The prospect of a new relationship activity excited Percy verily; every new recreation they shared was accompanied by the opportunity to learn and discover so much more about each other. Although their relationship hadn't developed into anything serious yet – progression they were both thankful and relieved for – with each new activity proposed by Rhajat, Percy believed their bond grew that more stronger. He could never refuse the opportunity to spend time with her.

Gathering resources and minerals in the forest wasn't quite what he would qualify as a 'relationship activity'; he'd envisioned something a little more intimate or romantic like taking strolls or enjoying a meal together. Still, as he continued to examine the canopy of trees around him – leaving no stone unturned, quite literally – he quickly came to enjoy his time with her. Gathering resources for her experiments wasn't something he had participated in with her.

Migrating back towards Rhajat, Percy observed the often reclusive young woman study the vegetation and flora with uncharacteristic curiosity and fascination; he could tell how passionate she became about her work.

Clearing his throat softly, Percy rotated on the spot bashfully. "So...you never quite told me what we're looking for…"

Rhajat retrieved a coloured mushroom from the soil for examination. "Resources and ingredients."

"Right…um…OK? And what are those exactly?"

With a small compartment in hand, Rhajat stored a sample of the mushroom. "Any sort of natural export."

"So…anything I find lying around?"

Rhajat shrugged dismissively. "Figuratively speaking."

With that information attained, Percy nodded confidently and returned to inspecting the environment around him for anything that may have qualified as a resource. Examining a tree trunk, Percy noticed the transparent amber substance developing beneath the bark.

He pointed to it eagerly. "Ooh, what about this stuff?"

Rhajat accompanied him to investigate. He waited expectantly for her assessment as she studied intently.

"Tree sap - not quite what I had in mind…"

Percy's smile faltered.

"But, nevertheless, a resource."

Her response made Percy smile hopefully as she offered him a small glass vial. "Collect a sample, would you please?"

Nodding with affirmation, Percy placed his fists on his hips triumphantly, "of course, milady", before accepting the item eagerly and fulfilling her request.

It was Percy's proposal to separate and investigate individual areas to gather more resources effectively, and after some convincing Rhajat agreed. With his small wooden compartment for collections cradled tightly against his chest, Percy set forth into the mostly uncharted forest, poised to impress the young woman by collecting as many ingredients and resources possible.

Without her confirmations, however, Percy was a little confused as to what could qualify as something useful for experimentation, so to compensate he gathered everything that wasn't manmade or integrated: stones, leaves, bark and many other exports.

During his exploration, Percy satisfied his peckish appetite with some red berries he plucked from a shrub. Not being one to abandon a task, he collected a handful and stored them.

Opening the lid to inspect the contents, the young man nodded confidently and elected to return Rhajat for her assessment; he hoped very much what he collected would suffice.

Approaching the young woman knelt down beside a tree, Percy observed her examining the roots.

"Found anything?" She asked with her back towards him.

Percy shrugged bashfully. "Well, maybe, I don't know. I'll let you be the judge."

As he offered the open compartment ready for her inspection, Percy noticed the unexpected expression of fear develop on her face upon making eye contact.

"What did you eat?" She asked accusingly.

Blinking with confusion, Percy retrieved a berry and offered it. "What? Just some berries? Why, did you want one?"

Uneasiness enveloped Percy as he witnessed Rhajat examine the berry with wide, unblinking eyes.

"What? What is it?"

Hastily, Rhajat discarded the berry before whispering softly. "Those berries…they're…poisonous."

Upon hearing that fatal word, Percy's entire body tensed as the breath was sucked from his being. "…Wh-what?"

As the compartment of items fell from his grasp, Percy anxiously wiped his mouth for any remaining substances and feverishly spat the lingering juice from his tongue. Trembling with fear, Percy desperately addressed his girlfriend whose frightened expression mirrored his own.

"What's gonna happen?"

No response. Instead, Percy observed fearfully as Rhajat's eyes darted around anxiously.

Percy felt a cascade of tears develop beneath his eyelids. "Am…am I gonna be OK?"

