Chapter seven.
Beginning a new quest,
Dangerous but fun,
A new encounter,
The secrets of the woods.
[Even the Temple was surrounded by trees and greenery. Not all was as beautiful as it sounded, because somewhere in the deep dark forest laid the dangers that would soon trouble our characters.]
Oria finally went back home, still reading the book as words slowly formed on every page. 'What is that supposed to mean, Mikira watch yourself.' Entering her house she could smell that her mother had been cooking. 'Mom, I'm home!'
As Mikira and her friends walked further through the forest the night came closer. The night made the forest seems so much creepier than it was. Every shadow that moved looked suspicious and even the sounds became darker. "Should we take a rest?" Ren spoke as the reached a small opening I the trees. Mikira could feel her feet tingling from all the walking and her eyes were becoming heavy. "I vote for yes!" Mikira raised up her hand and stopped walking. Without further questions they sat up camp.
After catering some firewood and berries they began to eat the bread they took from the temple. It was quiet the whole time before Ren broke the silence. "We have to walk about two more days before we reach the capital city, we have to be careful as well. This forest is known for its dangers and we don't want to encounter most of what lives here." Somehow it made Mikira think back at the first night she came here. That creature was something she had never seen before, it looked similar to a dog, but way bigger and much more deathly. Even though she stood up to it she had been shaking and when the adrenaline stopped she wanted nothing more than to cry, but she didn't. "Does that mean there are more of those scary creatures in here?" Ren didn't know what she was talking about, he wasn't there and when Neo spotted Ren looking confused he explained.
"She had an encounter with a creature on the first night she came here. She even tried to fight it. luckily for her I was walking by." Neo looked a bit annoyed her way. "Well I couldn't just let Oria die now, could I?" Mikira answered a bit offended. Her brown hair slit down her shoulders and her eyes looked away from Neo. "So you fought it to protect your friend, how brave of you." Mikira looked at Ren who smiled kindly, she took the compliment and blushed a bit looking surprised at his praise.
"Well, I'm off to sleep." Neo said and turned around facing away from the two, lying down. "Good night." Mikira said softly and looked back into the fire. It was comforting and nice to look at. Closing her arms around her knees and her head leaning on them her eyes trailed back to Ren. His icy blue eyes stared back and she hurriedly looked back into the fire. Thinking back at the conversation they had in the temple. It probably meant nothing, but she couldn't get it out of her mind. "Ren?" She then tried. Looking back she saw his kind face turning her way. "I don't know anything about this world and yet I want to help you, am I not stupid?" She didn't know what to talk about at first so she came up with something. Ren took a deep breath and looked up at the night sky. Pretty bright stars shining and a big moon giving them a bit more light. "It's full moon?" Mikira said after that . "No just one more day." Ren said. "Also I don't think you're stupid for helping people you don't even know." Looking back at Mikira he smiled. "I think you're kind and special for doing something this dangerous. I think that's what I like about you." The last part was so soft Mikira almost didn't hear it, but she did and blushed. Her heart making a small jump in her chest. "I don't know why, but it must be because I don't have any family left at home, maybe it was easier that way." Ren wasn't sure if he should ask further or not. "My mother passed away when I was really young, I didn't have a father and no other relatives I could rely on, so I ended up staying alone. Even at school I was mostly alone, until Oria asked me to join her for her project." From a distance a loud rumble of thunder was heard. It made the mood even more dark and Mikira chuckled. "At first I thought it was some kind of joke, but I went anyway. I guess I will miss her even though I only knew her for a few days."
[The priestess and Ren shared a deep moment as she told her the feelings she was hiding. Even with this intimate moment Neo laid there listening to every word, unable to sleep as he felt something draw closer.]
After a while Mikira fell asleep as she was sitting in the same position. Ren moved closer to her thinking she would have a sore neck if she stayed like that. Placing himself next to her he lifted his arm, but he hesitated for a moment, thinking about what he was doing. "Damn it…" His voice was soft almost unnoticeable. He then placed his hand slowly around Mikira and laid her down on his leg. She moaned a bit from the movement and turned to her back. Her face laid there exposed to the elements. Ren wiped a piece of stray hair from her forehead and behind her ear. Caressing her hair for a bit longer. As he watched her sleep he became more aware of what he was doing, before he knew it he had reached her level and was so close he could feel her soft breath tickling his face. His mouth was watering and he could feel his heart speed up. Not thinking straight anymore he pushed his lips on hers. The feeling of her warmth filling his body. It felt right at the time, but as he pulled away his face red of this feeling, he felt something sting in his stomach. What had he done, he kissed the person he was supposed to protect and when she slept, unaware of what had happened.
He felt guilt, but also shame rise within him. Somehow he took advantage of her while she slept so peacefully. He wasn't supposed to do that, it was just so she wouldn't catch a cold. How did it turn into this. Covering his face with his hands he laid on his back.
[As the priestess slept peacefully the surroundings chanced. The thunder was coming closer and the air felt heavy. It was warm, but she slept carefree of her surroundings.]
As the first sunlight hit the land, the soft noises of the forest returned. It felt so much better with the sun up in this forest, as If it would be saver. Mikira awoke from her slumber stretching her arms until she hit something soft. Removing the sleep from her watery eyes she took a look at the thing she hit. Eyes widening she was that it was Ren lying under her as if he was a cushion. He was awake now as well and slowly moved back into a sitting position. "Good morning." He said still sleepy. "I'm so sorry that I used you as a cushion." Mikira apologized immediately and sat down on her knees. Still waking up, Ren looked around. "Where is Neo?" He spotted, but he got his answer soon enough when Neo walked out of the bushes with some fish. "Good morning, I went out early to catch some fish, so be thankful." Both of them looked at the fish in his hands, it looked delicious. "Thank you, Neo." Mikira said at a surprise for Ren. He looked at her smiling face and remembered what happened that night.
[After they ate the fish and washed their faces the priestess and her companions made their way further through the forest, not knowing a stranger was following their every move.]
"What do you think?" Mikira asked Ren. She held a small flower out to him, it was yellow and had no leaves. "A Yellow flower?" Ren looked at it confused. "Yes, you can put it on a burn and it will hurt less." Neo walked on ahead, as if to avoid the trouble of talking. "Well, I didn't know that. I guess it could come in handy." Mikira smiled proudly at the fact that she knew something they didn't. "I don't know a lot about this world, but I think most of the things are the same as where I live. Apart from the monsters that is." As if on cue Neo stopped walking, tensing as he gripped his bow and arrow. "What is it?" Ren feeling the same tension as Neo did. "I don't know, I felt it before, but it disappeared. It's strong and powerful, stay on your guard." Mikira not knowing what was going on stayed quiet, not wanting to disturb their thoughts. A small and warm wind passed through the trees making the scene even more tense. Standing completely still and almost not breathing Mikira looked around. Leaves were rustling, but there was wind and she didn't feel any of this strong and powerful thing.
Then as if a small wind passed through Mikira got lifted into the air and caught into a pair of strong arms. Without the luxury of even making a sound she was moving through the forest just like the wind. Her eyes closed and arms around the person holding her, she felt the air around her return to normal. Falling into something soft she opened her eyes. A tall man with almost nothing on stood tall over her. The place she was brought to was some kind of cave, with a small pond next to it and trees surrounding it. She sat on pieces of dry grass and cloth. The man came to her level and looked her over. "Who are you?" She asked a bit frightened.
[With the strange and unfamiliar man facing her, the priestess grew shy. The man before her looked like a dog, only with a human body. Her confusion rising as he looked at her closely.]
