• [Trek]

    I exchanged glances from Jen to Kert. Jen just mouthed out ‘I don’t know’ and shrugged his shoulders while Kert walked away saying that he was going to go get some new dry blankets since the ones we had are being used to dry Mika and Phili. And when he said get, he meant steal.
    Me and Jen are leaning against the cottage wall, watching the girls who were sitting on the grass in front of the lake, returning our glances. It was a long time of silence which felt really, really awkward.
    “What do we do?” I whispered to Jen.
    “Eh, doesn’t really matter does it?” he replied coolly.
    I thought about it for a moment. Of course, they’re the ones that followed us—well me. “Good luck getting home!” I waved them goodbye.
    The short haired girl gaped, “You’re…you’re just going to let us go?”
    “Uh…yeah…why not?” I scratched my head, “What’s your name again?”
    She didn’t answer so Mika replied for her. “It’s Netti”
    “Mmm yeah okay. Netti, Phili, M—“
    “Maniac Mika” Jen coughed.
    “Oh why you…!” Mika dropped her blanket and charged after him. I ran past her to get out of the way then sat between Phili and Netti. Right when she swung at him, he disappeared. “Wha…where’d he…” she trailed off, staring in confusion. I smiled as the two girls gasped. It’s been awhile since I saw a reaction like this. Me and the others are used to it because we train together but man, now that I realized it, he’s really fast! It’s almost like teleportation.
    “Looking for me?” Jen tapped Mika’s shoulder. He came from behind her.
    She screamed as she turned around. She kept calling him a sorcerer and kept cursing really, really horrible words at him. I grinned; Jen looks like he’s having the time of his life. I stretched my arms, laid down on my back, and relaxed as I gazed up at the white clouds. My stomach grumbled. Man, I’m hungry. Netti glanced at me.
    “Why don’t you just…go eat?”
    I laughed, “What should I eat then?”
    She paused for a moment. “Isn’t there food inside the house?”
    “I wouldn’t call that food if I was you!”
    “…how come?”
    “Well lets just say that Kert’s a genius but not at cooking. Who would want to eat spinach broccoli stew, anyway?”
    She laughed, “How come you guys are so…well…laid back? I thought you guys were menaces” we watched Mika clumsily trying to punch Jen as he dodged then all.
    I sighed, “Rumors are never one hundred percent true” I looked over to Phili who hasn’t spoken a word since she came here. She was staring at the direction Roger left. “You like him, right?” She looked at me nervously then nodded. “A lot?” I asked. She quickly nodded then smiled softly as if she was looking back on a memory. “Would you still like him if you’d never get a chance?” there was more silence, she didn’t do anything.
    “Why wouldn’t he give her a chance?” Netti asked, “Phili’s a nice, sweet girl. She’s real beautiful, too”
    I stared at her silently but didn’t say anything. Jen overheard the conversation, I could tell because he stopped teasing Mika and he looked really serious.
    “It’s something you village folks don’t need to know about” Kert replied as he jumped down from a tree branch with blankets in his arms. “Here, its getting cold” he tossed a blanket to me, Jen, Netti, Phili, and Mika.
    “Why are you giving me this?” Netti asked, confused.
    “Didn’t I just say it? It’s getting cold” Kert replied.
    “Then why give me and Phili another one?” Mika says.
    He sighed, “Isn’t it obvious? Because the ones you have are both wet from your bodies when you fell in the lake”
    Mika stared at the blanket. If I were to guess what she was thinking about, I’d say that she was beginning to have second thoughts about us ‘bandits’.
    “W—what about…Roger?”
    We all stared at Phili. This was the first time she talked! Well, second for me because she talked once in the village.
    “What about him?” Mika asked.
    “He left…while his clothes were still wet”
    “He’ll manage on his own” Kert smiled warmly.
    “What about hyperthermia?” Netti asked.
    He chuckled, “We can freeze his own veins and yet that wouldn’t be enough to kill him”
    Mika stared at us. It was odd that she wasn’t making any negative comments.
    After that, nobody said a thing. Kert was inside the cottage experimenting on things, Jen and I were training out front, and the girls moved to a safer location and sat on a giant tree root, watching us.
