How am I supposed to talk to this guy? He's definitely the type you can't negotiate with. I mean, he's not exactly a 'person,' but the vibe is the same.
He stood up, dusting off his leather vest like a tumble didn't bother him.
"Hand over my bait! I need that to catch bigger, tastier food! Not like you, all skin and bones!" He yelled, his hands clenched into fists.
"Oh, this guy," I muttered, feeling the skin between my ears wrinkle in annoyance.
I had planned to try negotiating, but his sheer rudeness shifted my goal to immediate provocation. I set the cooked fish down gently, feeling a spark of mischievous confidence.
"It's not my fault your trap was totally useless!" I retorted quickly.
"What did you say?! W-wait, you can talk?!" He looked utterly shocked, his sapphire eyes widened.
"How am I supposed to talk back when all you do is scream?"
"Because you ruined my trap!" He screamed again, proving my point.
"Seriously? Were you actually expecting that flimsy thing to work in a forest full of gargantuan, acid-spitting monsters?" I challenged, raising a judgmental eyebrow.
"Just give it back already!"
"Okay, fine! I'll give it back," I agreed, sighing dramatically.
"R-really?!" A delighted, hopeful smile spread across his face.
"No."
"Y-you!" His face went instantly red with irritation.
Oh my god, we're literally arguing like a cat and a dog. Wait… we are literally a cat and a dog! This is actually kind of fun, teasing him, I thought, shaking my head.
Wait, what am I saying?! I was supposed to ask him for help! Get yourself together, self! I mentally slapped my cheeks.
"H-hey, do you kn—"
Before I could finish my question, things escalated instantly. He let out a low, dangerous growl, muscles tensing like he was ready to pounce and tear me to shreds. I hissed back, an instinctive sound that came from somewhere deep inside me, like we were born rivals. This guy just rubbed me the wrong way.
I started channeling the dark energy beam I used last time, ready to teach him a painful lesson, when he suddenly stopped. He took a deep breath, composed himself, and casually turned away.
"I'm out of here. I'll just go catch another one," he decided, his voice surprisingly calm.
Oh no, I missed my only chance to ask him how to find the exit to this forest. I thought, disappointed. I have no choice. He's the only one I can communicate with, and my best shot at surviving. I have to follow him!
I started trailing him discreetly. After only a few steps, he stopped, twisting his head around to glare at me fiercely.
"Stop following me! What on earth do you even want? You've already ruined my whole day!" He snapped.
"I wanted to ask if you know a way out of this place, but you didn't give me a chance to bring it up," I responded honestly.
"Huh? Why would I care? Even if I knew a way out, I wouldn't tell you where it is!" He answered, crossing his muscular arms.
"Why?! All I'm asking is for directions!" I shouted, my frustration finally bubbling over.
"Like I said, I don't care!"
"Tsk, fine. If that's how you want to play, then so be it. I'll just follow you and bother you wherever you go," I threatened, puffing up my chest for emphasis.
"Stop it, you menace! Just leave me alone already!" He yelled, his irritation was obvious.
I racked my brain for a way to manipulate him, and an idea clicked.
"W-wait a minute, don't tell me," I said, adopting a pitying voice. "You're lost too, aren't you?"
"N-no, I'm not!" He stammered, turning his head away to avoid eye contact.
Aah, it's so obvious. This guy can't lie.
"I should have known. You don't know how to get out, either. Poor you," I sighed mockingly.
"Huh?! How dare you! My tribe are born hunters! Of course, I know a way out!" He answered, injecting false confidence into his voice.
"Then where is it?" I pressed immediately.
"It's in the northern part of the forest! If you want a way out, that's the route. There's a small village there you can go to," he answered, the relief of giving a truthful direction making him lower his guard.
"Are you sure you're not confusing things, maybe?" I asked innocently.
"You! Of course, I'm not! I would never lie!"
...
He suddenly paused, his expression shifting as he realized what I was doing.
"W-wait a minute… you were trying to trick me into accompanying you, weren't you?" he asked, squinting suspiciously.
"Huh? Of course not. I mean, you lied just now," I deflected.
"I'm not lying! I'll show you! Follow me!" He insisted, now determined to prove himself.
Heh, he's so easy to manipulate.
"Do you know which side of the forest we are currently in?" I asked.
"Yeah, we're in the southern part of the forest," he answered.
"W-wait, that's the opposite of north. We're too far!" I complained.
"Stop your yapping and move already!" He demanded.
We started walking, but I immediately noticed a problem.
"W-wait, stop! Why are we just casually strolling out in the open? Shouldn't we be more careful? I mean, all those terrifying creatures might see and attack us," I whispered nervously.
"Don't worry, I'm strong!" He claimed confidently.
I don't believe him. We are definitely doomed!
We continued in the direction he had indicated. As we walked, I found an opportunity to chat and get to know him better. I decided to start with an olive branch.
