Mathew couldn't really say that he didn't like being alone. He could really say that he did like. What he was sure of though, was that being alone wasn't as bad as people made it out to be. After only being a part of a real community for a few years, Mathew didn't know what he was missing, nor did he care that he was. He would be lying if he didn't sometimes wish that he was a part of something like that, to be somewhere like that, to mean something to someone.
But all childish dreams must be given up sometime. He wasn't completely alone either. He had his grandmother, his only living relative to his knowledge, and he might not even have her much longer. You see, she was very sick. Mathew had gotten word of her state of health and planned to take her back to the village with him and make sure she got some actual help from a real doctor. Not just the natural remedies Mathew knew. He would've done this a long time ago, but his grandmother was as stubborn as an ox. She was determined to live, eat, bathe and sleep in the house she lived in with his grandfather. So determined that she would die there if she had to.
Her house was located in the middle of nowhere, deep in the forest. Mathew had traveled the path many times and knew the trails like the back of his hand, he often had to bring a machete to hack away the brambles that grew over the path in large bushes. The forest was not only over grown and dark but it was also extremely dangerous because of the resident wild life. Large bears lived near the streams and napped in caves, they usually like to keep to themselves though. Mathew found that they were relatively good listeners if they had a pot of honey occupying their paws. Never. Raw. Meat.
There was also small rodents, they weren't too much of a threat but if Mathew was bitten by one he would fall horribly Ill and a sickness like the ones they transmit may actually kill him. They didn't bother things too much bigger than themselves, but Mathew wasn't that big. Nevertheless Mathew still never trouble with the rodents living in the forest.
What he did have trouble with was the extremely hostile wolves that roamed the forest, they hunted and owned every inch of that forest. They were top of the food chain, so once you entered the forest, they were bound to find you. Once you're in they want a bite of you because at that point you're just another rabbit to them. Honestly, if it weren't for his grandmother Mathew would never even enter the forest. There was also rumors to there being witches and possibly some of their "creations" roaming about, but Mathew hardly believed in that hog wash.
Mathew sent out on his very dangerous mission to bring his grandmother to safety, locking his door and pulling his pack off the ground Mathew headed off. Since it was so early, all of Mathew's neighbors were still asleep. He lived in the quite part of the town, the part filled with prude old ladies and their promiscuous granddaughters. The one thing Mathew did like about the forest was the amazing lack of gossip. The sun was barely up and yet the air was dry and hot but lucky for him he made it to the shade of the forest quickly due to the fact that he lived in the outskirts of the outskirts, so it didn't take him too long to get to the more rural areas. Once at the entrance of the forest Mathew slung his pack off his shoulders to check its contents, he made a mental note to do this before he left his house next time. There was no way he could turn back now even if he did forget something important, if he did then by time he hit the center of the forest it would be about midnight, when the wolves were most active. And hungry. While he checked through his bag Mathew thought about taking his grandmother through the forest.
"How would we get through the night? Let's see… so if I start right now I'd get to the halfway point, the center, and then stay one night in a tree or whatever happens to be open. Then I'd get to grandma's the next morning. Then I have to convince her to come with me before lunch time, I wonder if she even able to walk? I hope she's not too weak… well if she does agree to come then we'll end up a little before the halfway point just before midnight. We'd might have to take lots of stops depending on how sick she is… I hope she's ok, I don't know what I'd do if she died-"
Mathew ripped himself from his thought and shouted out loud "She'll be fine!" despite the heat Mathew shivered a little as he pulled his pack back onto his shoulders and started into the forest. Making sure his machete was secured to his thigh as he walked. The beginning path was fairly cleared and bramble free, since the trees weren't very dense in this area the path was dappled with sunlight. Mathew enjoyed the shade as he walked along thinking about how nice this was if there wasn't any brambles up ahead. Or wolves. Or deathly ill grandmothers. Shivering again Mathew stopped and dropped his pack and quickly dug around for something.
He pulled out a bright red cloak and quickly clasped it around his neck. For the first time today Mathew smiled a bit as he continued his walk. His grandmother had made this for his father when he was younger, he even remembered the day his father was gifted with it. He wasn't close with his father but the thought of having something from his grandmother calmed him a bit, he'd have to take it off soon so he could hack through the brush without it getting caught on things, but he'd keep it on as long as he could.
Soon enough the fairy tale feeling of the forest was slowly faded, becoming more and more sinister with each step. Finally Mathew stopped and removed his cloak so he could attack the thorns grabbing at his pant legs.
He fell into an almost meditative state, it wasn't that it was relaxing but it was monotonous and repetitive so you fell into a grove pretty quickly. Stopping to wipe the sweat from his face Mathew took this opportunity to listen very carefully to the noises around him. Even though he didn't hear anything Mathew felt as if he was being watched.
Whipping around to look behind himself Mathew was horrified to see that there was… nothing there. Terrified at the thought that something might be hiding and watching him Mathew froze, he listened more intently, using all his will power not to go running blindly through the brush and hopefully to his grandmother safe heaven. Tightening his grip on his weapon he began speaking to himself in low whispers "You need to stay calm, it too early for the wolves to be hunting in large packs, and you can handle one or two. You are strong. Level headed and- ce qui la baise! What was that?" a bush rustled to his right, just like you would imagine it before a huge monster came leaping out and eating you alive.
