Chapter 15

If no one would give me info, I would simply have to take it on my own. Everybody was too cautious and defensive to trust anyone with anything. But I was in a literal trove of game information in there. I didn't plan to do anything too bad or risky. I didn't want to endanger our relationship with these people or hurt them when they took us into their home...which was pretty much the forest but anywho, I was just hoping to eavesdrop on any passing conversation that could have any piece of info about even the general shape of this world. It was so disorientating to move and have no idea if you were going forward or backward and have no clear destination in your mind. It felt like going in circles.

This was nothing more than a spontaneous thought, however, and having to wait for the others to fall asleep so that I could walk away undetected was a power struggle because my eyes started drooping. After I waited what I thought was the appropriate amount of time, I got off the comfortable hammock very carefully trying not to have it sway around too much. I walked down the tree trunk by putting my hand and feet on the naturally made crevices of the wood and landed on the ground pretty neatly if I say so myself. None of this mattered when I felt the sharp edge of a swift blade lick the base of my neck.

"Going on a midnight stroll?" Her voice was much more dangerous now and her cat-like green eyes shone under the pale light of the not-moon. Her caramel hair was up in a high braid instead of falling freely on her shoulders like it did earlier today. She wasn't looking so much Flowery as Thorny right at that moment with her dark coloured clothes and darker expression. It had been a façade to have us let our guard down. A test for trust. And I had failed. But maybe not yet.

I smiled shyly and went to scratch the back of my head nervously like I usually did but the blade pressed deeper into my neck at the mere sight of movement. I gulped and felt my throat go dry. Then I had a thought.

"We haven't drunk or eaten anything all day. I was coming to ask for at least a cup of water." She faltered and I grew bold and audacious. "Seriously, you had us work all day even though you tricked us into this whole deal! You were about to try us for just defending ourselves against your so precious Mother Nature but even after we swore our allegiance, you treat us like outsiders! Is that supposed to be the brotherhood and sisterhood we were promised? Am I supposed to just starve because you don't trust me?!" Maybe I laid on the drama too thickly.

"Are you done?" Her voice and eyes were deadpan.

"As a matter of fact-! Yeah actually, I have nothing more to say. Thanks for hearing me out" She took the blade away but didn't sheath it. I crossed my arms and looked at her as if daring her to do another move against me while silently hoping she wouldn't.

"You are a bit of a drama queen"

"Too much?" I gave in.

"Too much" She nodded and then she smiled coyly. "But I guess we weren't very hospitable so you can come with me if you want to eat or drink something" I waited for her to turn around so that I could follow her but she motioned for me to move forward while pointing her blade. Fine. I would still be able to maybe ask her some stuff and I would quench my thirst and feed my hunger. This seemed like a win-win situation. 

"Should I call you Thorny from now on?" She sounded surprised at my breaking the silence. She contemplated for a little bit.

"I would rather you not call me anything" She murmured. Ouch.

"Icy then. That was cold" She sighed and as if she gave in, in order to get away from the terrible names, she conceited.

"Toliz" At first I thought it was a command or the name of some plant but when I turned back to look at her she met my eyes defiantly.

"You know, that was my next guess. On the tip of my tongue" She cracked a reluctant smile but pushed me forward with the tip of her blade. "You wouldn't happen to have seen-?" I was dumbstruck. I had meant to ask her about Nax. I knew he liked to play tsundere like the most people or animals in my life but we had been separated for two full days. He had to be getting worried sick by now and he wasn't much of an inconspicuous creature. Maybe in the Frozen Wastes, I had finally managed to read the map, he would have blended with the background. But here? A purely white killer machine was bound to be noticed by these people and I didn't want them hunting him for his rarity or whatever. 

All thoughts escaped my mind, however, when we reached the clearing. I could hear faint fairy music being carried by the wind and at first I thought it was a background music thing and I was the only one who could until I noticed the lutist in the circle of people. They were dancing, drinking, singing. There was no bonfire because NATURE but the fireflies were providing them with a very sweet semi light. They were eating something that smelled like heaven and made my stomach growl.

"I guess you weren't messing with me about the food"

"I never mess about food" I replied absentmindedly because I was too preoccupied being shocked and angry at the arrogant wolf in the centre of the people who was clothed in sparkly fabrics and being lathered in food and worship as if he was some wolf kami. And here I was being worried about the asshole. Of course the Naturists over here would see him and fall in love with the mere sight of his audacity!

I marched over there with purposeful steps. Toliz flinched and I could tell she was getting ready to detain me if I attacked anyone. The people in the circle and around Lainax all seemed scared or posed to attack and defend themselves. One of the kids that were putting flower crowns on him reached out to me with an offering for the great wolf. His innocent eyes looked wide in wonder and admiration and it hurt me to ignore him but that little piece of shit deserved none of this.

"You-!" Before I could even start on my insult, Lainax's head whipped to me at the sound of my voice. The languid and relaxed stance he had until that moment turned alert and he let out a loud and resounding yip before he jumped up in an uncharacteristic show of emotion. I found myself bewildered and holding an armful of a huge snow wolf. He clung onto me and sniffed me vigorously. "I got you" I said instinctively and sat down on the ground to be able to hold him better. For some reason, tears blurred my vision. "That's right buddy. I'm right here" We were all we had. Too different in this weird and green world to fit in with the others.

Unnatural

Erlong's voice haunted me

Maybe I was. I was going to fucking beat this game though. And nothing could stop me.

Thunder cracked the sky as if in response to my resolution.