"I'm sorry about earlier. I mean it this time."
"It's fine. I was getting bored anyway. If you hadn't shown up, I might have fallen asleep waiting in the bushes," he admitted, sounding genuine.
I sighed.
"I'm just relieved I finally found someone I can communicate with, because everything else I've seen so far only wants to eat or kill me."
"Wait, how did you even manage to get out scot-free? With that small, fragile body of yours?" He asked, clearly bewildered.
"Oh, you have no idea what I've been through! I've been staring Death in the face the past few days. I just want to get out of here as soon as possible!"
"How the heck did you even get lost here?" He pressed.
"I honestly don't know. I just woke up in this forest with absolutely no memory of anything that happened before. I don't remember anything," I explained.
"I smell something fishy about your story," he doubted.
"No, really. I can't remember anything about myself," I insisted.
"Tsk, fine. I believe you," he conceded. "By the way, I'm Komraad. What about you?"
"I told you! I don't remember anything about myself, even my name!" I answered.
"Huh? You can't even remember your name?" He repeated, clearly stumped.
"That's exactly why I want to get out of here. To get answers about who I am and what I'm doing here. I have so many questions, but survival is my top priority for now," I responded with firm resolve.
"Oh,I've been meaning to ask. What's that thing on your arm? That bracelet looks really important and expensive," I asked, trying to change the subject.
"This? It's an artifact I got from my mother. It keeps my power in check," he revealed.
"What happens if you take it off?" I asked, curiosity spiking.
"I won't be able to control my power, and I'll go berserk," he answered truthfully.
I don't completely buy it, but at the same time, everything here has been so weird that it's not really far-fetched.
We continued walking and talking for hours. We actually bonded and got to know each other well. Komraad was okay, honestly… We just started on the wrong foot. We rested for a while, sitting by a rock. I was thankful we hadn't encountered any monsters.
"Are we there yet?" I asked, slightly winded.
"We're not even halfway there," he responded.
I was about to rant about the distance when I suddenly felt a shift in the air.
"Wait, is it just me, or did it suddenly get windy? I'm suddenly getting chills," I noticed.
I thought I was cold, but it was actually my survival instinct kicking in. I heard something approaching us, moving incredibly fast. I looked toward the sound, and an enormous snake suddenly appeared. Its scales gleamed in shades of dark green and black, each one the size of a shield. Its head was massive and triangular, with glowing golden eyes and sharp, curved fangs that dripped venom. A line of jagged spines ran along its back, and its long, forked tongue flicked in and out, tasting the air. Its sheer size was terrifying as it slithered silently, crushing the earth in its wake.
I had no time to dodge. Thankfully, Komraad's reaction time was lightning fast, and he tackled me out of the path in the nick of time.
The giant snake got temporarily wedged between two trees, giving us a brief moment to decide our next move.
"Oh god, what was that?!" I whispered nervously.
Badum Badum Badum
My heart was hammering in my chest. I was still processing the near-death experience when Komraad shouted excitedly.
"This is what I've been waiting for! A worthy opponent!"
"W-wait, what are you saying?! We should run while it's stuck!" I pleaded, terrified.
"You run! I can handle this on my own, you'll only slow me down," he responded, his eyes shining with adrenaline.
I didn't know if he was serious or just genuinely concerned, but he was right, I would only slow him down. Still, I couldn't leave him! He was my only guide out of here. I had no choice but to help.
He dashed toward the snake to attack but was instantly thrown back by a powerful swipe of its tail. The giant snake easily freed itself and immediately spotted me.
"I'm so small. How did it even see me?" I wondered, bolting away.
The moment it saw me, it didn't hesitate, rushing straight toward me.
W-what is wrong with this thing?! I can't outrun it! It's too fast!
I was about to be devoured when the ground beneath the snake suddenly caved in. The giant reptile fell into the hole, giving me precious distance.
I knew what happened. My bad luck powers had triggered because I was in immediate danger. I just hoped it was enough to stop it.
The snake recovered fast, easily hauling itself out of the pit.
"Oh, never mind," I muttered flatly.
Komraad recovered from the previous attack, running back toward me. "Why are you still here?! I told you to run away!"
"As if! I still need your help, so we stick together!" I insisted.
"But why is it after me and not you? Do I look tastier? Look at me! I'm all skin and bones!" I complained in frustration.
"Who knows," he responded with a shrug.
I finally snapped, deciding to take control.
"Grrrrr… I'm so angry! I'm done being the prey! If this is how they want to play, then so be it!" I declared with firm resolve.
"Komraad, I have a plan. Just follow what I say," I demanded of him.
"Huh? I told you I can handle this on my own," he insisted stubbornly.
"Just do what I say, will you?!" I hissed, asserting my dominance in the face of death.
"Gah, fine!"
"Don't attack it head-on. Just exhaust it or something. And keep your distance so you don't get caught."
"Caught in what?" He asked.
