Chapter Two

Deep in the woods

Frisk let out a sharp cry, she held onto the leaves and the dirt around her as she struggled to breathe; the fall had punched the air out of her lungs and now she was there, on the ground; she layed on her back, arms and legs spread to both sides; she blinked a couple of times to clear her vision before trying to move, she then carefully pulled herself back up but when she tried to walk, she felt a sudden pain in her left knee. Looking down, blinking several times to try and see something in the dark, she noticed a black spot on her leg. Reaching out with her hand, Frisk carefully touched it. The pain immediately hit, she quickly pulled her hand away, not before noticing the blood on it.

Oh great She thought; this would surely make things a little more difficult. She tried to take another step but the pain forced her to stop, her leg trembling under her weight. She almost lost her balance but caught herself, holding on to a nearby tree. Frisk looked around, trying to locate Asriel from her position.

-Ash?-she called, nobody answered, she tried again, raising her voice.

But nobody came.

Fear began to slowly crawl on her back; her heart was pounding faster in her chest as she realized her situation, ¿Where was Ash? ¿Was she alone again? ¿How was she going to find him in this darkness?

No, he has to be nearby; I just have to look she thought, refusing to let panic get to her. She examined the injury on her knee, It was deep, and made her entire leg burn with pain. She would have to patch that up to prevent an infection, later; for now, she needed to walk. She closed her eyes tightly, focusing on the beating of her SOUL.

Suddenly, the beating increased, she could hear it booming in her ear.

A tickling sensation ran over her body, it started within her SOUL and ran across every single part of her like a river; in a matter of seconds, the pain on her knee diminished, the bruises on her arms and legs began to feel numb. Frisk stretched, a light red glow could be seen on her chest. The tingling in her body gradually intensified, more and more until the girl felt her entire body was on fire...And then, it decreased, little by little, until it disappeared, leaving the girl feeling the echo of a known sensation.

Frisk took a hesitant step, she was still bleeding, she could feel it, but now she didn't feel any pain.

That was more than enough.

Frisk stretched her entire body, as if she just woke up from a long dream and resumed her walk, Asriel had to be nearby.

She put her arms in front of her to avoid crashing against those gigantic trees. She didn't reach five steps when a crackling noise made her stop mid stride, the noise was coming from behind her. Without thinking, Frisk clenched her fists and prepared for who or whatever was there. The cracking noise began to feel closer, and closer...reaching her feet. Frisk frowned and turned around. There was nothing there, but out of the corner of her eye, she could detect two squirrels running up a tree, one was carrying nuts and acorn. The two squirrels hurried up, but one of them dropped an acorn, it rolled on the ground past her until Frisk heard it stop a few meters away. Frisk crouched, blinking in the dark to try and locate the small fruit. Instead, her hands found something solid, large and glassy.

Oh?

The air was caught up in her throat as she examined the empty bottle in her hands. A glass bottle, in the middle of the forest. If it was thrown away recently it could mean the people were still around, which meant they were not alone in that place...

-Frisk!

The scream startled her; she spun around so fast she was sure she pulled something.

-Ash?!-she screamed back, the bottle clutched in her hands, she tried to look beyond the crushing blackness surrounding her until something caught her eye. A small, barely visible light, floating in midair, it was so faint she almost missed it; as she look, it began to grow, after a few seconds, Frisk could see a clear group of shining stars dancing around a tall figure.

-Ash!

The bottle was dropped carelessly to the ground as the girl ran towards the monster, who was already waiting for her with an open arm.

Asriel wrapped up Frisk's waist in a tight embrace, a wave of relief washed over him, he looked down at her small frame with a smile for a moment and let out a tired sigh…. before poking Frisk's cheek with his fingers.

- Hey! - She complained.

- Why do you always scare me like this eh? - He asked continuing to poke her, she let out an annoying sound, trying to get away from him, but he kept her in place with an iron grip.

-It wasn't my fault, I couldn't see anything! - She protested trying to hold her laugh, she kept struggling to move but she already knew it was a lost battle. Her strength was less to nothing compared to Ash's brutal force-. ¡Ash let go!

-Nope -Was his simply answer before he started to tickle her.

That bastard, he knew how damn ticklish she was. Frisk cried out, unable to restrain herself from laughing now.

Asriel allowed himself a small grin, he knew he would have to pay for this later but honestly, it was worth it...Abruptly, his hand stopped; a sharp, sudden pain exploded in his head while an equally powerful nausea forced him to close his eyes and cry out in pain, he let go of Frisk and stumbled to the ground, falling on his knees.

-Ash! – Frisk crouched beside him, hands on his shoulders and concern on her face, - What's wrong? Are you ok?

-Yes I…..I'm fine it's just… ahh! A small headache- He answered, clutching his head between his hands, he tried to block the pain but it was no use, he felt like passing out.

- You're definition of "fine" is wonderful you know that?- Frisk said sarcastically, kneeling beside him and helping him up carefully- You're using your magic too much, you're going to collapse if you keep doing this!

- I had to find you- Asriel mumbled under his breath. Frisk heard it, her heart sinking with regret, she should have been more careful.

