Antipodal Antagonism (2)

I'm forced back to consciousness like being yanked from a pool. Based on the phantasmagoric display I can tell I'm still in the forest but it's brighter than normal, like day has finally come to the forest of darkness.

I'm eerily calm. Maybe it's because of the image of a fairy lingering in my memory but I don't think I'm in danger. At least, not much danger.

"Human!" A purple-haired fairy with dark skin flies up to me looking authoritative.

"Hi." I attempt to move my arms but they seem to be bound behind my back.

"What are you doing here?"

"Currently? I'm being kidnapped." The fairy looks up at the tree above me before continuing.

"Why are you in the forest?"

"I'm part of a search team looking for a boy named Nathan who went missing in the woods." Even though they have all the power in this situation, the fairy seems nervous. I lean back until I'm resting against the trunk of a tree.

"Why were so many humans in the forest yesterday?" They ask as they push their long hair to the side.

"We were investigating the recent decline in the monster population and trying to find out why a Griffith attacked the town."

"Griffith?"

"It's big and muscley and uses fire magic."

"Oh, a Fire Muncher." The fairy nods their head knowingly. I can feel the edge of my lips twitch at the ridiculous name.

The fairy seems to be feeling more comfortable now so I take the reins of the conversation.

"What's your name?" I ask as I ply at the rope around my wrists.

"Oog." The fairy says as they lean towards me.

"Oog, that's a good name. I'm Nick."

"Nick, that's a dumb name."

"Yeah, you're probably right. Do you live in the forest?" I throw him a softball to keep him talking.

"Of course, where else would we live?"

"I don't know, the mountains; underwater."

"But we need to protect the forest." Oog lands on my knee.

"Why?"

"..."

"That's fine. If you don't know, I'll just ask your leader."

"What do you know about leader?"

"I know you aren't the leader or else you would have been able to answer my question about why you're protecting the forest." Oog glares at me. I can't help but smile at the adorable expression on the tiny fairy before me.

"Leader isn't here," Oog says as they cross their arms.

"You're lying."

"Shut up or I'll eat you." Oog glances up at the branches above my head, still frowning.

"Is your leader okay with that?"

"...Yes," they reply meekly.

"How would you do it?" I ask the first thing that comes to mind to maintain the flow of the conversation.

"What?"

"How would you eat me? Would you fillet me? Grill me? Turn me into a stew?"

"Stew!" The fairy shouts excitedly.

"What about the broth? If you're going to make a stew then you'll need a good broth."

"Yeah, good broth!"

"What would you put in the broth?"

"I'd boil some water and get some carrots and potatoes and onions and-"

"That sounds really good. Why don't you grab those ingredients and start boiling them to make the broth? I can already smell how good it's going to taste just thinking about it." Oog closes their eyes and smells the air as if the dish were already prepared.

"Okay, but don't go anywhere." The fairy warns before flying off.

I pull my hands from the restraints that I spent the last minute loosening and massage my wrists.

"They're cute," I say as I look up at the branches above me.

"Is that how you see them?" The red-haired fairy that I saw before being kidnapped is sitting leisurely against the trunk, looking bored.

"You seem disappointed." I say as I stand up and dust myself off.

"I suppose I am." She says as she turns to look at me. As soon as we make eye contact I can feel the heat behind her eyes. While Oog and Woohee were only dressed in leaves, She is wearing form-fitted armor like some heroine from from a video game.

"I'm Nick."

"Inari."

"So, is there anything else you need from me or should I stay for dinner?"

"..." She ignores me and looks back at the flutter of fairies frantically gathering food stuffs.

"Nick?" Woohee pokes her head out from behind a rock. I can't help but smile when she looks up at me.

"Hi there, Woohee."

"Woohee's sorry." She says as she looks down at the ground.

"There's nothing to feel bad about." I reassure her. "In fact, Inari here invited me to dinner."

"Really?" Woohee looks up at the tree with big puppy dog eyes. I glance over my shoulder and notice the faintest hint of a smile on the fairy leader's face.

"Why not."

"Yay! Woohee will help make dinner." The little fairy flies off and disappears into the swarm of tiny people. Her distinctive blond hair is drowned out by a rainbow of color as each fairy appears to have their own shade of locks.

"Thanks, Mom." I grin at the enigmatic figure above me.

"Just because I agreed to have you for dinner doesn't mean you'll survive the trip home." She glares.

I snort back a laugh

"I guess that means dessert is out of the question." I chuckle as I walk over to a large cauldron sitting in the middle of an open space. It can't be called a clearing at the whole area is still covered by the branches overhead but the trees are noticeably further apart here.

"How's the stew coming along?" I ask Oog.

"Quiet human. You only need to wait until the water boils and then you'll be added in last."

"Are you really going to ruin this stew by dropping a smelly human in it?" I ask. All the fairies in the area stop working and look over at Oog. The trepidation in the air is as thick as pea soup.

"No..." The other fairies sigh in relief at Oog's response and continue preparing the meal.

"I agree, that'd be a waste of this delicious stew. How soon until it's ready?"

"You won't be getting any so it isn't any of your business." The purple-haired fairy crosses their arms and turns away from me.

"Inari said I could." I thumb at the fairy leader behind me.

"..." Oog doesn't reply but merely lowers his head. I glance back and forth between Inari and Oog as I try to gauge their relationship.

My curiosity only grows as the fairies become increasingly tepid as Inari approaches.

"Interesting."