The next day, the wind coming from the gate was even stronger.
It swirled around the workshop like a capricious breeze, making the garlands vibrate, the ribbons dance, and the wrapping paper shiver.
Pipette held the hood in her hands.
— “Do you think she can… calm the wind?”
Groubelin gently shook his head:
— “Not calm down. Accompany.”
Humans do not fight against the wind.
They cover their bases, they adapt… they move forward.
Rudolf approached and placed his muzzle in the opening of the hood.
He took a deep breath, then closed his eyes, as if a warmth was enveloping him.
— “Yes… it contains a human gentleness. A simple, but stable warmth.
It allows the wearer… not to be frightened by what they are going through.
Pipette delicately slipped the hood over her head.
The fabric enveloped him all at once.
She gave a small, surprised "oh!"
— “It feels like I’m… in a hug!”
Ludo burst out laughing.
— “A fabric hug! Humans really do have some good ideas!”
But something deeper happened.
When Pipette opened her eyes again, she realized that the drafts no longer bothered her.
They glided around her, as if tame.
Rudolf took a deep breath.
— “Now is the time.”
The portal will open wider.
And for the first time… one of you will be able to cross part of the current.
A silence fell over the entire workshop.
Groubelin murmured:
— “The human wind calls to us… Perhaps it knows something… about the missing hat.”
Pipette placed a hand on the hood.
She was afraid.
But she felt protected.
In the whisper of the wind, very faintly, she thought she heard a sentence…
"Come... there is still light to discover."