She help him walk to a nearby tree where he rest his back against it, breathing sharply; his entire body felt heavy and his head was spinning, his claws clung onto the tree trunk in an attempt to stop him to fall back to the floor, he stayed there, eyes closed, unmoving, waiting for the dizziness and nausea to diminish. Frisk pursed her lips.

They had been homeless before, hell, almost their entire lives, they've made a living out of it; walking and wandering around different places wasn't a new thing to them, but never before had it been this hard. They usually could find a decent place to rest within a day or so, sometimes Asriel was forced to steal food using his magic when they couldn't get anything to eat, however in most occasions they managed by taking small jobs, nothing major or too important but it served the purpose and it was fun when you met the right people. But right now, everything seemed to take a turn for the worst. Frisk didn't know what to do; she too, was beginning to experience nausea, dizziness and weakness, her mouth felt dry, her lips cracked and her short brown hair felt greasy, it was extremely uncomfortable. If they didn't do anything soon….

She shook her head, forcing herself not to indulge in those thoughts.

Come on, we'll make it out this, it's gonna be ok, always. You have to stay strong.

Stay determined.

The mantra repeated herself in her mind as she breathed in; the action calmed her nerves and cleared her head. That's when she remembered the bottle.

- Ash listen, I think there are people in these woods, I don't know if they're still here but, maybe…- Frisk walked around the tree trunk as she talked, ignoring Ash's plea to stay close- maybe if we keep going we can find…

Frisk reached the other side of the trunk, there were just more trees, bushes and blackness...along with something else. In the distance, almost invisible at first glance, the girl spotted something; she blinked a couple of times to make sure she wasn't hallucinating; no, her eyes weren't deceiving her, it was there, almost invisible, a bright dot glowing in the distance, a few meters above the ground. Frisk blinked a third time just because she couldn't believe it. Her heart jumped in her chest as she turned around on a single move and ran towards Asriel.

-Ash, Ash! Look!– She called, gently touching the monster's arm; Asriel opened his eyes very slowly, like she had just woken him from a deep slumber.

-I think I found something, I see a light, between those trees over there, I don't know what it is but we have to investigate, this could be our chance- Frisk stammered; Asriel blinked a couple of times, as if trying to comprehend her words, his gaze moved past her in the direction she was pointing at -. I can go check it, you stay here, I don't want you to pass out- said the girl with conviction, but just as she was pulling away from him, he took a hold of her hand.

-Frisk…don't, you can't go alone it's… too dangerous- Asriel mumbled, fear in his voice.

- I'll be alright Ash, is not that far away, if something doesn't feel right, I'll come back immediately, you know that- Frisk assured, but Asriel was having none of it; he shook his head firmly and with visible effort, pulled himself away from the tree, he almost tripped, but managed to keep his balance.

- I'm not leaving you alone again Frisk, especially not in the darkness in the middle of nowhere for someone to…-. Asriel stopped himself in an incredulous and almost desperate tone, his crimson eyes betraying what he was thinking.

But Frisk saw his expression and immediately knew. The memories flowed in her mind too.

The dark alley.

A hand around her throat

Blood

Bodies lying on the ground.

Ash's desperate cry…

She pushed the images away on the spot, to the darkest corners of her subconscious.

-That's not gonna happen again Ash, is not, I promise- She said firmly.

- I didn't….I didn't wanted to remind you of that, I'm sorry- Asriel apologized.

-Don't be, it happened years ago, I don't let it bother me anymore. And that's why I tell you to stay here while I go investigate. It's gonna be ok.

Frisk's determined look met Asriel's worried one, the girl tried to appear resilient and put on an annoying face but what she got was a half tired smile from the monster. Deep down she knew, she knew he wasn't gonna stay even if he was quite literally dying, they both knew it.

So, accepting defeat, Frisk sighed and smiled back.

- That's not fair Ash.

-I know, I just like it when you put on that face- Asriel said starting to walk toward the direction Frisk had pointed out, his steps where a little clumsy and forced but he did his best to pretend.

-You don't have to fake it for me- Frisk said under her breath, her eyes focusing on Ash's small limping and how his hand clutched his stomach.

- It's nothing; I can deal with it- He said firmly, putting and to the conversation.

Frisk just sighed and began walking ahead, guiding them through the darkness towards the glowing dot. Giant rocks, bushes and tree roots continued to make their walk harder that it should be, but neither of them said anything.

Step after step they came closer to the mysterious source of light; as they approach, it became clear the glow came from a closed window of a large wood house. The construction stood alone in the middle of a forest clearing; it looked old and empty, and in the dark night, menacing and nightmarish, it's form looming over them. Frisk spotted a neglected porch and a broken looking wooden door, the ceiling had small holes in it as far as she could see, and nothing was coming from the tall chimney. However there was still that light coming from the side window, it flickered from time to time and provided the only source of brightness.

- I'll go check- said Frisk walking ahead, but in a second, a hand wrapped around her arm and stopped her in her tracks. She looked back at the goat monster, visibly confused.

-Ash.

-I'll go.

-There's no need, I can do it.

- It's too dangerous; we don't know who's in there.

- That's exactly why I should go first, you're too tired.

