“Clarine, I’m going to go gather some lumber now.” He said to her still panting shape on the grass. “Do you want to come with me?”
She tried to open her mouth and form a response, but she was too tired. He had teased her mercilessly, causing her to climax several more times than he had. Eventually she just gave up and shook her head no in response.
He couldn’t help but laugh at his poor wife. He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek, saying “I’ll be back soon.” He walked off, raising a hand in the air in goodbye, calling back to her, “when I get back, I’ll teach you that song!” before he disappeared into the dense trees.
Hmm…where should I begin to look? He thought. When he asked about the axe for felling wood, Rana advised that he be careful, and to chop down only trees that were already dead. Be careful, lad, lest ye anger the Mamono of the trees. Her cryptic warning left him on his guard as he slowly walked through the wood, the axe at the ready over his shoulder, should he need to defend himself.
What kind of Mamono lives in the trees…? He thought to himself. I can’t picture someone like Clarine or Rana spending their lives in the treetops…
“You there, human.” A voice called out. Lost in his thoughts, the young man continued to ponder as he walked past, ignoring it completely. Perhaps the Mamono of the trees are different from Clarine and Rana?
“Hey, human! Don’t ignore me like that!” The voice said again, once more falling on oblivious ears. Perhaps the Mamono of the trees are some sort of monkey like creatures? The idea of a small girl swinging through the trees on vines and grabbing branches with her tail seemed ridiculous, and laughed out loud, saying “No, that couldn’t possibly be-”
“Who do you think you’re laughing at, you rude human!?” cried the voice angrily, cutting him off. For the first time, the man finally heard the voice talking to him.
“Oy, who is th-!” he tried to say, but his voice caught in his throat as he felt himself lifted off the ground and sent soaring vertically, suspended upside down in midair, his head closer to the ground than his feet. The axe he had been carrying was embedded in the ground a few feet away. He was being suspended upside down in the air, being held by what appeared to be a thin tree branch, the only think keeping him from falling to the forest floor and smacking his head painfully on the ground. It was nowhere near the height that would be lethal, although if he were to drop, he’d have a major headache for the next few days.
“I asked you who you were laughing at, you rude human!” the voice said again, and the branch holding him shook dangerously. Is it…! He thought to himself quickly, wasting no time in answering, feeling that it was the most prudent course of action.
“I was laughing at myself,” he called back to the voice, unsure where to look. He thought he could see something moving with the tree’s branches, but he couldn’t be certain. “I was wondering what the Mamono of the trees looked like.” He explained, hoping that if he was honest the creature that had him in its grasp would reveal itself, and perhaps even let him go. “A rather silly image came to mind, so I laughed at myself for being so stupid.”
“Are you suggesting the dwellers of the trees are silly?” the voice challenged. As he continued to listen to it, he noticed it sounded feminine.
“That wasn’t what I was suggesting at all. I was just curious what the Mamono of the trees looked like, is all. I was warned before I entered here to be careful of them, and I was wondering what they looked like, so that when I met one I would be able to show her the proper respect.”
“…” The voice remained silent for a time. For a moment he feared that the creature was going to drop him, or worse, fling him flying into the trees or slamming straight into the ground. What happened next, however, was not what he expected at all. Several of the branches that were in front of him parted to the left and right sides; revealing the owner of the voice he had been conversing with. It was hard to tell what she looked like while still inverted, but he could make out that her skin was a lighter shade of brown than Clarine’s, and that her flowing green hair complimented her sky blue eyes. Her ears too, were pointed like that of Rana and Clarine’s.
“That is the second time you have referred to my kind, the tree dwellers, as Mamono, human. Why is that?” She asked, the curiosity she felt creeping into her voice.
“I was taught that ‘Mamono’ was the general, and proper, term to refer to creatures such as yourself.” He said truthfully. She looked at him for several seconds, before deciding he was indeed telling the truth.
