Re-Vamp

Chapter 11: The Journey

The morning found them walking through the forest in search of a new refuge. Arturo was a few steps ahead, merrily jumping between the gnarled roots and filling the air with his singing laughter. Arnaud followed closely behind, his eyes alert for the slightest hint of danger.

Suddenly, the child stumbled and fell to the ground, letting out an exclamation of surprise.

"Argh!"

Arnaud rushed toward him, worried, but Arturo was already getting up, chuckling as he brushed off the leaves and dirt.

"Watch out, Ar!" the little one cried, pointing at the root that had tripped him.

The vampire blinked, confused by the unfamiliar expression Arturo had uttered. He cocked his head, looking at him with inquisitive eyes. Did it imply that falling hurt?

"Ar? What you mean, little one?" he asked in his limited vocabulary.

Arturo laughed again and approached him, taking his hand naturally. He pointed at the root on the ground, then at the vampire, and repeated:

"Be careful, Ar!"

Arnaud frowned, pensive, trying to decipher the hidden meaning behind that seemingly nonsensical sound. Suddenly, his eyes widened with understanding, and he looked at Arturo, incredulous.

"Ar... me?" he stammered, bringing a hand to his chest.

The child nodded vigorously, his smile lighting up his dirty face.

"Yes, yes! You are Ar!" he exclaimed, laughing again at the vampire's perplexed expression.

Slowly, Arnaud's lips curved into a wide smile. He had understood: Arturo had given him a nickname, shortening his name. The idea filled him with an unexpected warmth. No one had ever called him by a fond name before.

"Ar..." he repeated, savoring the word. He nodded, gracefully accepting the nickname. "Ok, little one. If I Ar, then you..." He paused for a moment, pondering. "You Ar too!"

This time it was Arturo who blinked, confused, before a radiant smile lit up his face. He clapped and began to jump excitedly around Arnaud.

"Ar and Ar! Ar, Ar, Ar!" he chanted over and over, delighted with the shared nickname.

Arnaud laughed, letting himself be infected by the child's overflowing joy. He joined the chorus, repeating the name over and over as they both spun around, laughing heartily.

Eventually, the laughter subsided, and they dropped onto the grass, panting. Arturo crawled over to nestle against Arnaud's side, looking at him with curiosity.

"Why can't Ar go out when there's sun?" he suddenly asked, pointing at the first rays of dawn filtering through the branches.

The vampire grimaced, unsure of how to explain his nature to such a young child. He searched for the right words in his limited vocabulary.

"Sun... bad for Ar. Too bright, much hurt," he stammered clumsily, hoping he had said it right.

Arturo nodded solemnly, though his eyes betrayed that he didn't fully understand. He shrugged and changed the subject.

"You know, Ar? We could be pirates!" he exclaimed excitedly. "Like the ones in the stories grandma Maria used to tell me, arrr! We'd sail the seas on a great ship and hunt for treasures!"

Suddenly, memories came flooding back to him: the legends and tales he had heard in his youth, back in the 15th century.

"Yes... the pirates..." he murmured, nodding with a nostalgic smile. "Men at sea, plundering and seeking riches..."