-And so are you- Asriel pulled her back to where he stood, gently caressing her arm.- I'll be alright, I can still use my magic, but I need you to stay here.

Frisk wanted to protest, the last thing she wanted was Asriel wandering around in the dark alone.

-But Ash…

Her words were lost in her mouth when the tall monster bend over and lay a warm, tender kiss on her forehead, her eyes closed by instinct. He stayed there, with his forehead against hers.

- I promise I'll be ok, wait for me here, hide behind one of these trees and stay close to the light- He pleaded in a low voice she knew all too well, one that send a warm sensation through her body, and even though she still didn't agree, Frisk dropped her shoulders and nodded.

-Alright- She answered her voice merely a whisper.

Only after she responded he stepped away, giving a final squeeze of her arm before turning to the house, his steps deliberately slow and cautious as he walked towards the illuminated window.

Frisk watched him, her hands around herself in a protective way as she looked around. The forest was silent, there was no wind, no small animals, nothing at all, there was just this crushing, earie silent hovering over them. A cold shiver ran through her body, maybe because of the cold, maybe because of the uneasy feeling, either way Frisk continued to glance around the clearing, her eyes focused on Asriel and she suddenly felt exposed; a gust of freezing wind hit her as she searched for cover in the nearest tree.

Asriel carefully measured his steps as he came closer and closer to the seemingly empty residence, paying close attention to any foreign movement. His ears could detect the subtle creak of the broken door, the cry of the wind sleeping through the small cracks on the walls; his entire face wrinkled when the combination of rotten wood, food leftovers, oil and human waste hit his sensitive nose, making his nausea even more insufferable, he had to stop for a second and swallow the bile in his throat. He came closer to the side window from when the flickering light escaped and pressed his back against the wall, the water falling from the roof and the dripping wood soaking his jacket. Maybe it had rained early in the day.

Moving ever so slowly, Asriel tilted his head and peek inside. The source of light they had spotted a few moments ago belonged to an old, rusty oil lamp resting on top of a wooden box, said box was located in a far corner of what appeared to be the living room; surrounding it Asriel saw crumpled paper, pieces of furniture, food, a ramshackle sofa dumped in the other side of the room; a small wooden table was turned upside down and a nearby chair was missing a leg.

The more Asriel looked, the bigger the mess. The paint was beginning to fall from the walls, leaving it naked and with a foul smell; and the ceiling wasn't doing any better. Everything in that place seemed to indicate no one had live there for years, and yet that small oil lamp was the only thing that stated otherwise.

And it was the best thing they had seen in weeks.

They could deal with the garbage; he could get used to the smell if he concentrated hard enough, those were just little details to deal with if it meant Frisk could have a roof over her head tonight. He would have to investigate the other rooms but so far everything seemed good. Making up his mind after listening one last time to make sure no one was near, Asriel stepped away from the window and made his way to the porch, he turned around to let Frisk know she could come.

Except Frisk wasn't there.

The oil lamp's small glow casted a small light over one of the nearby trees, where he had told Frisk to stay, but the girl was nowhere to be seen. With a hole in his stomach, Asriel summoned a ball of fire in his right hand, ignoring the stinging pain in his head.

-Frisk?!- He called, not bothering to be quiet, he looked around with growing despair and was about to start running again when a loud "crack", and the calling of his name made him turn around so fast a part of him was sure he hurt his back, not that he cared.

Frisk was there, standing in front of the door with what appeared to be a large wire on her hands, her pale face covered in dust and dirt, staring at him with a questioning expression. Asriel just stood there, an almost shocking expression on his face, before running beside her in a split second. Frisk felt two strong hands grab her shoulders before her friend's concerning and annoyed face appeared inches away from hers. Despite not being the first time he did this, the gesture was so sudden it made her jump.

-Goddammit Frisk I told you to stay hidden! -He stammered a little louder than he intended to.

- The door is closed, I was trying to open it- She answered, rising the wire in her hands like it was obvious; Asriel looked at the small object like he didn't recognize it and Frisk took advantage of his distraction to pull away from his grasp and resume her task. Asriel could only sign. Of course she wasn't gonna listen to him, she never had before no matter how many time he'd beg her.

"What did you expect? It's cold here"

Asriel blinked, ignoring the whisper in his head and instead using his fire magic to light up the doorknob Frisk was working on; she gave him a silent smile before focusing on her work. She wouldn't say it, but the pain on her knee was gradually coming back, the bleeding had stopped but the girl could feel the injury pulsing, along with all her others bruises. She didn't want to waste any more time, they needed this cabin, now.

A few minutes passed, Frisk carefully playing with the lock while Asriel keep an eye on their surroundings. Suddenly, a faint "click", Frisk stopped, Asriel turned to her. She pulled the wire out of the door lock with care, wrapping the nob with her hand and before Asriel could say anything she opened the door with resolution. A loud squeaky noise filled the dimly lit room as the pair walked inside, the living room was quiet bigger than it appeared on the outside; a pair of large windows facing the opposite side, one of them with a shattered glass; there were two more chairs next to the one with the broken leg, dry leaves spread here and there, empty bottles, some of them smashed and more crumpled paper. Frisk walked towards the wooden box, picking up the lamp and using its light to have a better look at the place; she spotted a dark hallway entrance, but as she began to made her way in its direction, Asriel's hand once again stopped from getting too close.

