"You stepped on my foot!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
The Dark Forrest was notorious for a lot of things. It was notorious for being scary. It was notorious for killing people, oh it was definitely infamous for that. But no one, not one of those hidden whisperings, ever said that the Dark Forrest was actually dark. As in endless abyss dark. Despite the hour of mid-day, with the skies clear and the happy sun smiling, inside the Forrest, it was black as midnight.
"Shit. I can't see."
"Tell me something I don't know."
"There's a tree in front of you."
"Oh, wha-?!"
And in retrospect, rushing in like that, two foolish children chasing each other... Perhaps wasn't exactly the brightest idea. And in retrospect, Augustus should have brought a torch, a couple of stolen flintstones maybe. If only they had the foresight to think ahead.
But no. They just charged right through. No plan. No anything. Charging into the great unknown. It sounded romantic, but romance could only get you so far in real life. And usually it led straight into a woman's pants.
How stupid could you get? Of course Alexander would think this was all fine and dandy. Stumbling around, blind fools in a dangerous terrain. Oh yes, it was bleeding fantastic. Exactly why Augustus dared not depend on him. Alexander was as reponsible as a day-old baby. And even then the baby was far more mature.
"If you turn back now, Augustus. You will regret it for the rest of your life."
Augustus must've been seeing things. Alexander was smiles, laughter, barely restrained energy, and excitement. Aloof and detached, weilding wisdom and knowledge well beyond his years... That was just not Alexander. Maybe in a century, or two. Hell, a millenia even. Augustus could only hope.
"There was no tree in front of me!"
"Fooled you though, right Gus-Gus?"
"I. Hate. You."
"Aww, I love you too!"
Augustus squinted in the darkness, managing to make out Alexander's blurry form. He took aim.
THWAP!
"OW! What was that for? Hitting me over the head! That's impolite!"
"Oh, you bloody imbecile! We have just entered lethal grounds. No one has ever come out of here alive! And here you are playing games?! What is wrong with you Alexander?"
"Lighten up, will you Gus-gus."
Augustus stopped completely in his tracks.
"That's it."
"That's what?"
"It ends here. I am not to go a step further."
Alexander whirled around. He could not see Augustus, but he could imagine the fearsome glare the blond was surely wearing.
"Gug-gus..."
"And that's another thing! You and your nicknames! I've told you over and over again! Do not call me that!"
"Augustus..."
"I've had it with your idiocy! With all your half-baked schemes! I am leaving!"
"Augustus!"
A hand shot out, by some miracle catching Augustus by the wrist. Augustus, of course, struggling in the grip.
"Let me go!"
"No!"
"This is stu-!"
A hand covered his mouth. Augustus could feel Alexander inch closer. Too close for comfort. Hot breath fanning across the crook of his neck, tickling his ear. Augustus was thankful for the dark, at least just this once. He would've been mortified if Alexander saw the blush he was sporting.
"Don't move." Alexander ordered. There was no questioning his tone. "There's something out there."
Augustus froze. His instincts as a hunter kicking in.
The Dark Forrest was unlike any other of its kind. But nonetheless, it was still a forest. The trees may be unnaturally tall, the light may be unnaturally dim, but it was still just a forest. And creatures lived in a forest.
Augustus swallowed. His heart pounding in his ears. A familiar thrum resonating from his very bones. Raw fear drawing his most primal of instincts. Reaching into his leather pouch, Augustus grasped his make-shift knife. His gaze never leaving the creeping shadows. Behind him, Alexander trembled. With excitement or fear, Augustus knew not which.
A shroud of mist blanketed the forrest floor. Heavy air hung fraught with tension. The trees seeming to press together and edge closer. And closer still. It was dead silent. The calm before the storm.
Augustus felt a shiver crawl down his spine.
Twin, crimson orbs glowing in the darkness.
It all happened in a blink of an eye.
Augustus acted on his finely honed senses. Shoving Alexander to one side as he dove down into the underbrush. A gray blur leaping over them both.
"What was that?!"Alexander yelled.
