Author's Note: Sorry it took a while to publish this fourth chapter, I had some problems with my account, and of course I've been busy with lots of distance learning. Hope you're all being smart and staying healthy! :)
RE Nosleep: Thank you sooooo much for reviewing! Reviews are all my inspiration (even though I only have one)! I hope you enjoy this chapter!
-PIXIE POV-
Pixie smiled to herself as Jake and she explored The Ancient Ruins. She was super happy to finally have a friend. Especially someone who would listen to her.
Pixie and Jake strolled through The Ancient Ruins together, collecting the occasional Lucky plort as they made their way around all the ancient columns and pillars, through the bushes, and up and down the many staircases and hills. Jake stared in awe at it all, meanwhile Pixie tried to not slip and make a fool of herself.
If you couldn't tell already, Pixie wasn't very prepared for anything. She would've been dead now if it hadn't been for Jake. Also, she didn't do stealth very well. Several times, Pixie noticed Jake wince as she tripped over sticks and stones, creating loud echoes through The Ancient Ruins.
One time, they even ran into more Tarr Slimes.
To be fair, It was getting to be pretty dark. The sun was setting in the west, leaving the clouds glowing a dark shade of orange. Pixie yelped and jumped behind a bush, putting all the pressure on Jake.
Jake looked at Pixie disappointingly as he shot the Tarr Slimes with water, knocking them out one-by-one. Pixie didn't panic as much this time, but she still could barely look at the Tarr Slimes as they ate each other up, forming more and more Tarr Slimes. That always made Pixie gag.
When all the Tarr slimes were gone (which was a surprisingly easy accomplishment for one twelve year old), Jake and Pixie continued on through The Ancient Ruins like nothing happened, walking in awkward silence next to each other as they watched the sun set.
Finally, Pixie spoke up. "So… what do you think?" She asked, gesturing at everything around them with her hand.
Jake ran his hand through his dark blue hair. "This is really nice. Astregate is nowhere as beautiful as this."
Pixie nodded, but her mind was really on something else. She couldn't stop thinking about The Ranch. What would her mom and dad say when she got back home, if she even survived this whole quest thingy? Would they be proud of her for helping Jake save his sister Angel? Or would they not even care? Pixie sighed.
"Seen anything… odd, yet?" Jake asked.
Pixie suddenly had an idea. "Wait," she said. "What if The Tarr King knows we're coming to save your sister, so he's sending Tarr Slimes to interfere with our quest?"
"That would make sense," Jake said. "Like those Tarrs we, cough cough, I,had to face off just now."
Pixie elbowed him. "That's not fair! I was out of water!"
"And apparently all reason to help me!"
"What was I supposed to do, hold the Tarrs down so you could get a better aim?"
Jake rolled his eyes and splashed Pixie with water from a nearby pond, disturbing the Puddle Slimes. Pixie jumped in the pond and splashed him back. The two of them splashed each other until they were both drenched in water, laughing together. Pixie hadn't had that much fun in a long time.
Pixie and Jake sat down on rocks across from each other, squeezing water out of their clothes. Pixie was smiling slightly on the outside, beaming on the inside. She squeezed her shirt until her knuckles turned white.
Jake stood up, offering his hand to Pixie. The two of them continued walking through The Ancient Ruins. Pixie was shivering, and Jake's lips were blue, but they were still smiling.
Pixie kept her eyes peeled for anything suspicious looking. "What does Angel look like?" She asked.
Jake stopped smiling. "She has short, straight hair. Dark blue like mine. Green eyes, freckles, blah, blah, blah. Parents say she looks just like me."
Pixie nodded, deciding not to bring up that subject again. "So… tell me more about your family."
Jake frowned. "Well… they're nice, I guess."
Pixie raised an eyebrow. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Well, I dunno. They're nothing special, just your typical annoying little sisters-"
"Wait, sisters?"
"Oh-yeah. I have three little sisters. Angel, Mimi, and Olivia."
"Oof."
Jake laughed. "Yeah, I guess. But I love them all the same. What about your family?"
"I have a little brother, Dak. That's all, besides my parents."
Jake nodded. "Cool. So, um… you wanna camp out? It's getting pretty late."
Pixie looked up at the sky and saw he was right. The sky was now a deep shade of purple, the moon shedding a pale white light over everything.
"You have a tent or anything?"
Jake slung his backpack off his shoulder and pulled a tent and one sleeping out. "Uh… you want this?" He held the sleeping bag out to Pixie.
"Oh, um, no-it's okay. You take it."
"You sure?" Jake asked. "You're still shivering."
Pixie hadn't really noticed it before, but she was still shivering like crazy. She accepted the sleeping bag and the two of them fell asleep that night in Jake's small orange camping tent.
Author's Note:I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review!
