Zehell ran as fast as she dared, doing her best not to rustle the underbrush, too, much. She didn't want Elyon and the others to know she was coming. Thoughts of following Elyon out here came to her mind and she found herself jumping upward once or twice, as she had when she tried to catch him. But, as she neared the thinning trees, she slowed and crouched low.
A myriad of squeaks and growls and chittering started to filter out of the clearing ahead. Zehell slowed her steps even more and very cautiously entered the brush where she could observe without being seen. She shifted her head this way and that way to try and find the best place to see everything that was going on. And what she saw confused her greatly.
The clearing seemed to be in utter chaos and yet was organized as well. She saw a hamster happily dancing on the head of a small feline. Elyon was zipping about the clearing--participating in a little bit of everything. Naz... was helping a racoon organize various snacks for everyone, while keeping an eye on Eranoth. The large tiger was having a mock battle with an armored squirrel. The squirrel was jumping this way and that way while brandishing a pointed stick like a sword.
Zehell's attention was distracted when a high pitched peeping and a blur of yellow started to cross the center of the clearing. A chick, not much bigger than Elyon, was chasing a dog more than 100x its size. The pair darted passed Fire who had two was tossing stones and large seeds in the air for two different kinds of birds to catch.
She had just turned to see a rat curl up into the fur of another cat's back when Eranoth let out aloud roar followed by a whimper. The squirrel had managed to get it's stick stuck in Eranoth's paw and was struggling to get it out again. Naz... ran over and managed to pull it out. The squirrel squeaked apology after apology as it tried to embrace Eranoth's other leg.
Eranoth licked his paw then very gently patted the squirrel's head with one of his toes. Naz... then led the two of them over to where the snacks were. The others started to finish up their games and gather as well. Shaking her head, Zehell slowly backed away so she could return to her family's cave.
She walked slowly at first, to keep the underbrush as still as possible. She didn't want to bring any unnecessary attention to herself just yet. She wanted to understand how predator and prey animals could play together when her parents taught her that they would never get along. What was the truth? Why didn't she feel any less confused by what she saw verses what she had been taught?
Once she was some distance away from the clearing, Zehell picked up her pace. She needed to get back to the cave before her mother and siblings did. She hadn't gotten far from the clearing when a nearly deafening cry came out of the trees on her right with a blur of dark grey fur. Zehell ducked out of instinct and barely missed getting cut by the sharp claws.
She scrambled to face the large wolf before her. "A little warning would have been nice," she said to the growling wolf.
But the wolf only growled louder and ran at her again.
Zehell ran. "I don't want to play!" she shouted over her shoulder.
But the wolf didn't stop. It's pace increased and one of it's front paws wacked the end of her tail, throwing her off balance and sending her tumbling across the ground and into a tree. The impact knocked the breath out of her lungs. Her eyes watered and she tried to force them open. The growling wolf continued to approach and terror flooded Zehell's body.
This wolf wasn't playing. It was actually trying to... trying to... hurt her! She struggled to get to her feet to get away from the approaching wolf, but her legs refused to respond. More tears filled her eyes as she continued to try and get her feet under herself. The wolf crouched low. A wicked smile seemed to raise it's lips. Zehell watched in horror as the wolves muscles bunched up in preparation for its lunge.
She closed her eyes tightly as the wolf cried, bracing herself for the pain that was sure to follow. But the cry was cut short by a loud roar. A yelp and the crunch of bone followed. Zehell pulled her head closer to her body at the sound then snuck a peek when the growling, barking, and yelps didn't stop.
The wolf that had been about to kill her was fighting Eranoth and Fire. After being wounded by the two large animals, the wolf finally ran off.
"Zehell! Zehell!" Elyon yelled. "Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere? Are you...?"
He stopped when she turned her head away from him.
"Zehell?" Fire asked, sitting next to her.
"Why?!" she yelled, turning her watery, but narrowed, eyes toward them. "Why did that wolf attack me? You said that none of you would hurt me!"
"I said that none of the predators that were my friends would hurt you," Elyon said quietly after landing on Fire's shoulder. "That wolf was not my friend."
"What?"
"Only predatory animals that are my friend won't hurt you. The rest still might, especially since you are still small for a green dragon."
"I... I don't understand."
Elyon sighed. "It's a Fae thing. Because of my nature, I can draw out the peaceful side of most creatures which makes them my friends. Once they are my friends, they won't attack any of my other friends, even though those friends might be food otherwise."
Zehell lowered her head.
Fire lifted her gently and held her against his chest. "Those of us in the clearing are all Elyon's friends. Any creature outside of the clearing is not. So, if you run into an animal outside of those of us who gather to play, especially the predators, it is best to stay as far away from them as possible."
She nodded weakly before she hear Eranoth's anxious pawing beside them.
"That wolf might be back with more of its pack," Eranoth said. "We shouldn't stay here much longer."
"Eranoth is right," Elyon said. "I'm sorry I didn't make myself more clear, Zehell."
"It's not entirely your fault, Elyon," Zehell replied quietly, before she shifted out of Fire's hold.
"Can we walk you most of the way home?" Eranoth asked hopefully. "Make sure you don't run into anymore trouble?"
Zehell looked at the three of them then nodded.
Eranoth did a small happy dance then tried to calm himself as Zehell led the way.
When they reached the safe zone, Zehell turned back to them. "I can go the rest of the way from here on my own."
"Okay," Elyon said.
"Th... thank you, for... rescuing me."
"Our pleasure, Zehell," Fire said.
"Will you actually come play with us next time?" Eranoth asked.
"I...," Zehell sighed. "I don't know."
"We understand if you need time, Zehell," Elyon said. "Just know that you are welcome to join us anytime you want to."
"Thanks again," she said as she nodded.
Then Zehell turned and ran the rest of the way to the cave.