Augustus did not know. And he didn't care about finding out either.
Standing up, he hauled Alexander to his feet.
"We gotta keep moving!" Augustus yelled, breaking into a run.
Aklexander was way ahead of him. Literally. The brunette took off like a shot and it was all Augustus could do not to fall behind.
"What are we going to do?" Alexander cried.
Normally, Augustus would've made a witty comeback. Normally, he would push all the blame on stupid Alexander. Normally, he would start a fight. Normally, normally, normally. Well, they weren't exactly in a normal situation. Augustus more concentrating on the million scenarios flashing through his head. Each one ending badly.
A thunderous crash echoed throughout the forrest, urging the boys to run faster. In his haste, Augustus tripped over a wayward root.
But Alexander kept running. Unaware Augustus even fell.
"Alexander!" Augustus yelled.
But Alexander was too far gone. Augustus could no longer reach him. He could only stare in utter despair at the ever-swallowing darkness.
A low growl. Heavy footfalls. A keen gaze on his every move.
Augustus dared not look back. His entire body tensing. Basic survival mechanisms commanding he fight, or flight. His only weapon clutched in his tightly clenched fist. Augustus was a fighter.
And all was still.
The creature leaped. Augustus rolled, dodging the full body blow. A carnal yell as he dug the knife deep into the coiled thigh.
The creature howled.
Quick to pull out his weapon, he sommersaulted away. Crouched low on the balls of his feet, he whirled around. His eyes never once leaving the writhing creature.
Blood-red eyes glared at him, a flicker of calculating intelligence burning in those hate-filled pools. With a speed Augustus was not prepared for, it lunged. Its sheer weight and power throwing him backwards, and knocking the knife from his grasp.
Thank god for developed reflexes, without them Augustus would be dead. As soon as he hit the ground, Augustus immediately grabbed hold of the creature's hulking shoulders. The coarse fur providing the perfect handhold. Using his full might, Augustus kept that snarling, snapping jaw as far from his neck as possible. Carefully eyeing those razor-sharp teeth, his death reflected in those shining, pearl-white fangs.
Together they wrestled across the forest floor. Augustus desperately trying to swing himself upwards and stradle th beast. But the creature was just too strong. It pinned him to the ground. Pressing its heavy mass upon his straining arms. Biting, scratching, clawing, not once pausing in its ferocious attack.
Augustus knew he would last no longer.
"Augustus!"
Something long, something blunt, something hard, smashed against the creature's side. Succesfully shoving the beast off Augustus.
"Back off my friend, you stupid monster!" Alexander cried, rushing into the clearing. Typical Alexander, insult first, ask questions later.
The creature showed a great deal of comprehension, immediately recognizing the jibe. And it seemed to take it personally. With an angry roar, the creature pounced on Alexander. Claws aiming for that naked throat. But Alexander was prepared. Using his strange, newfound weapon, he took a mighty swing. Clipping the creature on its pointed ear, but the pain was enough to change its directory.
Landing just short of him, Alexander gave the creature no reprieve. Bringing his weapon slamming down, he heard the satisfying crunch of broken bones. Its rib cage basically demolished.
The creature gave another horrendous howl. Managing a meager foothold before crawling away. Back to the darkness from whence it came.
Augustus could only lay frozen in shcok. Eyes wide open and yet blind.
Alexander frowned, quietly approaching his comatose companion. "Augustus? Augustus! Are you alright?"
There was no response.
The frown deepened. "Gus-gus!"
The nickname woke the blond from his stupor. Blinking, he glared at Alexander. That familiar scowl residing on his lips.
"Don't call me 'Gus-gus'!"
Alexander grinned. "You're alright! I was actually getting worried for moment there."
"Well, of course I'm alright." Augustus sneered, accepting Alexander's helping hand nonetheless. Succesfully ignoring Alexander's hurt expression as he retrieved his fallen knife, slipping it into his pouch. "Where the hell were you?"
