Gnomeia

...........For hours it seemed, Brixie stared at the sand dunes with a hurt expression that Latika knew was supposed to make her say I'm sorry, but Latika knew it wouldn't last forever. And, as Googlie-Shnookums paused to take a breath, Brixie finally turned to talk to Latika. Her hair was so hideously short that Latika had to hold her breath to keep from bursting out laughing. It was a good thing Brixie didn't notice. "Well, You've got to say something, Brixie," Latika said, trying to sound forgiving and patient, though she didn't want to forgive her at the moment. "Well, alright," Brixie sighed, "as long as you stop looking at me like you're gonna burst out laughing at any moment." Latika smiled, tuened back around, and said happily over her shoulder, "I think that can be arranged." Googlie was moving again, and in the distance Brixie could see a thin line of green. "Latika, where are we going?" Brixie felt dumb now, for not thinking of asking that question a little sooner. Latika took awhile before she answered-Brixie wondered if Latika was rolling her eyes at her-but then said finally, "To my homeland in Gnomeia, where you will be well taken care of while I rescue more fairytale creatures and bring them back like you." Brixie didn't want to admit it, but she was going to miss talking to Latika. Then, suddenly, as Brixie realized that she was finally free from slavery, a tear rolled down her pretty pink cheek and she wondered if that freedom would last forever. She quickly wiped it away along with her thoughts, and decided to think about her new home, Gnomeia. Now, Camelemues might not be the brightest creatures, but they are fast, and it took no time at all to arrive in Gnomeia, which just happened to be the greenest place Brixie had ever seen. The two travelers hopped off Googlie and Latika called,"Doomie, Kooru, Nahla, I rescued another one!" Suddenly, three faces appeared from behind a bush. The littlest one walked around the bush and offered a hand to Brixie. Brixie took it, and as she did the little gnome blushed. "A pleasure to meet you," Brixie said as she shook each of the gnomes' tiny hands. "Well, Latika, you've done it again," said the biggest one of the bunch. "Ah, it was nothing, Doomie. I only knocked out a really mean, vicious, gnome-eating guard as I lifted Brixie off the ground and carried her to my sweet, precious Googlie-Shnookums." "Oh, Latika, you're soo lucky to be a Fetcher!" Doomie sighed, and Brixie smiled and left Latika to tell of her "heroic" tale, and instead decided to explore her new home. But as soon as she turned around, she felt the cold, sharp tip of a dagger at her back, and a raspy voice whispered in her ear, "Where do you think you're going, Brixie?"...............