    “Focus!” Jen growled as he notice my eyes wandering.
    I dodged all his attacks as he slashed at my sides. He jumped high in the air, raised his sword and lunged down at me. I held up my sword, right before his could pierce my skull, and both of our blades clashed. Jen did a back flip and when his foot hit the grass, he disappeared, dust circling at the spot where he was. I looked to my left, then to my right. He’s nowhere to be seen. I grip my sword tighter, ready to fend off his blow. Then, at the right moment, I turned to my side, his blade brushing against the fuller of mine. I took this opportunity and kicked him, right in his stomach. But my foot hit thin air. I heard him roar as he hit my back with the pommel. I grunted as I hit the ground. He walked up to me casually as if he’s already won. Right when he was close enough, I spun around and stabbed him. He was quick to dodge the sudden attack but not quick enough as I saw blood dripping down his leg. At that exact time, the fight was interrupted.
    “Stop, stop!” Mika and the others came running towards us. “What in the world do you guys think your doing?!” she demanded.
    “Fighting!” I stuck my tongue out at her.
    “Training” Jen corrected, “That’s all, it’s no big de—“
    “Not a big deal? Not a big deal?!” she pounced on Jen, pinning him down on the ground. “This is suicide! You guys had definite intentions to murder each other!” she shouts.
    “I hooldent yurdur aye fehs” Jen tries to say as she pinches his cheeks wide.
    “I don’t care!”
    I gape at her, the fight wasn’t that long, anyway.
    “Geh aw yoh iot..! I hah tey moh han his!” he slaps her hands away and stands up, making her tumble backwards.
    She groans, rubs her head, than stares at the cut on Jen’s leg. I did the same thing. It wasn’t that bad of a cut, not deep at all.
    “You girls should just go home!” Jen says in a harsh voice.
    “Why should we?” Mika mutters.
    “Cause we’re evil bandits who likes to hurt people” he makes horns with his fingers.
    “Yeah, we got kicked out of the village cause we’re beastly!” I stuck my tongue out and made my ears look wider by pulling on them.
    Netti laughs, “A beastly monkey? You couldn’t think of anything more vicious than that?”
    I frowned, I thought monkeys were vicious—they always throw things at me.
    “You don’t need to pout!” she pats my head, mocking me.
    Mika made a slight sound.
    “Oh, what’s that you said?” Jen asks her.
    She mutters something but it was to quiet to hear.
    “I’m sorry, I didn’t quite catch that” he cups his hand behind his ears.
    She says it again, louder this time, but it was jumbled up.
    “Once again, please” Jen coos.
    “…you guys aren’t…bad…” she grumbles.
    “So you’re saying you love us and never want to leave our side again? I’m glad you think that way but…sadly…our cottage is too small, as you can see” he grins.
    “That’s not what I said!” she protests.
    “But I’ll let you stay just this one night, okay?”
    “But I don—“ Mika started.
    “Oh no, it’s okay, right, Trek?” he nods at me.
    “Yessir!” I beam with delight. “We can camp out here!”
    “But we don—“ she was interrupted again.
    “Kert!” Jen shouts, “Is okay if the girls stay tonight?” there was a short pause then Kert said yes. “See? It’s okay for you to stay”
    She glares at him, “We can’t—“
    I raised Netti’s hand, “Even she wants to stay!”
    “Mhmm!” Netti agrees with a smile.
    “And so does Phili, right?” Jen asks her. “Roger should be home soon, too”
    Phili seemed uncertain for a moment then nods, blushing.
    Jen smirks, “Well that does it! You girls are staying here for the night”
    Mika looks down, then glances behind her but says nothing.
    “It’s alright, you know” Kert says, standing in the doorway. “His heart is much kinder than anyone you’ll ever meet”
    Mika shifts uneasily. “But all those awful things I said…about…” there was grief in her eyes, “You guys act like you don’t even care…you should be hating me, shouting at me to leave, or try to kill me at least! Not—“
    “It wasn’t your fault” Jen, Kert, and I say at the same time.
    She looked at each of us, confused, close to tears. I could see that she was trying hard not to burst into tears but her eyes got swelled up and then she…
    “Enough of this!” Jen puts his arm around her shoulder “The suns already setting, so let’s get a fire going!”
