Chapter five:

"Look for an opening to escape into the forest and take it." Near tells Mello and though they are not concerned about the video they are recording on their cameras at this point they are using the light on their cameras as a way to light up the darkness so the cameras are still getting a good video.

Mello keeps his eyes on the Manticore and Near keeps his eyes on the Griffin as they try to find an opening to get out of this situation.

The Manticore is about to charge but the Griffin screeches at the Manticore.

"Go! While they're distracted!" Near tells Mello tugging him in the direction of the opening right by the Griffin's claw that stopped them the first time.

The two run past the opening and the sound of flapping wings are heard behind them making both glance back with their camera's that is also their flashlights right now.

"They're in the sky." Near states and switches off the light on his camera turning it to night vision. "Mello put your camera to night vision so they have a harder time finding us." He tells the other looking to him with his camera.

Mello grumbles about how he won't be bossed around but does as told anyways knowing that they need to try to not be found by the beasts. "Let's find Matt." He says and takes the lead to search for Matt.

Near follows Mello and the two keep alert for any signs at all of the Griffin and or the Manticore as well as signs of Matt.

After a little bit of searching they haven't found anything.

Mello sees something on a bush and rushes over to it. "It's Matt's camera." He says as he pulls it out of the bush and freezing seeing the blood on it.

Near comes up and looks to Matt's camera. "Is that blood?" He asks.

"Yeah it is and the camera is still on." Mello swallows heavily. "MATT!" He calls and looks around for his friend but doesn't spot or hear anything. "Matt!" He tries again but still nothing. "You don't think…." He trails off unable to finish his question.

"There's not a lot of blood and no body. Have faith Mello." Near assures him. "Let's keep looking."

So they do just that and Mello carries Matt's camera by having the small strap on it attached to his wrist.

"Mello…." Near speaks quietly after a little bit of silence neither wanting to call Matt's name in case the Griffin and or Manticore hears them only to come to kill them.

"Hm?" Mello hums as he continues to look for signs of Matt.

"Just in case we don't make it out I want to tell you something…." Near almost seems shy about what he's doing.

Mello looks to Near not needing to use the camera to see him in the soft glow of the moonlight that manages to reach them plus they are sticking pretty close together as to try to not get separated. "What is it Near?"

Near glances away blushing a little as he lets the tight grip he has on his emotions slip a little. "Mello I never saw you as my rival. Not ever. I see you as an equal and I…. I fell in love with you." He says the last part a little quietly in a shy manner.

"Near…" Mello is a little lost for words.

"I just thought I'd say that just in case we don't get out of here." Near says still not looking at Mello and still has a blush on his face.

Mello's eyes don't leave Near and they stop walking. "Near I was always jealous about how you always seemed to beat me at everything as if it was nothing. It made me angry that you were doing nothing and were beating me while I worked my ass off to try to beat you." He tells the other.

"Well you kept me on my toes and I did study especially when you came really close to beating me. I saw it as the only way you'd at least notice me. You do have one thing that you beat me at. Emotions. You can easily show yours and be able to have lots of emotions yet I had pushed away what emotions I had many many years ago enough that I became unable to truly show my emotions along with difficulty finding emotions. Yes I still feel some but they're, my love for you, scared and calmness. I wish I could show them easily like you do." Near tells Mello glancing to Mello's eyes.

The two move a little closer then the Griffin's screech is heard somewhat in the distance.

"For the sake of trying to survive this and find Matt lets work together. Even if it's just this once." Near suggests.

Mello grits his teeth slightly but he doesn't feel anything telling him to resist the offer instead he really wants to team up with Near. 'Must be because we are kind of in a life or death situation.' He thinks to himself. "Ok Near. Let's get going and I guess we can work together." He clenches his fist that's not holding his camera.

"Right lets go." Near nods.

The two continue their search for Matt and talk quietly, but loud enough to hear one another, to each other along the way.

"Near I can't truly answer back to you about your feelings as I am confused." Mello tells him.

"It's alright." Near tells him.

Mello looks to Near and sees that he's twirling his hair.

Then out of nowhere someone jumps out in front of them hitting Mello with a large stick that could be used as a walking stick when out hiking.

Mello is knocked backwards into the ground almost dropping his camera. "WHAT THE HELL!" He curses loudly.

"Oh my god! Sorry Mello I didn't think it was you guys!" Matt apologises as Mello gets up with the help of Near.

Mello death glares Matt. "You fucking idiot!" He snaps.

"Mello if it was the Griffin or Manticore then Matt would have gotten time to get away. He didn't know it was us and we all need to try to get out of here alive. Plus you should be glad he is alright." Near tells Mello as he goes to check Matt's wounds using his camera that's still in night vision mode.

"What happened to you? Also how'd you manage to escape?" Mello asks as Near inspects the scratches on Matt's arms, one on his face and on his torso with maybe one on his leg.

"The Griffin found me and attacked. I mostly was able to dodge but still got some wounds as a gift from it. The roar got its attention and I used that time to escape. Though I lost my flashlight and camera." Matt explains.

"None of your wounds seem to be bad enough we need to do something about them right at this moment." Near lets Matt know. "There's a Griffin and a Manticore in these woods. We need to get out of here as fast as possible."

Matt's eyes widen. "A Manticore!?"

Near nods.

"Keep your camera in night vision mode. Last we saw of them they flew into the sky so let's do our best to try to make sure they can't find us." Mello explains to Matt handing the red head back his camera.

Matt nods and quickly checks his camera for damage the best he can not really finding anything.

"Let's go." Near takes the lead heading in what he believes is the direction out by using his mind to quickly calculate which direction they need to go in.

The other two follow, Mello closer to Near and Matt close to Mello.

All hoping that the Manticore and Griffin don't find them.