The shadows were starting to form shapes. Alex didn't want to know what those shapes would turn out to be.
"Ah. Alright! I-ah agree." He stammered.
"Excellent! The mistress can send you with only a thought. However, you will need this." The little man reached into his pocket and produced a small gold ring.
"What is it?"
"It's enchanted. Enchanted objects are attracted to this place. I have a large collection."
"What kind of enchantment?"
"Ah, well, it was originally created for a princess. She gave her voice for it. It gives the wearer the body of a human."
"But-" He felt anger from the blob at his constant questions but still, somehow he just couldn't shut himself up, "I mean that's just a story."
"It's funny how many of these stories turn out to have a bit of truth to them." The little man held out the little ring and Alex moved to grab it, then stopped.
"Will I have to give up my voice?"
"Ha! I have no use for your voice. No, our bargain is sealed with your promise to fulfill the demands we discussed previously."
"Oh." With that, he took the ring. It looked so normal in his hand.
"What are you waiting for?" The little man laughed, "Second thoughts about braving the forest?"
Alex shook his head vigorously and put the ring on his finger. It had looked far too small to fit him, but he found that when he tried, it fit him perfectly.
He screamed. The little man must have tricked him. With pain like this his tail had to have exploded from the inside. He felt that he would surely die.
After a moment, when he found himself still mysteriously alive, he slowly opened his eyes. Instead of the bloody mess he had expected, he saw the same legs he had gotten so used to seeing all his life. Relief flooded him. He hadn't realized until that moment how much he had missed them.
Carefully he tried moving one leg. The pain came screaming back. He might not have been torn in half, but it still felt like he had.
"Will it always be like this?" He asked, fearing the answer.
"Unfortunately yes."
"I don't think I can stand." He whimpered.
"Well, that is too bad. I guess we will have to abandon our deal and try someone else mistress. It is so sad to lose our new friend so soon..."
"Ah. Alright! I-ah agree." He stammered.
"Excellent! The mistress can send you with only a thought. However, you will need this." The little man reached into his pocket and produced a small gold ring.
"What is it?"
"It's enchanted. Enchanted objects are attracted to this place. I have a large collection."
"What kind of enchantment?"
"Ah, well, it was originally created for a princess. She gave her voice for it. It gives the wearer the body of a human."
"But-" He felt anger from the blob at his constant questions but still, somehow he just couldn't shut himself up, "I mean that's just a story."
"It's funny how many of these stories turn out to have a bit of truth to them." The little man held out the little ring and Alex moved to grab it, then stopped.
"Will I have to give up my voice?"
"Ha! I have no use for your voice. No, our bargain is sealed with your promise to fulfill the demands we discussed previously."
"Oh." With that, he took the ring. It looked so normal in his hand.
"What are you waiting for?" The little man laughed, "Second thoughts about braving the forest?"
Alex shook his head vigorously and put the ring on his finger. It had looked far too small to fit him, but he found that when he tried, it fit him perfectly.
He screamed. The little man must have tricked him. With pain like this his tail had to have exploded from the inside. He felt that he would surely die.
After a moment, when he found himself still mysteriously alive, he slowly opened his eyes. Instead of the bloody mess he had expected, he saw the same legs he had gotten so used to seeing all his life. Relief flooded him. He hadn't realized until that moment how much he had missed them.
Carefully he tried moving one leg. The pain came screaming back. He might not have been torn in half, but it still felt like he had.
"Will it always be like this?" He asked, fearing the answer.
"Unfortunately yes."
"I don't think I can stand." He whimpered.
"Well, that is too bad. I guess we will have to abandon our deal and try someone else mistress. It is so sad to lose our new friend so soon..."