    Mika was shocked for a moment then she wipes her tears away. “We’ll get the fire wood. But first…” she shoves Jen away, “Keep your hands to yourself!” and with that, she leaves off into the forest with Netti and Phili following behind.
    “I think she likes me!” Jen grins.
    “Don’t get so cocky” Kert smirks, “Here, go bandage your cut” he tosses Jen the medical bag. “Trek, go get Roger”
    “Huh, why me?” I ask.
    “You’re the expert at it!” Kert sighs, “Don’t you remember at all?”
    “Oh yeah…” I laugh, lifting up my tracking watch. “Then what will you do?” I ask him as I get ready to leave.
    “…experimenting” he replies.
    “On what?” Jen and I ask at the same time.
    “A robust, buoyant, and flexible metal” then he goes back inside, shuts the door, and covers the window with cloth.
    “…well see you later than!” I solute to Jen before I take off into the forest.
    “Good luck to yah!” Jen shouts.

    Hours later…
    Curses, Roger! Where are you? I walked blindly, stumbling frequently. I have no idea how long it’s been but the sun is already gone and I can see patches of the stars and the moon between the leaves and branches of the trees. The wind is blowing ice at me, it’s so cold! My teeth chatter like crazy. I don’t know how Roger can stand this, its absolutely freezing out. To top it off, his clothes were wet. I stare at my watch, seeing nothing but one white blinking light which is me. Green blobs inside the grid lines fall back as I advance. I tripped on a giant root and fell forward. Something screeched when I hit the ground. I looked up to see a golden brown fox with a white belly. It shook itself then runs away into the forest. Without any other better ideas, I decided to follow it.
    The animal kept speeding and turning directions, it was hard to keep up. Sometimes I would think that I’ve lost it because my watch doesn’t read animals. I was gasping for air as the fox continued going. I know I have the monstrous energy but this pathway is just unreal! Up a steep hill, down a steep hill, jumping over roots, jumping off boulders, dodging trees, falling here and there, some scratches and bruises but nothing major. The fox led me to a cliff. It hopped gracefully down but I fell flat on my back. It came and sniffed my hand.
    “You murdering me…” I groan. “You know where Roger is…?” I tilt my head over to the fox but it was already gone. “Great…” I looked up into the night sky. There was a weird, dark shape in the center of the moon. What the heck is that? I squint my eyes to look closer and see a figure forming. Looking at my watch, I smiled. It’s Roger! I quickly get up to my feet, ignoring the stabbing pain in my back and legs, and walked up to the tree Roger was sitting on. It was enormous, the biggest I’ve ever seen! He was on a branch at the very, very top. I can see his eyes glint bright. The moon outlined his body with its silver glow. He wasn’t even wearing a shirt, that idiot!
    I was thinking of shouting his name but he was too far up to hear so I started climbing. Almost halfway up the tree and my whole body was already aching. But that doesn’t tire me down, it makes me more eager to reach him. Time goes by and I finally reach the top. Roger’s staring blankly at the moon. I said his name but he didn’t do anything. I tried a second time, same results, so I decide to try out a different tactic. I grabbed his shoulders and shook him, hard. He snaps out of trance and starts shouting at me.
    “Let’s go back to the cottage!” I say.
    “How'd you find me and why should I? Is the girl still there?”
    “Yes but—“
    “Then I won’t go!”
    “Roger, you can’t be serious!” I sighed, “She’s really sorry for what she said, you know…”
    “As if!”
    “You weren’t there when it happened! Yeah she came out real arrogant and stuff but she’s not that bad!”
    “Not that bad? Trek, she insulted Boa and Anysa!”
    “Yes, but that was when she didn’t know—“
    “She still doesn’t know!”
    “Then tell her so she does!” I said instantly.
    He paused, “I won’t forgive her”
    “Why not?” I was starting to lose patience, “Four years ago, when me, Jen, and Kert saw Anysa as a demon, for the first time, we acted just like Mika did! You told us everything, forgave us, so why can’t you do the same for her?!”
    He was silent then grumbles and starts climbing down the tree.
    “Now that’s the spirit!” I chuckle, following him.

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