"What? Did you honestly think I was gonna leave you there? Sheesh, I thought you knew me better." Alexander crossed his arms, still weilding his weapon. "The moment I realized you were gone, I came up with a plan. See, you had the knife, so I needed to find something to defend myself with."
"And you found... that?" Augustus rose one skeptical brow, gazing pointedly over his shoulder.
"Yup!"
Alexander held it up. A long, thin rod of some sort. Hollow too. And so completely straight as to be unnatural. In truth, everything about it was unnatural. As far as Augustus could tell it wasn't wood, but it wasn't stone either. A strange material that rung upon collision.
"Ain't she a beauty?"
"What the hell is it?" Augustus bluntly inquired.
"My weapon!" Alexander answered cheerfully.
"No, I mean. What kind of weapon is that? A club?"
"Oh don't be such a buzz kill, Gus-gus! It did the job, didn't it? I mean, come on! Did you not hear the bones cracking? Not to mention its pretty lightweight." To prove his point, Alexander twirled it expertly in his hands.
"You imbecile!" Augustus whapped Alexander over the head. "For all you know, that thing could be dangerous some sort of trap."
Alexander rolled his eyes. "It's blunt. It's long. But that's it. No sharp edges. Besides, it was buried like two feet deep. I doubt anyone's going to miss it."
Augustus huffed. "It's still pretty stupid."
"You're just jealous!"
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
They never saw it coming. It charged from beneath twin bushes. The very same creature. It moved rather clumsily for all the injuries it sustained. But fury, determination, and hunger fueled its leap; soaring through the air.
Augustus, with the better reflexes, shoved Alexander away. His outstretched arm the new target. He saw the fangs sink into his tender flesh before the pain engulfed him.
"Aargh!"
Blood spewed forth, crimson pearls blooming beneath those ivory teeth. Piercing through muscle, and straight into bone. Digging deeper, and deeper. It was pain unlike anything Augustus had ever felt. And he had suffered a few hunting accidents. Got into his share of brawls, winning every single damn one. He was no stranger to pain. But this burning, intrusive agony overloaded his senses.
"Augustus!"
Dizzy from the bloodloss, Augustus used his last bit of strength. Manipulating the creature's hold into his own advantage, his free hand reached for his knife. Raising the bladed weapon, and before the creature could react, plunging it deep between those hellish eyes. The jaw loosening enough for Augustus to push the beast off.
Landing softly on the ground, limp, lifeless... dead.
Augustus fell to his knees. Alexander quick to reach his side.
"Oh god, oh god!" Alexander murmured, his rapt gaze absorbing the mauled flesh. As if to make the pain his. The injury his. "This is my fault. This is my fault. Mine. Mine."
Augustus groaned. His eyes squeezed shut. Willing to concentrate on anything! Anything but this agony.
Alexander looked wildly about, trying to find some means of aiding his friend. But they had come with nothing. Nothing at all.
"This wasn't supposed to happen. Nobody was supposed to get hurt. Everything was supposed to be fine! You... I... Oh god."
Alexander heard "forbidden". Alexander heard "horrible". Alexander heard adventure. But he did not hear "death". Him? Die? Prespostorous. Unthinkable. Impossible.
And yet here was Augustus, slowly bleeding to death on a wound meant for Alexander.
"I'm... so sorry, Augustus. I-I-I'm going to get us out of here! We're going to get out of this Forrest. You got that Forrest?! We're going to get out of here!!" He screamed, lashing out completely. Despair setting in as the hope drained away.
And then...
"Alex...Alexander..."
He could not look Augustus in the face, not after what he had indirectly done. And yet he still turned. Just in case... Just in case this was the last...
His eyes widened, unable to comprehend the sight before him.
Augustus. His arm. His mauled arm, with slivers of flesh violently torn. Was healing. His arm was healing. At such a rapid pace. The sinews of muscles sewn back together. The shards of bone pieced back together. The ripped skin closing, smoothing over good as new. Not a mark on sight.
Holy...
Augustus swallowed. Gazing up at Alexander, his eyes asking the question before his mouth even spoke.
"What are we?"