We all stood at the bank of the river and looked ahead in amazement, the tree before us looked straight up magical extensively more than Zephyr and the Reindeer-like creatures we saw earlier. Speckles of lights surrounded different parts of it, each giving it a magical glow. The roots were sturdy and they protruded up the river surface creating a rough uneven path to the land and short thick branches protruded off the sides, I saw some structures built on them. The Crown consisted of many widespread branches creating a cap canopy. We could see small beings flying about in a disorganized manner like they were playing about, I couldn't tell what they were from this distance but I guessed they are Fairies.
I drifted my eyes about trying to capture the very image of the tree, that was the extent to how eldritch it looked, it was very alluring and we all felt enchanted as we observed the charming exhibition before us.
" Let's move now," Zephyr said
I waited for Zephyr to cast her wind spell but she didn't, she had hoped that we use the branchy path before us.
Germaine and the others had noticed this and they proceeded but just before one could place a step, the giant visible roots morphed into a fine straight path.
" Wow!" they sounded in surprise
We all started to tread on the straight path right to the center below that seemed to have a hole in it. With Zephyr at the front leading us and her fairies at the side, I got to admit I felt special meanwhile the others were simply still dumbfounded over the beauty of this tree. As we approached, the center came into view and I could see a huge thick wooden door acting as a barrier before the sublime magical possibilities beyond it. A few feet towards it, I could see two beasts standing by guarding this huge obstruction right before us, the bottom of the tree had soil decorated with green grass surrounding a considerable distance around it, and on this surface, these creatures stood and stared at us from a distance. One looked like a huge wolf, tall as a well-heightened man, it had glowy red eyes and its body looked like it was made from thick black-green leaves, the other appeared to look like a diminished brown colored scaly dragon with immature small wings, it's eyes containing a fiery essence locked at us, it was smaller than my image of dragons but bigger than any of us.
As I saw this, I quivered. These beasts exuded power with the cold menacing gaze they gave from their end however with Zephyr and her people around me, I felt that I would be safe and protected same with the others. After taking so many steps, we arrived right in front of these beasts. Suddenly, their cold eyes suddenly changed to that of expectant puppies, it was almost comical, these beasts suddenly changed and the aura they emitted had greatly lessened. The reason for this was Zephyr, they looked up at her with the wolf-like creature raising its forelegs in excitement. Zephyr saw this and responded by lowering herself close to them, patting and hugging them.
Witnessing the scene before us, we weren't surprised, Zephyr has once again lived up to her title of the Second in Command as she played with these mighty beasts before us and showered them with affection.
" Hehe Hehe," I sounded and smiled wryly, feeling a bit nervous about their close presence however the females of our group felt different.
" Cute!" Belle exclaimed with a flushed face, she looked like she wanted to pet them. Sasha as well felt that they were appealing as her eyes seemed to shimmer with excitement over the happy beasts
Petting them for a while, Zephyr looked back at the curious two and giggled a bit.
"Go On," she said, she could see that they were aching to feel them.
" They won't attack?" Germaine said out loud
" As long as I'm here, they will see you as friends" Zephyr transmitted this information to our minds.
Soon as she approved, Belle jumped and leaned her body against the Wolf-like beast, moving up down feeling the texture of this beast.
" You are not soft at all" Belle said and looked straight into its eyes, like it noticed Belle's comment, the beast turned its face apathetically to Sasha who was patting her newfound buddy, seeming to go along with it as it rubbed its lowered head against her palm. As if it was jealous, the wolf leaf beast moved away from Belle and went to Sasha who was still busy patting her new friend a few feet away, seeing her back exposed, it chose to rub its head against her back.
The two beasts were over Sasha now, rhythmically rubbing their bodies against hers in happiness.
" Hmmm" Zephyr sounded. She later proceeded to mumble some words to herself.
What she said at that moment although none of them could know this was about the possibility of Sasha possessing a special skill granting her the ability to get beasts fond of her or possibly perhaps much more if she learns and grow stronger.
The rest of us stood observing these strange beasts fondling our friend.
" That's enough," Zephyr said. The beasts understood her intentions and went back to their previous positions.
She moved forward to the door and after saying some esoteric words, the door opened slowly releasing and blinding us with golden light.