The long-tailed tits flew like arrows, passing through the barrier and entering into Arancha Kingdom. Formo felt strangely moved at the sight of Arancha after so long. He hadn’t known the grass and trees he’d seen every day would be this welcome.
Formo’s round eyes sparkled, brimming with moisture. Armo, who had been glancing at him as if he would suddenly burst into tears if left alone, stepped forward.
[Formo, you’re not planning to cry, are you?]
At the playful question, Formo, who was startled, widened his eyes and nodded while stammering an answer.
[O-of course! I’m all grown up now so I don’t cry much……!]
Formo hung his head low, as if even he was embarrassed saying that. His face burned because it felt like he’d been caught almost shedding tears. Armo had good instincts, not unlike that damn jaguar who had terribly sharp perception. Formo let out a deep sigh, then realized he’d habitually thought of Serdin again and trembled violently.
‘Wh-what!’
Just like before, it had come to mind so naturally that he was dumbfounded. Was it because they’d been stuck together for quite a while? Or was it because the memories with Serdin were too unique and intense? Formo blamed Serdin, twitching his beak for no reason.
‘……This is all because of that damn jaguar.’
He acted so terribly that he couldn’t forget. Everything was Serdin’s fault. Convinced of that, Formo turned his head sharply. When the peaceful scenery of Arancha came into view, his sullen mood gradually eased.
Finally, he had returned to Arancha, which he’d so yearned for. The road to get here had been very difficult. Still, it was truly fortunate that he’d finished well and returned safely.
The basket carrying Formo flew a bit more and was placed in front of the castle. Until he’d been captured by Serdin and stayed at the large villa, he’d thought this was a sufficient size, but the castle he’d returned to was small and simple. Clearly it was easier on the eyes and much more familiar than the villa…… It was truly strange.
Had his taste changed in the meantime? Formo coughed lightly and got out of the basket. What was called a castle in Arancha was nothing other than a tree. In Arancha, where several trees were connected by bridges, the largest tree was called the “castle.” And the royals, including Formo, resided in that castle.
Formo, who had gotten out of the basket, headed into the castle with quick steps. The long-tailed tits who hadn’t known of Formo’s return encountered him and made all sorts of fuss.
[Gasp, Formo-nim! You were alive?]
[Oh my, Formo-nim! When did you return?]
[You’re safe! You don’t know how much Moti-nim and Potun-nim worried about Formo-nim!]
Every long-tailed tit he met spoke like that with tears welling up, so Formo grew increasingly embarrassed. He felt exactly like a hostage or general who had been in mortal danger and barely made it back. In reality, it was the same as leisurely enjoying himself in a place where his back was warm and his stomach was full.
Formo awkwardly rolled his eyes and roughly nodded. If there hadn’t been even that reaction, the long-tailed tits would have made even more of a fuss. Formo, who had passed them, headed to the audience chamber where his parents would be waiting.
The gatekeeper long-tailed tits who spotted Formo made deliberately solemn expressions, then flung wide open the tightly closed door. The small wooden door opened with a creak. Formo, whose tail feathers trembled at the sound he was hearing after so long, carefully stepped inside.
[Formo!]
[My child!]
Then Formo’s parents, Moti and Potun, rushed over helter-skelter and embraced him. Especially Moti put firm pressure into the wings holding Formo.
[What on earth happened? We searched for so long. You’re not hurt anywhere, are you?]
[I-I’m sorry…….]
Formo, who was nothing more than a young long-tailed tit in front of Moti and Potun, apologized tearfully. After all, it was true that he’d ended up separated from them because of his own foolish actions. If only he hadn’t flown beyond the barrier, such a tragic thing wouldn’t have happened.
Tears formed drop by drop in his round eyes. Though just a few minutes ago he’d insisted to Armo that he was all grown up now and didn’t cry, he couldn’t stop the tears that flowed of their own accord the moment he met his parents.
[Formo, come here.]
[Huuuung, Mother……!]
