The path into the unknown, while it was quiet and shocking, it was also strangely calm, an
absence of sound beyond the whispers of the wind, the movement of leaves in the treetops and
some small forest creatures navigating the lush biome.
It had been more than an hour since they left their home, and for the past twenty minutes, it had
vanished behind them, no longer visible on the horizon. Looking back, all they could see was
more and more forest, areas unrecognizable to the couple, and what was observable in front of
them not to mention, more and more forest, but also a somewhat cleared path where that stretch
of rock barely worn by nature continued as if something prevented it from reclaiming its entirety.
As they continued their journey, inevitably one of the two (mainly Isabella) would stop, either by a
noise that alerted them or by some event that forced them to look. An example of this was when a
small group of orange rabbits hopped out in front of them, crossing from one side of the forest to
the other across the forest road. Marcus just looked at them with a certain tenderness to witness
such a moment, Isabella also at first, but her cat-like instincts encouraged her to crouch down
and catch one of them, being stopped in her tracks by Marcus who grabbed her by the collar of
her shirt.
—Isa, you don't live in the wild anymore to want to hunt one, we have food in case you get
hungry. —He explained gently. —
—I wasn't going to eat it...! Well, maybe I was. — She put up resistance trying to get out of his
grip, giving up after a few seconds, conscious that in strength she would never be able to beat
her axolotl, —Well put me down, the rabbits are gone! —
— As you wish, my kitty. — He with the same busy hand lowered her to the ground level and
released her, petting her head after putting her down.
Feigning annoyance, she ignored their words and only fixed her attention and gaze on the path
along which the rabbits left as if she still planned to go after them, although something happened
while she was thinking about such an idea that made her abandon it.
With a long breath, her senses perceived a series of smells that for others like Marcus would be
very difficult, if not impossible, to distinguish. Combined to this, her ears react to the slightest
perceptible or imperceptible noise as if it were a television trying to capture any signal, her head
was a sign of this by directing her gaze to the new point of interest every so many seconds.
Marcus, curious about Isabella's behavior, having seen her act this way less than six times in all
the time they'd known each other. — Did you find something, Isabella? Any danger? Should we
get ready? — His alertness was rising and his hand was reaching for the demeanor where he
held that pink pistol.
—Nothing like that... Quiet... Just be quiet... — She remained in that state for several seconds
more, marking its end when her ears lowered as well as her face, she was not sad, but
disappointment was noticeable in her. — Aw, I thought they were nearby, but it must have been
the wind carrying their scent... —
—Calm down Isa, surely they must be over there, waiting for the moment to see them again. —
He bent down enough to hug her back.
—Yeah... I'd love to be with them, even for just a moment. — She said, her voice reflects
nostalgia.
Wanting to keep his girlfriend from getting depressed, Marcus came up with an idea.
—Do you want to stop for a moment and rest here? We've been walking since morning, it must
be noon or even more, we could eat something and then continue. — He stopped hugging her
and stood in front of her with a smile. — What do you say, love? —
— Wouldn't hurt to stop for a while. —
They walked a little further on the rocky path until they reached a segment covered mostly by
leafy trees that with their thick leaves served as natural protection against the sun, an ideal place
to rest and eat. They sat on the grass next to some branches dropping their backpacks on the
ground, for Isabella it was somewhat tiring to carry it even being the lightest, she was used to
physical wear and tear but not in that aspect, while Marcus did not emit a complaint when it came
to carrying the heaviest load or the considerable distance so far.
Isabella as usual and without asking initially, opened her backpack rummaging through her food
for anything she was particularly craving, her chosen dish being a spicy tuna salad, crackers and
pieces of various cooked fish while Marcus took from his a perfectly toasted 3-story sandwich
with melted cheese, both sharing a thermos of still cold mango juice.
Neither of them said a word, they simply enjoyed the peaceful moment the day had given them.
But, as expected, thoughts of the current situation flooded their minds leading them to talk about
it, with Isabella being the one to break the ice when her tuna cracker broke mid-bite and fell to the
ground, claimed by the insects passing by.
