II | Golden City

❦

I rub my eyes and stare at the donkey again.

There's no mistake.
It really has wings.

And it just spoke to me.

The rowan leaves aren't orange anymore.
They're bright green.

The tree's whispering is clear now.

(Musical.)

'Shall we go?'
the donkey says.

I feel the funniest sensation ever come over me.

(This must be a dream.)

'Do you have a name?'
I ask.

'My name is Nya-Nya.'

I laugh for a long time.
(This is definitely a dream.)

The donkey tilts its head,
black eyes gleaming like pearls.
Not getting the joke.

'Let's get moving.'

It turns and descends the natural mountain path.

I don't follow.

After some time,
it realises and turns to stare.

I stare back.

It brayed, stamping powerful hooves.

Scary.

'Alright alright, Eeyore. I'm coming.'
I pretend to be brave.

Don't lose your tail.

'My name is Nya-Nya.'
I'm not saying that.

I don't remember ever calling anything something as stupid as

Nya-Nya.

How i dreamt up such a stupid name

is beyond me.

I sigh.

It's not my fault

that the sound echoed

through the mountains
down to the golden city below.

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