148 The Forest Peak 2: Wellspring of the Fores

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

All heads turned to the source of the noise. They could feel the ground shake underneath their feet. What was wrong? What was happening?

From the North part of the forest, there was a thick cloud of dust moving at an alarming speed towards them. 

Instinctively, Jareth held Astrid by her hand and pulled her to the sides with him, away from the impending danger. She took a quick glance at their joined hands and then his face.

He felt her insides warm the more at his simple gesture of protecting her.

"I would protect you."

His voice played again in her mind. She couldn't help but feel safe with him around. She turned her gaze back to the situation at hand.

White-Fire and its family stood still as they watched the thick cloud of dust approach them.

In a matter of seconds, the rumbling stopped and so did the cloud of dust with it, slowly it began to dissipate. 

What followed next caught Astrid of guard. About ten White Tiger-Phoenix Beasts flew out of the dust and straight for White-Fire and its little cub.

They were of different sizes, ranging from fairly big to small. They snuzzled their head close to the big beast and the little one in an affectionate manner.

Her lips curved up into a smile while she watched them behave passionately towards one another. 

It was obvious what this was; they were White-Fire's family, specifically its cubs.

Almost at once, little White-Fire and two other cubs about its size, stated jumping happily. It was a moment or them. 

Both mother and cub had been gone for days now, they could only await their return and hope nothing bad happened to them. Seeing them now, the beasts were overjoyed. 

White-Fire ran back to meet Astrid and Jareth, and then tugged on Astrid's gown with its mouth, pulling her forward with it.

She smiled again when she realized it was bringing her with it to meet its family. As soon as they got to where the other beasts stood with puzzled looking faces, it began chapping away.

After about two minutes of explaining God knows what to them, they faces brightened and the once puzzled look change to that of excitement.

For most to them, she was the first human they had met. Naturally, they were quite skeptical about the two legged being in front of them.

That soon changed after little White-Fire's explanation about Astrid saving them. Their expressions relaxed and they rushed in to meet the new creature.

Some of them moved to her back, others stood in front, surrounding her in a small circle. Her heart warmed the more at their reaction towards her, they weren't scared of her.

She stretched her right hand, wanting to touch them but none moved, they stared at her with curiosity. After some time, the bigger cub moved in and gently placed its head underneath her palm.

Within seconds it let out a soft purr under her ministrations. As soon as the other heard this, their confusion was satiated and closed the remaining distance between themselves and Astrid.

All of them wanted to be rubbed and patted by the two legged creature and she obliged them, rubbing, patting and playing with them.

Jareth who silently watched was stunned to see the little beast by its side. 

"Hey little fella," he said with a small smile to the beast. 

Little White-Fire did the same thing to him as it did with Astrid.

Repeating its actions, the Little White Tiger brought Jareth with it to where Astrid and the others played.

Obviously, with her two hands, Astrid couldn't fill in the space and satisfy them all. Little White-Fire noticed it and brought Jareth to help out. 

Well, that was one of the reasons why. Although the major was that it also wanted them to meet with him.

Right at this moment, Astrid was no longer standing; instead she was kneeling on the ground while playing with them.

Jareth followed her lead and knelt down beside her. They all stopped to watch him. Astrid turned her head to the side to look at him.

He held her gaze and returned it with a tight lipped smile. Gently, he placed his hand over one of the beasts' head and lightly rubbed on it, earning a purr in return.

The other beasts let unattended to, rushed up to meet him, enjoying the warmth from the two-legged being.

A few minutes passed and they continued with their play, completely forgetting they didn't have all day.

"Haha hahaahaha…"

Astrid's voice reverberated in the surrounding; laughing at the beasts' playful nature and every time they licked her face.

Jareth smiled at her, he was captivated by her cute smie and lovely laughter, it sounded like music to his ears. Part of him wanted more, he loved to see her cheerful side.

Sneakily, he snuck a hand to her waist and gently ticked her there.

Shocked by the sudden attention on her sensitive body, Astrid couldn't help but break into another round of laughter.

"Haha haha ahhaha… Jareth stop it, haha haha," she said in between laughs and fell sideways on his arm.

AHEM!

White-Fire cleared its throat through the mind link. "As much as I would love to stay and let this continue, I can't. Astrid we have urgent matters to take care of, like your nightmares and all that."

Immediately, Jareth's countenance changed and he got up, releasing the beasts from his charm and warmth.

Astrid on the other hand, was another case. She slowly stood up; reluctant to part with the beasts, well they shared the same feelings as hers.

Things needed to be done, besides she had a journey to get back to. They parted and she headed straight for White-Fire and White Wing with Jareth.

"Follow me," White Wing said and walked away.

Astrid and Jareth walked behind the beasts as they headed to a less densed part of the forest, up north.

It took them several minutes of walking, but they later arrived at a clearing. They passed some fallen creeping plant which acted as a curtain covering this part of the forest.

It looked like a gateway to another magical realm. It was quite big on the inside.

The scenery was beautiful under the bright moonlight sky. The whole place was surrounded by different colours of beautiful flowers which shone under the starry night sky. The display simply looked like a decent beautiful garden.

To the side of the fountain was a small waterfall, the noise o the water dropping made it more enchanting. 

Towards the centre of the magnificent garden stood a big fountain, it had water streaming down it. It was constructed in such a way that the water flowing from it passed through a canal that spread throughout the whole garden.

White Wing called it…

"This is the Wellspring of the forest. The water from this fountain allows me see what is going on outside the boundary, thus helping me create the mist to protect this place," it explained.

"Okay, how do you intend to take the nightmares away if I may ask?" Astrid questioned.

She wasn't really sure how that would happen since it was something that occurred because of her fears. 

"Well young one, the fountain would be able to help."

"How?" She asked again.

"You would have to drink from the fountain." This time it was White-Fire who spoke.

"Drink?!" Jareth questioned.

"Yes, the water in the fountain has special healing properties. I cannot really tell what would happen but, I know it would be able to help you, perhaps to face your fears. After all, nightmares are a product of our fears."

"Okay, I would do it." 

"Are you sure you want to do this?" White Wing asked to make sure.

Astrid gave a nod to certify her previous answer. "Yes," she replied and took a step forward.

Jareth quickly held her hand, his questioning gaze searching her black orbs.

"Astrid, you don't have to I you don't want to."

She held his gaze as well, she saw a bit of fear flash before his eyes, but soon his green eyes returned to normal. 

'He still cared, he still does,' she could not help chanting in her mind.

Astrid smiled at him, "I have to and I want to. I can't keep doing that in my dreams. I don't want to end up hurting you someday."

This was her resolve, she needed to face her fears and deal with this ceaseless nightmares. She hated to see the pain in his eyes anytime she got scared or threatened to kill him.

If not for the test, she would never have been skeptical about him in her dreams. He didn't deserve that, dream and reality. So she was going to set things right.  

He loosen ed his grip on her hand and she turned to face White Wing.

"I am ready."