“And who taught you this, human? All the humans I have seen that traversed this forest referred to all of us as monsters, as if something to be exterminated.” The anger crept into her voice around the same time it did into her eyes.
“Rana de Tlaloc vi Rumstrue Leyline of the Goblin clan.” He stated flatly. “Don’t forget the ‘of the Goblin clan.’ It’s very important, ya know.” He repeated, in an almost perfect imitation of her voice.
“That accent…” the girl in the tree said softly… “That is most certainly the accent of a Goblin!” She lowered him to the ground, releasing his leg. The man dusted himself off lightly, and rose to his feet. “Tell me human, did you really learn that from this Goblin- Rana?” She asked excitedly.
“As sure as my wife is Clarine.” He stated, holding up the hand his ring was on, and walked up to the tree closely so that she could get a better view. “T-this workmanship…” she stuttered. “This is certainly of Goblin make!” she gasped excitedly, and the tree shook in turn. As close as he was now, he could see she wore a light green dress that neglected to even reach past her hips. Not that it mattered, however, as the many branches that surrounded her covered her up quite well. He could also see that her legs grew into the tree. This girl was certainly the one of the Mamono of the trees that Rana had told him about. “But why would a Goblin give you this….unless…” She leaned forward quickly, and he could have sworn that the whole tree leaned with her, towering over him. “Is your wife-Clarine, was it?” she asked excitedly, and he nodded in affirmation. “Is Clarine…a Mamono?!”
“Erm, yes, she is, actually.” He responded sheepishly. “A Pot Devil, to be exact, although why they call her a “Devil”, I don’t know-”
The tree dweller let out a girlish high pitched shriek of delight, twisting around in her tree. It wasn’t just his imagination this time, however. He was certain this time that as she moved around capriciously, the tree indeed moved with her. I can see why Rana warned me about them now… he thought glumly. If I had made her mad, she could have easily squashed me with one of those huge branches of hers…
“That’s…so…so….romantic!” She squealed. “When did the two of you meet? When was your first kiss?” The tree dweller squirmed around, her tree branches moving around wildly. “When did you realize you two were in love, and when did you get married!?” She asked many a question, one after the other, without giving him a chance to reply. “So then, tell me!” She said cheerily.
“Er…” he mumbled. He wasn’t sure he wanted to answer all of her questions, but the eager way she looked at him told him it was probably best just to tell her and remain on her good side. Taking a deep breath, he attempted to answer all of her questions in one go, before she could begin to ask more questions.
“We met one year ago today, we first kissed that very same night, I realized I was in love with her two months ago, umm…I’m not sure when she fell in love with me, although when I proposed to her this morning, she happily said yes.” He wheezed, out of breath.
The tree dweller froze in place, as did the tree. It was an extremely awkward sight to behold, seeing a tree twisted in a such a lopsided way. Almost as if Rana had taken her anger out on it with that giant club of hers.
“D-d-d-does t-that mean…” she stuttered excitedly, “that you’re…NEWLYWEDS!” she screamed excitedly, twisting about once more, her tree following suit. A-are all Mamono this weird…? He thought to himself. Well, maybe not Clarine, he thought with a smile. “That’s so romantic!” she continued, not even noticing that he had stopped paying attention to her momentarily. “So then! What are you doing way out here with that silly axe? You should be…” she blushed brightly, squirming yet again. “…making wild and steamy love with your wife right now! Making her say things like ‘kyaah’ and ‘ah, right there!’ and ‘you’re filling me up inside!’”
“Well…actually…” he said, grinning.
It didn’t take long for her to catch on to his meaning. “You mean you’ve already done it!?” She asked excitedly. “Ah, you sly dog you!” He watched she waved her arm side to side, as if patting him on the back. Oh…crap… he thought, moments before a long thin branch came crashing into his back, smacking him twice before knocking him face down into the forest floor. She was still squirming side to side by the time he managed to pull himself back off the ground.
“So, where is the blushing bride now?” the tree dweller asked curiously, her eyes dancing.