-Frisk- He whispered with caution, he silently asked her to hand him over the lamp, took her now free hand and guided her behind him.

With the blinking light, the two of them proceed to explore the rest of the abandoned building. The hallway wasn't very long but it was wide enough to allow them to walk comfortably side by side; Frisk saw the first room to her right, door wide open and immediately pulled Asriel's hand towards her, the monster did not opposed. The second the dim light revealed the room to them, Frisk let out an almost hurt gasp.

-My God…Ash, look!

Oh Ash was looking alright, looking at the organized, well stocked pile of food lying a few meters away...in the corner of the room.

-No fucking way- His voice came out raspy and broken, as it out of nowhere his vocal cords had forgotten how to function.

Frisk's legs trembled as she practically throw herself in front of the pile, hurting her already damaged knee in the process, but she couldn't care less, right now all of her attention was focusing on one thing. Asriel joined her in a single step, almost discarding the oil lamp away. There were bags of potato chips, protein bars, chocolate, a few apples lying around, a couple of cans of peanut butter and at least a dozen water bottles, right there in front of them. Abruptly, Frisk felt weaker than ever before, her empty stomach let out a painful growl, her mouth felt drier and her eyes went blurry from the tears. She was so hungry. She raised a shaky arm and grabbed a water bottle, as if she was afraid that if she touched it would disappear, but her finger wrapped around the plastic firmly. The girl gazed at her friend and found the same desperate look her own face was probably showing. That was the only proof they needed.

In the blink of an eye, Frisk opened the bottle, drank, and drank, emptying the whole thing in seconds before tossed it away and grabbing a protein bar; Asriel teared open the nearest bag of chips with his claws and practically swallow them whole, small pieces getting stuck in his fur; he then proceed to take another one, repeating the process a few times. Frisk finished her second protein bar in a short moment, choking on it a few times but the immense relief and satisfaction her entire being was feeling made it worth; funny enough, she never liked these kinds of food too much before, but right now, it was like tasting heaven. She ate the remained crumbs while Asriel took a bottle and drank all the water in seconds. The monster let out a loud sigh before collapsing next to her, arms and legs wide open; Frisk joined him after taking a chocolate bar from the pile, she opened it, split in half, and gave one to him.

They nibble on the candy in silence; Frisk curled against him, resting her head on his chest and Asriel wrapping his arm around her.

Frisk savored the dark sweet melting in her mouth and closed her eyes, the taste bringing back forgotten memories. It had been awhile since they had eaten chocolate.

-Ash?

-Yeah?

- I didn't thought it well but all this food, being in this kind of place and in this room…could be expired or poisoned - Frisk said calmly, like she was commenting on the most trivial thing in the world. A moment of silence passed and Asriel let out an amusing laugh that got lauder and lauder by the second; Frisk smiled and curled closer to him. When Asriel managed to calm down he sighed and took another bite of his half of the chocolate.

-Well, at least we wouldn't die with an empty stomach, and after that we can just keep eating- He answered, caressing Frisk's hair with his fingers, she nodded, knowing what he meant. Her free hand moved to her chest, where her SOUL was pounding at a steady rhythm. She hadn't had to use it in almost a year, thankfully; it was a really painful process, one she could never get used to. The nightmares still plagued her mind.

Asriel finish the candy and lifted his hand, palm open to the ceiling; sparkles began to appear, dancing around his hand and a bright, big fireball materialized, dancing and twinkling, his warm reaching out to Frisk and its light covering the entire room like a small sun. Asriel smiled to himself as he sent the fireball to the ceiling, where it stayed, floating.

Frisk smiled again, she used her elbow for support as she came closer to Asriel and gave him a soft kiss on the corner of his lips.

-I knew we could make it-she whispered.

His eyes meet hers as he kept playing with her hair, his fingers brushed against her cheek when he lifted his head and placed a kiss on her lips. Frisk let her eyes close, a familiar rush of electricity running through her body. She lowered herself a little bit as the kiss deepened, her mouth slowly moving against his in a known dance, she felt his nose brushing her own and her heart jumped with satisfaction. Their tongues met a few times before Asriel broke the kiss with a final smile. He got up and Frisk followed him.

The two of them began to inspect the rest of the room, Asriel examining the remaining of the pile of food and Frisk walking around in search for anything curious or useful. Asriel kneeled down, picking a can of peanut butter and noticed the lack of dust covering it.

- This was put here recently, there is barely any dust or rust on these cans- He said picking up a water bottle, taking a closer look-. Whoever did this might still be around- He added with a warning tone in his voice.

Frisk thought about what her friend just said, she picked up a small crumpled piece of paper and unfolded it, it was blank.

- If they come back after we leave, I'll leave them a thank you note- She affirmed, putting the paper on her pocket. Asriel didn't say anything; he stared at the bottle in his hand, a deep frown on his face. Frisk knew exactly what that gesture meant.

- They might not be bad people Asriel, we can't draw that conclusion just yet, I'm sure If they listen to us we can explain why we ate the food.

