Days of traveling have passed. Edging closer to a week. Where Daichi and Rhea were set on following the tags through the thick forestry.
And sure enough. They found themselves in a new terrain. A forest with slowly withering leaves. Which gave the forest a soft scent of ash.
The wood of the trees emanated waves of low heat. Making the forest itself warm.
But Daichi. Noticed that the environment wasn't the only change. Rhea started acting...different.
He's noticed her unwavering attachment to that rope thing she calls a tag. He doesn't get it but he doesn't try to. He lets her be.
It's been five days of traveling since they found that earth human by the rock. And being the fifth day. They've made obvious progress. So they decide to call it a day. And rest for the night.
Which called for routine. Daichi gets fire wood so they have a fire through the night. And Rhea handles food and water.
It's became a natural instinct for them both. knowing that when it's time to rest. They both have roles to complete.
And after Daichi's collected fire wood. He noticed Rhea coming back. Two sprinters in her hand.
But she was a lot more bruised than she's ever been after hunting. With almost dried blood running down her forehead.
"Rhea?!" His eyes locked with hers "What happened to you?!"
Rhea sighed. Dropping the sprinters. Their bodies hitting the ground hard.
"Just got attacked by a Red-tusk."
She flopped down on the ground. Grabbing one of the dead sprinters by its ear with added aggression. Pulling it over to settle in her lap.
Her hand hovered just above it's fur. Heating it with her Vhis.
"A Red-tusk?" Daichi paused "I'm not familiar with that."
He looked at her wanting to know what could possibly damage her in a forest like this.
"A Red-tusk is a little chubby, feral, four legged, disgusting creature. With it's tusks ranging from orange to red based on how hot it is..."
"Tch"
"It's lucky i didn't bring my damn bow. Or I'd have killed it and send half of this stupid forest with it"
Rhea responded. And that response confirms it to Daichi. She's definitely pissed.
The heat from her hand bursting into flames. Burning the meat beneath the sprinter's fur.
"Rhea...are you okay?"
Daichi stopped what he was doing to ask her. His eyes switching between the burnt sprinter. And her hands.
"I'm just exhausted okay."
"And the smell of this forest isn't making it easy to focus."
She responded. Slowly ripping the burnt fur off the sprinter to see if the meat is still edible.
The smell?
It's only a little ashy smell...
How is that distractin-
Oh...I get it.
Connecting the dots. Daichi noticed why it might be so hard for her to focus.
"The forest...It smells like."
"Ash..."
His voice low. And dripping with sympathy. He looked up at Rhea.
Noticing her efforts to skin the sprinter. Not something new to their daily routine. but today. Rhea's movement seems to be...forced.
"Rhea..."
"You've done enough. You should get some sleep. Alright?"
Concerned and worried for her. Daichi went over to where she sat. Sitting right next to her.
Rhea flinched. Following Daichi's hands with her eyes.
He picked up the other dead sprinter by its ears. Lifting it as he looked at it. Not noticing Rhea's slight movement.
"You don't even know how to prepare it. And you haven't achieved a physical output path ye-" Daichi cuts her off "Hey. Just rest. I'll figure it out."
"Tch" Rhea dropped the sprinter she had in her hand.
She gathered the wood Daichi brought. kneeling next to them.
Sighing as her palms hovered just above them.
Heat waves from her palms slowly burst into flames. Catching the wood. Seemingly starting a fire.
"keep watch 'kay."
Rhea said softly. Holding her bow close as she sat by a tree next to the fire.
Not too long after. She closed her eyes.
Daichi sat across from her. Looking at the fire. Then up at Rhea.
He sighed. Falling back on the grey. Ashy smelling grass. Looking up at the stars. And a moon that reminded him of home.
"I wonder if you're seeing the same moon."
"You always found delight in it."
hm hm
He said to himself softly with a little chuckle.
Feeling his rigid and torn pockets to find something. Swatting at the bugs that climbed up his neck.
"Ah. Here it is."
He took out his phone. Powering it on as he looked at it. Seeing the photo of Mori. Same photo he'd always look at.
ZZZT ZZZT
The phone buzzed.
Connect your device to charger.
15%
The notification came up.
"tch"
Daichi clicked his tongue. Powering off the phone. Looking up to the sky.
Four hours went by. The late night's moon illuminated the forest from above.
Four hours of thoughts. Thoughts that all went back to the same. Small, contagious smile.
Daichi finally sat up. Not feeling sleepy at all. As he looked at Rhea.
She was breathing shallow. Her hands were loose on the bow. But the held it close.
Daichi sighed softly. Standing up. He looked at Rhea again. Making sure he didn't wake her.
He sighed. As he wondered off into the forest. Bush rustling as he walked.
Three minutes went by. And he slowly made his way back through the trees. Fixing his pants' zipper. But as he made his way through the forest. Back to the fire.
He noticed more light coming from the direction he was going. As if a bigger fire was there.
Slowly. He made his way through. But he stopped abruptly.
Noticing a small ring of flames forming. Which erupted into blue fierce flames.
His eyes widened as he jumped aside quickly.
And before his body even touched the ground.
FOOSH!!!
All of the trees to his left got incinerated. In a straight path.
he looked up quickly. Seeing Rhea's bow already charged for another attack.
"RHEA!!. RHEAA!!."
"IT'S MEE. DON'T SHOT!"
He yelled. Standing up fast. His hands in the air. Looking to the left slightly as the top halves of the tries fell to the ground.
Rhea sighed. Lowering her bow. The flames disappearing. And so did the flaming arrow. But her halo stayed.
"You shouldn't be lurking around out there..."
Her tone low. Looking at Daichi who was slowly walking closer.
"I wasn't."
He said as he sat by the fire. Sighing.
This kid...
She could've killed me in a second.
Rhea sat next to him. Her halo disappearing. She Tugged his shirt slightly. Leaning against him. Daichi looked down at her. And he felt goosebumps everywhere. He was...afraid.
"Wanna talk about it?"
he said softly. His body relaxing slightly. Remembering that she's just...a traumatized kid.
Rhea fiddled with the watch on her wrist.
"Yeah..."
She said softly as she looked at the bow next to her.