Feet pounded on the forest floor in a near rhythmic pace, as her heart beat fast and irregular. Her breath was ragged from constant running, tree's coming in and out of view, tripping over the odd exposed root. Finally, as her adreniline died out, she stopped. She doubled over, coughing slightly, looking up at the early morning sky. a few birds called out as they flew over head. She closed her eyes momentarily, and fell backwards onto her rear end. She placed a hand to her forehead.
A petite little raymanian girl. Her hair was pulled into two pigtails, held by blue ribboned hair ties, that matched her mini skirt. Her sunshine yellow sweater had a green heart stitched over her chest, and a green bag was flumped beside her. Her socks where not fit to her, and sagged over her shoes. Clearly, utterly, unprepared to go romping around in the woods. And she knew it well. Joy opened her eyes and leaned back, hugging her bag to her chest. She stood up again and looked around, her breathing now calm. She started to walk at a leisurely pace. The forest was truly beautiful, with moss and vines growing up the tree sides, large colourful mushrooms popping up in the shade, and bushes and flowers at every turn. That was, until she tripped over something... living.
"YOAGH.." a strangled yell came out, as she fell down flat, and froze. She rolled over and looked up as another Raymanian figure stood up, looking a bit ruffled and confused. Heck, even she could recognize him. Raymanian's were rare as it was, and anyone could recognize the iconic figure of Rayman. He turned a curious eye on her and looked surprised.
"Hey... What are you doing out here?" He asked, reaching out a hand to help her up. She didn't take it, only looked away.
"Eh... Uhm... just walking..." She was surprised at his chuckle.
"Long way to be walking for a little girl... or er, how old are you?.. hard to tell.." he looked a bit flustered and grabbed her hand anyways, pulling her up. Even she had to admit she was short for a raymanian. She stood a couple inches shorter than him.
"I'm... 16.." she mumbled, looking away. "..you.. you're..." she glanced back at him, surprised at the friendly smile.
"Rayman, at your service. You?"
"..Joy.." she offered him a smile. Now her shyness didn't have anything to do with his polite actions.. more of the fact, he wasn't anything like she had heard of. The stories she had heard, a brave man, heck not even a boy in his late teens, but a man. Who had toppled a Knarren god, and who's courage rivaled anyone else. How at even the slightest showing of trouble, he was there in a flash.
She had seen him once before. When she was around 9 years old, and had seen him walking around the clearleaf village, where she lived a short walk from. He had made eye contact with her and she had hidden behind her mom, hearing him laugh. He couldn't have remember that though.
"so, what are you doing so far from any town? Where do you live?.." She looked back at him, she had just been about to walk away.
"erhm... I live.. a bit of a walk from clearleaf village..." He gave a low whistle.
"You're approaching the Murk... Sure you just going on a walk?.."
"Ye- No..." she pushed her index fingers together, not liking where this conversation was going. "I... Don't wanna go back..." she said quietly, "I uh... didn't... like it there.." she finished lamely.
"Didn't like it there..." Rayman repeated, thinking to himself it appeared.
"Didn't like it there.." Rayman thought to himself. That sounded more like something a 3 year old would say when they ran a few yards out of the village, not what a 16 year old girl who was miles away from her home. She was probably lying to him. Should he squeeze the truth out though? He looked her up and down. Autumn was approaching, and she clearly wasn't dressed the part. She looked tired too. Left in a hurry most likely. She seemed to be very shy right now, but that might just be because she hadn't expected to run into anyone around here.
"Uhm... Can I go now?... I'm uh... Going to my aunts... She's... She lives near the Sea of Lums.." She bit her lip and scuffled the ground. Rayman looked at her dumbly.
"... You're going the complete opposite way..." He placed a hand on her head. "The Sea of Lums is north of clearleaf, near the Stream. It'll stretch into a river, and you follow that downstream, through the Minisaurous Plains, Fairy Glade, Iron mountains, and down through another short stretch of forest.." She looked shocked at the directions he gave her.
"...That;s... A long way.." she said hopelessly. Rayman gave a grin, never one to turn down someone who needed help.
"I'll Join you... You aren't really prepared, and I'd feel guilty if you got hurt." Joy looked surprised at this.
"EH? No no no! You don't need too!" she took a few steps back and slipped on a piece of moss, landing back on her butt. Rayman fought down his smile, and helped her up.
"What kind of hero would I be if I didn't help you out here?..." He smiled and pointed towards a lighter patch of woods. "Come on, this way..." Joy seemed to hesitate, but followed him slowly, still holding her bag tightly. She remained silent for a while, he guessed she was having trouble making conversation.
"So... Joy right?... What kinda stuff do you.. like to do?" He asked, starting to feel the awkwardness set in. Joy stopped looking around.
"Oh uh... I like too... Sleep, play with my pigs... eat cake and read books.."
"You own pigs?" He said to try and engage her some more. She just nodded.
"Sam is our Oldest... and Biggest. Sometimes I ride him around while he digs up truffles.." Rayman smiled.
"Sounds fun... and bumpy. Ever ridden a MawPaw?"
"Yeah... my friend owns a few. she sells the fur and milk." Rayman nodded in turn and went back to being silent, having a feeling she'd rather be quiet. The silence was next broken by a loud walrus sounding yawn. He turned around in surprise to see her teetering on the spot and covering her mouth with both hands.
"... did you get any sleep last night?" he asked, concerned. Joy shook her head.
"I-I'm fine... I crammed for school tests and pulled all nighters all the time... I'll.." He put a hand on her shoulder to steady her. She blinked blearily, her eyes half closed.
"Hmm... where's a place we can get you some rest?.." he thought. He did have a small cave not far from here. "All right, come on..." he took her hand to guide her through her sleep blinded eyes. Joy was dimly aware of what was going on, and just followed numbly, mumbling words here and there.
A while later, they came across a small cave besides a stream. The outside was hidden by bushes, tree's and vines, along with a few small mushrooms here and there. Joy blinked, feeling a bit more awake.
"I thought you... traveled... all the time." She asked, standing up a bit straighter.
"What?" He looked a bit confused. "My feet would get tired..." He brushed away the vines and led her inside. The inside was messy, with a small pile of moss, leaves, and feathers and wool to make a bed, along with a hollowed out pit with bits of charcoal from a long dead fire. It was... Cozy though. "No I have several places set up like this. a few on the beach for the summer... places like this when it gets cold.."
she blinked as he pushed her down gently to the makeshift mattress. "Rest." He said, smiling through his commanding tone and snickering.