- Sure, if they want to listen- He said on a dark tone, not talking to Frisk in particular; he stood up, leaving the items in their original place while he summoned another fireball-. I'm gonna check the other rooms and make sure there's nothing dangerous-. He stated walking to the door.

-And I'll stay here, out of danger to make sure you don't get a heart attack- Frisk joked, still looking around the place; she turned to him, her tongue out and a not-so-subtle naughty look, then laughed at Ariel's not amused expression, but quickly, his face changed, as if he just remembered something. He walked to Frisk and without a word, he kneeled down and put his free hand in front of Frisk's injured knee.

-Ash? What are you…?

Frisk was interrupted by the so familiar feeling of magic around her. A green glow manifested from Ariel's open palm, its warm energy surrounding the still open wound; Frisk could feel it beating, almost resonating with Ariel's magic. The green aura enveloped the injury and immediately Frisk felt the pain diminish. She let out a sigh she didn't notice she was holding, feeling relief. But how did he know? Feeling her confusion, the goat monster smiled fondly.

-You think I didn't notice this earlier? - He asked, his eyes still on her knee. Frisk pursed her lips, she could already feel the warmth rushing up her face, making her feel like she was on fire.

-I…I didn't want you to worry about that- she mumbled.

-You know I don't mind, and I can use my magic now- He answered.

The healing aura continued to dance around Frisk's knee until the injury was closed and all that was left was a small bruise- It'll take a little while before it heals completely but this should help...you didn't feel any pain?-. He asked, looking up at her.

-No, not until a few minutes ago after...after I made it disappear- Frisk's words became a barely audible whisper when she finished the sentence, she looked to the side, not making eye contact. He stood up, rubbing her shoulder affectionately.

-You used it?

-Yes, I couldn't walk because the wound was too deep and the pain wouldn't let me either, so I use it to…numb the feeling, but it also allowed me to keep walking despite the gravity of it. I think I'm finally learning to control it.

-I see, but that's good news Frisk, you don't need to hide it.

- I know it's just…..It scares me; I'm still not entirely sure what else I can do with it, and I'm scare to find out. I know it's stupid but sometimes I can't help it- Said Frisk, insecurity filling her voice.

- Whatever happens, if it happens, we'll figure out together, don't worry- Asriel assured her with a smile, one that she returned-. I'll be right back, you rest- He left the room, the fireball following him closely.

Frisk tilted her head to the side and looked around her. Now that she had food in her stomach, she didn't feel particularly tired, nor she wanted to just sit there and do nothing; so she returned to the living room with the oil lamp in her hand, doing an inspection of her own.

The rest of the house consisted in two more rooms and one bathroom, all of them almost as equally trashed as the next one but there were still a few surprises. Asriel founded an almost untouched mattress in the room located at the very end of the hallway,(what he assumed was the master room) surrounded by empty bottles, a torned up pillow, and an empty closet with one of its doors hanging from the side, not to mention all the dust and rubble covering the floor. The other room looked almost identical, except it was smaller and bottles filled with alcohol were carefully put together in a corner. The crystal window was broken, the glass scattered across the place. There were also a few large, thick branches lying close to the window, along with a broken table and an almost intact sofa. The bathroom was quite large in comparison with the rest of the cabin. It had no curtain and the tub was filled with a dark, smelly gross liquid neither Asriel nor Frisk dared to touch. The toilet too was filled with the gross looking liquid but the tank wasn't working, but the sink seemed intact; the mirror above it was broken but it was still standing.

After they explored their temporary home as much as they could, the two of them returned to the master room; Asriel closed the window as best as he could, since the window frame would get stuck every time he tried to move it, while Frisk curled up on the mattress. Once Asriel returned to her side, he sat against the wall and automatically wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to his chest; the action touched a memory in Frisk's mind, a long forgotten moment bury in her subconscious.

…He motioned her to lay on the mattress before doing the same himself, and covered them both with the bed sheets. She continued to tremble, so he put his arms around her, keeping her close and she immediately hid her face in the base of his neck. They lay there, motionless, listening to the sounds of the night; in the boy's case, listening to any sound that could mean danger….

Frisk closed her eyes, pushing the memory to the back of her mind and rested her face on Ariel's chest, feeling his soft fur through the fabric of his shirt and the rapid beating of his SOUL, it told her his senses were on high alert, looking for any sign of danger; while his sharp breathing told her he was also nervous, but was trying to hide it, for her sake. Frisk moved her arm around Ariel's waist, tightly holding to him, quietly telling him it was ok, they were save, they were alright. The goat monster felt it and accepted her gesture, relaxing just a little bit, but with his eyes still fixed on the window and the closed door, until eventually sleep took over.

/ / /

The morning came faster than Frisk expected it; she felt the sunlight on her face, forcing her to open her eyes, which she did with idleness. The sun rays pierced through the window, she could see dust particles floating in the light like fireflies. She blinked slowly a couple of times, she felt heavy, her muscles contracted. The mattress really wasn't the best after all.

She moved to her side with closed eyes and reached out, hoping to find Ash's sleeping frame beside her, but her hand just meet an empty space. Her eyes snapped open, she rose from the bed, looking around with worry, the room was empty and the door open.

-Ash? - She called.

