Chapter 2: Having your tea... and drinking it too
That one step seemed so normal but mid-step it felt like being pulled through water, a thick barrier opening up once again into air. Instantly the world was changed, the black remains of the trees around the area were suddenly alive with bright leaves, a riotous blend of vivid greens, vibrant blues, autumnal reds and even rich purples that gathered around each other. Each one had a myriad of strange alien flowers, none like any a human eye would have seen. Some were long multicoloured ribbons that curled like the topper on a present, others were in the shapes of tiny animals each connected to their tree by their tail.
The path that was cracked and dusted was now pristine white marble stones, moss and tiny blades of grass weaving their way between each one. Flowers around them danced gently with the movement of feet, insects stirring and scattering from the new arrivals.
To the side of the path was a clearing in the lush grass, home to a grand dining table with at least 12 ornate but mismatched chairs lining the sides. At each end was a larger chair with a high back, the arm rests were all carved in amazing details of animals, elements and shapes that woven together with immaculate passion.
The table itself is laid with fine plates, cups, pots and bowls all with assortments of sumptuous delights piled on tiered stands, large cakes adorned with fruit and colours of sugar art, sandwiches placed in fine pyramids and the scent of exotic spices filled the air, rising from the many steaming teapots dotted across the surface. The clinking of forks and cups echoed through the clearing, two visible individuals sat in chairs opposite each other helping themselves to slices of cake that they ate with fine silverware off small plates.
One figure had a very thin body, but his head seemed unnaturally large. He had a large nose in the centre of two bright pink cheeks. Sparse brown hair could be poking out from underneath a large green hat, the golden thread patterns catching the light and glistening. His suit was a fine velvet purple outer coat, the pale green ruffled shirt poked out from the ends of the sleeves and under his chin. His eyelids were slightly puffy but the wide eyes with small pupils could be clearly seen staring unblinking at the figure in the other chair.
The other was clearly not human, the long animal face and long wide ears were obvious giveaways. The being’s white mouth and chin were complimented by the ragged white scruff of hair between the twitching ears. A deep red suit was ruffled a little as if the sleeves had been pulled up repeatedly over many years, a blue bow was torn slightly by clawed paws that had straightened it far to many times. But those digits were now holding onto a fork which was being used to stir a large cup of liquid, emerging to chime against the rim before returning to stir.
