Paramnesia

Chapter Nine

An hour drags by and Echo was completely alone in a forest a little ways from where they split up with Alpha. Echo was amazed by how colorful the plants were that weren't ever there in the Gray Line. From the elegant flowers that almost created a rainbow in a single line with tall willow trees and other trees towering over them, only giving them meek light as a way to get through the way. Butterflies swarm around Echo too, making them go in a circle to absorb everything they were seeing.

Everything shocked them still, and there was no way they could explore all of it in one sitting. Echo had to focus on the game. So they kept going and watched everything around them along the way. Leaves crunched underneath their shoes before they could hear a rustle in the woods. Echo tensed up and listened; once they heard a faint giggle it would make them smirk, Connie was nearby. They caught on fast to voices, which was something they were always good at. Echo tried to remain silent as they slowly followed the giggle.

"Hm... I hear a little laugh somewhere?~" Echo coos a bit, placing their hands behind their back. The giggle was stifling. And that was when Echo saw a blonde lump of hair behind a log. Echo smirks and crawls down to the other side of it. They remained silent and tried to peer their head over to see who it was.

Connie wasn't facing Echo, instead looking around towards the trail Echo was on just moments before. They'd chuckle under their breath and slowly jump over the log they best they could. A small chipmunk crawled on their foot. It was a vibrant red with a crystal as its tail and eyes. Echo held their breath and stared at it, which made it make eye contact right back at them. Echo didn't want to scare it off so they slowly reached their hand out to it with a crooked smile as an attempt to welcome it onto their hand. The chipmunk stood there on its hind legs and kept staring before slowly trying to get closer to Echo.

"Gah!! AW MAN YOU FOUND ME!" Connie suddenly yelps, loud enough for the chipmunk to run off. Echo jumped as well but lightly chuckled as they peered over to Connie. Connie looked so stunned to see Echo right there and so quiet about it too. "No one has ever found me! Nor caused me to not see them coming! How? How did you do it?!"

Echo started to get up, struggling in the process. "I guess I am just an expert at this?" Which may have been true. During their time with Edge they learned a lot about hiding, running, listening and being able to observe things. As Echo thought about Edge, they felt their heart ache for him. But it was quickly blinded by anger still. But Echo didn't want to think of it right now. They looked at Connie once on their feet and held their hand out with a smile. Connie giggles and smiles more, taking their hand to be hoisted up.

The two would then proceed to walk back to find the others. During this Connie explained some things about Paramnesia she knew to her knowledge. All the kinds of animals; some weird, some cute, some so stunning you wouldn't dare believe they were from here. Then onto the trees, then to the different rivers. How some healed people and others showed them the future and then others were just to drink and play in. She then explained how there were different sections in Paramnesia that inhabited several different people. Echo questioned why it was all separate, and to Connie's knowledge she wasn't too sure on that one but then explained how they were allowed to travel as long as Great Mother Olina came with them and watched over them.

"I must ask, why? Doesn't it bother you that she is constantly around you guys?" Echo asked as they glanced over to Connie.

Connie looks back. "Not at all! She says she knows what is best for us! She is Great Mother Olina after all! SO she is like a mom to us!"

Echo only nodded. Deep down they didn't seem to like that too much, they didn't think that was a lot of freedom in that. Maybe that was because they weren't used to having someone watch them all of the time? Or it was maybe because of the fact Echo didn't know who their parents were either. Then they began to wonder again. What if the reason why this place called to them was because their parents were from here? They discarded the idea, there was no way they could be from this strange but remarkable place.