She heard footsteps coming from the far end of the hallway; few seconds later, Asriel appeared walking from the other room, carrying some of the food they had found the night before in one hand while eating an apple with the other one, he approached the bed and sit beside her.

- Here, take this; I don't think they'll be bothered if we eat a little more of their stack- He said offering her a protein bar, an apple and a water bottle; Frisk accepted the food with gratitude and began nibble on the red fruit. They stayed in silence for a few moments, the only sound around them being their chewing and the singing birds outside. When Asriel discarded the apple core to the side, he got up and walked to the window.

- You think we should explore the forest now that it's morning? - Frisk asked, knowing his thoughts.

-Yes, maybe we can find something else to eat, or a road that leads somewhere, someplace that isn't falling apart- Asriel answered looking at the hole on the ceiling above them. Frisk stared at it too.

-You know, I wouldn't mind if it rained, it has been so hot lately and we haven't got a chance to have a bath- Frisk confessed with nostalgia. That was the only thing she truly missed about having a stable home. What she wouldn't give for a nice bubble bath on a warm tub.

Asriel turned to her.

"Show her what you found outside, she'll love it"

He smiled, internally thanking the voice as he offered his hand to Frisk. She looked at him with a frown.

-Come, let me show you something.

He guided her outside, to the back of the house. There, on the ground, was a water tap just tall enough to reach Frisk's head, it looked rusty and unstable, but when Asriel turned the tap, it made a bubbling sound, then water began to fall, hitting the ground and soaking her boots.

-What?!-Frisk exclaimed and extended her open palm, the water was incredible cold, but it looked crystal clean. Without another thought, she put both hands beneath the streaming water and washed her face, the cold felt like millions of small needles sticking into her skin, but the sensation was somewhat invigorating. She repeated the action several times, washing all the dirt and dust from her face and neck. It felt wonderful.

- I found it a few hours ago, the sink and the tube are stuck, but this works perfectly- Asriel commented with a fond smile, watching Frisk play with the water. She turned to him.

- Have you used it yet?

-No

-Well, I want to, it's too hot here- Frisk say with a joyous tone before starting unbuttoning her sweater. Asriel laughed softly: Frisk loved water; she loved to stand in the rain, jumping on puddles or dancing; she could swim in a lake for hours to no end or spend an entire day in a bathtub if she was giving the chance. Asriel had long giving up on finding the reason behind her obsession; after all, water didn't get along with his thick fur that well. His laugh disappeared when his eyes meet her naked back, she was wearing a black bra underneath the sweater... and now Asriel could see the scars.

Running across her back, fine lines forming irregular patterns on her pale skin, some older, some bigger than others, forming a twisted map.

Asriel watched them, knowing the story behind each mark; Frisk had been only a child when she had decided to tell him, telling the horrific story of a past life that still haunted her. He came closer to her as she reached to unbutton her bra, stopping inches away.

-I'm going to look around the forest, maybe I can find us some food, you can come with me or stay here if you want- He mumbled, his fingers brushing against her soft skin. If he had to be completely honest, he didn't want to leave her alone, but he wasn't gonna forced her either.

Frisk turned to him, one arm covering her shoulder and confusion mixed in her eyes.

-You have to leave now? - She asked sounding disappointed.

-I want to make the most of the time now that it's day….well, unless you want me to stay a bit longer- He added playfully. His voice sent a shiver down Frisk's spine, her face turning a deep red; she immediately hit Asriel in the chest (It felt like hitting a concrete wall ) while looking down, trying to hide her smile.

-I….I do want to, but… this is more important- She stumbled on her words.

Ash smirked, cupping her face with his right hand and kissing her forehead.

- I'll be back soon, please be careful here.

-I know, I'll be back inside as soon as I'm done- Frisk answered.

Asriel nodded and stepped away, his back turn to her. All of a sudden, something began to appear on the monster's back, shifting around him; before long, Frisk watched how two enormous, beautiful wings materialized on either side of his back, they looked like the wings of a bat, but bigger and with astonishing colors moving across them, with sparkling dots, like stars, dancing as well, it was like seeing the universe. Asriel shook them twice before taking off with a jump and his frame disappeared in the trees.

Frisk watched him leave for a moment and when she could no longer spot him, she turned to face the running water and made sure no one was around before continue to undress, folding her clothes carefully and putting it on the ground, except the heart locket that hanged from a golden chain around her neck, that, she never took it off and was always hidden underneath her clothes.

The icy water felt marvelous on her skin, and even though she wished she could have a soap with her, and that it felt pretty weird to just take a shower right in the open, she enjoyed her bath nonetheless. Once she finished, she closed the tap and looked around, arms covering her bare body.

- I guess I won't find a towel nearby- She mumbled to herself. She gazed at her belongings on the ground and then at the cabin, she was just a quick run away from the door, no big deal right? She picked up her clothing, carefully trying not to drench it, looked around again, suddenly feeling terribly exposed, took a deep breath and ran. She almost fell when she got to the porch, her wet feet slipping on the floor. She wrapped her hand around the knob, opened it and she was inside, her body dripping and shaking from the cold and the sudden rush of adrenaline.

