The Journey - MTMB

Part 3 - Yet more traveling.

Riba Pov: 

We had been traveling for a while, and the sun was now fully in the sky... I could see a forest up ahead, with no seeming way we could be able to go around it. It shouldn't be too big if an issue though, and it seemed like it would be right for a town or something to be on the other side of it... A couple minutes later, and we were nearing it now.

Mario didnt seem too excited to cross the forest, trying to look around for a possible other way. "Do we have to cross this?" He said as though he was nervous of something.

"I mean. I don't see any other way." I said "But we'll be fine, there's probably a town on the other side of it."

He still looked kind of nervous, but did not complain. "Alright.. Lets-a-go then..!"

I walked into the forest, Mario trailed behind me.. The trees got thicker the farther we walked into the forest, and Mario seemed to get more and more paranoid, eyes darting around the surroundings as if he was expecting something to leap out at him.

"Are you alright?" I eventually spoke up.

"Uh- Yeah! Im fine." He said.

"Are you sure? You look a little scared-" I gave him a worried look.

"Im fine- this place is just reminding me of that forest back at that cursed place." He admited.

I could feel sympathy crawl into my heart. " Well, this forest isnt cursed nor haunted. You'll be alright." I stopped walking and gave Mario some pats on his head before moving on.

Mario seemed dazed for a second but eventually kept following me.

As an unknown amount of time passed... I could feel the air get cooler, and I noticed it was also getting darker. It would probably be wise to stop now, get some rest, and then carry on, Mario was also shivering slightly.

"I think we should stop here." I spoke.

"I agree." He said quickly, we both stopped at a tree with a very thick trunk, it seemed nice to lay against.

I sat down, letting my back lean against said tree, Mario settled down beside me, still slightly shivering and holding his cloak around himself tightly. Sympathy melted my heart once again, and since I wasn't that cold, I took off my own cloak and wrapped it around him.

"Eh-? Oh R-" He was about to say something along the lines about 'what about you, aren't you cold?' but I stopped him.

"I'm fine, I'm not that cold, you should worry more about yourself more often, alright?" I said firmly.

He opened his mouth again, about to say something, but clearly thought otherwise and just let out a sigh.

I yawned, leaning against the tree trunk more and more until I eventually drifted off to sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I suddenly was woken up by something, yet it was not the sun, instead it was Mario, shifting uneasily against the tree trunk.

"Hey, are you okay?" I spoke.

"Ah-! oh- I'm sorry- did I wake you up?"

"It's alright, but are you okay?" I asked again.

".. Well." He hesitated. "I can't sleep. this place is just reminding me too much of the silent forest... and other memories." 

Once again, sympathy found its way into me, but what could a do to comfort him...? Perhaps a hug? it worked in the past. With a little bit of hesitation, I leaned to the side and wrapped my arms around Mario.

He first stiffened up in surprise but quickly fell limp in the embrace, leaning into it. I could feel his breathing begin to become slightly slower and deeper, telling me that he was asleep, and I too fell asleep.

(603 words yay!!!)