Chapter 10.

Butterfly, coyote, and giraffe relaxed under a nearby tree cracking jokes and singing chants of joy. The witch was afar humming tunes of destruction with her basket of know-nots. She strolled past the animals to head home, until she hears them laughing. She turned her head and glanced around. She saw butterfly, coyote, and giraffe, joyfully under the tree. She saw other animals joyfully roaming the grasslands…but she did not she what her magic had created. The purple deer-looking monster what not there.

The witch had a confused face. She snuck up behind the laughing friends. “Where is my purple deer-headed creatured?” She spoke in a demanding tone. The animal friends turned their heads around, but were surprised to see the witch. They were startled. They flinched in panic, but held their ground. They toughened their cute animal exteriors.

“None of your business, you disgusting hag,” the butterfly shouted in the witch’s eyes.

The witch got angry.

“Go home! Don't you live a few minutes away?” The coyote shouted.

The witch got angrier.

“It's not that hard to mind your business, and keep walking,” the giraffe shouted.

The witch got angrier.

“Go away!” Butterfly, coyote, and giraffe yelled in the witch's face, in unison.

The witch's anger was fuming like a flame…

Far away in the distance, Mikayla and Spencer, her cat sung a song of love as they skipped towards the animals. “Hey friends,” Milayla shouted playfully in their direction as she continued skipping towards them. However, she was too far away, so the animals could not hear her. The Witch's finely tuned eyes noticed Mikayla and poofed away from the animals. Assuming that the witch was gone, butterfly, coyote, and giraffe returned to relaxing under the tree.

Mikayla continued skipping in the animals direction, until the witch magically popped up in front of her.

“Hello beautiful,” the witch spoke to Mikayla.

“Hey… Who are you?” Mikayla’s voice was filled with the spirit of kindness, love, and innocence.

“I'm a friend,” the witch said.

“I love your hair, your skin, and your eyes. It glistens unter the sun, and radiates through the wind. Your voice is sweeter than a fruit tree, and your spirit is plentiful like the ground.”

“Thank you, kind elder. You are very sweet,” Mikayla said.

The witch reached in her basket, and pulled out a sparkling purple orange. “I must be on my way soon.” The witch spoke with a gentle voice. “Would you happily take this beautiful orange as a parting gift?... Friend.” The witch grins.

“I have never seen an orange look so mesmerizing before.”

“It is only mesmerizing for a mesmerizing lady.”

“Thank you,” Mikayla says. She peeled a piece of the orange, and took a juicy bite. The witch magically poofed away. Mikayla began to cough, and clench her throat. She lost track of where she was at. Her vision became blurry, as she fumbled into the embracing arms of the coyote, giraffe, and butterfly.

“Mikayla! What is wrong?,” butterfly says as he gently flies on top of Mikayla’s hand.

“I'm not sure.” She continued coughing. She was sickly.

“What happened before you got here?” The giraffe spoke.

“Spencer and I were on our way to you all, when an old lady stopped us.”

“The witch did this?” The coyote spoke with anger.

The animals quickly made their go-to tea for Mikayla. She gratefully drunk it, and began to feel much better.

“Thank you for your sincere kindness. I love you all so much. Happiness is trully forever, when I am witch you all.”

“Mikayla, you must stay away from that lady. She is the evil witch,” coyote said.

“She's definitely evil,” butterfly and giraffe proclaimed.

“I promise. No more accepting gifts from strangers.” Mikayla scooped up Spencer in her hands, who was cuddling around feet and hugged him with her warm embrace. Together, they enjoyed the sunny day with butterfly, coyote, and giraffe. They danced, sung, and laughed the day away.

. . .

After being reunited with his mother, John happily danced with his mother.

“Do any of the ladies at this ball catch your eyes, son?” Queen Viola spoke with curiosity.

“Umm,” John muttered and swallowed air in his throat. He did not want to disappoint his mother. “The ladies here are fine with elegance, poise, and beauty…but my heart is somewhere else.”

“Is she a lady of elegance, poise, and beauty?”

“Yes.”

“Is she kind hearted, caring, and loved by many?”

“Yes.”

“Would your father approve of her?”

“Yes, but would you approve of her, mother?” John spoke, timidly.

“Do you love her, John?” Queen Viola spoke as she sternly stared into John's twinkly and glistening eyes. Hearts flung from his pupils, and danced on his shoulders.

“Yes. She is the only woman that I want to be with forever.”

“Well, then I will have to meet her,” Queen Viola said. “Where is she?”

“Huh!... I have to go get her!... My apologies mother. I will dance with you later!” John grabbed his sword, rushed off to the dirt road, and made his way into the direction of the grasslands. He was super excited, and could not wait meet with Mikayla, once again.