Brave

Cheerful twittering filters through the windowpane of a quaint cottage as the sun peaks its head over majestic mountain tops. Inside, a small sleeping cat rustles underneath her warm, thick blankets. She blinks blearily against the streams of sunlight dripping through her window. Mushroom considers her options before sighing and shuffling out of her bed.

I guess I’d better take advantage of the lapse in rain and gather some clams.

The flood season hasn’t been easy for anyone trying to make their way through the year. Farmers all across the land have struggled to make ends meet. Mushroom was rather disappointed when her crops and berry bushes died back for the season, even though she is well aware loss is one of the biggest battles a farmer may face.

As she stretches and gets dressed for the upcoming day, the little cat reflects on a recent encounter.

One day while she was exploring and gathering in the nearby woods, she stumbled across an extremely harried (and very, very lost) traveler. The poor soul looked absolutely terrified! The large, gray muzzled bear had leaves stuck in her fur and twigs poking into her floppy sun hat. Mushroom gasped and took a few moments to recover from the shock, but managed to overcome her nerves to question her.

“Why, what brings you to these parts?” Her voice was light and comforting to the traveler. “Are you lost?”

“Oh dear, I have no idea where I am!” The older female bear admitted. “My family is struggling for food right now, as most are. I thought I might be able to find something in these woods if I went a little further than usual. The next thing I knew, I was completely and totally lost!”

Mushroom managed a small smile.

“That sounds awful,” Mushroom replied. “I think you’ve stumbled upon the right place, though!”

The bear looked confused, but quickly broke into a brilliant smile as she watched the cat reach into her rucksack. Mushroom gathered the large jar of berries, loaf of bread, and bundle of corn she had brought along for sustenance during her adventuring.

“It’s not very much, but I hope it helps you and your family.”

The bear smiled again and reached for the gift.

“I don’t know how to thank you.”

Mushroom shook her head, a faint blush darkening her features.

“There’s no need, ma’am,” she chirped. “In fact, please let me drive you home so your children can eat sooner.”

The bear was speechless, but nodded her head and accepted, grateful for the opportunity to rest her aching joints. Mushroom was more than happy to help, but giving away her last few crops certainly put her in a tight spot for food.

Luckily, she is quite the resourceful little cat, and knows all of the best, secret clam digging spots to get her (and a few lucky others) through the constant deluge of rain.

After shrugging on her trusty rain jacket and boots, Mushroom grabs a foraging basket from the corner of her room and sets off across the wet, spongy earth to her favorite clam bed. Not many people know of its location, and clams are always quite plentiful. Of course, Mushroom is always careful not to take too many, as the precious little creatures also need time to grow and blossom as a colony.

Little does she know, she is being watched.

As little Mushroom scurries beside the forest, stepping carefully over slippery rocks and stones, a great beast gazes upon her with intelligent, glittering eyes.

The creature is one of few words. For her, a deep growl followed by a quick chomp always does the trick when encountering other beings in her way. She isn’t one for small talk…or really any interaction, at that.

But Mushroom….well, things have always been different with her. Upon first glance, the vast creature didn’t know what to do with herself. In all of her long years of existence, she had never met anyone quite like the cat. Lighthouse had never seen a creature so diminutive, but so infinitely brave and good hearted. Mushroom was an enigma, the antithesis of everything the demi goddess had thought she knew about other creatures roaming through the forest.

And so, Lighthouse carefully follows her, eyes sparking and heart thudding with anticipation of the chase.

Move carefully…I don’t want her to see me until just the right moment.

Lighthouse waits until she catches sight of Mushroom stooping over to dig up clams from the damp, clumpy sand. The giant being creeps up behind the cat. Her shadow towers over the tiny form bent down in concentration. She bends down and inhales deeply, taking in her favorite scent in the whole wide world.

Mushroom jumps, startling with a cry. She whirls around to face Lighthouse, her cheeks pinkening and tail fur puffing out in shock.

Lighthouse is delighted.

“O-oh! It’s you.” Mushroom exclaims, quickly glancing down at the sand.

“Mhmm.” Lighthouse rumbles, pleasure coursing through her at the sight. She can’t help but find it terribly adorable when her pocket-sized girlfriend gets nervous.

“I’m not sure why you enjoy doing that so much,” Mushroom huffs a smile, lips curving in shy happiness. Her small hands flit out to brush against the dense fur rippling over Lighthouse’s forearm. “But, um. It’s very nice to see you.”

Lighthouse growls lowly in response, pressing closer against Mushroom. Something about her demands closeness, as if by being near the small cat, Lighthouse feels an irresistible sense of belonging.

Mushroom continues her quest to find delicious clams, and the Demigod watches intently. Every so often, the cat catches her glances and flushes a pretty pink, nearly dropping her clams each time.

“What could be so interesting about clams?” Mushroom jokes, fidgeting hands betraying her nerves. “Really…there’s not much interesting about me.”

Lighthouse growls deeply, irritation coursing through her. She quickly moves close to her little cat, herding her against a nearby tree and pressing close.

“No.” Lighthouse grunts simply, eyebrows furrowing.

“No?” Mushroom asks.

“You…you…” Lighthouse struggles to find words. “Are brave.”

Mushroom erupts into a fit of giggles, pushing her small paws against her mouth to start and muffle the sound.

“Oh, Lighthouse. I’m not brave, not at all. Someone like me could never be a hero! I was born an artificer. There’s nothing brave about little old me.”

The large hyena grumbles in protest. She draws in a large breath, steadying herself to speak.

“You…are everything. The most brave and kind. The only human I have seen in all my years be a true hero. So many have tried, but can’t.”

Mushroom’s eyes widen in disbelief.

“I see, I watch, I know. You are kind, you give to others when you have nearly nothing. You do not give up. You are smart and skilled. Your boat train rivals many crafts I’ve seen. Other people…do not know. They try to tear down what they are not. You are brighter than all.”

Mushroom gasps as she listens, taking in more words than she has ever heard the large creature utter before.

“T-thank you, Lighthouse. Oh…I don’t. I don’t know what to say.” Mushroom says softly against the warm embrace.

Lighthouse rumbles soothingly, wrapping her large paws around her small frame and leaning down to sniff through her hair.

Mushroom has never felt so truly safe.