Houston the tapirman
“I can’t go in there.” Madelyn looked awfully frightened, shaking on her small fragile feet.
“It’s too far and too dangerous. I could hurt myself - even die!” She wasn’t all that brave, but that didn’t matter to Darren. “I know you can do this. I’m with you, I can protect you. We shouldn’t postpone any longer - gates are starting to close. Come on!” Darren grabbed hold of Madelyn’s hand and together they marched through the gates. The exit of the world how they once knew it, not aware what’s waiting for them.
“Why are we doing this again?” Madelyn asked after some minutes of walking through monster sized plants and reversed trees where the weirdest creatures you can imagine were crawling and hiding.
“To get that curse off of your back. That women didn’t just mutter something out of the blue, you know. You could be in danger. Maybe some terrifying insect is eating your brains from inside out and influencing your behavior so that you’ll kill me any second now. We need help.”
“Help you said?” said a voice behind the two siblings. They looked around but nobody was to be seen. “I could lend you a hand, you know, for a small price, that is?”
“Who are you?” suddenly Madelyn didn’t seem all that afraid and she looked around fiercely, searching for some creature capable of speaking. Then a tapir, or something like it, made its way through the bushes. It was wearing a top hat and small round glasses. More remarkable, it was walking on two legs and wore a tuxedo. “My name is Houston, and you kids look like you could have some support in your quest.”
“But you’re an animal.” Darren stated impolitely.
“And you’re a human. And ignorant.” Houston inspected Darren with loathing beaming from his eyes. “Disgusting.” he murmured.
“What did you say?” Darren moved closer, only to be stopped by Madelyn, who was for once wiser than her 4 year older brother. “I don’t think you should be going around starting fights with everyone here, Darren, you don’t know your way around. He could help us.”
“Now that’s a smart little girl. Wouldn’t go around going with strangers, though, but from my experience with me, I’m a fine ol’ gentleman. Now what was this curse of yours, m’dear?”