-Well, I made it, I guess- She laughed, feeling silly. She quickly ran to the master bedroom and put her cloth on the mattress, then she walked to the center of the room and began to shake, water drops splashing everywhere; she took her hair in her hands and squeezed tight, more water dropping to the floor.

-Crap, if only there were at least a small towel- She mumbled gazing around her, when her eyes meet the closet. Maybe there?

Frisk walked towards it, avoiding stepping on the rubble, and opened the other door. At first glance, she saw nothing, but as she looked down, a triumphant sound left her lips: on the ground, semi folded, was a white cloth; it was a little dusty and it wasn't that big but Frisk didn't care, she picked it up, shook it to get rid of the dust as much as possible and began to dry herself, carefully avoiding her private parts. Who know where that cloth had been?

Once she finished, she put her clothes back on, her body was still wet, but it wasn't anything the wind couldn't fix. She finished tying her boots and got up, gazing outside the window; it was a beautiful day, despite the trees still cutting off most of the sunlight, she could hear birds and small animals running around, and a gentle breeze caressing the trees.

So peaceful.

Frisk walked away from the window and headed to the living room, where she began to pick up the food leftovers and the crumpled papers. Maybe in the time she was alone, she could do something useful.

/ / /

Asriel flew over the treetops and through the clouds; he had been flying in the same direction for at least a couple of hours (according to the way the sun was moving), but all he could see was trees and mountains to his right and the ocean to his left, but no cities or nearby towns anywhere. He stopped, floating over the treetops.

-Maybe if I got higher I can see something- He mumbled to himself before boosting himself up. He rose above the clouds and looked to the horizon only to see more green and blue, it didn't look like he could find another place for Frisk to be save, there was only forest…

"What about over there? Don't you see something?"

Asriel turned around in the direction the voice told him. In the distance, beyond the forest and almost invisible at first glance, was a clear; and past that, Asriel spotted tall buildings. Another city? It looked like it; he could take Frisk there and try their luck finding a small job and shelter. Maybe he should go first and see if he could get his hands on some food and water. He looked down at the forest beneath him. Or maybe, he could look for food here, instead of resuming of stealing. He never liked it, even if he had done it a thousand times by now just to not to starve to death, he still felt incredible guilty every time, but by now, it had become almost an unconscious thing.

"You're just doing what you have to"

He closed his eyes tight, saying nothing and taking a deep breath before descending into the giant mass of green. He had to hurry and go back before nightfall; he didn't want to let Frisk alone much longer.

/ / /

The sun has begun to head to the west when Frisk stood in the middle of the living room, happily admiring her work. She went to each and every room, picking up all the garbage and leftovers and putting in it all in a rusty trash can she found in the bathroom; then she turned the discarded table up and accommodated the chairs around it. She placed the old sofa facing one of the windows, cleaned the scattered glass and even tried to remove the dust from the furniture, but it was difficult with just her hands. Despite everything, she didn't have the courage to try and clean up the bathroom. Whatever was in there, it smelled and looked even worse now, there was no way she would touch any of that. But other than that, the house looked in much better shape; Frisk smiled and reached for her pocket, pulling out a piece of paper and a small piece of carbon; she then sat on the table and carefully began to trace thin lines across the paper; circles, triangles and all kinds of abstract forms that unify in a unique design.

Suddenly, she heard a something coming from outside, a loud "pump" followed by the sound of flapping wings. She immediately recognized it. She got up, leaving the paper and the piece of carbon on the table to run to the door; she opened and a bright smiled appeared on her lips as she made her way towards Asriel. Once he saw her approach, his first words were:

-Are you ok?

She giggled at his worry.

-Yes, welcome back- She said- Did you find anything?

- Just forest, ocean and more forest, it's gigantic but I found these- He said as he reached for his jacket pockets and showed her a collection of berries, enough to feed them for at least a few days-. I saw a city, is really far away from here but we can try and go there- He said offering her the fruits. She took them in silence and they both walked back inside the house.

They sat down on the mattress, Asriel taking off his jacket and putting it on the ground, revealing strong, well-formed arms, while Frisk did the same with her boots and socks, nibbling the small fruits; he mimicked her gesture and they both ate in silence for a few moments, Asriel with one hand on the mattress for support.

- Where they hard to find? - Frisk asked, inspecting a strawberry.

- Not that much, only if you know where to look, but the forest is full of them- Asriel responded-. Why do you ask?

-Well… A place in a city would be nice, but I really like it here, is quiet, beautiful and we don't have to worry about anyone, it would be just the two of us, and now we know we can find our own food- She said quietly, looking down at the mattress, as if she was somehow afraid he would be upset at the idea-. But, honestly, any place is fine; as long as we're together I don't care where we are. Asriel looked at her, silently smiling.

All of a sudden, Frisk searched in her pockets and took out a chocolate bar she had taken the night before from the pile of food; she slowly opened the package and took a small piece, bringing it to her mouth. The movement caught Asriel's eye, making him stop eating; his eyes were now glued to the dark candy trapped between Frisk's small lips. She savored it, playing with it a little with her tongue before letting it melt and reaching for another piece, happily unaware of Asriel keeping close attention to her every move; looking how her tongue unconsciously licked her lips as she ate another piece, the contrast of the dark color against her pale mouth send a violent shiver down his spine.

