Let’s face it: little forest folk can be weird. They’re always scurrying about in the woods, invading your dreams, and trying to get you to take part in vision quests. It’s best if you choose not to listen to them most of the time.

However, if you happen to encounter duendecillos on your travels, you may want to sit up and pay attention to what they have to say.

Appearance

Duendecillos are small, gnomelike creatures. You can identify them by their green hair, brown skin, and freckles that sparkle in the sunlight. They’re much cuter than most of the ghosts and monsters that Pao has come across so far. Definitely cuter than snarky ghost girls like Ondina, that’s for sure.

Location

Duendecillos live in enchanted forests. You probably won’t be able to access such a forest without first seeing it in a dream. So, unless you’ve been experiencing consistent prophetic nightmares like Pao has, don’t get your hopes up about encountering one of these imps anytime soon. Although, who knows? Maybe the reason you keep dreaming about showing up to class in only your underwear is because a duendecillo stole your clothes. They do act in mysterious ways. . . .

Language

A duendecillo tends to talk in a squeaky, high-pitched voice. If you’re planning on communicating with one, we recommend that you brush up on your Duolingo courses, because we’ve never heard a duendecillo speak anything other than Spanish. It’s likely they know other languages, but we’re not sure, because they don’t always make things easy on strangers. Yeah. Adorable, but annoying.

Purpose

Some duendecillos are helpful and friendly spirit guides. Their methods may seem questionable, and their motivations may be unclear, but they can set you on the right path. Unless of course, you’re a person. Did we forget to mention that most duendecillo elders absolutely hate the human race and will protect their forests from outsiders at any cost?

Come to think of it, a tiny spear lodged in your ankle might be the first indication that you’ve come across a duendecillo. We must have been too distracted by how cute they are.

Want to learn more about these little scamps? Be sure to pick up Paola Santiago and the Forest of Nightmares, on sale 8/3!