"Caught in that…"
The instant I said the word, a bolt of thunder suddenly appeared out of a clear sky, electrifying and paralyzing the snake.
"What the?! What was that? The sky is so clear! Where did that come from?!" Komraad yelled in confusion.
"Don't worry, I'm as confused as you are," I responded dryly. "Anyway, just don't get too close. I can't guarantee you won't get caught in whatever random bad luck that snake is about to receive," I added.
"Wait, is that… your power?" He asked, a flicker of awe in his voice.
"Kind of? I don't know. I still have something up my sleeve, but I need some time to prepare, so please distract the snake first," I instructed.
After we agreed, Komraad immediately charged the giant snake to grab its attention. The snake quickly recovered from the electric shock and noticed the strong energy I was emitting, choosing to attack me instead.
"Hey, I'm your enemy! Look over here!" Komraad shouted, trying to divert its attention.
It ignored Komraad and spat a stream of acid toward me. I had no choice but to dodge. My concentration was broken, and I had to start channeling the dark energy beam all over again, but the snake wasn't giving me any time.
I kept dodging the acid while Komraad tried desperately to attract its attention. We couldn't defeat it. My bad luck powers weren't even slowing it down anymore. My only chance was the dark energy beam I had used before.
We were at our wits' end. The enemy was too strong. We had run out of options, and running away was no longer possible. The snake slammed me with its tail, sending me flying off a cliff.
Komraad reached out his hand to save me. I was just about to grab his fingers when the snake coiled its tail around him, pulling his body away. I was about to meet my end again. Anyone who falls from this height would surely die.
Ugh, here we go again. I closed my eyes and accepted my fate.
I waited to hit the ground. Seconds passed, and I still felt nothing. I opened my eyes and saw myself floating gently.
"Wait, I'm flying?! Oh god, I can fly! I wish I had tried that sooner."
"Oh, right! I have to save Komraad."
I flew upward, channeling my dark energy beam mid-flight. When I reached the top of the cliff, I saw Komraad struggling against the snake. He saw me preparing my attack and bit the snake hard, loosening its grip and allowing him to escape just before my attack hit.
The snake saw me, but it was too late. I released the beam, disintegrating it from the inside out. I landed on the ground, completely exhausted. Using my power just sucked the life out of me.
Huff Huff
I-I survived again, somehow.
"H-hey Komraad, are you okay?" I asked him, genuinely concerned.
"What was that?! You didn't tell me you could use magic! That was awesome!" He said, his eyes practically sparkling with excitement.
"I can't believe you. I thought you were strong enough to handle that monster on your own," I complained, still catching my breath.
"Gah! I-I could! I just need more time to defeat it!" He responded, stuttering slightly.
"Well, sorry to burst your bubble, but time is not on our side," I countered. "I'm just glad that's over. But ugh… I'm so hungry and exhausted. Can we find food and water first? I need to replenish my strength."
"You can't," he responded, suddenly serious.
"Huh? Why?" I asked, clueless.
Sniff Sniff
"A thunderstorm is coming," he answered.
"Huh? How would you know that? Look at the sky, it's still clear and sunny," I said skeptically.
"I have a very keen sense of smell, so I know what I'm talking about. Let's take shelter first and find food after the storm," he suggested.
"Fine, let's take shelter," I reluctantly agreed.
We started looking for cover when the sky slowly turned a deep gray.
I guess he was right. It really is about to rain.
Thankfully, we found a small, empty cave nearby and immediately took cover inside. The rain began pouring instantly, and thunder roared above us.
"Let's wait for the storm to settle and rest for a while," Komraad suggested.
Our stomachs immediately growled in unison. We were resting when I suddenly heard something distinct over the thunder.
"Wait, can you hear that?" I asked him.
"Yeah, the noise this thunderstorm is making," he answered sarcastically.
"No, not that! I can hear someone."
"Huh? How is that possible with this much noise?"
"I can hear a girl. A girl in distress. Someone is calling for help!"
"Huh? Did you hit your head earlier? You're going crazy."
I rushed outside, following the sound of the faint voice.
"H-hey, stop! Gah!"
Komraad immediately followed me out into the rain.
The voice grew louder and louder. I ran until I saw a girl lying unconscious on the ground, soaked and wounded.
"Komraad, let's help her!"
"Yeah, I'll carry her. Let's get her back into the cave," he responded without hesitation.
Komraad was surprisingly cooperative. He was clearly as concerned as I was, even though we were helping a complete stranger.
We brought the unconscious girl into the cave. Luckily, there was dry wood inside.
Komraad started making a fire.
"I didn't know you could do that. I'm surprised," I admitted.
"I've been living in this forest alone for a long time. I have to learn a thing or two if I want to survive."
We brought the girl close to the fire to keep her warm and tended to her wounds. Thankfully, they were just small scratches. We didn't know her story yet, but we decided to wait until she woke up to ask her directly.