He'd always liked to see Frisk eat, there was something about those delicate lips that was just hypnotizing, it fascinated him and aroused him at the same time, and Frisk knew that very well, but right now, she was submerged in her little world, completely unaware of what she was doing to him. She reached out for another bit, but that part of the chocolate had melted; when she ate it, it left a trace on her mouth, so she delicately used her fingers and her tongue to clean it up in a oh so provocative manner Asriel wondered if she was doing it on purpose, making his SOUL feel like it'll burst out of his chest.

I wasn't until she began to gently suck her finger when he decided to stop watching.

-Frisk?

The girl turned to him, a sweet, innocent look on her face. Asriel did his best not to laugh.

-Can I have some?

Her first instinct would have been sharing some of her candy with him, her hand even reached for the rest of the chocolate. But then she caught the look in his eyes, piercing through her.

Frisk felt a very familiar shudder down her spine, accompanied by a warm sensation in her chest that reached her waist, particularly between her legs.

Oh…

Frisk tried to remain calm and silently offered him a piece of the candy, failing at hiding the tremble of her body. Asriel smirked, knowing what was on her mind. He leaned over and took the small chocolate piece with his mouth, licking her fingers on the process and Frisk felt her face blush. She retreated her fingers and deliberately brought them to her mouth, licking the saliva Asriel had left, looking at him straight in the eye. It was all the invitation needed.

His left hand cupped her face firmly as his lips crashed against hers; she moaned as his tongue caressed her lips and found its way inside her mouth, dancing against her own. As Asriel tasted the sweet dark chocolate his right hand began to roam the girl's body with passionate precision, pulling her close to him; she wrapped her arms around his neck and pushed herself even closer. The hand cupping her face began to descend, slowly passing the arc of her neck to her breast, his thumb massaging her sensitive nipples. Frisk moaned again, an almost helpless cry that asked for more; he knew it, so he leaned over her, gently pushing her down onto the mattress and she automatically adjusted her body to his, her legs and arms pulling him against her, deepening the kiss in doing so. One hand slipped under her sweater, caressing her back while the other one traced her leg; Frisk let her arms roam Asriel's broad back and arms, feeling the muscles tense under her touch. Asriel broke the kiss to concentrate on Frisk's neck, leaving soft small kisses along the way. Frisk arched her back to give him more space while her legs wrapped around his waist. She felt a thirst crawling up her entire body, her hands shaking with need. It had been quite a while since they had done this, so that she didn't even notice she missed it. But now, they had all the time in the world for themselves.

Asriel lifted her sweater and kissed her stomach, making her tickle, he smiled at the noises she made and continued downward, reaching her shorts, where he stop to look at her. Their eyes meet, his full of love and desire; hers with need and passion.

Asriel rose, unbuttoning her shorts and taking them off along with her underwear.

It'll be a long night, they had to make the most of it.

/ / /

First he felt a pull deep inside his mind, someone calling, a voice, almost a whisper, speaking his name, over and over.

"Ash….Ash"

He frowned and rolled over to his side, not wanting to open his eyes.

"Ash wake up!"

He felt a strange pressure, as if someone was squeezing his brain; the voice became louder.

"Ash!"

Ash…?

"Asriel wake up!"

His eyes snapped open as he rose, breathing rapidly; his SOUL felt incredibly heavy, as if someone had pulled it out, punched it and put it back in his chest. He felt the heart locket around his neck, it felt cold.

-What?! – He asked out loud.

"It's Frisk!"

Asriel looked to his side and felt his SOUL stop: Frisk wasn't by his side.

He looked around the darkroom, his clothes was discarded on the floor but Frisk's wasn't, not even her boots; he spotted out of the corner of his eye a small flickering light coming from the hallway.

-Frisk?- He called, but there was no answer. Asriel immediately got up and dressed, calling his partner again as he put on his jacket but again, no reply.

"She always answers…"

Asriel's SOUL tightened with dread as he practically ran towards the living room, but when he arrived, he stopped. There, right in the middle, five tall human men stand in an open circle, with pale faces and dirty, ragged clothes surrounding a sixth figure. When they heard him enter, they all turned to him, but Asriel could only stare at the man on the left, and the long knife he was holding around Frisk's throat.

AUTHOR NOTE: Sooo...getting all frisky on the second chapter eh? Well the reason for that is because I want to illustrate the nature of Frisk and Asriel's relationship as early as possible. It's not your normal couple situation; you'll see what I mean as the story progresses. And if for some odd reason you wanted more, let me tell you guys...this is my very first time making any and I mean ANY NSFW material, literally. I haven't wrote in a while, and when I did it never came to this XD I'm outside my comfort zone here, so if any of you have suggestions on how to make good sexy scene, any help is appreciated, since it's gonna happen again XD.

Also, I forgot to say in the previous chapter that the updates will come once a month. I hope I can maintain that rule even though life is really getting in the way. I appreciate your patience everyone.

Any comments are greatly appreciated, again if you want, you can follow the official blog of JourneyTale on Tumblr: journeytale-au. tumblr .com

See you later.