With his breathing unsteady, Xeros didn't open his eyes. The male being scared out of his wits before he felt something flick his forehead. "Hello? You okay?" A small, kindly lowered voice said. That voice made him know he was definitely still alive. Opening his eyes slowly as they had widened. He was hanging upside down, floating just above the green, grassy ground. Blinking in shock before looking to see who had flicked him.

A little girl. She was smaller than him for sure with neck length, light brown hair and bright pink eyes. Her skin was somewhat more tanned and she was definitely on the skinny side. Wearing a green top with a skirt that had two layers on it. The skirt being about the same green with a multitude of flowers running down it in a wave-like pattern. The girl simply smiled at him as the scared expression she once held was gone. Turning into that of a thrilled one as she clasped her hands together. "It worked! Yay!" The girl said happily as she looked up.

Him following her eyes before his eyes widened again. A few vines were wrapped around his ankle. Holding him there as they were practically still aside from a bit of swinging which was caused by him.

'Okay.... okay just stay calm Xeros... nothing too bad has happened... you're just stuck here... with vines.... and an overly happy kid....' He thought and let out a small breath.

"Heyyyy! I'm not that overly happy!" The girl said suddenly as the males face turned into fear. "You heard that!?"

"Yep!"

'Okay.... overly happy kid that can read minds.... how great....'

"Oh it is great! And useful too! Especially when someone's trying to keep a secret from you. Ya know, secrets are kinda strange... like, why not tell the person what you're thinking instead of keeping it in your head? It doesn't make sense! What do you think about them?" She asked, curious eyes going on him.

'Goodness...' He thought and blinked. "Well uh... I dunno...." he said, being as nice as possible. His left hand reaching over his shoulder to grab his sword. Which, he succeeded in before the girl grabbed his wrist. "Don't hurt them! That's mean!"

"What? I'm going to cut myself down. There's nothing mean about that."

"They'll put you down..."

Before Xeros knew it, the vines dropped him carelessly. The male hitting his head before falling on his back. "Ow!" He said as he sat up quickly. Rubbing his head as he huffed, holding a sort of irritated expression before looking at the girl. "How did it do that?"

"How did what do what?"

"How did the vines just--.. drop me like that?"

"Oh, they know to drop something when you're not food for the tree. They only mess around." The girl said innocently and looked up at the tree.

"What?"

"The tree. He gets hungry and sometimes takes other things aside from sunlight to eat."

Xeros seemed completely lost. A tree eating things? That's.. not real, right?

The male blinked upon the girl snapping her fingers in front of his face. Causing him to come out of the trance of his own thoughts as he felt his heart skip a beat. Gazing into the girls pink eyes for a moment before shaking his head. "I don't believe I got your name..."

"Oh? It's Lotus! Pleased to meet you.." She said and trailed off a bit. "Xeros.." He said with a small nod. "Xeros?" The girl said before giggling. "That's a funny name...."

"What? How's my name funny?" The male rebuked with a bit of an offended expression. Either way, he was talking to a child..

"Aww don't get all mad about it! I didn't meant it." She said and giggled some more. Sporting a beaming smile. Him tilting his head a bit before slowly smiling back. Something suddenly hitting on his brain as he straightened up some. "Oh! I almost forgot to say thank you..."

"For what?"

"For saving me.."

"Don't go thanking me." Lotus said and waved her hand a bit carelessly. "Thanks the vines! They're the real hero's here..."

"You're wanting me to thank... a plant...?"

"Mhm!" The girl responded with a nod. Looking at him as her expressions changed into that of a sinister one. "Unless you want them to change their minds about having the tree eat you..."

'Okay....!! Definitely thanking the vines now...' He thought as his face turned into that of a terrified one. Him gulping as he stood up. Gazing up at the tree before waving sheepishly. "Hey uhh... vines.... thanks for.. catching me...." He said and kept on looking terrified. One of the vines creeping down and patting his head. More soon coming down and starting to pat not only his head, but his face as well. Xeros honestly didn't know weather to be freaked out or grossed out. Just letting them do this as he shuttered a bit. The girl watching as she giggled. Seeming amused by his actions towards the vines random affection. "Aww, they like you!"

'Oh great...' He thought and gulped. The vines soon pulling away as he shook his head. 'Now I just feel weird..'

"Don't worry about that, it happens."

'She's still in my thoughts!? This is gonna be annoying...'

"I can't help but to not be in your thoughts!" She said and crossed her arms. Lotus letting out a small huff of annoyance as she gave him a look. "And I'm not annoying either!"

'Definitely seems that way--'

"Ow!" Xeros said as he groaned. Rubbing his poor head after a swift whack came to it. 'Damn she can jump....'

"Humph. And don't forget it either. Unless ya want another one!"

'Why are children so scary??'

Xeros ceased rubbing his head for a moment as he gazed up at the sky. Noticing the radiant shades of oranges and lavenders colliding with the almost perfect blue of the sky. The large ball of fire called the sun slowly setting over the large trees all towering above. "It's already going into nighttime..." He mumbled and kept his gaze towards the sky. "Pretty isn't it..." Lotus mumbled and looked up herself. Her pink eyes glimmering as she smiled. "Yea.... yea I guess so...." the male said in a bit of a higher tone. Looking down at her as he gave her a grin. Though, a realization soon dawned upon him. "Uh, wait, where are we gonna go?" He asked and blinked. "Hmm? Oh uhh.. good question." She said and scratched her head. "I usually sleep out here."

"Wait, your parents allow that?"

"Parents...? I-I mean, yea they totally allow that!" She said and gave him a half smile in return of his suddenly skeptical expression. "Hm..."

'Why did that sound like a question?' He thought before lightly shrugging. "Alright, whatever you say..."

"Cmon! I'll show you where I sleep!" She said and grabbed his hand. Looking back at him for a moment before starting to walk off. Xeros having to take smaller steps due to their height difference. The two soon made it to an area shrouded in lower trees and brush. Several stones and rocks scattered around. Most of which had moss covering the tops due to how long they've been around along with the rainfall. The moss having a faint, blue glow while flickers of yellow and green sparked up all around. Him taking in the beauty of this secluded place while gazing around. From the flickers, he could see the faint bits of green and sometimes red from the leaves attached to the trees. "Wow...."

"Nice, isn't it?" She said and grinned proudly. "Found this place all by myself. I even grew the rocks there."

"Wait.... you grew the rocks!? How is that even--"

"Possible? Ever heard of magic?"

"Well, yea! But, I've never really.. seen it or..-"

'She's gotta be pretty strong to have grown rocks that size...'

"So you... don't have magic?"

"Not that I'd know of...." He said and looked at her after staring off at the rocks, studying then while being lost in thought before she spoke. "Hm... well, I could show you some tomorrow if ya want." She said and looked at him.

"Really?" He said as his eyes went a bit wide. "Yea, why not! It couldn't hurt." She said before yawning. "Let's just.... go to bed now..." She said and walked over to one of the rocks. Climbing on it before Xeros walked over to a different rock adjacent to hers. Putting a hand on the moss as his eyes widened some once more. Never in his life has he felt anything this soft. "Wow...."

"Are you going to keep your hand on it? Or are you going to sleep?" She asked, having her back turned to him already.

"Huh? Oh yea, I'm gonna go on..." He said before going and laying down on the comfy moss.

Hearing another yawn come from Lotus as he allowed his eyes to close. "Goodnight Xeros..."

"Night kid..."

'I hope he doesn't leave....... I don't wanna lose anyone again......'