The Escape: Overnight
Once the food was gathered, shelter built, and fire started, the group sat around the fire, rousting various things that Kiki had brought.
"Do not try to cook a leaf over a fire! It tastes burnt." Kiki said while spiting pieces of a leaf out.
Kirby rolled his eyes, "Shouldn't that have been obvious?"
Kiki ignored the comment and turned to Blue, who was trying to cook an apple, "So, are you willing to tell us anything yet? Like the story behind those scars?"
Blue looked shocked, "How did you know about my scars? You can't see them unless you look closely; I tried to make sure of that."
Kiki was confused, "How, exactly, do you make sure scars heal well?"
"Just something I learned."
Kirby jumped up, "See! I'm not the only one who reads medical books!"
Both Kiki and Blue gave him a strange look. Kirby sat down, a bit embarrassed, but he got over that quickly.
"Anyway," Blue began, "since you know about them, I might as well tell you. I can't hide it anymore."
Kirby and Kiki leaned forward a little, interested in what he was about to say.
"For years now, Star has been beating me daily." Blue began, "He gets angry easily, so he takes out his anger on me. I never told anyone, out of fear. Fear that he will hurt someone else if I told them."
Kiki looked at him with sympathy, "Oh, that's so sad. Living life that way must be terrible."
Kirby clenched his fist, "He has been fooling us for so long," he realised," I feel so stupid, believing that everything was fine."
"I'm just glad I finally escaped," Blue sighed.
"Just wondering, where do you plan on going?" Kiki asked.
"I don't know. I guess I'll just wander until I find somewhere."
"And we'll be with you the entire way," Kiki laughed.
"You don't have to."
"Yes we do. I'm not going back now that I know the truth," Kirby exclaimed.
"Ok, I won't stop you. Just remember, this is going to be a hard journey for, who knows how long, and who knows what will happen. You can go back anytime you want, but I can't." Blue said.
"No problem," Kirby was determined.
Kiki sighed, "And of course I'll go."
"Ok, it's settled. But for now, we should get some sleep," Blue said as he headed for one of the tents Kirby set up.
"Right," Both Kirby and Kiki said in unison.
Before Blue entered the tent, he glanced back and whispered, "Thanks."
The next morning, after they packed up, they headed toward the river again. No one was eager to get up, but they knew they had to, or risk being found be that creature that attacked Blue, or Star. No one could decide which was worse.
"So, just how far is this river?" Kiki asked.
"Not too far, we should get there by nightfall, provided nothing happens." Kirby answered, confidently.
"That far?" Kiki was surprised.
"It would have taken only an hour from the camp to there, if it wasn't for the detours, the stopping for rests, and accidently going the wrong way."
"What! You never told me we went the wrong way!" Kiki shouted.
"Umm," Kirby wished he never said that, "y-yes I did. You must have been asleep."
Kiki rolled her eyes, "you fell asleep first."
"W-well, then I must hav-" he stopped when he heard Blue laughing. He sighed in relief, glad that he had something to change the subject to. "Hey, look who's finally showing his cheerful side."
Blue stopped laughing, "Umm... Yeah... Well, we should probably go..."
Kiki rolled her eyes and started walking.
"Kiki, that's the wrong way." Kirby warned.
"You already got us lost once, why should I listen to you?" Kiki questioned. Suddenly, she heard a growl coming from farther into the path she was taking. She stopped, turned around, and started walking. "Let's go this way."
Kirby smiled and looked at her as if to say "I told you so", then followed, Blue following him.
The three walked for a while, in complete silence. Kiki didn't like it, she preferred to be talking, or at least hear some noise. This silence was just eerie. Kirby didn't like it either, he liked talking to friends. Both wanted someone to speak, but neither wanted to break the silence themselves, afraid it may cause an even more awkward situation.
They continued to walk until they come across a clearing.
"What's a clearing doing here? We're in the middle of the woods." Kiki wondered.
"I don't know, but it doesn't look natural. The trees surrounding the area are snapped." Kirby explained.
"This was probably done by the same species as what attacked me. We should get out of here." Blue added.
"I have no problem with that. Let's go."
They started to leave, but then they heard something coming from the direction of the fallen trees. At first, they paid no attention to it, but then they heard it again. Suddenly, a large beast burst out.
Kiki panicked, "Blue! Is that the creature that attacked you?" she screamed.
Blue simply nodded.
Sorry it's short, exams don't leave me much time to write.
Also sorry for the supensefull ending. Oh well, supense, along with irony, is a writers best friend, at least that's what one of my friends said.