyone is a friend, a supporter and someone you can rely on in good and bad times. Either to cheer one up, make one laugh or to soothe one's troubled mind. He couldn't help but smile.

  "I already got my gift." He nodded, his smile brightening. "That you became my friend." Naril had some friends. They were there to play and learn along with him but they didn't quite understand him and his situation. It was clear that none of them understood that he was different than most of them and it somehow... bothered him. Lilly was truly a happy-go-lucky child who -no matter what- accepted him the way he was, with his faulty skills and all. He didn't need to push himself around her. Her company was a relief of the life of the elves.

  Lilly's eyes widened at the reply. That had not been expected. No one had ever said such a thing to her before. Her eyes watered and she started to sniffle. Before she knew it, she started crying, not able to help herself, then tackled him yet again, hugging him tightly.

  "I'm so happy I met you too!" She cried into his shoulder. Both parents were a little surprised by her reaction. It wasn't often Lilly just broke down from something that wasn't because of violence.

  Cane also blinked but didn't say anything. What could he say? His sister was just... touched.

  Honestly, at first Naril thought he said something wrong and watched her carefully, ready to apologize if she started to cry but didn't have the opportunity because she tackled him again, making him fall slightly backwards, this time however he was able to stop their fall midway with his elbow. His apology also wasn't needed as it seems, since she didn't cry because of sadness of by being offended. He didn't know what to say or do at first, never having met such a situation but knew one thing... He slowly sat up fully again before wrapping his arms around her crying form, smiling at her. He didn't know that alone such a sentence would make her burst in tears... Is her kind this sensitive? No... Her brother and father surely aren't...

  Holly finally pulled out of her shock and smiled a little, then looked to her husband having a silent conversation yet again before he nodded and looked at them.

  "Take the day off tomorrow but still drop by the house. Lilly will need help handing her gifts out, I'm sure." He said and smiled when Lilly perked up a little at this.

  "Do you mind?" She asked him hopefully. Will knew his daughter would like that. He couldn't exactly give her a gift, knowing she wouldn't want it but he could do nice things for her instead and seeing how she acted around the elf boy, he found he could give the child a free day. If only this once.

  Naril smiled at this, finding it a relief actually, having a free day and something told him this won't happen again, so he better uses that day well.

  "Of course. I'd love to." He replied, giving her a smile, agreeing to come over and help her with what she needed. Although she said she didn't want any presents, he already knew he will give her one. It isn't something big, neither something incredibly expensive. But that didn't mean it wasn't valuable. So, in order to give her this he needed to come over anyway.

  Lilly squealed happily and hugged him tightly before jumping up.

  "I'm going to sleep right now!" She said happily before rushing off to bed.

  Cane facepalmed.

  "... She still believes that the sooner you go to bed the sooner tomorrow comes." He explained his little sister's actions and finally started to eat, his stomach feeling less full finally. He knew he wouldn't eat much and then tomorrow his stomach would feel so empty he would likely gorge before training in the morning.

  All Naril could do was open his mouth to reply but she was already gone before he could even ask where she is going off like that.

  "If it is true or false is a matter of perspective, my mother always says." He replied, in the same time pointing out to them that this isn't a foreign belief among the elves if they have such explanations. "It is false towards those who are not sleeping but are aware of the time. BUT true to those who sleep and forget it, only waking up as if they jumped in time." He finished and smiled, remembering what his mother told him a while back. He himself believed in it but only because he held it true. Tomorrow truly comes sooner if one falls asleep sooner and doesn't wake up until tomorrow. Then time is irrelevant.

  The mother laughed lightly.

  "You sound so much like my old philosophy teacher back in Middle-Earth. It is just too cute." She said, patting his head lightly.

  Cane was across the table, trying to wrap his head around what the elf said. To him, not a lick of it made sense but then again he held true to science. That time still passed no matter if one was asleep or not. One doesn't have to be aware for this fact to be true. He would have to ponder this over. He liked brainteasers, though, so he didn't mind.

  Naril tilted his head a little when she compared him to one of her teachers. Hmm... He wondered if teachers have the same intelligence as an elven child? Education is a very sensitive and important part of life among the elves. One never stops learning for a moment. There are always new things to discover and memorize.

  "Thank you for the hospitality and the amazing food." He quickly thanked, said his goodbye properly and left with the promise that he will come back tomorrow.

  The next day started out per usual.

