The Stolen Soul Key

Previous Friends

River had kept his promise to them. He had helped them escape through a discreet alleyway that led them to the forest. They ducked every time that they came too close to a pirate, and not once did River try to get the help of his crew mates. It took them no time to get away with his help.

Now that they were out of trouble, River seemed a little more tense. She had hoped that he had forgiven her for running away, but she was wrong. Now that he was not trying to get them to leave with him, his disdain for the both of them had returned.

The walk through the woods is a quiet one. Amaya watched as Mizzen would glance at River anxiously before looking away. Not once did River look at him. In fact, River had kept his gaze ahead of him for the entirety of their walk so far. He didn't even look at Amaya.

Leaves crunched under her feet as they trekked ahead, not quite sure where they were going. She thought about mentioning the pirate safe house as they could potentially stay there tonight, but she figured River wouldn't take this too well, seeing as this is the same place she had ran away from yesterday.

After another twenty minutes of silence, Mizzen cleared his throat. "We should stop. We don't know where we're going and wandering aimlessly through the forest isn't going to get us anywhere. Let's discuss our options."

River tensed before turning around to glance at Amaya. He said nothing as he waited for her answer.

"Um," she didn't enjoy being put on the spot. "Could we go back to the Evergreen?"

Mizzen grimaced, "We could." There was a hint of something else in his voice and it took Amaya a moment to realize what he meant. River would not be welcome there.

She shakes her head, "Somewhere else, then. Is there anywhere else?" She bit her lip anxiously as she waited for someone else to come up with a solution. It wasn't fair that they were both in this position because of her, and now she was waiting for them to figure everything out for her? Guilt ate away at her.

River groaned, throwing his head back in annoyance. "We technically don't even need a place. Who says we need a roof over our heads? We can just sleep out here."

Mizzen frowned, "On the ground?"

"I thought you were a tree person now." This didn't come out as a question. River scowled at him, "Shouldn't you be used to sleeping on the ground?"

Mizzen blanched before turning away, "We'll make camp here. That's just fine." 

River stomped away as Mizzen continued to stare at the ground. Amaya pursed her lips together before walking over to him, "He's just hurt." She puts her hand on his arm lightly, "He'll get past it. Just give him time."

"He's had time." Mizzen sighed as he finally raised his head, watching as River disappeared between the trees. "I hope he doesn't hate me forever."

"He won't."

"We'll see," Mizzen met her eyes and squinted. "What do you want to do though, really? If you didn't have to worry about myself and River, where would you go?"

She rubbed at the back of her neck as she was put on the spot again. This was something she had zero experience with. After her sixteen years of living, she had only left her cottage once. Now. This was all too new to her.

"Honestly," she says. "I would probably end up sleeping on the ground. I still have no idea what to do or where to go. Maybe you should just leave me..."

The words fizzled in her mouth as Mizzen turned to her in protest. "Are you insane?" He stepped closer to her, "Why would you even say that? I'm your friend, Maya. We're in this together right now, stop thinking you're still alone in all of this."