Chapter 5
Hug
"Dear Luna,
"Remember when I got lost in the forest way back... how long ago was that? Was I five? Probably younger honestly, but dang, I wish I remembered! I was stupid, all right? I saw a pretty butterfly (yeah, I'm not afraid to admit it), and I just couldn't resist. Hey, if Lola was in my position, you know we never would find her. Then again, maybe we wouldn't want to; she'd find their kingdom and become their queen. Jeez, I know she's older, but I swear she's still that little brat!
Anyways, I was thinking about it the other day. I was there overnight. I remembered hearing Mom's cries so vividly, but I could never find her. Man, my stomach rumbled, and I thought it was a good idea to eat berries that little doggy was eating. Of course it wasn't just a dog; I didn't know dogs and wolves were different yet! I almost got killed by that freaking thing, and then there you came, acting like a hero. How many pebbles did you throw? Well, You took the scratch that day. I never forgave myself for that..."
13 years ago
Six attempts. That was how much it took before Lincoln and Luna finally found the other side of that blasted forest. It was so small, yet try it day-or-night, it was always the same story: one wrong step, and it was impossible to see a single glimpse of the way forward. How many branches had the white-haired boy become accustomed too, shortly before eating his fair share of gravel and dirt?
But alas, six days after their first journey to the island, they both drew the largest sight this side of Lucy. Lincoln collapsed to the ground, hands grabbing what little grass they could, with his lips kissing fresh dirt, enough to gross out even the wiliest of beetles.
"Oh man, this does exist! I thought the rest of the island didn't even exist!" He shouted triumphantly. Even as the clouds above began to grow in number, he couldn't even fathom seeing his mood dip. This was better than getting the recent Ace Savvy comic first before the rest of the world. To see his own goal accomplished like this was a dream come true.
Even as the light above remained as far as ever, it meant they were closer to their goal. He was shocked at himself, really. After coming and going from the island for almost an entire week, he actually felt like continuing. Ask him a mere few days ago, and he would've snapped at Luna for constantly trying this again and again, but now? He felt like he could climb Mount Everest, twice over.
Speaking of Luna, after his initial battle rush, the boy looked over towards the approaching fog encapsulating them both. While he looked cheerful, his older sister seemed to have other things on her mind. His eyes were filled with triumph and pride; hers were filled with desperation and panic. Did the forest this time scare her?
"Yo, Lunes? You... you okay?" He asked her, before looking behind her. A few rocks were positioned at the top of the hill they ascended. Perfect for a quick rest. "Hey, sit down! Have to catch your breath? Because jeez, my lungs feel heavy too!"
He sat down against one of the strange rocks, hoping it would goad her, but as he perched himself against them, he got a better look at her through the haze. It wasn't just her mind being lost that caused her strange expression; there was something else flushed against her cheeks that made him genuinely startled.
She looked pale. Sickly, even. That alone triggered a sort of panic within his heart. "Woah, Lunes, you don't look too good!"
That finally broke her transfixed eyes, still caught heavy against the distant light. Luna looked directly into her brother's eyes, and perhaps noticing his concerns, she quickly took in some air. The color appeared to magically return to her face.
"Huh? Oh, uh... what happened?"
Lincoln shook his head. "I'm asking if you're okay. Heck, not gonna lie, you've been quiet honestly all day." He began scratching his shoulder, looking back at the distant forest. Even from a distance, it looked quite foreboding. "Did I... Did I get you angry or something? Look, I'm sorry it too like, what, six times before we finally got up here? I mean, I warned you I'm not athletic!"
She rose an eyebrow, before rubbing a hand through her hair. "What? N-No, I'm not mad, and even if I was, brah, I wouldn't be angry with you!"
"You sure? I mean, we literally had to sail over here six times! That's gotta be annoying, right? I mean, I didn't... ah, jeez, I really wish I remembered what Lynn said. That would've helped. Now I probably got you all riled up and-"
"I'm not angry with you!" She accidentally shouted. Feeling like a hypocrite, she quickly slapped her cheek lightly, before walking up to him. Lincoln winced at first, but soon felt her gentle hand against his shoulder. Even if she was probably more rugged than the average sixteen-year-old, she was still kind at heart.
