"D-Do you think t-that story was t-true?" the quivering voice of Lloyd Irving stuttered to his small Half-Elvin companion.
"N-No! Not at all! It was just to scare us!" Genis huffed bravely, ignoring his rattling legs. "Yeah…" the boy whispered to himself. "Just a story…" His powder-blue-grey eyes scanned the surrounding area.
Both Lloyd and Genis had gotten lost in the so called "Forest of Evil" AKA "Forest of No Return" when Zelos told them the story of the insane thief and his murderous soul and the souls of his victims.
Right now they were in a part of the forest they had never come across: an area clear of the wild trees that allowed pale sun light to seep through over the tops of the other trees, a small brook gurgled along beside the two.
Unfortunately for the two, they were quickly losing light, night time falling earlier in the dense forest.
"Come on," Lloyd also bravely huffed. "E-everyone's probably w-worried."
The metallic grey-haired mage nodded and followed close behind the human, one hand tiny hand attached to one of the swallow tails.
/An Hour Later/
"AHHH!"
A monster screeched.
"What the fuck was that?!"
A zombie hobbled over to them.
"Genis! Look out!!"
"Ahhh! Fireball!!"
The zombie fell to the ground, smoldering.
"Hurry Genis! Run faster! Use those stubby legs of yours!"
"Shut-up Lloyd!"
The two were dashing through the forest, hopping over menacing looking roots, nearly tripping on fallen branches, thoughtlessly changing their direction whenever they heard the cry of a monster.
It was completely dark now, the two entirely dependant on Lloyd's "Dwarven Scenes." Yeah, as you can imagine what GREAT wonders that did for them.
They saw a clear opening, the faintest hint of light shined dully.
"Yes!" they cried as they threw themselves into the opening, grunting loudly and painfully when they hit the cold hard ground.
The two giggled in relief as they picked themselves up, looking at each other for the discovery of sweet salvation.
Their victory was shortly lived.
/Gurgle/ /Gurgle/ /Gurgle/
Lloyd's breath hitched and Genis held his breath as they slowly looked to their side and saw a small brook happily gurgling along side them.
"AHHHHH!!!" the brunet yelled as he yanked at his spiked hair.
The mage merely wept at the loss of hope and curled up into a small ball.
Genis looked up and saw a fog beginning to shroud them.
"E-yah!' Genis squeaked as he hid himself inside Lloyd's shirt.
Lloyd, looking very much like those girls who stuffed basketballs in their shirts, fought to get the kendama-wielder out and whined, "Genis! Get outta my shirt! You hands are freezing!" Genis squirmed around as Lloyd attempted to pull the half-elf boy away. "Awww! Come on! I'm not into this kinda stuff!"
"WHAT?!" Genis popped his head out of the top opening of the shirt, looking horrified.
"Do you need help?" a wispy voice politely questioned the two quarrelers.
"Nah, we're good," Lloyd answered back as he continued to fuss with the lump in his shirt.
"Oh, well if you need help, just ask."
And the voice was gone.
"Oh!" the teen gasped, a light bulb appearing above his head, casting a light around the two. "Hey can you help us get out--?" He glanced around, unable to spot the owner of the voice. The light bulb flickered violently and burned out. "Ah...Damn," the Eternal Swordsman sighed softly.
"Lloyd!" Genis whined. "How are we going to get back to camp?"
"I...I..." the human had no answer that would satisfy his friend unless he just outright lied. "I...Hey, wait! Remember!! That one guy said 'just ask.'"
"So...?" the frost blue eyed boy waved his hand in the universal sign of 'continue on.'
"So, if we just ask, I'm sure he can get us out!" the brunet smiled widely, resembling a child's smile when they walk into a candy store.
"Lloyd!" the kendama-wielder exasperated, slapping a hand on his forehead. "Are you really serious about asking a stranger for help?!!"
"Hey!" the twin blade-wielder called out in the foggy night, cupping his hands around his mouth.
The fog began to reappear…