Slowly, Rhajat shook her head. "I…I cannot say. There has been no documented reports of anyone ever surviving."

Her answer made Percy's stomach churn. Anxiously bringing his hands to his head, the frightened young man whispered through trembling lips. "Am I…g-gonna die?"

Rhajat raised her hand to cradle her mouth; Percy could evidently hear a strangled exhale from behind her palm.

Desperately trying to process a solution, he gestured towards her anxiously. "You…you c-can make a cure, right?"

Sniffling softly, the young woman reluctantly shook her head. "No…no, the toxin is incredibly potent. In…in a matter of minutes…you'll be…"

As her voice disappeared into silence, Percy clutched his body tightly as his body break out into a cold, unbearable sweat; the dark, frightening prospects of death and deterioration corrupted his mind. How could he have been so foolish to consume a wild berry without consulting someone first? Now, he was paying the price for his carelessness.

Erupting into tears, Percy's mind migrated to the confronting and debilitating prospects over what will happen when his parents are informed that their son would not return home; their heart-broken and miserable expressions intensified his sorrow and suffering.

As the young man continued to whimper softly, he was suddenly treated to an unexpected sound; not crying or sobbing…but cackling. Hastily turning to Rhajat, Percy was shocked to see the once frightened young woman now laughing hysterically, clapping her hands together with joy.

Though startled at first, the realisation suddenly dawned on him like an all-consuming tsunami. As she continued to cackle with delight, Percy stared in disbelief.

"You were lying?!"

Nodding with affirmation, the maddening smile on her face widened.

He pointed towards the berries scattered on the ground, "I thought you said they were poisonous?"

Rhajat, in response, retrieved one from the ground. "They're harmless", she answered before placing one in her mouth and grinning impishly.

For the first time in a long time, anger and frustration developed inside Percy like an ignited furnace. Wiping his prevalent tears, he stared accusingly. "That wasn't funny."

Snickering, Rhajat flicked her hand dismissively. "Oh, settle down, it was just a bit of dark humour."

Appalled by her attitude and behaviour, Percy clenched his fists. "I thought I was gonna die!"

Slowly, Rhajat's smile disappeared from her face as ceased her teasing ruse. Sniffling softly, Percy instead averted his attention towards the small river, and hastily retreated away from her.

Arriving at the river bank, Percy noticed his expression of sorrow and fright in his reflection, as well as a trace of red juice around his lips. Plunging his hands into the water, Percy began to clean his face to try and remove any and all traces of the event that just took place.

As he continued to wash himself, he observed his tormentor appear in the water's reflection. However, instead of the expression of sinister delight, she wore a demeanour of sorrow and regret, emphasised by her gestures as she rubbed her arm uncomfortably.

"...I'm sorry", she whispered softly,"I...I'm sorry for frightening you. Sometimes…sometimes I don't know when to stop."

Percy wasn't one to hold grudges or resentment towards others – it wasn't in his nature to be inherently cruel or mean – but after the way she had treated him, he couldn't bring himself to address her any further; he knew intimately well of Rhajat's sense of humour, but that didn't excuse her frightening him so.

Drying his hands, Percy continued to gaze intently at the running stream before closing his eyes. "I'm going home", he whispered.

"…What?"

Anxiously, the young man turned around to face his girlfriend, but rather than address her formally, he hastily avoided her gaze, intent on returning to the gravel path leading to the entrance of the forest.

"…I hope you find what you're looking for."

A desperate plea emerged from her. "Percy-"

Wiping his nose, Percy interjected hastily. "…I'll see you around."

With a breathless stare, Rhajat watched intently as the young man she cared for disappeared beneath the canopy of trees and eventually out of sight. Reflecting on her unjust and inexcusable mistreatment of her boyfriend intensified the loathing she felt towards herself; she had never meant to frighten him.

Rhajat exhaled with bitter resentment and remorse before collapsing onto her knees with her gaze affixed to her reflection. Angrily, she brought her hand down upon the water's surface.

You broke the bonds and you loosened the chains / You carried the cross of my shame, oh, my shame

You know I believe it / But I still haven't found what I'm looking for