Suddenly something popped up from the bush efficiently scaring Mathew enough to make him shriek and jab his machete towards the intruder. Instead of a bear or wolf it was another person, and he was laughing so hard he was holding onto his sides and falling back into the bush. After Mathew realized what was going on he quickly became furious. "W-who do you t-think you are? What w-were you thinking?!" his questions only made the other laugh harder.
Finally the other was able to get a hold of himself and step out of the bush of course not without the over dramatic tear wiping. Though Mathew would be surprised if it was real, this guy really lost it.
"You looked so frightened, I couldn't help myself! Did you think I was a monster? Would it have been scarier if I growled?" he asked as he stepped closer to the path.
Mathew was going to answer but he was too busy being completely mesmerized. The boy in the bush was a full head taller than Mathew, he had bright red eyes and over one eye was a scar going from his eyebrow down to his cheek. His hair was lacking all color, just pure white. That is, besides the two burgundy colored ear twitching on top of his head. He also had a matching tail swishing behind him.
"Hello, little blond, anyone in there?" he asked as he took a few steps closer, reaching out towards Mathew cautiously. Mathew snapped back to reality and he quickly stepped back from the hand "Don't touch me."
"Well aren't we a friendly little thing?" he replied sarcastically.
"Me n-not letting myself be touch by… by a stranger makes me unfriendly?"
The other boy laughed "No, it makes you smart."
Mathew awkwardly stiffed his feet.
"Well I guess we should change that."
Suddenly on defense Mathew took a large step back and clutched his weapon tighter "C-change what?"
Other raised a brow "The whole stranger thing" he said while extending his hand for a handshake this time. Mathew looked from the hand back to the odd person standing in front of him, he wasn't sure if he wanted to shake his hand. But then again, he kinda did want to shake it.
Getting a hold of himself he straightened his back and as said "I-I was told never to talk to strangers."
Laughing a bit the other dropped his hand to his side "I see, well I guess I'll just go…" and he turned to leave, Mathew nearly called for him, he wasn't sure why but before the words could leave his mouth the other turned back around and put a in finger in a the air "Hold up, I think you forgot something."
Mathew gave him a questioning look but said nothing. "You," he started "were already talking to me. So that is already thrown out the window! Any other rules your mummy laid out that I should try and break?" he smirked and Mathew rolled his eyes.
"O-ok, thank you for the scare and the s-sarcasm but you c-can go now, really, just go." Mathew felt like slapping himself, why could he keep from stuttering? Yes this guys was strange but not at all scary, Mathew could take him if he needed. Mathew turned his back to the other and began whacking away at the brambles again. He chopped and moved the brambles away from his path for a minute before he glanced over his shoulder, the boy was gone. Mathew didn't know whether to be disappointed or relived but he was about done with himself and being so indecisive. Turning back around he continued the chore of removing brambles from his path.
"You know… I know a shortcut." A voice called from above him.
Mathew jumped and look up, lounging on a tree branch to his left was the white haired, red eyed boy with a swishing tail and perked ears. Mathew stayed silent for a while, he was consumed in his own thoughts "A shortcut? How does he even know where I'm going? I didn't mention it did I…? No, I'm sure I didn't…" Mathew locked eyes with the boy in the tree "Hey, how do you know where I'm going?"
"Well, I don't. Though I do know a few widely known facts. Like the fact that no one comes in this forest for fun, and the only real place to be going is either A, the hot spring or B, the old scary house that someone was crazy enough to build some years back. I know a shortcut to both. "
"Do you keep tabs on the forest's attractions?" Mathew asked, he felt panic rising in him. He didn't like the thought of this guy knowing where his Grandmother lived.
A cocky smile found its way onto the other boy's face and he chuckled "I suppose you could call me the forest's caretaker of sorts. It's my job to keep tabs on things."
So many questions demanded to be asked at once and Mathew couldn't sort out which ones were more important than others. He really didn't want to ask, he really didn't want this guy's help, and he really didn't want him to know where his grandmother lives! After a second of sorting his thoughts out he decided that a shortcut was a shortcut… but what kind or shortcut was it? Mathew stood awkwardly looking up at the other boy "Um, ok then… Well, where? How long would take to travel? Is it safe enough to travel? Does it have tall trees along the way? The center if the forest, how long does it take to get there using your shortcut? A-and what's the path like? Rocky, sandy? Is it covered it wet moss or something? Could, I don't know, an old lady-"
"Whoa there, no need to rapid fire questions at me! You talked so fast it sounded like a bird's song."
Mathew frowned "That's highly unlikely and what you said is most likely an extreme over exaggeration."
The other frowned "But bird songs are pretty…"
"What's t-that supposed to mean?" Mathew mentally cursed for letting himself stutter. Instead of answering the other just jumped down from the tree and landed next to Mathew. He extended his hand "Hello, my name is Gilbert. Would you like to see the shortcut?"
Mathew took his time to decide.
He took the hand and gave it a brief shake "My name is Mathew. Yes, p-please."
Thank you for reading! i hope you enjoyed it!
(Ok so going back through this i realized that there was a insane amount of missing words and just mess ups everywhere. I changed it a bit too, like Mathew's and Gilbert's conversation was made longer. So i edited it a bit, hopefully its easy to read through...)