Emotional intelligence fundamental? What is this?

After staring at the paper for a few seconds, he put it back into his pocket and walked to the injured fox.

I’ll look at that later, since I need to stop this bleeding somehow. There might be things around here I could use.

Hector then scavenged around as quickly as he could—searching for something to cover the wounded area.

After a few minutes, he had gathered what he needed. First he ripped off a part of the shirt under his jumper, and then used it to apply pressure to the wound. Then, he wrapped around it with a vine he found from nearby and tied it.

That should be fine.

Hector looked at the fox and saw that it was still fast asleep.

What kind of fruit did she give it anyway? It’s somehow still sleeping after all of that.

But while it slept, he began to feel a sense of nostalgia.

So it’s a girl huh? This kind of reminds me of when me and Sofia were younger. She’d get too excited when we played, and always managed to hurt herself. Wrapping her wound like this was usually enough, though I’d just use my socks instead of ripping my shirt.

He then reached down and picked it up, but noticed something after standing. Suddenly, there were dozens of flowing green fireflies hovering in the air around him.

Where did these come from?

A loud roar then echoed nearby.

Oh right. I’m supposed to follow these things.

Taking the advice Miss Emotional gave him, Hector followed them as it seemed they were making a trail to somewhere in the forest.

That was a lot of lions. I wonder if she got away. But, but what happens if she doesn’t…

Eventually, the fireflies had led him to what looked like a cave.

She said they’d lead me to somewhere safe. This might be the place she was talking about then.

He walked to the entrance and looked inside, but wasn’t sure if it was wise to go in further. However after hearing a rustle in a bush nearby, he decided to take his chances.

At first the inside of the cave was only being lit by the outside, but a faint green glow slowly began to reveal itself the deeper he got. After reaching a more open area in the cave, the outside light was no longer seeping in.

This area however wasn’t completely dark, as there were things hanging from the ceiling that was producing a green light.

Gross. They look like glowing worms.

Hector found a place to put down the fox, and then found himself somewhere to sit a few distance away from it.

A silence followed, as he pondered on what to do next.

I’d prefer if this dream had people I could talk to, rather than just animals and plants.

He then reached into his pocket and pulled out the piece of paper he found earlier.

Quiet my mind and listen to my heart? If I had to guess, I’d say Miss Emotional was the one who put this in my pocket. Why does she keep trying to lecture me.

He then folded the paper.

I’m starting to feel like I’m having this dream because of the fight with Sofia. But why? I’m sure I went to bed without even thinking about it…

A minute or two later, he placed the paper back into his pocket. He then picked up some small stones, and began to throw them at the glowing worms hanging from the ceiling.

After reaching his final stone, he still hadn’t managed to hit any of the worms. Hector then closed one eye and aimed. He threw the stone, and finally managed to hit one. However, the stone then hit another rock and split into two.

Hector watched as the second piece flew into the air.

Suddenly, he lunged to the side—sticking out his arm. It seemed the broken piece was flying toward the sleeping fox, and he intended to catch it.

But he did not catch it, even though he did manage to protect the fox. The stone had hit him on the head, and then bounced away.

“Ow.”

Hector then heard a quiet growl from behind him.

When he turned around, the fox had woken up and was glaring at him.

“What? The rock hit me, not you.”

He then looked at it’s wrapped up paw.

“Oh, that. My bad.”

The fox then did what seemed like a quiet bark—causing Hector to crawl away from it. For the next few minutes, Hector carefully watched it—as the bark noise it made sounded odd to him.

It was then he remembered something Miss Emotional said.

“It will have to have plenty to drink when it wakes up.”

Maybe it sounds weird because it’s thirsty. But is there even any water in here?

He got up, and looked at a hole leading further into the cave.

If I don’t go in too far, it might be okay. I’ve seen caves with water in them in movies, so I might get lucky. But seeing how this is my dream, I wonder why I can’t just make water appear. Anyway, if that worked I would know already.

So he walked through the hole, and started to travel further in. He then eventually came across an enclosed area, and it was filled with unexpected things.

Are those bowls? And that looks like a cup. Why’s there so many of them, and what are they doing in here?

On the floor were several different wooden containers. Some were broken, while others seemed mostly undamaged. Hector walked over and picked up one of the smaller bowls.

