Drip... Drip... Drip...
Jason opened his eyes ever so slightly, before trying to go back to sleep.
Drip... Drip... Drip...
He opened his eyes again, wider now, trying to locate that stupid dripping noise. Nothing. Stubbornly, he closed his eyes again.
Drip... Drip... Drip...
His eyes shot open. He was soaking wet, and the shelter was melting all around him. His bag and the girl were gone.
"Dammit!" He shouted, sitting up straight. Digging his way out of the sheller, he drew his knife, searching for the girl who'd robbed him. Almost all of the snow had melted overnight, and small piles of it lay scattered between the trees.
"Oh, you're awake." Said a voice. Velia dropped down from a tree above them, holding something brown and flakey in her hand. "Why've you got a knife out?" She asked him, stepping back slightly.
"I- I thought... Where's my stuff?" He asked.
"Right there." Answered Velia, pointing to the bag, with neatly folded blankets sticking out slightly. Next to it was a small fire, drying out the soaking equipment.
"Why didn't you wake me up?" Jason asked her, still slightly angry.
"I did." She said. "Three times, actually. You sleep too deeply, Jason." She told him, handing over something to him.
"What's this?" He asked, taking it gingerly.
"Honeycomb!" She chided happily, taking a bite. Jason looked at it doubtfully, before cautiously taking a bite.
"Not bad." He said. "How on earth did you get honeycomb?" He questioned, staring it.
"The bees are all asleep from the storm! I just reached in, and ran!" She chimed, taking another big bite of the stuff. They ate together quietly, apparently she'd also found some mockingbird eggs, and had fried them up in the pan Jason kept in his bag.
"You're a good cook!" Complimented Jason. Velia smiled brightly at him, as she wolfed down her eggs. "So where were you heading?" He asked her as he finished off his eggs.
"Icepeak." She told him, nibbling on her honeycomb. "I was sort of just... wandering, when the storm hit." She answered dreamily. "Do you mind if we walk to town together?" She asked hopefully, looking up at him.
"Of course." Said Jason, standing up. "I've gotta go really soon, though, that package is due by noon today."
"Alright, let's go!" Said Velia quickly, standing up. "I'm ready when you are!." She told him, clearly happy to have someone to travel with.
Within half an hour, They were walking down the now-melted trail, around the fissure, and towards Icepeak.
"Why do they call the place Icepeak if it can be this warm out of nowhere?" Jason wondered aloud.
"I don't know, but a lot of towns in Astaria have weird names, Jason. Maybe they just thought it sounded cool?" Answered Velia, who began humming tunelessly. Jason pulled a map from his pocket, thankfully spared from the worst of the melting snow, and checked the courier routes that he'd be taking. It looked like he would be heading to Abon next. That made him exited, because he loved their special dish: Abon stir fry. His stomach rumbled, not satisfied with their meager breakfast, and he picked up his pace, hoping to reach Icepeak soon.
"How long are you staying in Icepeak?" Asked Velia, staring at his map.
"I'll stop to rest for a day, and then head down south for Abon, why?"
"No reason." Was her response. In the distance, a bird let out a call eerily similar to the way Velia had said: "No reason". The call repeated, mimicking her tone of voice and echoing around, being picked up by other birds.
"Mockingbirds." Said Jason, listening intently. Again, the birds copied him. Velia giggled slightly, and Jason glared at her.
"Icepeak's famous for them, didn't you know?" She informed him.
"Then why don't they call the town 'mockingbird'?" He asked.
"Beats me." She answered, as the birds picked up her tone, and "beats me" echoed throughout the forest.
They reached the town at last, and Velia bid Jason goodbye, adding that "They might be seeing each other again soon." Jason doubted it, but still hoped that they'd meet again. He enjoyed her company, and it had been a long time since he'd last had someone to travel with. He headed through the town, to the inn, and booked a room. Having done that, he headed to the courier office to drop off his package.
"Hello there, may I help you?" Asked the receptionist.
"Courier, dropping off a package." He said, rummaging through his bag. He stood there for quite awhile, searching his crowded bag for the package, to no avail. "Umm, I think I left it at the Inn, I'll be right back." He stammered, heading back out the door quickly. This was bad. That evidence was crucial to the murder case, and if he didn't deliver it... His career was over. He dashed back down the road, the way they came, to where he'd parted with Velia. There was still enough snow on the ground so that he could see her footprints, and he followed them through town, guessing which prints were hers when they intersected with other townsfolk.
After a few minutes of searching, he spotted her buying a coat from a merchant, before spotting him and waving.
"Oh! Hey Jason!" She said, walking over to him.
"Velia, have you seen the package I was supposed to deliver?" Asked Jason desperately.
"Package..." she said, as if deep in thought. "No, I haven't seen anything."
"No way." He said, clenching his fists.
"You lost it?" She asked, surprised.
"I guess so..." He said, sighing.
"Did you check our campsite?"
"That's a six hour trip, there and back!" He said.
"I'll go with you, then, come on." Asserted Velia, grabbing his wrist, and pulling him along.
In just under three hours, they arrived at their campsite, barren of their equipment, with the dome they'd used as shelter already half melted.
"It's not here!" moaned Jason, digging through the snow. Velia stood staring at the remains of their campfire, a sad look on her face.
"What'll you do?' She asked him.
"I-I don't know. I could be charged with destruction of Astarian property, tampering with evidence... even treason!" He stammered.
"Tell them you were robbed!" Suggested Velia.
"I already went to the office and told them I was there to deliver it!" Neither of them spoke. Eventually, they gave up searching. Jason's shouts of anger echoed through the forest, copied by the mockingbirds, and carried for miles. There was no way they could know, but the birds infuriated him even more, they seemed to be mocking him.
