Tale Of The Guardian Master

Chapter 15 - Unfortunate Thief...

Chris walked further and further through the mountain borders... Pacing himself when going upwards, strolling when heading down. The path took him through many twists and turns along the border, all the while Kirlia slept, sang while patting his head, and slept some more. "Well... Glad one of us... Is able to take it easy..." he told her with a worn out laugh, wiping the sweat off his face with a sigh. The more they traveled, the more Chris seemed to forget what had happened back at the spring, getting himself lost along the ever winding road ahead. "Maybe we should have got a bike back in town... Then again it would've been too hard for me to pedal all over this path the way it tends to be so steep... Traveling really puts it in your face how unfit you are, doesn't it?" he laughed, making Kirlia tilt her head confused. "Uhh... Fit... You know... Exercise! Muscles! Yearrrgh! Fitness!" he told her as he lifted his arms to flex, showing a drop of sweat and laughing nervously when his arms only showed slight muscle in them.

"...Never mind." he said with a slump, embarrassing himself. She tilted her head again and suddenly tried to copy the same movements she felt him make, lifting her arms and shouting loudly as if to say "yearrrgh!" as well with a serious look. Chris couldn't help but puff out his cheeks as he snickered, trying to cover his mouth yet laughing loudly anyways. "You're such a cutie. No matter what you always make me feel better Kirlia." he said, reaching up and rubbing her on the head. She flushed and made sounds of nervous laughter, poking her fingers shyly as always. Kirlia suddenly grabbed his head, giving him a hug while making happy sounds, suddenly feeling how sweaty he had gotten along the way. Pulling back, he laughed nervously and told her he was sorry, handing up a tissue from his pocket to wipe herself off with. However, she also used it to wipe off his face for him, clumsily poking him in the yes repeatedly since she couldn't see where she was wiping. "Ow... Ow... Thanks... Ow..." he said silently in his mind, repeatedly having to squint either one eye or the other. After a moment he thanked her nervously and said that was enough, rubbing his eyes, surprised they hadn't bruised any. She nodded with a smile and handed it back, with Chris putting it back in his pocket. "Best not to litter!" he chuckled.

Over time, he finally made his way to the other side of the border, now able to look at the seemingly endless horizon before him. "Man... Within the circle, what you can see is huge already... But outside... You really realize just how big the world is after being tucked away for so long... Nice view, huh Kirl..." he suddenly paused, his eyes drifting towards the ground sadly. She tilted her head and made a noise, as if asking what he was going to say, but he suddenly shook his head and laughed nervously, telling her it was nothing as he held her up so she could sit on his head and feel the heat from the sun now in front of them. She let out a sigh as she closed her glazed eyes. "Man... Talk about insensitive... I really have to be more careful..." he mumbled to himself, his eyes looking back towards the ground again. Kirlia was starting to pick up on his sudden... Change of mood... And she started to feel his head, rubbing it and making sounds as if to ask him what was wrong. Jolting, he remembered she was able to read him like a book since she was so close to his mind, and he quickly lifted her off his head and sat her on a rock, laughing nervously claiming everything was fine. "I'm just a little tired is all. Making it through the border was a long trip! Talk about a climb and a half! I just need a drink and we'll be good to go!" he laughed, setting down his things and rummaging to distract Kirlia from reading him as he sweat a bit.

Problem was... While he WAS thirsty... He suddenly discovered there were no more bottles of water to drink, turning himself slightly pale and wide eyed. "I... Forgot... Supplies... Son of... A..." he said, slapping himself on the forehead with a groan, slumping to the ground with a sigh. Kirlia started flailing her arms and making worried noises, hearing him hit himself, so he told her he was alright. "I just feel a little dumb is all right now... Kinda forgot to get some stuff for us to use on our trip to the next town, and this is the long route so... Ha ha... I definitely don't plan on going all the way back so... Maybe we can find some fresh water nearby...? I have an empty bottle or two in here I kept just in case... We've got food but we could use something to eat on the side... Maybe there are berries around here?" he said, standing and looking around. Kirlia remembered the water she drank this morning, and finding out it was the last of what he had made her feel both, happy and bad all at once... Turning her face in different directions, she closed her eyes and listened. Carefully... Carefully... She hopped on the ground and tapped the soil with her feet, listening to the breeze as well. Around here...? From over there...? From... Behind...? and after a moment she opened her eyes and pointed into the woods, making sounds towards Chris as she pointed. "Uhh... Whats up...? Gotta go to the bathroom...?" he asked, suddenly causing her to flush red and rapidly shake her head, screaming at him in response due to humiliation. Stomping her foot, she pointed towards the woods again with loud noises, firmly pointing towards him and back to the woods for extra emphasis. "O... Okay okay! I didn't... Know what you were... I mean... Agh... I'm sorry..." he told her with a slump, bowing his head slightly as he walked up to her. Crossing her arms, she patted her foot waiting to be picked up while facing him. Nodding, he sat her on his shoulder as he walked into the woods, confused yet following where Kirlia pointed nonetheless.