Mango

He hops in through the window and says "I was on another adventure! I really found something this time! You have to see it!" His bushy black tail twitches with excitement as his bright blue eyes twinkle.

I giggle at the little guy and sigh. Mango was the only one of Fig's kids that can talk like him. In a way, Mango is special but to me, he's my familiar. When I was just three, we instantly bonded and have been together ever since.

The only problem though was his need for "adventure". Sure, I would love to go on an adventure and explore but I also knew when to back off. He wants to be like his father and my mother. I shake my head and give him a helpless smile as I say "Asher just got back. We're supposed to have dinner together and spend time as a family. This adventure will have to wait until tomorrow, okay?"

His little tail slowly lowers as his ears quickly follow. He looks disappointed but he nods his head and says "Sure... I'm glad he's back." I give him a warm smile and scoop him up on my shoulder as I say "I promise to see what you find first thing tomorrow, okay?"

He blends right into my solid black hair as he nods and says "Okay! What are we having for dinner?" I chuckle and pet his little belly as I say "Whatever you want" As I walk to the kitchen. Just like his father Fig, Mango loves to eat.

After eating dinner together and catching up, we all retire for the night but as I got out of my bath and was drying off, I noticed the odd rune had made itself home on the back of my neck. I turn to get a better look at it before shrugging.

I have a large rune of protection on my lower back and a few other smaller runes here and there so it wasn't anything new to me. I put on my nightgown and walk over to the bed to see Mango peacefully sleeping with all four paws in the air.

I smirk at him and slip into bed. As soon as I lay down and pull the blankets up around me, I lightly flick my hand to turn the lights off. It's not long before I peacefully drift off to sleep.

When I wake up the next day, Mango was pressing on my cheek and saying "You promised to see it! It's almost noon!" I sigh and resist the urge to roll over and sleep some more. What he says is true, I promised.

My parents should be gone with my brother to visit aunt Lilith so I should have the whole castle to myself... well, myself and all the servants and guards but it was still nice knowing that I was free for the day.

I pull the blankets off and quickly get dressed as Mango prances back and forth with excitement. I giggle at his cuteness before I shift the both of us to the kitchen. I grab a few things to eat before walking out.

"Alright, Mango. Which way?" I ask eating the last of the grapes as Mango practically bounces up and down as he says "A little ways past the old cave!" I slightly frown but nod and head off as I wave to the guards.

They nod and remain watchful as I disappear into the woods. As we come up to the cave, I try to decide whether to stop in and say hi to Nexus or not but the last time I stopped in, he was resting. I decide to leave him be and keep walking as the fairies fly around us in excitement.

As soon as we get close, Mango jumps down and says "Follow me!" I smirk and do just that as I absentmindedly follow behind him. These woods were protected by Dad's runes so there was nothing to fear while out here, especially when I seem to have an affinity with nature.

My Dad thinks it a weird side-effect of when my mother had drunk the magical water. I have a hard time believing it though. Asher was the oldest so if someone was gonna get some strange hand me downs, it would have been him. I'm just odd altogether...

When the plants and flowers begin to change, I frown and ask "How much further, Mango? We're nearly to the border of the protection runes." Mango bounces up and down in excitement as he says "We're here!!"

I come around a large tree and see an odd glowing body of water. The bright blue water reminds me of the water in Nexus's cave! I look at the water in wonder as I ask "You found this yesterday?" Mango continues to bounce up and down as he says "Yes! We should try it out!"

I frown and look over to him as I say "No, we have no idea where this portal goes and it's strange that it just suddenly popped up like this..." Mango finally stops bouncing as he glances at me with a look of disbelief.

"Are you kidding me!? Where's your sense of adventure?? You and I, against the world as we discover new and exciting things." He says pointing to the glowing water. I find myself struggling to find the right words as I say "Mango, that was when I was younger. It's dangerous to just jump into an unknown portal like this. You know this. Fig just got onto you about portal hopping."

Mango bristles in anger as he says "My Dad is just getting old and lazy! He would have done the same if it was back then! Besides, if it's dangerous, we can just jump back." I shake my head and say "No Mango, let's go back. We'll have someone investigate it and if it's safe, we'll go and explore."

Mango's anger can be felt from here as he says "What's the point then!? As soon as our parents find out about it, they close it! Fine! You stay here if you want, I'm going. Even if it means going without you!" I look at him in shock before saying "Mango! Enough!!" He sticks his little pink tongue out at me and jumps into the bright blue water!

My jaw practically hits the ground in disbelief as I stare into the water. Was he going through puberty or something!?! I sit and wait, hoping he would come back but the longer he doesn't, the more concerned I grow.

I run my hands through my long hair and glance down at the white dress I'm wearing. Should I take it off and jump in after him or should I leave it on? As time continues to pass with no signs of him returning, I start nervously pacing back and forth, twisting my hands in worry.

Screw it! He might be in trouble! I look around once again before lifting my hand and writing a quick message. After finishing, I lift my hand and blow my magic into it. It lifts up like a feather and takes off towards the castle.

Whoever gets home first will get the message. I turn around and grit my teeth in anger before jumping into the water. He better hope his furry little ass is on fire! At this rate, I'm going to turn him into a naked rat!