Spirit Chronicles: A New Beginning

S2 EP 8: Trouble in the Empty Forest

Warning! Mild use of the "h" word in this chapter.

After the mysterious man named Charles left Rio alone once again, Rio went back to hunting. Still, it was hard to think about what was around him when the thought of the Kingdom of Beltrum was on his tail as he did his business. Rio knew that any second that he causally sat around could be a second that the search party found Celia and now, maybe even Flora. "If they do find those two, they will both be taken back to the kingdom without any say in the matter!"

Rio sighed and sat down on a nearby log and thought to himself. "I can't believe that they're here... Its probably a royal figure who's heading the search, but I don't know quite who. Maybe I can go with someone later and scout."  Rio shook his head in anger. "No, that won't work! I can't drag someone from the village or kingdom into this mess! I'll talk to Aisha when I get back to the village."

Rio did know what he should do! Things were progressively getting much worse and he didn't know for once how he should solve the problem! 

When Rio had been young, one thing has been on his mind. Revenge on a certain someone and going to the village where his father and mother had originally came from. Back then, he had plans and knew what to do in dangerous situations. It was different with two fragile girls following him everywhere!

"I need to get back to the Demi-Beast village and talk with the elders since they know I'm a fugitive from the Beltrum Kingdom..."

"Shoot!" Rio yelled as he hit the log with this bare fist.

"Rio?" Rio turned his head around to find his cousin ,Ruri, behind him who was giving a puzzled expression. She was wearing her normal green kimono and carrying a basket of what looked like wheat. "You doing okay out here? You were talking and yelling into nothing!"

"Sorry." Rio apologized, standing up. "I was just lost in thought." Rio knew he couldn't tell her about the man from the Beltrum Kingdom, so getting around her was going to be a struggle.

Ruri clicked her tongue and then set her basket down on the grassy floor. "You are definitely more than lost in thought... Tell me what's up! I'm your cousin for crying out loud!" She came over to Rio and smiled. "I'll keep a secret! Promise!"

"I'm telling you, it isn't anything!" Rio protested. "Anyway, what are you even doing out here? Did Yuba need something?" Rio knew that Ruri wasn't one to just wander into the forest as she most of the time preferred to be of with Sayo or in her own house! A huge follower of others...

"Well, you've been gone for a while, and Sayo was wondering where you were." Ruri sighed. "I'm telling you, that girl is obsessed with you!"

"I'm pretty sure I already knew that part..."

Rio flicked his own head and then picked up his catch that was lying on the ground. "Well it will be fine. I'm heading back to the village anyway. Going to tag along?" Ruri nodded and the two walked through the forest and back to the village.

"So, Rio." Ruri piped up yet again. "Who are you planning to marry between your two girls or Sayo?" 

Rio stopped and jerked his head toward his cousin. "Pardon? Marriage? I don't think I'll be doing that any time soon!" Rio was psyched that his cousin would bring a question like that out of the blue, and unfortunately he did not have a response!

"Just asking..." Ruri sighed. "I have to tell you, Rio, that you are the most closed off person I've ever met! Loosen up at little!" Rio knew that Ruri had a point, but that was hard to do in his current place and time. He couldn't just loosen up and expect the world to go his way! Not with a kingdom on his trail!