Meeting the Tiki

Hunted. Always hunted, always chased and always in danger. The little tiki took in a deep breath and flopped himself down on the edge of the cliff, his eyes tracing across the bright, grassy landscape below. A tired sigh left his lips. He had managed to escape once more, despite so his ears twitched and shifted constantly in attempts to pick up sounds of approaching creatures. Always having to be on edge, worrying and fretting was taking its toll on his mental state, there was no denying it anymore. Yet he could hear nothing but birds chirping in the forest behind him and the gentle wind that ruffled his silky mane. Quietly he pulled his legs to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. Hugging himself close and leaning his head down to rest it against his knees. His thoughts racing, buzzing like bees and refusing to let him relax.

Without warning a gentle cough caught his attention, causing him to jerk forward and almost throw himself off the cliff in sheer surprise. How the creature had managed to appear soundlessly was beyond his understanding. Had he fallen asleep? How much time had passed? The sun was setting. Soon he found himself on his hooves. Wide eyes staring at the creature, desperately trying to figure out if he needed to flee or not. His hoof kicking against the soil below, anxiously digging into it.

The creature was tall, a lot taller than himself, with a luxurious and well groomed coat. Across its shoulder rested what seemed to be a cape and its tail lazily swayed behind it. It remained still and relaxed, constantly looking at him with a calm expression, while he fretted about trying to sort his muddled thoughts. Soon his hoof halted its antics and he straightened up.

"Whhh..." He started, but had to halt to take in another deep breath. "Who are you?"

The creature canted its head to the side ever so slightly, before letting out an amused chuckle. A soft laugh, its voice gentle. "Someone here to help ~" It started, a lopsided smile coating its  lips. When it  continued there was something almost singsongy resting below its  voice. "You seem like you could need it, little tiki."

How did he know? His eyes narrowed as it practically glared towards it. "Why... do you think... I need your help?" He tried to sound confident and independent, but his exhaustion laid heavy below his every words.

"Oh, it's quite visible, but if you don't wish for my aid I can take my leave." Despite its words it didn't move from the spot it had stood in this entire time. Its fur barely moving despite the wind, leaving the situation even more eerie.

"No!" He snapped without thinking, a quick step taken towards the other incase it was about to leave. A hand reached out to grip onto them if need be. Said hand was very swiftly yanked back once he  realised it didn't move and a bright blush coated his cheeks. "I mean... Err... I could... Uhm..." His ears folded back and hid within his mane, eyes falling to the ground to avoid the others studying gaze. Why did he act like this? Why were he even entertaining this stranger? His next words were no more than a pleading whisper; "Please... Help me."

Once he managed to tear his eyes off the ground and look towards the creature it were pratically sparkling in the fading light. Its cape reflecting fragmented pieces of light in a myriad of colours that danced along the ground around them. Its smile grew and its hand was reached out. "Let's make a deal then, little tiki. I'll bring you to safety, away from the hunters, and give you a home and in turn you'll work for me." How did it know he was being hunted? Work for him? Safety... He didn't have time to give it much thought as the creature looked at him expectantly and the situation felt increasingly time sensitive. His eyes flicked desperately between the outstretched hand and the creatures face. A voice in the back of his mind were yelling warnings at him, yelling at him to run and to not look back, but they were all being muffled by a strange mist that confused his thoughts. Slowly, shakily, he lifted his hand and wrapped it around the creature's.

Before he could react a thick, shimmering thread tied itself around their connected hands, locking them together. His eyes wide and terrified as he tried to yank his hand back, swiftly lifting his gaze to look at the creature once he realised it impossible. Desperation shaking all the mist from his thoughts as his voice returned. "W-w-what is happe..." Before he could finish the sentence a bright light appeared and he got pulled into it. For a split second all he could see was a myriad of eyes all around him, all staring directly at him, before he found his hooves connect with warm, wooden floorboards and his hand was returned to him.