“She’s waiting for me back at the clearing in the middle of the forest.” He blushed as he said this. “She’s…still a little tired, you see.”
This time he ducked, and not a moment too soon as the large branch came whooshing by over his head, flying by the place he had occupied just moments ago. Thinking it was safe, he rose, only to get caught on her backswing, knocking the wind out of his lungs and causing him to land on the forest floor for the second time in so many seconds. It took longer for him to stand this time, rubbing his now sore back.
Maybe I shouldn’t tell her that wasn’t our first time… he thought wisely, fearing for his life.
By now, she had managed to compose herself somewhat. At the very least, no more branches came flying at him in a congratulatory manner. “So then, why are you out here, human? Surely you’d want to be with your lucky bride instead of out here trekking in the woods?”
“Well, you see…” he said, and explained his intentions to build a home in the forest, and how he had been looking for dead trees to chop down in order to do so.
“Rana told me, that you tree dwelling Mamano would be angry if I cut down living trees,” he added at the end of his short explanation.
“I see…” she said at last, after listening calmly to his explanation. “There is a dead grove of trees, suited for your purpose, somewhere in this forest.” She crossed her arms, however. It was a strange sight indeed, to see a tree’s branches twisted in such a manner. “I understand your desire to build shelter for you and your bride, but don’t you think you should be at her side right now?” She made a sweeping motion with her hand, as did the branch that responded to it. “Go on, go to your bride. She must be worried sick about you by now. Come back tomorrow with her, and I’ll gladly tell you where the trees you need are.” The finalized way she said it made it very clear she wasn’t going to tell him the location until then. With a sigh, he walked towards his axe and picked it up, looping it through a strap on his belt. There was no need to carry it openly if he wasn’t going to be using it that day. “Why, aren’t you the obedient human,” the tree dweller teased, “I like that.” She said simply. The man didn’t know how to interpret such a loaded comment, and chose to say nothing about it.
“I shall return tomorrow, then.” he said. “I’ll bring Clarine with me as well.” He smiled at the thought. He wasn’t sure how Clarine would deal with this strange girl, but he had a feeling they would get along fine. She did like Rana, after all. “It was nice meeting you…?” he trailed off, realizing he didn’t know her name yet.
“Oh, my mistake,” she said, realizing she hadn’t yet given her name, and blushed in embarrassment. “My name is Mirajane ni Valestraia, of the Dryad Clan. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, human, husband of the Pot Devil Clarine.”
“The feeling is mutual, Mirajane.” He said with a bow, as the thought …so I’m human, husband of the Pot Devil Clarine, now? ran through his mind. “I’ll return with Clarine tomorrow, so please don’t forget!” he said, and walked off between the nearby trees, quickly disappearing into the sea of trees.
“Hmm…” Mirajane muttered as she watched him slowly disappear through the trees. “A human and Mamono couple, huh? I never thought I’d live to see the day…” She sighed heavily to herself. “I’m so jealous!”
…So much for getting any work done, he thought to himself, well clear of Mirajane the Dryad. He grimaced, and rubbed his aching back once more. Not that I think I could get anything done, not after the “congratulations” she gave me…I guess I should hurry up and get back to Clarine…Mirajane had a point, I don’t want her to worry about me.
…One has to wonder what the man would have said, had he known just then that Clarine was sleeping peacefully without a care in the world.
Continuing on, despite the aching of his back, he retreated along the path he had followed in, until an unfamiliar sight appeared before him.
“What’s this?” He said, stopping in front of a large pink flower. It was as large as he was wide, and came almost up to his waist in height. It appeared to be snapped tightly shut. He stooped down and poked at it gingerly. “This wasn’t here when I came past here on the way in…” He poked it again, not noticing it twitch in response. “I wonder if Clarine knows what this flower is?” Poking it yet again, oblivious to the flower’s increased movements. “It feels really soft…I wonder if I can grow a few of these near where our house will be?” Poke. “I’m sure it would look beautiful.” Yet another poke. However, it was the last straw that broke the camel’s back.