  The men were gone from the house at sun rise, however this time Lilly woke up early. She wasn't usually a morning person, however today she had made it happen by stealing Rosa's phone and setting the alarm clock so she would wake up on time. She yawned and mulled around the house cutely, her mind still half asleep as she found some leftover rice cakes, what was left of that honey flower Naril gave her and the juice. Sugar. Sugar was the way to wake up a sleepy child. She would be bouncy for a while but by the time it wore off she would be naturally awake for the day.

  As promised, Naril walked down the path towards the house of the Razorleaf family. He had his little present all hidden, nice and sweet, only to be given at the right time. He closed his eyes and sighed, taking in the warming rays of the sun and the fresh air, opening his eyes halfway, bowing to the elk who was still sitting somewhere near the house and bowed his head back in retur
n to the greeting. The boy made his way to the door and knocked on it, hoping he wasn't disturbing anyone's sleep.

  Lilly was the one to answer, half a rice cake hanging out of her mouth. She looked at him for a second, her tired nature showing. She finished the sweet treat, yawned cutely and looked at him for another second for it seemed to hit her who she was looking at. A huge smile lit up her whole face and like before she tackled him.

  "Naril! You came! I'm so glad!" She said happily. The boy seemed to have finally woken up the sleepy little girl. That or the sugar just kicked in.

  At first, Naril just stared back at her with a smile and the moment she launched herself at him the boy was actually this time prepared and flexed his muscles in his legs to catch the fall and just needed to step back once to balance himself, then wrapped an arm around her. "Of course I did. I promised, didn't I?" He chuckled.

  "Not everyone keeps their promises." The little girl said honestly, then let go and ran inside. "Come on! We have a lot of presents to deliver! This will take all day if we don't hurry!" She called back, running into her room.

  The elfling blinked at the comment in surprise.

  "What? Why wouldn't they? A promise is a-..." The boy trailed off when they reached her room. The room was covered in gifts. The little girl had spent a long time making each one. Each gift was also different too but one couldn't tell because they were wrapped up in huge fallen leaves she had put together. She had two rather large ones too, likely meant for her tree herder family. Those would probably be the hardest to deliver but she planned to do it anyway. He never saw so many in one room to say the least. He closed his mouth and stared at the scene before him, reaching up to scratch his head, wondering if they can truly deliver this all today. It looked like the whole city is going to get presents... "Wow..." Was all he could say and stepped closer, looking around now fully. "You made all this? Must have taken you quite a long time..."

  Lilly smiled and nodded.

  "Yes. Started last week and been working on them every time I had free time. I got to work on them all day yesterday too, so I got a lot done." She said proudly. "I normally don't have to make this many but I met so many people and I was worried if I left anyone out they might get sad so I made as many as I could. Stupid Fieven and a lot of the other children went on that hunting trip, though, so I guess I will have to hold onto their gifts until they get back." She said, pointing to a pile in a corner. Despite them all being wrapped up in the same kind of leaves, she seemed to know which one was which and who they went to. "Oh, I have your gift too but it's kind of fragile so I'm going to give it to you later when we are finished. Alright?" She asked, hoping he wouldn't mind waiting.

  Naril whistled at the revelation and stepped in more, trying to determine which one they will be moving first.

  "That is a lot." He finally replied, looking around, unable to see any names written on the presents and wondered how she could even tell them all apart... He couldn't help but giggle when she commented on Fieven and all the other children. Though, he wondered if she made gifts for everyone she met and not just for close friends. Because this is indeed a lot... However, it wasn't his place to question her, neither did he want to offend her in any way. Especially not on this special day. If she wanted to gift so many, then she will gift so many and he will help her out as best as he could... But still... As children there is not much they can carry... unless... "Maybe we could ask Lord if he wants to help us carrying? It would speed this up significantly." He offered with a shrug, gesturing towards the window which faced the elk that was merrily munching on a batch of green grass.

  Lilly thought about his idea for a moment, then smiled and nodded.

  "Alright! I think Lord would be willing to help. If not I will pout him into it." She said with a grin, having realized Lord -despite everything- was a sap for the little girl's cute pout. "Even with him this will at least take 3 trips, not including Silentbark's present and Lord is kind of old, so he might have to rest a while between trips." She pointed out but despite this she picked up a gift and ran outside to the Elk.

  "Lord! It's my birthday today. Here is your gift. Do you mind helping us deliver the other ones?" She asked. He had watched her make many of the gifts, so she was sure he knew about them already. However she had been extra careful not to let him see the gift she had made for him. Inside was a block of sugar oats she had her mother help her make. She knew Lord liked oats and seemed to love sugar cubes, so she thought he would love his favorite treats put together.

