Chapter 2: 'The biggest word'
Spoiler warning: medium
'I can see it! I can see it!' Will shouted as he sprinted through the trees.
Elliott joined him, and together they kept on for the last few yards.
'Jeez!' Will said regretfully. 'It's spoiled already' he added, looking at the tainted corpse.
'Ew. It's of no use. We can't save any of it' Elliott complained as she kneeled beside the dead body, touching the rotten flesh.
Hours ago, they've found a herd of mountain deer. After a hard struggle that involved several arrows wasted, a broken bow and an eye poked by a horn, they've finally managed to catch a pair of them. They've pulled the fur out of them in situ, so they could hide the pieces they didn't want as bait for future preys.
Nevertheless, as they were leaving the place, they've bumped into a couple of Styx. Forced to go away at full speed, Will accidentally dropped the stag he was carrying.
After reaching their shelter, they've decided to come back for the stag only to find out that the flies had already laid their eggs on the corpse. Humongous larvae curled repulsively all over it.
'You're such a twat! I carried my deer all the way, why couldn't you do the same?' Elliott said angrily.
'Wait. I'm a what?' Will replied, blinking slowly.
'A dork, a fool. Want more?'
'Yeah, please.' He said amused. 'Like, seriously, those are the worst things you can say to me?'
Elliott frowned at him.
'I mean it. Those must be the cutest insults ever' Will continued, a smile trembling on his lips.
Elliott was getting angrier. She folded her arms.
'Look, I was raised in the Colony, where the worst word was 'Styx'. And everyone else was too terrified or… or oppressed to invent stronger insults to tell each other. And the last years…Well, Drake said a few of them by mistake, but he is… he was the kind of person that would've never said a bad word in front of children. He was very protective, but he taught me well, okay? Besides, what's the point of it? Does it make you wiser to know a bunch of insults? I don't think so.'
'Hey, it's okay! I think it's adorable. You're adorable' Will said, and winked at her.
'Shut up! I'm not adorable! I'm badass as hell' she replied playfully.
'Sure you are' he chuckled.
'And you, Will Burrows, you're a… you're a…' she started to say, but the boy grabbed her waist and hugged her from behind.
'Whoa, you better hold your horses, lady' he laughed. 'You don't want to annoy the King of Badassiness'.
'Oh, is that so? And tell me, do I know him?' she answered giggling.
'Oh, I don't know…Do you?' he asked with a mischievous smile.
'No. Oh, no… Not that. I'm very ticklish!' she pleaded.
'I know' he replied.
'You son of a Styx!' Elliott exclaimed, twirling. Will couldn't help bursting out laughing.