Word Count → 431 :: I DUN WANT IT TO EEENNNDD. D: But this seems like a good stopping point, if Sophie wouldn't ask so many questions. LOL We should have another soon!
Sophie sniffled and nodded hopefully as Mordecai offered to bring her home, padding her way carefully back to the small trail she'd left. "Think 's this way..." She mumbled, and nosed her way through the underbrush, this time much more slowly as she still felt a bit discouraged. The stories he'd woven of elves and trolls had seemed so real, so indisputable; and yet when they came across the creatures, they'd been nothing more than frozen imitations of themselves, of what she'd imagined them to be. It disheartened her toward the whole process, and yet...she wanted to believe there was magic in the world. She would believe there was magic in the world; it was the only way she could grow up without growing embittered.
The sun was starting to go down, and she gave a small hiccough that belied her attempts to remain strong and not cry over the unfairness of it all. When Mordecai's muzzle nudged her own gently, she pushed back, rubbing her head against him to take what comfort he offered, and also to forgive him for whatever transgressions he thought he'd made, though she didn't realize at first that he needed comfort, too. The walk back home was going slowly, and she wanted suddenly to curl up with Bug and tell him about her adventures, just to let him know what had gone on--her very best friend, who was much like those elves. Frozen in time, given life only by her own imagination...she didn't want to make that connection yet, though, and so forcefully pushed it out of her mind.
Sophie looked up as Mordecai apologized, and offered her own weak smile, though her eyes were a bit watery and she sniffled a lot. "Not your fault," She said, waving her tail briefly before it curled between her legs. "Maybe still elves just...decoys." She decided she liked that thought, and her tail waved again, her eyes wide and hopeful. "Elves put out still elves, scare away bad things. Then real elves safe, right?" She didn't know why they'd put them out around the humans' twisted den, though; maybe to scare away wolves. It had certainly worked on them.
Pausing as they came upon her clearing, Sophie sniffed and rubbed her nose again, then turned to look at Mordecai and smiled again. "Sophie home now! Go tell Bug 'bout elves and glow-fairies." She scratched at her ear with a hind paw for a moment before looking up at Mordecai again, hopefully. "Mord-Morde--Mordy friend now, right? Sophie see him lots more?"
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