A massive wave of fire swept through the forest.

It was as if someone was spraying an impossibly large flamethrower.


The forest was being burned to the ground.

But the real problem was that this flamethrower was headed straight for me.
If it hit me directly, I’d be reduced to ashes in an instant. That’s how intense the heat was.


If this keeps up, I’d be burned along with the forest.

Someone, please help me…!


But of course, no such convenient savior showed up.
Reality is cruel.

Only I can protect myself.

I wrapped my body in vines as a shield.

A wall made of plants would burn easily, I know.
Still, this was all I could do.

Plants can’t run. They can’t hide behind objects or under the shade.
They were simply destined to be burned by the oncoming flames.



——When I opened my eyes, I was unharmed.

It seemed the flamethrower hadn’t hit me after all.

I must’ve narrowly dodged the sweeping flames. That was close.

But in exchange, the forest to my left was up in flames. The roaring fire that skimmed past me had turned that part of the woods to ash in a heartbeat.

If the angle had been even a little different, it would have hit me head-on. And had that happened, I would be part of that pile of ashes right now too.

This kind of power… there’s no way that’s just ordinary fire.
It had to be a highly advanced magical attack, or something close to it.


To the culprit setting my forest on fire. No, the esteemed culprit.

I deeply apologize for earlier, when I suggested I would lecture you. It was terribly presumptuous of me.
There is no need for you to reveal yourself.
You are innocent. I humbly ask that you go home quietly.


So please stop with the flamethrower, okay?
And no more monster-style death rays either.

I had never seen anything capable of attacks like that.

If that fire had struck me head-on, I wouldn’t survive it. In a single moment, this plant body would be nothing but charcoal.

What is even happening here?
How did things end up like this?


I don’t know who was rampaging out there, but staying out of it is clearly the safest choice.

Even so, the forest being on fire wasn’t exactly somebody else’s problem.
The air had gotten hot because of the flames.
My whole body felt like it was burning too.


Huh? Burning?

Looking down, I saw that my vines were on fire.
And not just the vines.
The flames had somehow spread all the way to my bulb.


Aaaaaaaahhhh!!
Fire! I’m on fireeeeeee!!


I–I have to put it out.

I grabbed my water flask and splashed what I could onto the flames. Even so, I couldn’t extinguish all of it.

There simply wasn’t enough water left in the bottle.

Ever since I defeated the minotaur, it hasn’t rained once.
And I used my flask during the fight with the kingdom’s soldiers earlier, so I had hardly any water left.

Everything was falling apart.


Someone… Please help…!

As if answering my inner pleas, something rustled toward me from a nearby bush.

You’re here, my savior!

My Prince Charming!!
Or a princess. Either is fine.

Please, anyone is fine.
Just save me, and I’ll devote myself to you in return.
That’s how desperate I am right now.

But it seemed my Prince Charming wasn’t riding a horse.
It was a raccoon.


A whole group of raccoons came sprinting toward me, with Elder Raccoon leading them.

Had Elder Raccoon gathered the raccoons and rushed here to rescue me?

As expected of him. How reliable.

But strangely, the raccoons didn’t stop. They ran right past me, full speed, toward the other side of the forest.

Even Elder Raccoon only casted a single glance my way before leading the gaze off into the forest’s distant depths.



…Did they… abandon me?

No way. That’s just too cruel.

Come on. Just because I’m a plant and the Lord of the Forest doesn’t mean they couldn’t give me some help.
I even risked my life fighting the demons Elder Raccoon brought here.


Ugh, I have no allies left.

I just want some water.
Seriously, I feel like I’m going to burn away completely.

Part of my bulb was already roasted to a crisp.
At this rate, I’d be stir-fried. I mean, I’m a flower, not a vegetable, but still.


As I wept, nectar dripping from my eyes, a white speck appeared in the sky.

As it came closer, I could see it had the shape of a bird.


A white bird was flying toward me.


Ah!
White Bird-san, you really are my Prince Charming… No, my Prince Charming on a white swan! Or maybe my Princess Charming?

Was it male or female?
I can’t tell a bird’s gender.

But you know… White Bird-san.

I’m incredibly happy you came to me in such a desperate moment. There’s just… something bothering me.

White Bird-san, the thing you’re holding with your feet… that’s a bucket, right?

Why is a bird carrying a bucket while flying through the sky?


The bird didn’t answer my question, as it flew right over me and dropped the bucket, flipping it over.

Splash.

A torrent of water came crashing down on my burning bulb.

The flames were completely extinguished.


——I… I’m saved.

I never could’ve imagined a little white bird would put out my fire with a bucket of water.

Thank you, White Bird-san.
I’m so grateful that I’d be willing to devote my entire being to you

But before that, I need to ask you something.

You know, Bird-san

I’m curious. How were you, a small bird, able to fly while carrying a bucket full of water?

It would be hard enough to carry a bucket bigger than your own body.
But flying with it when it’s filled with water? That’s impossible for a normal bird.


Tell me, White Bird-san.

You’re not an ordinary bird, are you?

Ordinary birds don’t do fire-fighting. And even if they tried, they wouldn’t be able to.


So what exactly are you?

Are you actually a monster, like me?

Is that why you’re smarter and stronger than other birds?


The mystery only deepened, but for now, I decided to thank Bird-san


“Th… thank you… for saving me…”

I’ve lost count of how many times this white bird has rescued me.
That’s how often it has swooped in to help me.

I still don’t know why it cares about me so much, but… thank you. Really. I mean it.

Still, it’s not like it can understand human speech.
Back in winter, when I asked it to fetch flowers, I didn’t rely on words alone. I used gestures along with them.

This time too, I’ll use my vines to convey my gratitude.
Even if this white bird was special, there’s no way a bird could understand human language.


But in the next instant, I learned something that left me stunned.

The white bird flew right up in front of me and hovered in place.

Then it opened its tiny, adorable beak and chirped.

“Hide.”


——————Eh?

…Did White Bird-san just make a weird sound?

I knew the white bird wasn’t good at chirping, but did it somehow get even worse in such a short time?
Or… did it actually get too good at it?

It almost sounded like human speech… Maybe the fire messed with my head, and I’m just hearing things.


“Hide quickly.”

The white bird was talking to me.
It still sounded like human speech.

This time, I couldn’t deny it.

This white bird could understand human language.


“Hide before it gets here!”


Th–the white bird… it… it s–spokeeeeeeee!!

***

Author’s Note:

Thank you for reading.
To celebrate the one-month mark, I plan to post two updates tomorrow as well.

Next Time: The White Bird’s Secret

TL’s Note:

I’m thinking of changing to a better comment plugin… Maybe one day.