"Didn't you hear me? What's your name?" demanded the girl.
Ren snapped back to reality and stammered, "A-arai Ren." The girl's brow furrowed. "You can just call me Ren."
She let out a soft sigh. "Are you also from Earth?"
The words hung in the air. "E-earth? You mean…you're from there too!?" Ren exclaimed, a mix of disbelief and relief in his voice. It had been hours, hours since he'd seen anyone at all.
"Yes," the girl said simply, almost flat, with no hint of emotion.
Suddenly, she stepped forward, and Ren straightened instinctively. But she was only retrieving her arrow.
Hesitantly, Ren asked, "What…is that thing?"
"I don't know," she said after a pause.
"Anyway, thank you…for saving me," Ren said, nearly embarrassed. She glanced back, picked up her arrow, and began to walk away.
"Hey! Where are you going?" he called, chasing after her.
She spun sharply, voice hard. "Don't follow me!"
Ren held up his hands, trying to show he meant no harm. "…But I've been here for hours. I don't know what to do," he murmured.
Her steps slowed, and she stopped, just enough for him to notice. Her eyes narrowed. "Hours?" she repeated. "You mean…you just got here?"
"Y-yeah. I woke up on the train…and everything was already like this," Ren said, uncertainty creeping into his voice.
Her brows furrowed. "The…train?" she said, her voice quieter now, almost as if she were remembering something.
Ren's eyes widened. "…Were you on it too?"
"Yeah," she said softly.
"I…don't remember seeing you," Ren admitted, scratching the back of his neck.
"I don't remember seeing you either," she replied, shrugging. "Maybe it was too crowded. Or maybe we just didn't notice each other."
She looked away, tightening her grip on the bow.
"How long have you been here?" Ren asked, before he could stop himself.
She hesitated.
"Seven days."
Ren's chest tightened. "Seven…days?" he whispered. "But that doesn't make any sense."
A silence fell. The forest around them felt sharper somehow: sunlight spilled through the canopy in lazy patterns, golden dust motes danced in the air, the smell of damp earth and fresh growth filled his nose, and the wind carried a gentle rustle through the leaves. Birds called from high above, their songs unfamiliar but soothing. Each sound and scent felt amplified, vivid, as if the forest itself were alive.
She began walking again, slower this time. "If you've been here only hours…then you're either lucky…or reckless," she said flatly.
Ren's eyes followed her, wide and curious. A grin formed, mischievous but calm. He stepped into the shallow river beside them, letting the water run over his feet, and crouched briefly to touch the smooth rocks scattered along the bank. He ran a hand over the moss on a tree trunk, feeling the texture, and took a careful breath, letting the cool air fill his lungs. His movements were deliberate, unrestrained, like a boy testing the boundaries of a new world.
"…Maybe a little reckless," he murmured, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "But I've never felt anything like this before."
She didn't reply. Her movements were deliberate, precise, avoiding loose soil, stepping lightly over rocks and roots, bow always at the ready. She didn't seem afraid. She seemed…prepared, aware.
"You're going to die if you stay alone," she said suddenly. "You don't even know where not to stand."
Ren slowed, crouching to inspect the river's edge. "…Then what am I supposed to do?" he asked, scanning the forest. He dipped a hand in the water, letting it run over his fingers, watching the ripples spread across the surface. He exhaled slowly, stretching his arms to the sky for a brief moment, feeling the breeze and the sun on his skin.
She stopped completely, turning to face him. "First," she said firmly, "stop following me so loudly."
He raised his hands in mock surrender, grinning. "Okay, okay. I promise I won't stomp on your leaves."
Then, after a brief pause, she sighed. "And second…tell me everything. From the moment you woke up on that train."
Ren's words tumbled out, faster than he realized: the bus ride, the train, falling asleep, waking up in silence, the forest, the river, the shimmering fish. Lera listened silently, stepping carefully over rocks and roots, occasionally glancing around as if expecting the strange creatures to appear again.
Hours passed, or maybe only minutes. It didn't matter. Ren wandered along the riverbank, crouched to inspect a curious stone, paused to inhale the crisp, clean air, and occasionally dipped a hand in the water to watch it cascade through his fingers. He laughed softly at the small wonders, letting himself feel completely unbound, alive in ways he hadn't known he could be.
Finally, he looked up. The sky stretched above him, painted with stars sharper than city lights, stretching endlessly beyond the trees. He gasped, grinning so wide it felt ridiculous.
Lera's gaze didn't waver. She studied him silently for a long moment, watching the way his chest rose and fell with awe, the way his hands and feet moved with a sense of wonder that made the forest feel alive. Finally, she spoke.
"Lera Fletcher."
Ren blinked. "What was that?"
"My name is…Lera Fletcher."