CHAPTER FOUR: Nature

A small sunbeam got over Jinja's eyes and forced her to wake up. After she yawned and stretched a little, she realized that Casper was gone. She got up and started whispering his name, getting no answer.

They had camped inside a forest. It was quite unfriendly in the night, but it was surrounded by a huge plain. The grass was cool and the air was warm.

"Wait; is that Casper who's rolling on the sward?" Jinja thought, as she couldn't believe in her eyes.

Indeed, Casper was enjoying his freedom. Even though S.T.O.R.M didn't allow them to get outside very much, he had visited this place several times. The atmosphere was great and the nature was stunning.

Finally, he could be alone; doing anything he wanted, away from everything he had got sick of. So, imagine the shock he had when he found out that Jinja was standing there all along.

"Hey" he said lowly

"I see you're having fun"

The boy just nodded. He looked at the sky and closed his eyes

"Of course I am. Look around you. It's perfect"

"I don't see anything spectacular"

"Then maybe you haven't learnt how to appreciate the little things in life"

"Like?"

"C'mon I'll show you"

Jinja followed him slowly and hesitantly. They walked for a while until they reached an oak. She and Casper climbed it until they almost reached the highest branch.

"At this time of the year" he started saying "the robins lay their eggs. They have a blue color and are extremely fragile"

He then pointed at a nest that Jinja hadn't noticed. They were so small and precious.

"We have more to see"

They got into the forest and looked at the trees' roots. They found rare mushrooms with many colors such as green, purple and yellow.

"They are deadly poisonous but very scarce"

She looked at him as he was admiring them. His love for nature was unprecedented.

"There is one more thing I want you to see"

They approached the river without saying a word and sat on two rocks. Casper searched between some leaves until he found what he was looking for. It was a flower; not any kind of flower though. It had ice-blue petals that were getting white to the tips.

"It's called Ayra. It looks like your eyes; very pretty, don't you think?"

Jinja blushed lightly and nodded.

She couldn't resist asking: "How do you know so much about plants and animals?"

"I was coming here when I was younger. I know this place like the palm of my hand. But enough about me, tell me about you"

"Me?"

"Yes. What are you doing with your friends?"

"Oh, we are helping Chase to find his dad"

"What happened to him?"

"We don't know. He vanished. Don't tell the others that I told you. It's kind of confidential"

"Don't worry. But why are you helping him anyway?"

"Who? Chase? He's my best friend, and I also knew his father"

"Is that so, or do you just have a crush on the leader?"

"No I don't!" Jinja protested as she felt her cheeks turning into a dark shade of pink.

"Yes you do!" Casper chuckled

"No!"

"You have a crush on him" he started singing

"Shut it!" she hissed but smiled as well

"Admit it!" he told her and playfully punched her arm

"Never!" she said and pushed him, causing him to lose balance and fall in the river.

"Thanks, I needed a bath"

"You deserved it"

He stretched his arm towards her: "Will you at least help me get up?"

As soon as she gave him her hand, he grabbed it and pulled her to the water near him.

"You're going down!" she cried and pushed him in the water

When he got up, he splashed her with water and they started a small water-war.

"The last one getting into that orange tree is a loser!" Jinja stated and pointed at a tree ten meters away.

"Oh, it's on"

"Three, two, one, go!"

They started swimming with all their power, attempting to sabotage each other on the way. They were so fully distracted by the race that Chase had to scream right above their heads to listen to him.

"Guys!"

They both stopped immediately and looked at the boy. Next to him was standing Dax.

"What's wrong Chase?" Jinja asked innocently

"What's wrong? It's almost noon Jin! Can I talk to you for a sec?"

"Yeah, and we have to share a word too, mate" Dax continued while looking at Casper

"Go ahead"