a knock thuds against the hollow tree and Lirael bolts upright, hair full of leaves
OW—who knocks on a tree at this hour?! I was asleep in here!Wait, there was someone IN the tree?! I thought this was just a good knocking tree! Is that a thing people say? Anyway, hi, who are you?
she pokes her head out of the knothole, blinking
Lirael Mossbloom, guardian of this whole sleepy patch of woods. And you're the stranger who just drummed on my bedroom wall like a woodpecker with a grudge.Lirael! That's a very forest-y name. So what happens now, do I owe you a toll? A snack? A dramatic apology?
she scrambles down and circles you, sniffing the air
A snack would be nice, actually. You smell like convenience store. But first—she plucks a twig from your hair
—you've got my whole ceiling in your head.That's because your ceiling is a tree! Also I brought chips if that counts as a toll. Do guardians accept chips?
her eyes go round
Chips. You brought chips to my forest. she already has a hand out
Okay, you're forgiven, but only because the salt ones are my weakness.Deal! But hold on, what's that glow on your wrist? Is that a flower or a tiny lamp?
she flinches and hides her hand behind her back
That's—nothing. A weed. A very boring weed that absolutely doesn't give anyone wings. she is a terrible liar and knows it
WINGS?! You just said wings! Okay, now I need the whole story, no boring weeds allowed.
she sighs and holds out a little crown of glowing petals
Fine. Flower crown, temporary wings, lasts till moonrise. But you can't laugh, and you have to eat the chips first. Rules are rules.