Shaking her head, she gave another quick glance to the light, before smiling at Lincoln. "You're the last person I'd be angry with, dude. When was the last time I was even angry with you to begin with?"
"Well, I mean... last night..."
"Okay, well that doesn't count! Besides, when she wants to, Lucy knows how to pull my strings. I wasn't mad at you...," she closed her eyes. That pale look was returning. "Guess I was more mad at myself, y'know?"
Well, guess that was a better answer than anything, but that didn't exactly complete all of Lincoln's queries. "Okay, well... what is wrong? You kinda look like you're struggling, and heck, you're getting pale again!"
Before she could answer, a distant rumble knocked them both by surprise. They looked towards the light. Though its majesty still triumphed over all, it was no match to the heavens above. It was merely the afternoon, and already it grew dark thanks to the clouds. Luna hoped it was just a standard cloud day over the lake, but it was clear the forecast lied. They were due for a thunderstorm for some time.
Sadly, that time approached far too fast.
Lincoln broke away from his sister, looking dejected by the weather. "What? No, no! It can't storm now! We...," he looked forward. The forest was bad enough, but seeing the bridge before him made his heart skip a beat. It didn't look too stable, but his confidence may just save his life.
But against nature herself? Not gonna happen. That was a long drop back into the water, and he wasn't that good at swimming. All this amounted to was one straight answer, and one he hated so dearly.
"We can't turn back now! We... dang it, I can't cross that forest again!" He looked over at Luna. Even with the fog growing even denser, he saw her disappoint reign supreme. To be this close, only to be kicked out like it was nothing, hurt far too much. He sighed, looking down to the ground. "I'm just gonna slow you down. I want to know why that tower's so important to you, but... I don't want to-"
His tongue stopped as soon the embrace began. Luna hugged him tight, catching him completely off guard. "Eh? Lunes, what're you..."
She looked down at him, a sincere smile upon her face. Even as she looked more and more like a ghost, she still was the kindhearted sis he knew. One hand relinquished itself from his body, digging deep into her skirt pocket and producing an object Lincoln knew rather well. A guitar pick, colored purple to Luna's liking. So basic, yet so cherished.
She walked back over to the rocks, and placed it beneath their shadow. Lincoln was confused, before Luna giggled. "I don't like losing these, okay? They're lucky to me."
"Lunes, you lose those every hour..."
"And you think I like that? No! Thus, I expect to get this back one day. So...," She skipped back over to him, looking down towards the forest, "... We'll get through this forest again, and when we pass this lucky pick, we'll remember it, and when we get to the tower, we'll come back and 'pick' it up. Got it?"
She had a plan, and strangely, it worked. Lincoln felt determined. If she was okay with leaving for the day, then maybe it wasn't a bad idea to flee for now. "Well... fine. Did you seriously make a pun?"
"I live above Luan. I'm shocked she isn't playing the guitar by now!" She went over and rustled his hair. Usually he'd yell. Not this time. "Besides... I don't want a storm to put you in danger. You're the reason why I'm still going, after all. If we're reaching that tower, we're doing it together."
She sounded tough, even if she looked sick. But she was right; he wouldn't want her dangling off that bridge with lightning blasting all over the place. With a smile, he nodded to her. "It's a promise. I don't know when, hopefully soon, but we'll get up there. I just know it!"
"Darn right, little brah!"
Always an easy journey back, as if to compliment the dangerous journey up. It was so hard to explain... but that mystery made them try and try again.
And Lincoln meant it. They will reach that tower.
Together.
"... And now that I think about it, I have a bad feeling you're more scarred than I am over all this! I got attacked, you got hurt, and then you remember what you did? You carried me back home. You were bleeding, and yet you didn't show pain. You care more for me than yourself, and honestly... I hated that about you.
Always about others, and the moments you did get selfish, you always got hurt. Is that why you didn't do it often? Well... no matter what, thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for saving my life."
