ARTHYR AURELIO AND THE MISFITS’ OASIS — The promise

They reached the foot of a mountain. The elf stopped, pressed his hands together, and put on a solemn expression.

“This is a very serious matter,” he said, then immediately smiled. “Put a paw over your heart and promise you won’t tell anyone about this place.”

Skyblue did as he asked.

“Well,” the elf added, “unless your heart tells you that you should. Now touch the mountain with your other paw.”

Skyblue pressed her paw against the rock. Slowly, silently, the mountain opened, revealing a passage. Beyond it grew flowers in colors she had never seen together before. Birds flew from branch to branch, their songs seeming to join in with the jingling of his shoes.

“Follow me.”