Pepper’s First Maze

Polaris strolls through the entrance of the corn maze, the cool evening air sweeping gently between the stalks. Folding back her long ears, she settles her hands in her hoodie pockets and casts a glance down at Pepper, her little Impup. She does this each year; the whole process is a routine she uses like a relaxing spa day. It’s just a way to escape the hospital and her job for a while. This time, she shares it with Pepper, who stares around, starstruck and bewildered by the towering walls of corn.

With their first few steps into the maze, Polaris finds herself watching Pepper as he tentatively explores. He pads forward, sniffing with his entire face pressed against the ground and then against the nearest stalk of corn. His little horns glint faintly in the sinking light, his ears twitching at every rustle.

“It’s just corn, Pep,” Polaris says, reaching down to scratch behind his ears. “Nothing too spooky here.”

Pepper tilts his head, casting a questioning look up at her, his wide eyes sparkling with curiosity. Then he bounds forward a few steps, his tail wagging tentatively. Polaris chuckles, nudging him gently forward. “Alright, you’re leading this adventure. Let’s see where you take us.”

The Impup bounds ahead with newfound confidence, prancing a few feet in front and shoving his face into the base of the nearest corn stalk. Polaris follows with ease, the leaves rustling softly under her feet.

They’re only a little ways in when Pepper, without warning, stiffens mid-wag and jolts backward, bumping into Polaris’s leg. She follows his gaze to a loose corn stalk swaying lightly in the breeze.

“It’s okay, Pep. It’s just corn, see?” Polaris reassures him, bending down and giving the stalk a playful shake. “There’s nothing in here that’ll jump out and get you. I promise.”

Pepper stares at the stalk for a moment longer, his ears flattening slightly, before he cautiously taps it with his paw. Apparently satisfied with its harmlessness, he lifts his head, his ears twitching with renewed curiosity as he moves forward. Polaris notices he’s sticking a little closer now, though.

They make their way deeper into the maze, the sounds of the world around them growing quieter and quieter until it’s just the two of them in the silent corridors of corn. Polaris moves in quiet peace, her mind allowed to drift as Pepper continues to investigate every inch of the path with curious sniffs and little paw pats.

When they come to one intersection, Polaris lets Pepper choose the direction. He seems to weigh his options, smelling one route and then another as his nose twitches in judgment. Finally, he settles on the left-hand path and takes off down the track with a surety that makes Polaris giggle.

“Good choice,” she says, following him. “I think you’re a natural.”

A sudden and loud flutter sounds overhead as an imp creature darts out of the corn and into the dusky sky. Startling Pepper so much that he jumps back, bumping into Polaris’s legs. She giggles, suppressing the urge to burst out laughing. He looked up at her with an expression so embarrassed and mortified.

"It's okay," Polaris coos, crouching beside him. She ruffles the fur between his horns, soothing him as his tail gives a slow, uncertain wag. “Just a Corvat. They’re allowed in the maze too, you know.”

Pepper glances up at her with wide, earnest eyes, his ears flicking as if considering her words. After a moment, he relaxes slightly and nudges his face into her hand, seeking reassurance. Then he glances back skyward, as if ready to give any lingering Corvats a piece of his mind. Polaris smiles and gives him a gentle pat before they continue.

They soon notice that there is a small spot in the corn, where it thins just a bit. There's a little pile of hay bales, though. Well, actually, hay bales, period, just a small stack of them. Presumably for decoration. Polaris stops, her eyes scanning the scene, then turns to watch as Pepper draws near to the stack more warily. He circles it, his ears perked and his tail stiff as he inspects it from every angle.

“What do you think, Pep?” she teases, leaning on a nearby stalk. “Another big, scary pile of hay?”

Pepper snorts softly and places both paws on the lowest bale, attempting to scramble up. Polaris chuckles as his hind legs slide a bit before he steadies himself. She walks over, giving him a boost onto the top bale. He stands there, ears perked and eyes bright with triumph.

"King of the hay bales, huh?" Polaris grins, tugging out her phone to snap a quick picture. Pepper huffs and wags his tail as he jumps down to continue their tour.

Deeper into the maze, Polaris finds herself enjoying the stillness. The cool breeze carries the scent of damp earth and fresh corn, and the rustling leaves seem to whisper soft encouragement. Pepper, now more confident, trots ahead, occasionally stopping to press his face into a corner or paw at a particularly interesting patch of ground.

"So, how's it feel being an official maze navigator, Pep?" she asks, watching him investigate a stray leaf that has blown onto the path. He nudges it with his nose, then looks up at her as if to say, Pretty good!

They continue winding through twists and turns, sometimes coming to dead ends and backtracking. At one such dead end, Polaris kneels beside Pepper, giving him a pat of encouragement. “See, you’re learning! The maze is just as much about getting a little lost as it is finding the way out.”

Pepper holds his head high in an instant, following Polaris’ praise. And the sight of him trotting along beside her, his horns and tail waggling with excitement, makes this year’s visit to the maze even more special.

Just as they round another corner, a sudden, louder rustle sounds nearby, and Polaris feels Pepper’s fur stand on end as he huddles close to her leg. She pauses, crouching down and running her fingers down his back. "Hear something, Pep?" she whispers, playing with him.

Pepper is staring hard at a clump of corn stalks to their right, ears perked. Polaris gives the corn a light kick with her foot; one lone leaf falls from above. When no one else appears, Pepper takes a cautious step forward, his nose twitching down in a check for any lurking “intruders.”

“There, see? Only leaves,” Polaris says, soothingly rubbing his back. “You’re safe here with me.”

He relaxes a bit, giving the corn one last look before padding along beside her. The evening air still swirls around them, filled with scents of damp earth and new corn-almost a lulling scent that Polaris is starting to associate with the quiet comfort of the walk.

As they approach the end of the maze, Polaris feels a far greater reluctance than usual that their visit is coming to a close. She stops and, taking a last deep breath of the cool night air, kneels beside Pepper, scratching behind his horns.

Pepper presses his face against her hand, his ears flicking happily. His tail wags in wide circles as he nudges her arm, his eyes sparkling with affection.

“You did great, navigator,” she murmurs, stooping down she picks him up, carrying him as the cool breeze follows them back to her car.