The Elder nodded. "Of all the creatures in this Dark Forest, brownies and goblins are the least susceptible to the fae sun. Creelee will do just fine returning with you. But if you prefer, I can take care of him," he offered.
Izzy looked down to see a pair of bright blue eyes staring up at her. With his mouth shut he looked adorable. He smiled, showing off his razor-sharp teeth. Who was she kidding? He was adorable even with the teeth.
"You have to listen to what I say." He nodded. "I'm new to the palace, so I'll do my best to keep us both out of trouble." He nodded. "To be honest, I'm a bit of a mess myself, so I may get us both in trouble despite trying to be good." He nodded again. "Well, okay then. I guess we're a team." She held out her finger for him to shake and he promptly bit her. "Ow, Creelee!"
The Elder laughed. "He just sealed your agreement in blood. He's yours for life now and can never be returned to Telk."
Izzy stared down at the tiny brownie nuzzling the tip of her finger. "I think we're gonna do just fine."
*****
"Denka, we've been away from the palace for hours. I think it's time we head back," Ryuu suggested.
Izzy groaned. "Can't we just stay here?"
The goblins laughed. "We can build them their own longhouse," one of the females suggested.
Meryn was reclining back, patting her stomach. What she smelled cooking was an entire roasted wild boar. "I'm so full."
Gilheim looked down at her in satisfaction. "You fed well, that is good, for you and for your youngling."
"Stay, stay, stay," the goblings chanted as they played with Izzy's hair. They loved that it was red and kept bringing her flowers.
"Okay Ryuu, help me up," Meryn asked, holding up her hands.
Ryuu easily lifted her to her feet. Izzy took the braided flower crowns she was working on from the children's gifts and began passing them to ecstatic children who immediately ran off to show their parents.
Izzy looked on her shoulder and Creelee was fast asleep. She ran her bitten fingertip over his hair and he practically purred in his sleep.
Pierce helped her to stand and Gilheim joined them to escort them safely to the edge of the woods.
"If I had to live in Éire Danu, I'd live with the goblins," Meryn announced out of nowhere.
Gilheim stumbled. "But, you get to live in the palace," he said, sounding confused.
Meryn shrugged. "It's pretty and all, but your village felt more like a home."
Izzy felt movement by her ear and saw that a sleepy Creelee looked out at the world from his perch. She reached into her bag and offered him a left-over chicken tender. It was just a bit smaller than he was. His eyes widened before he decimated it. "Do you want another?"
"Nother," he chirped.
"He is so freaking cute," Meryn gushed, then looked over at Felix. "But not as cute as you," she added quickly.
Izzy handed Creelee another tender. She watched him closely afraid he was swallowing the pieces whole, but he wasn't. He was chewing with those sharp teeth of his.
He looked up at her with huge eyes. "Nother?"
She held out the last piece. "This is the last one I have with me, but if you're still hungry when we get to the palace, we can order you something, okay?"
"Otay," he replied before devouring the third tender.
As they were walking, she realized she had nothing for the little brownie. She looked over at Felix. "Hey Meryn," she called.
"Yeah?"
"Do you think we could use some of the sprite stuff for Creelee?"
Meryn shrugged. "They're about the same size, that should work."