Chapter 9: Nightmares and Dreamscapes
A beautiful little girl runs through a lush meadow, her pigtails swaying back and forth on both sides of her head.
Summer is in peak season and the flowers are in full bloom. She can hear birds singing love songs and the distant sounds of dogs barking. A rustling in the tall grass brings her attention away from her drifting imagination to the sound behind her. Before she can turn around she is toppled over, a monstrous animal gives her wet licks on her head. She squeals merrily.
"Off Zuka, no more kissies, Kayla can't breathe"
Zuka was a beast, and he wasn't even a year old.
Kayla quickly gets on her hands and knees and is up on her feet a second later, she emits a high squeal laugh as she races Zuka to the Champloo tree.
"I'm going to beat you!"
Zuka barks in response and bounds past her, circling the monstrous tree, until his friend joins him.
Her short legs bring her to the base of the tree minutes later where she kisses Zuka and hugs him tightly around his neck.
"What do you want to do today?"
Zuka looks at her and tilts his head to the side, wagging his stump of a tail.
Kayla looks around with her big eyes to see what the beautiful day has to offer. She's wanted some Champloo fruit, but is too short to reach the nearest branch. She looks around to see if there is anything nearby she can use as a boost; seeing nothing she eyes Zuka mischievously.
"Zuka, come here boy!"
Zuka obeys and walks up to Kayla.
She places one hand against the smooth tree bark and places an opposite bare, dirt covered foot tentatively on Zuka's back, then the other.
His extra 3 ½ feet is just enough for her fingertips to brush the bottom of the branch.
She takes a deep breath, bends her knees, and with one quick upwards thrust of her arms, she's airborne. Her small hands wrap themselves around the thick branch as if her life depended on it, and she rocks side to side until the friction of her palms and the branch cause her to slow, and then stop.
With all the strength she can muster, she slowly begins to pull herself up until she is able to hoist one pudgy little leg over the branch. She slowly brings herself to a sitting position, whipping the sweat from her forehead.
She looks down at the ground below her, a place that seems miles away at the moment and yells to her companion,
"I did it!"
Zuka excitedly barks and jumps on his hind legs, nipping the bottom of her foot.
Her face alight with delight, she continues on to the next branch, and the next, until she can go no further; the other branches are too high, but the fruit is so close.
She stands on her tip toes, but still can't reach it. She looks down again, at the ground below her.
Setting her face, she makes a decision.
I'm going to do it.
With all the forced she can muster, she leaps off the branch to snatch the closest piece of fruit she can.
Success!
In her excitement, she has forgotten about landing back on the branch.
Her one foot plants itself awkwardly, off center of the branch and twists, her other foot misses it completely.
She begins to fall; her head smacks against one of the lower branches, an audible snap can be heard. Her leg smacks the last branch flipping her over and she lands facing the sky.
Zuka runs to her and licks her face, but she's not responding, the brightness in her eyes' is fading; her outstretched palm releases her prized treasure and it slowly rolls out of the upturned palm.
In the distance a farmer hears the mournful howl of a Dagon and shudders.