The Thing You Should Not Love

"Pinpaddy?" Swallina scans the darkening trees. She cups her hands around her mouth.

"PINPADDY! PINPADDY!"

Panic sets in. The sun is setting, and they were supposed to be home before dark. Darkness begins stealing the light. She struggles to see more than a few feet in front of her. Her breathing increases. Swallina darts behind a cluster of trees. Nothing. Pinpaddy is nowhere to be seen.

"I know you can hear me. Answer me! Where are you?"

Swallina rushes to another set of bushes. She is nearly at full panic now. The Morjor come out at full dark, and the stories always speak of them stealing young Blemings like Swallina and Pinpaddy.

"PIN... PAD... DYYYY!!"

"I'm over here, Swal, hurry."

The voice comes from behind Swallina. She turns and rushes toward the sound. "Where though? I can barely see now. It's getting darker by the minute!"

"I'm right here, you loudmouth. Better not shout too loud." Pinpaddy flashes her best attempt at an evil smile once Swallina reaches her. "Because the...... MORJOR!!"

She lunges at Swallina, teeth showing, wild eyes, fingers in claw poses.

Swallina screams. "AGHHHH!!"

Pinpaddy covers Swallina's mouth while laughing heartily. She bends over after releasing her and slaps her knee, enjoying far too much how easily her lifelong friend gets spooked.

"Not funny! We have to get home, it's dark now. Don't you ever get scared? My mom is going to kill me, Pinpaddy."

Pinpaddy waves off the warning. "You'll never guess what I found."

"Let me guess. Another Butterchum? You find those all the time. Let's go, it's dark." Swallina starts to turn back toward the safety of the village.

Pinpaddy grabs her arm and keeps her from leaving. She reaches into her pocket and pulls something out Swallina has never imagined seeing. She smiles as Swallina's eyes enlarge.

"Is that... is... is that what I think it is?"

"Yeah, and I think it's still alive. I'm going to bring it home with me. Not a word to anyone, okay?"

Swallina stares at the myth that is obviously not a myth and nods. She is speechless.

Pinpaddy grabs Swallina's hand, stuffs the myth back into her pocket, and starts running toward the village. She drags Swallina until the stunned girl catches her footing.