Formo ran over with quick steps and threw himself into his mother’s embrace. Moti also hugged tightly with her wings the child who wouldn’t hurt even if put in her eyes. Her fan-like wings fluttered as they patted Formo, who must have trembled in fear all this time.
At those affectionate and caring touches, Formo, who had been acting spoiled for a moment, suddenly remembered his duty and forcibly swallowed his tears.
[Huuuk, kuk. But…… how, how do I repair the barrier?]
The small beak asking that trembled with worry and anxiety. Moti looked at it with pitying eyes before answering.
[There’s nothing to worry about, Formo. There’s a way. Just trust me.]
Moti began speaking with a serious face, and Formo listened intently while smacking his beak.
The next day, Formo stood firm at the center of the barrier with a face that even showed tragic resolve. Though his adorable tiptoes anxiously tapped the ground and trembled, the white-haired long-tailed tit who owned those feet deliberately pretended not to notice. He didn’t want anyone to catch on that he was extremely nervous.
[Formo, you can do it!]
[Formo-nim, you can do it! We, the search party, are watching!]
[We only believe in the brave Formo-nim who showed that vicious jaguar what’s what!]
[If it’s Formo-nim, you’ll surely fix the barrier in a snap! My heart is already trembling!]
Led by Armo, the long-tailed tits from the search party chattered with their small beaks, cheering Formo on. Though it was encouragement shouted in hope that Formo would gain strength, it instead ended up placing pressure on Formo.
[……Whew.]
Formo took a deep breath and widened his eyes. Honestly, he didn’t even have the energy left to get angry at the search party’s chattering heard from behind. Only the goal of repairing the barrier by manifesting his ability as Guardian filled Formo’s head.
[My child, we’re cheering for you!]
[Formo, you don’t have to feel too pressured! If it’s hard, run to this father!]
Formo’s parents were also shouting from behind with resounding cries. Formo, who had been raising his concentration while glaring at the barrier, eventually turned his head sharply at the many words of encouragement heard from the back of his head.
[I can’t concentrate because it’s so noisy!]
When the eyes that had only looked innocent crumpled all at once, Formo’s parents, severely shocked at their son’s appearance they were seeing for the first time, hiccupped.
[Fo-Formo…….]
[My child…….]
The rest of their words were swallowed as is and didn’t continue to the end, but Armo, who had been watching the situation, could predict. Probably…….
‘After being caught by a ferocious jaguar and coming back, his personality has changed a lot…… Did you have a very hard time?’
It would certainly be such words. Armo smiled awkwardly at Formo, who was glaring at the long-tailed tits with sharply raised eyes, and waved her wings with the meaning to calm down.
Formo, who glanced at that gesture, turned his head sharply back to its place and began concentrating again while wiggling his fluffy, chubby bottom. Armo gazed at the round, white back of his head with eyes full of affection and clenched her beak.
After wiggling for quite a while, Formo’s bottom trembled. Formo demonstrated exactly the secret technique his mother Moti had taught him. The first secret technique was to wiggle his round bottom left and right, then apply force when enough energy had gathered.
And the second secret technique was…….
“Cheeeeeep!”
Opening his beak as wide as possible with a resounding cry. The last secret technique was,
[That’s right! You’re doing well!]
[Good, Formo! That’s it!]
To send the fully gathered energy flying on vigorous wingbeats. Though his injured wing throbbed at the excessively intense movement, Formo kept his beak tightly shut without showing it. Even as the pain gradually intensified, even as the root of his wing tingled with numbness, Formo displayed his bravery with all his might for the kingdom, for the kingdom’s long-tailed tits.
Soon, the barrier that had been half-collapsed and drooping was enveloped in bright light. The eyes of the long-tailed tits watching that sight sparkled. However, the barrier lost its light quickly before it could be properly repaired. The long-tailed tits who had been watching the barrier tilted their heads as if puzzled, and Armo, who had been fixing her gaze on Formo, opened her beak wide and shouted.
[Fo-Formo!]
The white-haired long-tailed tit who had been vigorously shaking his bottom in front of the barrier until just a moment ago was toppling over sideways with a thud.
his parents are sooooo cute