Beginnings

New Experiences

Vin's stomach growled obnoxiously again. He groaned, it felt like hunger was clawing him up from the inside.

Taking pity on the little weasel, Mae reminded herself that he's young and inexperienced. "All I have right now are a few blackberries. I'll collect more food for the two of us early tomorrow." Rummaging in a small pouch at her side, she procured three berries and placed them near Vin's nose. She settled herself back on the ground, placing her head on a flat traveling bag. "Now, eat up and let me sleep. I advice you to sleep soon as well. If you wish to travel with me, I start the day at the crack of dawn."

Vin spaced out for a moment. He hadn't noticed all of the leather pouches hanging from a rope around Mae's waist. His imagination ran wild thinking of what could be contained in them. His thoughts halted when a scent entered his nostrils. A delectable scent, making his mouth water. The blackberries were enticing his taste buds through smell.

Sitting his rump on the ground with his hind legs sticking straight up, he grasped one of the black berries, and shoved the entire thing in his mouth. One bite into it led to an explosion of juices and flavor. A sweet flavor that made Vin moan out loud.

     He plonked another berry into his mouth, this time chewing slower and savoring the taste.  "Mmmmm."  Berry juice cascaded out and down his lower jaw, dripping it's way onto his chest fur.  The third berry was just as heavenly.   
What other exquisite things will come my way?   I can't wait to try them all.
His hunger satiated for the time being, drowsiness set in to take its place.  Vin circled next to Mae's sleeping form three times, then laid down.  Within seconds he was asleep.

    
       He was startled awake by something crawling in his nostril.   He exhaled the offending thing out.  In his still sleepy state he barely registered that hundreds of tiny specks were crawling all over him.   Panic brought him fully awake.  He started rolling his body on the ground and thrashing, while screaming at the top of his lungs.
   "Aaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!! Help! SAVE ME!! Aaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!" His voice high pitch and loud enough to alarm every creature in the forest.

Mae bolted upright with a gasp. It took her several seconds to make out what was occurring due to her sleepy haze . She then pounced on Vin, grabbing his body with both hands to cease his crazed rolling.
"Stop! Quiet yourself. It's only ants." She turned him towards her inspecting him closer. "You have berry all over you, that's why your covered in ants."
She reached over and grabbed a skin toned canteen and a small cloth. "I don't want to waste much water on this. It'll do until we come across a water source to wash up in. Now hold still." She dampened the piece of cloth then began wiping Vin's chin and chest.

Due to the disturbance, the ants began trekking off of Vin's body and onto the ground. Vin violently shuddered at the crawling sensation.

When Mae finished, Vin glared at her with a hurt and betrayed expression.
"How can you be so calm about this!? I could have died!!"   He plopped himself on the ground, feigning his body in dire distress by convulsing.

      Mae rolled her eyes at Vin's dramatic antics.   She noticed the sun was just peeking up from the horizon. "Since you've alerted every living being of our location, we must get moving, now."  She attached her pouches to the rope around her waist and gathered her bag. 

      Vin zipped back on his feet in an instant. 
Where will we go?  What things will I see?  How much more is out there?  There's something crunchy in my mouth.
"Aacckk, pttooo!"  Vin violently spit numerous times on the ground.  "I think some of those small deadly things got in my mouth!"

     "That's what you get for screaming while your covered in ants."  Mae Chastised.  She pointed in the direction to her right.  "My traps are set over there, we will check if anything was snared and then continue onward.  Let's go."

      Vin sat on the ground and scratched at the back of his neck with desperation.  Seeking relief from the crawling sensation that continued to linger.  He scurried over to Mae to follow by her side, a huff or a groan occasionally working past his lips. 
Life must be better than this? Right?