LAUREL

Chapter 8

The shaking of the earth halted, but the ashen skies remain even if daybreak has come. The mood has been down. The village burnt to a crisp, and many lives ended in the calamity. People's cries echoed through the lands, into the seas, and to the realm of the gods. The pain and suffering of the mortals rang like bells into Mt. Olympus, but even if the voices became a whisper, there's no one to hear their call.

A few miles away from Olympus in the forest near one of the village fires, Laurel manages to take safety. The cloak given by the god Apollo protected them from burning to crisp, but she didn't come out unscratched. 

There are a few burnt marks and scrapes from all over her arms and legs. When they got away from the fire, Laurel willed herself to run back to the forest. She hoped to reach the waters of Peneus for the kid's protection. But the way back to the forest's as challenging as going to the village. 

The animals are still in a panic, trees continue to fall, and the aftermath of the quaking haven't subside. It didn't help that the sun has yet to be out, and no moon nor star could guide them back. Luckily, Laurel reached the riverbank. At least with clean water, they can hydrate and take a rest for a while.

"Here, I got food. It's from last night, but it's still good." Laurel shared. The basket of food she bought last night managed to survive the earthquake. It got washed away to the river from the falls. When she woke up in the morning, she saw it float together with her bag on top of a pilled branch. It's as if it's been protected by the river carefully sending it to her without any splash.

"T-Thank you." The kid took the slice of bread, still anxious and scared. When they got away from the fire, the kid's been in shock until day break when he cried his heart out. There's no news of what his family had become. Even the master of the house, he didn't know if they survived. It's a terrible event he wished would just be a nightmare.

"What do you want to do from now on?" Laurel knew what the kid's feeling, but it's better to think of the next step rather than falling deeper into an unknown abyss. "You can stay here in the forest for now, but not in this area. I'll take you somewhere safer later."

"And you?" The kid asks between the sobs. With what happened to his family, Laurel's the only one he has. They might not know each other for a long time, but he considered her a friend and savior.

"I'll have to go see someone. My business here has yet to be solved."

"C-can I just come with you." He's more comfortable with Laurel than any one at the moment. The event is still fresh into his mind, and it scares him to be left alone.

Laurel understands the kid. She knew what it feels like to be left alone. She knew the trauma he could go through, but she doesn't want to lead the kid into another death row. She'd rather suffer alone than take him with her to face death.

"I'm sorry, kid. It's not a good place to go."

The kid curbed and hugged himself tighter before nodding. He doesn't want to burden Laurel any more than he is. If he can't be of any help, he'd stay away, but he also doesn't want to be alone.

As time goes by, when they're rested and ready to go, they head to Peneus's falls. The safest place Laurel could think off. She plans to let the kid stay with Daphne's father until he recovers, that way he won't feel alone. But to do that, she needs Peneus to show up.

"Where's this place?" The kid asked.

"Peneus's falls. You mentioned going there before."

"It looks different."

"Is it?" Laurel frowned. The place looks the same to her, clear waters, fresh air, little animals playing around. It's livelier now than last night. "We'll have to stay here a while, why don't you take a dip and relax for a bit," she suggested.