“Would you stop poking me!?” cried the flower angrily as it blossomed open violently, knocking the man flat on his butt. It was the third time that day he was knocked to the ground by moving greenery. As the flower petals lowered, he spied a small green colored child wrapped in vines. Her hair was a light green color, cut short at her shoulders, although her bangs flowed down long enough to cover her meager chest.
Her eyes were a light shade of violet, and she appeared to have a miniature version of the flower she resided in growing from her head. Like all of the other Mamono he had met so far, she too had long pointy ears. She also appeared to be wading in what appeared to be some sort of nectar.
“Just because you’re bigger than me, doesn’t mean you can sit around and bully me!” she said angrily, huffing out her chest in anger.
“Aww, you’re so cute.” He said innocently, not imagining a child to be inside of the flower. “Are you a Mamono, too? Where’s your mother, are you lost?”
“Wha-!?” she recoiled, embarrassed. Her cheeks shone cherry red. “D-don’t try to change the subject, you big bully!” She closed her eyes and stuck her tongue out at him.
“Alright, alright.” He said, holding his hands up in surrender. “I’m sorry for disturbing you, I didn’t know there was anyone inside your flower.” He stood up, dusting the leaves from his clothes that gathered when he fell. “I need to get going now, so take care of yourself, okay?” With that, he started to walk away.
As he walked, he heard the sound of rustling following behind him. Turning around, he spotted the child Mamono, who immediately closed up her flower. Kids… he thought, be it in this world, or my own, they’re still the same. He shrugged his shoulders before continuing on his way.
As soon as he started to take another step however, he heard the same rustling noise yet again. Upon turning around, he saw that the flower had quickly inched a step closer. Feeling that he should do something about this now rather than later, he turned back around and walked up to the flower, stooping down to where he assumed was her eye level, and poked the flower again.
“Would you stop poking me!?” she cried, opening her flower.
“Why are you following me?” he asked, not unkindly.
The little flower child frowned, and darted her eyes to and fro. “…Earlier,” she said quietly, “…you called me a Mamono.” She said and lowered her eyes, avoiding his gaze. Feeling that it was best to let her finish, he said nothing, giving her time to collect her thoughts and express her mind.
“My Mama…” she said after a while, her eyes still downward, “before she died, she would always say to me, ‘Anya, dear, humans hate us. They despise us, and flee if they see us. They call us monsters, and hate our existence,’ and she would always have a sad look on her face when she’d tell me this. But then she would say with a smile, ‘But remember this, Anya dear. If you ever hear a human refer to you as a Mamono, then he or she is a friend, and you must never harm them. That is the way of our kind.’”
I see… thought the man, …so that’s why Mirajane seemed so intent on finding out why I called her a ‘Mamono’…
“When I called you a bully for poking me,” she continued, “you even apologized. You worried about me, too…” she said, almost sadly. “No one has ever done that since Mama died…” she couldn’t hold it in any longer. Her strong façade fell away as the tears rolled down from her eyes. For the first time since he started talking with her, she was finally acting like a child; a child who missed her departed mother.
“You know, someone who I hold very dear, said to me not so long ago; ‘You loved your mother…right? Then it’s okay to miss her…it’s okay to cry if it hurts.’ That’s what she said to me.” He patted her lightly on the head, ruffling her hair a little. “So if you want to cry, then cry.”
“Y-you w-won’t tell anyone?” she sobbed, sniffling a little. “I promise that I won’t.” He said. That was all she needed to hear. The poor little girl cried her out her heart and soul, weeping freely, calling for her mother. She cried long and hard, letting it all out.
“Anya, was it?” he asked, when she finally stopped crying. She nodded. “Do you want to come live with me and my wife Clarine?”
“Is she nice to Mamono like you are?” she asked uncertainly. He could feel that she was afraid of being treated badly. Underneath her tough exterior, she was still a child after all. He grinned. “Even better. Clarine IS a Mamono.”