  Lord looked up from the grass and perked his ears when she called out for him, giving out a strange noise he usually used as a call back, telling her that he heard and acknowledged her call. He perked his ears and tilted his head when she told him she had her birthday today. He honestly didn't know that her kind or anyone celebrated that day. He never celebrated his or any elk for that matter. If anything, birthdays are a sad thing... since they get older... and less powerful. This is why he lost to that young stag. He had too many birthdays. Though, seeing her cheerful attitude, he eventually looked at his present, which indeed happened to be something he rather liked. Not wasting time, the animal dug right in, munching on the content happily with his tail twitching, enjoying the taste. Now that he got something, he was far more willing to help as much as his age lets him.

  Lilly laughed, petting his head, glad he liked it.

  "Hurry, Naril! Before he changes his mind!" She said as she ran off back into the house. She got the biggest sack she could find and filled it full of as many presents as she could, making sure to avoid the pile in the corner of the room and the pile resting on the night stand beside her bed. The latter was for her family and Naril. She would give those out later in the day after all the rest of her work was done and all her family members were home again.

  The elf gasped at this and quickly ran back into the house as well. He wasn't sure what presents to pack in, so made sure to only put in those from which pile she was grabbing them. He also made sure to carry a good amount of them on his own but first helped Lilly get the sack out and onto the back of the elk.

  Lord was in the mean time trying to make it easy for them, so laid down, waiting for them to come out and put the sack onto his back. Once it was done, he slowly and carefully got up and judged the weight if he can carry it. It was heavy but not all too heavy.

  Naril also picked up a few more gifts from her room and decided to carry those himself.

  "Alright, I am ready to go." He told her with a smile. But still... he hoped he gets to unload these soon...

  Lilly squealed and nodded, waving for Lord to follow them and headed right into the village.

  After that the little girl didn't seem to stop moving. The little herder would take a present from Naril, look it over a second, then take off seeming to realize who it was for. Eventually she came to a present meant for the shop keeper who taught Rosa all she knew about sewing. She grinned, then ran to the stand and held out the gift.

  Rosa by this time had made it there for work and smiled, already knowing what was going.

  "Hello ma'am. It's my birthday. Here is your gift." She said happily. She had Rosa help her with this one. Rosa had told her how nice the shop keeper had been to her and so they spent some time making a little pillow full of seeds that said 'Thank you for being you.' on it. Lilly was too little to use a needle yet but she knew exactly what she wanted to make and gave Rosa very specific instructions. That's how she always did it. If she couldn't make a gift herself she would make sure whoever was helping her had the right instructions and followed them to the T.

  The elf didn't even realize that they will get guests, as she was right now dealing with a customer and by the time she turned around the little girl was already standing there, holding out the gift to her. She looked at her confused, tilting her head slightly.

  "But it is your birthday. People gift you, not the other way around, sweety." She smiled, looking at the gift, then back at her. Something told her ther
e must be more to this but decided to not ask about that just yet.

  Lilly shook her head. She had gotten this from a number of elves already. They didn't seem to understand but considering no one back home got it either that was no surprise to her.

  "Nu-uh. My life is a gift and I want to share it with everyone. So I give out gifts on my birthday. It makes everyone smile which makes me really happy." She said with a grin and continued to hold the gift out. She was obviously excited about this, wanting to see the woman open the gift and see what she would think of it. She didn't know a lot about elves yet so part of her worried she might end up insulting someone by mistake.

  The woman didn't say anything, just smiled at her, finding this gesture cute actually. Such a little selfless girl... The world back in Middle-Earth lacked them even when she and her family lived there. She wondered how this girl managed to preserve such an honorable behavior while the world around her was rotting away slowly... Shaking her head a little, she reached out and took the gift from her gently, opening it to see the content. It was simple and could see the work of Rosa in that but it was given by Lilly nonetheless. She couldn't help but let her smile brighten at the sight, thanking the gift and put it down on her table. Before Lilly could bolt from the shop, she stepped in front of her.

  "As it is your birthday, I will give you a gift of mine as well." She told her, then reached out and put both of her hands on her cheek on either side, then leaned down and whispered something melodic in elvish, in the end kissed her forehead gently, before letting her go. "We bless every birthday child and adult with luck until it lasts. The more people you hold dear you have, the luckier you will be in the future." She explained with a smile, showing her that gifts in friendship, emotions and blessings were far more important than materials, then slowly sat down at the table.