A/N: Hey, folks! Sorry again for the long wait, but it's finally here! Chapter 5, and it's a big one...big enough that I've decided to make it a two-parter!
Have fun, and, as always, leave any input, questions, comments, or anything at all in the comments below!
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"C'mon, Bram-Bram. You know you want to."
"STOP calling me that!"
"Calling you what, Bram-Bram?"
Bramble rolled her eyes at Willow's pestering, and crossed her arms.
"You know that we can't leave the village without an escort. Not until we're of age, and DEFINITELY not during the cold season."
"Yeah? So? Who's gonna find out we left, Oak? Would YOU tell him?"
"N-No! Just - what I mean is that there's a reason for those rules. There's stuff out there that could kill us."
"Oh, really?"
Willow leaned up against the hut's wall, shifting her cloak to reveal her training spear, and flashed a smirk.
"What, am I not able to kick enough ass yet or something?"
Bramble flushed.
"That - that's not what I meant."
"Then what's the issue? Do you not want to go? I mean, it's okay if not."
"No! I do, it's just...I...well..."
Willow pushed herself off of the wall and moved to stand next to Bramble. Her voice and expression softened.
"Look. I've taken this route a dozen times on my own. I could lead you there and back blindfolded. Plus..."
She raised an eyebrow.
"...do you really think I'd bring you somewhere if I weren't positive it was safe?"
Bramble pursed her lips, before shaking her head with a slight smile forming at the corners of her mouth.
"I...I guess not."
"Great. So, what are we waiting for? Sundown? Come ON, let's GO!"
With that, Willow grabbed Bramble's arm and yanked her out towards the open forest.
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"Watch out for that spot. It's slippery."
"I can see that."
"Sorry. Just trying to help."
Willow extended a hand down to Bramble to pull her up a particularly troubling ledge. The walk had been long (about forty-five minutes) – and cold, Willow noted, feeling a bit ridiculous as she did, because it was winter, of COURSE it was cold – but they had been making good ground. No disruptions, no dangers, nothing out of the usual.
Just the two of them.
She cleared her throat.
"Sooooooooooo."
"Yes?"
"Haven't seen the waterfall before during winter?"
Bramble paused to look back over at her, a weird look on her face.
YOU ARE READING
Bigger Things
RomanceWillow is a loyal gatherer for her local village of wildfolk, a race of four inch tall people living in the forest away from the monstrous "giants" who seek nothing beyond the torment and death of her kind. Her life is simple; wake up, go out, find...