I guess if there’s no water in the cave, I’ll have to look outside. I can use this if I find a river or something.

But as he was about to leave, he noticed something stuck under a nearby rock. It was green, and looked like some sort of plant was under it.

I feel like I’ve seen that kind of plant before.

It was then he remembered there being a similar one in Miss Emotional’s garden. There was a plant he went to touch, but she had warned him not too.

Well this one seems dead, so it should be fine to take a closer look.

He got closer to it, as he tried to make out how it got under the rock. Suddenly, the plant opened up a bud at it’s front and sprayed a short burst of green odour. Hector staggered backwards and wiped his face.

Urgh…what was that! Gross, I should just go now.

He then took the bowl with him back to the caves entrance. After walking past the fox, he turned round and faced it.

“Stay here…wait, it’s not like you understand me. Whatever, just stay here.”

Seeing as it didn’t look like it would be going anywhere, Hector left it in the cave and went to search for a river. When he looked up toward the sky, he could tell it was getting dark even though the tall tree’s were blocking most of the view.

But strangely, there was even more light being produced in the forest now. The tree’s seemed to be glowing a brighter green, which made it difficult to tell that it was getting dark at all.

But nonetheless, it did seem like night was approaching.

Even after being here all day, I still haven’t woken up. This feels like torture.

As he wondered where to go, Hector heard noises behind some trees. When he went over to check what it was, there were more walking plants going somewhere.

There’s a lot more of these guys than I thought. Well, plants need water right? I’ll follow them then, since these fireflies are still out. I should be able to make my way back if I don’t go too far.

So he followed them but kept his distance, even though they didn’t seem to care that he was there.

After a few minutes of travel, Hector eventually heard the soft sounds of moving water nearby.

Oh finally! That must be a river.

The plants he was following then turned in another direction, but Hector decided to follow the sounds of water instead. After walking past a few more tree’s, Hector noticed the smell of the air changed.

A few seconds later, he had emerged into a new area in the forest with a long flowing river.

There, he saw a pack of deer drinking from the opposite side of this river. They seemed to have spotted him, but did not show much alarm for his presence.

I wonder how many different animals are in this forest.

He then noticed that the small deer that he encountered in the odd looking plant town was there.

So it had a family? But, why was it in that pod then?

Remembering the fox was still waiting in the cave, Hector walked to the river and filled the bowl with water. He also drank some water himself, and promptly got back up.

Time to make my way bac—

But suddenly, the deer from the other side began to run away.

Did they run because of me? What did I do?

It was then he heard a familiar sound from behind him. When he looked, there was another plant convoy carrying dozens of different sized pods through the forest.

Just how many of them are there? And do all those pods have animals in them? Cause that’s a lot. She never did tell me where they take them. Well, she did say the ones we followed were going to the garde—

Something strange then happened.

Hector’s vision had suddenly become blurry, causing him to slowly fall to his knees.

I…I feel so tired. What’s happening?

He then dropped the bowl of water on the ground.

By the time he knew it, he too had fallen to the ground. As his eye’s slowly closed, he saw that two plants had departed from the convoy. They seemed to be coming towards him, but he didn’t know why.

Soon, he was unconscious.

Some time seemed to pass, until he finally began to wake up.

What’s touching my back?…And…what’s that smell.

When Hector opened his eyes, he saw that he was somehow in the air. It was then he realised the two plants that had approached him was now carrying him.

Hey….where are you taking me?

He then looked in front of him, and saw they were bringing him to one of the pods the convoys were carrying. It however was open, and had a strange green gas coming out of it.

There however was something else inside.

It was a strange moving vine, with a needle on it’s tip.

When Hector saw this, he immediately struggled free from the plants.

“What are you guys doing!?” he shouted, as he fell to his feet. “Why are you trying to put me in there!?”

The plants stood still, and didn’t answer. After a few seconds, the convoy began to move again. The two plants followed it, and payed no attention to Hector.

These plants are so weird…and what was with that needle? So creepy.

As Hector looked at them leave, he wondered if they might lead him back to Miss Emotional. However, he decided he needed to take care of the fox in the cave. She wouldn’t like that he just left it there after all, and he’d already broken one promise.

And how else will I wake up from this dream.

But when he decided to leave, he noticed nearby animals growling at the plant convoy. Some even attacked, but were repelled when some of the plants sprayed them with the same strange green odour he got sprayed with.

