After yet another disappointing encounter with Yoo Joonghyuk, Dokja decided to visit Biyoo, needing a bit of a breather again. He'd finally been able to reach her without incident, arriving at the same secluded spot that the puffball had taken him before. Though, getting there took a lot of energy out of him, so he decided to rest up in one of the trees.
Dokja reached up to wipe the perspiration from his forehead. As his hand dropped back down his thigh, he felt something soft and fuzzy. Assuming it was Biyoo, he looked down, only to be greeted by a giant rabbit or
raccoon-like creature leaning against his thigh, calmly staring back at him. It seems to be as big as Dokja, if not bigger. They locked eyes for a moment until...
"POPO~!!"
"THE HELL?!"
Startled, he shoved the creature away from him, dropping from the tree that he had been resting on. As Dokja prepared to run away from it, he noticed Biyoo approaching.
"BAAHT~"
"POPO~"
Dokja tilted his head in confusion as he observed the interaction. They seemed to be conversing, though he had no idea what they were saying to each other. He jumped when both of them turned their gazes towards him. Biyoogestured to him to come closer, so he cautiously approached her friend.
As Dokja drew nearer, he examined its appearance. The creature's body was wide and round, like an egg, and it was as tall as him if not taller. Most of it was covered in brown fur, except for its belly, which was covered in white fur, and the area around its eyes, which was covered in a darker brown fur, like a raccoon. On its head sat large, long
ears, like a bunny's.
It also had a huge, puffy raccoon-like tail. The tail was striped brown and black and was the
same length as its body. Dokja caught
glimpses of sharp teeth lining the inside of its mouth.
Being able to take in the creature's full
appearance, Dokja realized how cute it looked, feeling an urge to give him a warm hug. Seeing his eyes sparkling, the creature smiled back, and without warning, scooped Dokja into its chest, cuddling him. The man reciprocated the hug, grateful to have found a new friend.
"What's your name?" he asked as he released the hug.
"POPO~," he replied. Dokja blinked, puzzled by its response.
"Do you not have... a name?" he asked. Perhaps it was similar to Biyoo in that way.
The creature shook his head vigorously, emphasizing once again, "POPO!". It clicked in Dokja's mind.
"Oh, your name is Popo!" Dokja exclaimed. It nodded in confirmation. Overwhelmed with its cuteness, Dokja took it's hand.
"Then we're friends now, Popo," he declared. At that moment, Popo enthusiastically hugged him. Dokja returned the embrace warmly, and Biyoo joined in with her own hug.
After the hug, they both focused their attention on the various injuries on Dokja's body. Looking closely, they saw the bruises and cuts on his hand and wrists from his sword training and the various scuffs littering his arms and neck, leftovers from his rather aggressive encounters with Yoo Joonghyuk. Noticing their lingering stares on his body,
Dokja tried covering his injuries with his hands. He avoided their worried stares, not wanting to upset them.
"BAAHT~"
"POPO~."
They both cried out to him, wanting to ask if he was okay. Dokja tried reassuring them with a tight smile. "It's nothing, don't worry about it," he said, keeping his hand over his neck. But Popo reached out to gently move his hands away from his body.
He was about to ask them what they were doing when Biyoo's horn started emitting a
glowing light. It felt like an electric current ran through his body. Gradually, the wounds on his body disappeared, as if they were never there. Dokja lightly ran his fingers over his arms in disbelief, finding no trace of the wounds. He gazed at Biyoo with gratitude. "Thank you, Biyoo," He beamed at her in appreciation, his smile genuine this time.
"Baat"~
Popo took a few steps back and opened his arms invitingly. Thinking Popo just wanted Dokja to hug him again, he eagerly bound over to wrap his arms around Popo's torso, but was dumbfounded as he unexpectedly leaped high into the air. Popo's arms were wrapped securely around him, with Biyoo squished between the two.
Dokja let out a horrified scream as his stomach dropped. Air rushed around his whole body as the rose, blowing his hair around and making his eyes water. Everything around them turned into a blur, and he could hardly hear anything with the air whipping against his ears.
But as they reached the peak of their jump, his fear turned into breathless exhilaration and delight as they made it past the tree line, their ascension slowing down to let him admire the view if the vast forest sprawled out before them. The sea of green leaves spread before them was dotted with speckles of dark shadows, hiding away the various animals that occupied the forest.
In the distance a flock of birds burst from a tree line, the cluster of black dots moving up as Dokja could just barely see the flapping of their wings. After descending slowly back to the forest floor, Popo jumped again. Dokja couldn't help but raise his hands in the air, his screams now turned into joyful laughter.
There was an inexplicable sense of freedom when he was in the air. Enjoying the scenery, Dokja then heard a bird-like sound coming from their side, so he turned to look. To his
continual surprise, there was a creature resembling a hybrid of an eagle and a lion, with magnificent wings.
It was similar in size to Popo and possessed four formidable claws. It appeared to be a griffin. "PURUNG~," it cried out as it gazed at Dokja. After staring in awe, Dokja smiled and extended his hand, waving to greet the creature.
"Hello!" he greeted it warmly, his other hand resting on Popo's back.
"PURUNG~," it replied with a smile. It swiftly took off higher, and circled the sky in a display that left Dokja amazed. After a short descent, they had reached a windy forest clearing, Griffin staying to join them.
But what caught Dokja's attention was the nearby cave. The group made their way towards it. Once inside, Popo arranged large leaves on the ground for Dokja to sit on. As he settled down, Biyoo and Griffin carried in a variety of grapes, strawberries, and other fruits and offered them to him.
Being hungry, Dokja gratefully accepted and began munching on the fruits. Their happiness was palpable as they watched him indulge in the food. Feeling a bit guilty, being the only one eating, Dokja picked up a berry and held it up to them, smiling. "Come on,
let's eat it together," he suggested.
"Po!"
"Purung!"
"Baaht!"
------
In the distance, unbeknownst to the strange group, hidden eyes observed their joyous meal. Concealed within the foliage, the sound of rustling plants betrayed the presence of these onlookers. However, neither Dokja or the other creatures noticed, too absorbed in their blissful meal and oblivious to the outside world.
Two men, their attention fixated on the gathering, exchanged a glance. The expressions on their faces hinted at a
single thought that occupied their minds while observing the man in the group.
"He is undoubtedly a demon."