The Meeting with Miss Ioko

Dark green leaves, vibrant fronds peppered throughout with splashes of yellows, purples, and reds fill the forest to the brim in a kaleidoscope of color, drawn in nature’s design the so-called DNA, the code for life: the code described in Phoebe’s books.

Today, the sky is a light blue, the sun low in the east, just barely shining through the ferns; it cast long shadows interspersed by blades of light. At places, the yellow light shone through the plant life, giving the blood pulsing within the plants a color, neon green webbed with veins.

Phoebe pushed back another fern with his dark paw, leaning forward to squint into the undergrowth, his horn casting light to the shadows. It did not have what he was looking for, and he went on. His soft black fur was riddled with twigs and leaves, twisting yellow and green between his uncombed fur - he had been wandering the forest all morning. This forest is rich in earth magic, Phoebe thought, petulant at his lack of findings in the past two hours, there should be some sort of artifact infused with magic. He’d like to find something other than a yellowing bone this time. The others clearly didn’t like him being “weird”, and a simple feather would be much easier to carry around without any questions.

It was nearly eight in the morning when he finally came across something - but not necessarily what he was looking for. Phoebe was at the eastern part of the woods, still close to the Qocuria’s border with Sloniris, but also far away from any other tribes.

That something stood, unassuming, carved cobblestone brick, wrought with designs in celebration of the sun and the moon in the sky and the air, with the god Uya residing in the earth; a stone overhang cast the designs in shadow. The roof was stone, not thatched wood or clay like one would see in Sloniris or Qocuria, overflowing with plants that seemed to be a collection of all the color in the forest, a miniature, unadjusted rainbow. Vines ran down the sides, twisting and turning and fitting into grooves that seemed to be carved for them. It was unlike any architecture of Hasnetania Phoebe had ever known: perhaps the country of Dienan had its castles, but they were either marble and grand or a simple wooden tower. There were no windows, either; whatever inhabitant must live there must live by the candlelight.

Ever curious a kalon, Phoebe hesitantly walked up to the door, made of dark iron and covered with rusting patches. He grabbed the handle, sticky with the rust, and pulled it open with a great heave, his muscles straining and sending him staggering backwards when the door suddenly uncaught, and fell open. Dropping back down to his paws, Phoebe took a step into the dark room, a orange candlelight reflecting off of his dark eyes. There’s someone here, and suddenly, Phoebe was afraid, ready to run out of the room, knowledge be damned. Who knew what kind of monster or exile lived so far away from humanity?

“Master Yonah,” a voice called, before he could turn tail and run far away, “do not fear me. I am not a monster, nor a murderous exile. You may call me Miss Ioko.” Phoebe froze. How did they know him? Threatened, Phoebe puffed up his fur, taking a cautious step back.

“H-h-how-” Phoebe broke off, struggling to compose his words, and took a calming breath, “H-how do you know my name? And how did you know, you know? Show yourself.”

The voice gave a laugh. It was not a deep, evil chuckle, and nor was it patronizing. Rather, it was a kind, feminine voice - it kind that would calm a child. “Rather brazen words for someone who wants to run away.” There was a movement in the darkness, and a click sounded, electronic lighting flickering to life.

Miss Ioko was not a kalon nor a human. She the shape of a cream golden retriever, but dripping galaxies seemed to pour from her feet and her tail, small horns the same color as her pelt sitting atop her head.

“Answer my question. What are you? Why are you here? What is this - stuff? Are you a magician? Can you teach me? That is, if you don’t plan to eat me?” Phoebe’s eyes were wide, captured more by the various ingredients and magical artifacts lining the walls: jars of herbs, seemingly useless items: rocks, feathers, bones, old discarded household items - all alive with the magic of the earth. A round, woven carpet was decorated similarly to the outside of the house, but with color and detail. Scrolls with various runes written on them hung from the wall, or sat in a curled pile. Miss Ioko wore a smile.

“Quite the demanding one, aren’t you? It seems your parents could have taught you better.” Phoebe flinched at that. Miss Ioko’s eyes sharpened at Phoebe’s reaction. She hummed. “I can read you like a book. You are a very expressive kalon, I’ll have you know. And well known by the tribe scouts in the area - for one so young, you do your fair deal of wandering in the big, scary dark forest, Master Yonah.”

Phoebe stood straighter, as if to strengthen himself against Miss Ioko’s next attack. If it could be called that. “I can deal with a forest. It’s all sunshine and rainbows, there. You still haven’t answered my questions. I’ll ask them again -” Nothing on Phoebe’s face indicated that he was lying, but the words themself gave him away.

“You know, if you’d learn how to choose your words for your lies, you might be good at it.” Miss Ioko said, cutting Phoebe off. “Master Yonah, have patience. I am a coffee dog, a magician, those are my magical artifacts, runes, and ingredients, and no I won’t eat you but I can teach you if you like. I won’t tell you why I am here, however, except that I have been here for the past ten years, so this is my home, if you will.” Miss Ioko’s smile grew. “And you just barged into my home. I think you owe me, wouldn’t you say?”

Phoebe balked. “Owe you? How about we get back to you teaching me, instead.”

Miss Ioko’s expression didn’t change. “Why, if I teach you, that debt will become very large. I hope you plan to pay it off at some point.”

“Of course I will,” Phoebe offered, his face plain, already turning to the walls. “These runes - I’ve been mainly focusing on runes in my magical pursuits, for your information - I’ve only seen a few of them before. Think you can teach me them?” Miss Ioko did not respond, still eying Phoebe. He replied far too quickly for that to not be a lie, but she thought little of it. After all, perhaps if I teach him, I can teach him something about having… ah, nevermind that for now. She gathered up several scrolls and set them in front of Phoebe.

“Take these and be off, Master Yonah,” Miss Ioko intoned, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Phoebe stared, but asked no question, shuffling the scrolls into his bag and leaving.