— Do you really think you're the last of 'those pinks'? — I mean, if that node had old and outdated
info about you, I wouldn't be surprised if he missed someone else. — She said more seriously
than usual, questioning what they'd seen the night before.
—It's a possibility, and I don't even know which answer is worse. — He sighed, abandoning his
next bite. — If I am not the last one and there is at least one more like me, according to what was
said on TV, I will have to face him to the death, which I really don't want to do. Why fight like
brainless beasts until one of us stops breathing? —
—Well, at least you have that gun, you could threaten him and make him resign hehe... —
Her joke did not have the desired effect and she changed her tone when she saw the bittersweet
reaction to such a response. —But still, I understand why you would not like to do that, it is simply
absurd. —
—Yeah... —
—But only in case that really there's somebody else like you. — She kept quiet for a moment
thinking if she should ask him that last question. She, taking a step forward even if it was
awkward. —But what if you really are the last one? —
—I... I don't know. — The question left him speechless. It was far too complex to answer
immediately. Too many variables, too many options, too many implications and all led down the
same path. —According to the Node and that emergency message, he mentioned something
about a vacant throne or something like that. —
I remember some of Auralys's readings talked about kingdoms, a king or queen, and stuff like
that. Based on that, you should be the one to claim that throne, which would make you... —
A king? But a king of what? And why would I even want to be a king? It feels like they're forcing
me into something I don't want to do. — He interrupted Isabella, clearly upset about what seemed
to be the most likely to happen.
It could be that it's just a title and that's it, sure sometimes they'd put that shiny hat on your head
but not much more, after all, what could you really rule? —
—I'd really like it to be like that, let's just hope that things go well as soon as I show up, so we can
get everything back to normal and avoid people panicking. And then you and I will go back to the
mansion, leaving this as a funny anecdote that started because we didn't find anything to watch
on TV one night. —
—That's the way to talk, sweetheart, you'll see that everything will be fine, we'll be home before
we notice, and then you can come back to pamper me like I like it. —She slightly curved her lips
resembling those of a cat, focused on him and with a flirtatious look. —It's time for pampering! —
Without giving him much time to react, just enough time to put down his half-eaten sandwich and
not throw it on the floor, she pounced on Marcus knocking him backwards onto the floor in a
game they both liked to play.
Isabella was rubbing against Marcus' face purring softly as she did so, Marcus could only laugh at
this being "imprisoned" by his girlfriend. Her outer gills were wagging reflecting his present
happiness, his tail was also a sign of this as it wagged like a pendulum in contrast to her cat-like
counterpart which was faster and more flexible.
Marcus settled on an adjacent stump in order to enjoy this moment more, letting Isabella rub
herself for a while longer until he covered her completely in an embrace, their happy gazes did
not take their eyes off each other, the smiles were not long in coming.
The axolotl took advantage of his position to caress Isabella's face, scratching behind her ear just
as she liked, getting as a result a blush and a louder purr from her, vibrations and sounds that he
wouldn't change for anything, able to comfort him in tense moments like this. He could only sigh
in relief, thanking life itself for being able to enjoy these moments with her.
Not wanting to break the moment, the two stayed there for a while, there was no need for words,
just a more than deserved rest. After a few minutes, they both felt the need to continue, not
because someone asked them to, but because it was what they felt, after all, they had chosen
this path and it was time to continue. Isabella got up from Marcus first, extending her hand to help
him stand up and giving him another warm smile.
—Let's finish our food and move on, if the insects haven't claimed it.—
—The ants have already claimed my sandwich, may they enjoy it I guess. — He just watched as
the little insects tore their food to pieces and carried it in a line to their anthill in the forest. — I
wasn't very hungry anyway, is your tuna safe?—
I closed the package frustrating their attempts, do you want some? — She opened the lid offering
it to him.
—No thanks, you enjoy it.—
—Well, let me finish and we'll go, okay?—
—Okay, I'll wait for you.—
After five minutes, Isabella finished her meal and put the container back in the backpack, she
stretched her arms and legs warming up to return to the road, when she was ready, she made a
gesture to Marcus and both continued their journey.