Page 130 of I Ran Away to Evil 3
“And we left the dishes on the table,” I told him.
I loved how the realization that we’d been so distracted kissing we’d forgotten to clean up made the tip of his pointy ears darken. “Alright.”
Sir Tully was looking back and forth between us, confusion written on his face.
I waved at the pair and blew Julian a kiss goodbye before activating [World Bridge] and portaling away. I didn’t go back inside but straight to the young beastfolk girl running down a forest trail toward my bridge. It wasn’t on the main road, and she was obviously panicked and afraid, looking over her shoulder instead of at the path ahead.
She stumbled on a tree root and fell hard enough that I flinched at the impact, her fluffy tail pointing up in the air. She was so close, just ten paces from the edge of my bridge. Still, I couldn’t help her up.
I could only do my job.
“I beat without a heart.
I carry without hands.
I travel with the wind.
Tell me what I am.”
“AH!” She had only started to rise when my words startled her into a scream. She scrambled backward, her knee was bloody, and I sighed at seeing her terror. She was probably twelve if she was a day.
“I beat without a heart.
I carry without hands.
I travel with the wind.
Tell me what I am.”
I repeated my riddle, this time with emphasis.
“W-What?” She finally realized I wasn’t attacking her and calmed a bit.
“It’s a riddle,” I explained. “If you can answer my riddle, you can pass my bridge. If you can’t, then you will have to pay the toll.”
“But … I have nothing to give.” Tears filled the girl’s eyes now, despite her holding strong through the pain of her previous injuries.
“Start with the riddle,” I urged, repeating it a third time, very slowly.
“A … bird?” she asked.
“Try again.” I put up my hand beside my lips and leaned toward her as if sharing a secret. “You’re very close.”
“Alright. Um.” She closed her eyes and scrunched up her nose in thought. One of her fluffy animal ears twitched. I had no idea what animal she was, but she was adorable. “Wings?”
“You got it!” I smiled reassuringly. It was an easier riddle because there were other answers I would accept, like music.
There wasn’t much room on the bridge; it was just three planks roped together for hunters to cross the small creek. Usually, I’d poof away at this point and let her pass … but I couldn’t just leave. “I have some ointment for that knee; would you like it?”
She nodded, though I could tell she wasn’t fully convinced by her hands clenched together at her chest. There was a moment of anxiety as I stepped off the bridge, but only just.
“Here you go.” I crouched down and handed over a small jar. She took it, and then her fearful expression turned into a sneer.
“Got you—”
I dodged the arrow her friend shot at me from deeper in the woods.
“Almost.” I booped her nose with my finger and vanished.