He noticed the ones that got sprayed seemed to calm down, and almost looked drowsy like.

What is that green gas they are spraying? It looks similar to what that plant in the cave…wait. Those animals look so tired now, so that’s what must have made me fall asleep. It looked like the pod was full of that gas too.

The convoy eventually faded from his view as they went further into the forest.

Since the plants hadn’t carried him far from the river, he walked back and picked up the bowl he dropped. After filling it with water again, he headed back in the direction the cave was in by following the fireflies.

After getting back to the cave, he saw the fox was still there. He slowly approached it and tried to give it some water. At first it did not comply and growled at him, so he put the bowl down next to it.

When he took a few steps back and sat down, it eventually started to drink the water on it’s own.

I’m guessing Miss Emotional will make her way here eventually. She was up against lions, but I’m sure she’s like a main character in this dream. So I doubt anything bad will happen to her.

Hector looked at his surroundings, as he then yawned.

There doesn’t seem to be anything dangerous here, so maybe I can rest for a bit.

He then walked over to a wall and sat against it. After watching the fox drink from the bowl for a few more seconds, he slowly closed his eyes and fell asleep.

As the hours went by, a noise suddenly woke him from his sleep.

When he looked to see what it was, the walking plant that he had met at the garden was standing next to him.

“Oh, so she sent you,” Hector said as he stretched. “Looks like the walking lesson I gave you payed off. Alright, it’s time to go the—”

Something then moved next to his other side, and startled him. When he looked to see what it was, he saw that the fox was now sleeping next to him.

Wha..what is it doing? Did..did it try to eat me while I was sleeping?

However he saw that it was clearly asleep, which made him feel less paranoid. The walking plant then began to walk out the cave, so Hector decided it’d be best to pick up the fox while it was sleeping.

But when he reached for it, a sudden growl came from under its breath. Hector paused at first, but it eventually stopped growling.

Please don’t bite me.

When he reached for it once more, the fox seemed to allow him to pick it up.

He then began to walk out of the cave, but slowed down as he noticed some strange markings across the wall.

Huh….I didn’t notice these before.

It looked like a painting of people, and seemed to be telling a story as he walked toward the exit. The painting started with people fighting, but then they happened to stop when a plant appeared.

But as Hector continued to walk, the number of people lessened as more plants appeared. Eventually, most of the people had disappeared—but with one remaining.

At the end of the markings, was one woman surrounded by these plants.

Did Miss Emotional draw this? Well seeing how she might be the only person here, this might just be another hobby of hers. Watering that garden all day probably gets boring. But what kind of story is she even trying to tell here?

Eventually he had walked out of the cave, and proceeded to follow the walking plant back to the garden. Their journey soon led them to a place that was familiar to Hector.

I remember this place. This was where I heard Miss Emotional singing last time. Looks like we’re almost there.

But once he reached the entrance to the garden, the very first fox Hector met was sitting outside of it.

“Oh, it’s you—”

However, it suddenly ran up to him and began biting at his trousers—pulling him away from the garden.

“Get off!” Hector yelled, as he kicked it off.

The fox then made a screech noise as it landed on the floor. Hearing that—Hector suddenly felt guilty for kicking it.

“So..Sorr—”

“Apologise for doing nothing wrong? What a joke.”

As those words he once said echoed in his head, he held back on his apology.

“You were the one that attacked me first,” he said.

When the fox got back up, it simply ran away.

Hector looked down at the fox he was carrying, and saw that it was still sleeping. He then noticed the walking plant was gone, and felt it had maybe went back into the garden. So he too entered into it.

I don’t remember seeing that last time…

When Hector walked into the garden, he saw that there seemed to be a knew path opened at the back of it. Seeing as Miss Emotional was no where to be seen, he decided to check if she was in there.

After walking through the path at the back, he arrived in a new area. It was darker than the garden, but all the plants and trees there had a bright green glow just like in the forest.

It was then he saw Miss Emotional, who was standing further away. Around her were dozens of pods, just like the ones the plant convoys had been carrying.

But behind her was an opened pod, with nothing inside.

“I’m glad you two are safe,” she said. “Come. Bring her here.”

Hector looked at the fox in his arms, and then at Miss Emotional.

What is going on here?