“Eueeh??” She said, clearly shocked. “You’re lying!”
“I’m not.” He replied, still smiling. "She is a Pot Devil, to be exact."
“Then…” she started to say slowly. “Then, can I really come with you?”
“If that’s what you want, then I’m sure Clarine would be happy to have you too.”
“O-okay…” she said, clutching her hands together. She seemed unable to think of anything else to say, clearly happy at the prospect of no longer being alone. “B-but! I-I’m not calling you “Papa!” or “Father!” or anything childish like that!” she cried out. Already her strong willed exterior was bouncing back again. He smiled. “Feel free to call me whatever you want.” He said. “But in exchange, can you do me a favor?”
She eyed him warily. “When we get to my wife, can you say ‘I’m home, Mama!’ I want to see the surprised look on her face.” He grinned mischievously. “I bet she’d go “EEEEHHHHH!?!?!” and start freaking out and running around in circles. Wouldn’t that be funny?”
She appeared to be thinking about it, and then said. “…I feel sorry for your wife, to be stuck with a meanie like you.”
………ouch. “Ah, that’s mean Anya!” he said, holding his heart as if she wounded him.
She grinned and stuck her tongue out at him. “I’ll do it, but only because I’d think it would make her happy and she’s probably a miillllion times nicer than you, not because you told me to!”
“That’s fine by me.” He stood up, and walked a step forward. “Shall we go, Anya?” and started walking off. As he walked further down the path, the sound of rustling grew fainter and fainter. Wondering what could be wrong, he turned around, to see Anya far behind him, struggling to keep up.
“I’m sorry about that Anya!” he apologized when he went back to her. “Do you want me to carry you?” he offered.
“I can walk on my own!” Anya rebuffed.
“…Okay, if you say so.” He said, walking off and leaving her behind. After about a minute, he returned to find her not very far from where she last was.
“…Just this once, okay!?” She cried out when she allowed him to pick her up and carry her in his arms. “Don’t get to thinking that I want you do to this for me all he time! And I’m still not calling you “Papa” no matter what, so stop asking!”
He grinned at the sassy little girl in his arms. “I don’t recall asking you, Anya.”
“W-whatever!” she said, and closed up her petals. He could hear her fuming inside, embarrassed.
“I can still here you inside there, you know?” he teased.
“Agggghhhh!!!” she cried, opening her petals once more. “I can’t believe I got stuck with such a meanie for a Papa!”
“Ah, you called me Papa!” he teased gently. “I’m so happy!”
”Ahhh, you’re such a jerk!” she cried, and he laughed uproariously. Anya folded her arms in protest, refusing to talk to him on the rest of the way back to Clarine.
“Clarine, dear, I’m back!” The sun was well in the middle of the sky now, starting to fall towards the western horizon. When he left, it was still at least an hour before the sun had reached the center of the sky. “I’ve brought home our rambunctious daughter!”
“Mama, I’m home!” Anya chimed in, right on time for Clarine to walk up to the two, and shout loudly
“EEEEEEHHHHH!?!?!” and start running around, confused. He laughed heartily, and put his hand on his wife’s shoulder to calm her down.
“Ah, you’re so mean!” she said, pouting, when he finished explaining to her what happened, both with Mirajane, and then Anya.
“That’s what I said, Mama!” Anya piped in. “He’s a big meanie!”
Clarine giggled, and lifted Anya from her husband’s arms. “That’s right, Papa’s a big meanie face!”
The young man nearly crumpled to the floor in despair. “Not you too, Clarine!” He said wearily. “It was just a practical joke! Don’t take it so seriously!” he cried, and Clarine and her new adopted daughter Anya laughed together in unison at their silly husband/papa.
“Welcome to our family, Anya,” Clarine said to her already precious daughter. Even if she looked nothing like her mother, Clarine didn’t care. In the short time she spent around her, she knew she would love Anya as much as any blooded related child she would ever have.
“Unnh!” Anya replied cheerfully, hugging her new mother with a grin.
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