Scunasian Campfire Stories (Rain world short stories)

As long as we are together

                (Sorry this one is of poor quality too. I will get better I promise)

         

        I ran through the woods as fast as I could, ignoring any scratches and cuts that the surrounding branches inflicted on me. I needed to find the child that ran off into the woods. It was my fault that he ran away, I shouldn't have been so blunt about the death of his parents. Leaf told me that I did what I could, but if that was the case I wouldn't be running in the woods trying to find the poor kid.

Agh! Why did I have to be so stupid?!

I stopped for a second to inspect my surroundings for any clues where the kid went. I soon spot a piece of ripped clothing on one of the branches, it seemed like the kid had to be running away from something.

"I'm coming kid, just hold on."

I continue to run in the direction with the most tracks, before suddenly losing the trail. However as I tried to regain my bearings I began to hear crying coming from a nearby rocky ruin. Running up to it I realized that it was the kid sitting inside. As I tried to get closer however I suddenly heard a hissing right behind me. I slowly turned around and looked at what seemed to be a white lizard on one of the trees.

            Before I could act the lizard suddenly pounced on me, knocking my crossbow out of my hands. It wasted no time biting into my shoulder, thankfully for me the lizard failed to pierce my armor with its teeth which allowed me to take out my knife and slice the lizard in the face. The lizard flinches away, giving me enough time to reach for the crossbow on the ground and shoot a bolt directly in its head, killing it instantly.

"S-shit.." I say, turning to look at the wound that the lizard made. It didn't seem too serious, but I would have to stop the bleeding when I come back home with the kid.

Suddenly I remind myself about the kid. I quickly look inside the rocky ruin, but I no longer see the small slugcat inside. He must have run off when I got attacked by that lizard.

"Shit kid.. Please don't be hurt." I said, pleading to myself.

I dust myself off before desperately trying to find the lost child in this damned forest. However as I begin to lose hope that I will find him, I suddenly begin to hear faint whimpers and cries. I quickly rushed towards the sound, as the idea of the kid being hurt terrifies me to the core.

          When I finally get close I see him crying under a tree, covered in bruises. It doesn't take long for him to realize I'm here, however as I get closer he begins to say something.

"I-I-I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I-I'm sorry.." He cries as his words become more and more incomprehensible between his wheezing and crying.

I slowly come closer before kneeling next to him, thinking of any way I can comfort him. I slowly reach out to grab his hand before realizing just how cold he was to the touch. His clothes were not enough to keep him warm in this weather and most definitely not in the night.

           Not wanting him to get hurt I quickly took off my surcoat and placed it over the child. Seeing that he was still shivering I gently picked him up and placed him on my lap under the tree to share my warmth with him. As I embraced him however, he suddenly turned around and hugged me while continuing to cry.

"I-I'm sorry.. It's all my fault.." The kid said to me as he cried.

"Don't worry, you are safe with me. Nothing's going to hurt you." I try comforting him as he hugs me tighter.

"I-I.. I just saw some flowers on the road, and then, and then.." He tried to speak before I hugged him closer.

"It's not your fault, don't blame yourself. It's all going to be alright." I comforted him.

He was just 5 years old and he already lost both of his parents.. We tried everything we could to help his parents, but those bandits wounded them beyond what we could have treated. I just wished I could have been there to protect his family, but wishing won't do anything for us anymore. I need to make sure he will be alright.

The kid is now an orphan, the same as his baby brother.. And I was powerless to stop it..

But..

I won't allow these poor kids to become orphants like I did. I will not let them be abandoned and forced into a lonely life. I won't..

I gently lifted the kid in my arms as he continued to cling onto me, his crying becoming quieter as I held him tightly.

        I walked for a while before returning to the village. The child was already asleep in my arms at this point and so was most of the village. I made my way towards my house and as I entered inside I saw Leaf cuddling the brother of the kid I was carrying.

I slowly approached them, placing the kid on the family bed before taking off my armor and getting on the bed myself. As I laid down I looked at Leaf who was gently stroking the younger brother's head as he slept.

"Thank God you brought back Abel.. I was so worried about you two.." Leaf said, his eyes red from crying, "God this is all my fault.."

"No. Listen, you did everything that you could. We all knew there was nothing we could have done for their parents." I respond, touching his cheek as he closes his eyes with a pained expression.

"What is going to happen to them now? They have no family, no one. They will be orphaned and sent to the temple.. They are too young to be sent there.." Leaf cries as I try to give him some comfort.

"It's going to be alright. I.. I think I have a different idea than sending them to the temple." I respond as Leaf looks at me with confusion and sadness.

"What would that be?" He asked as he held my hand tightly.

"We could take them in and adopt them." I say as I look at the two kids laying between me and Leaf.

"Are you sure? People don't usually have kids in their early twenties anymore." Leaf asks, also looking at the kids.

"Yeah.. I am. I don't want them to go through what I had to go through.. The only question is if you are alright with it."

"I.. I owe them for not saving their parents.. But yeah, they deserve a good home.." Leaf responds, looking at them with a sorrowful expression.

"Then, the decision is made." I respond, kissing Leaf before finally allowing myself to fully lay down on the bed and rest from the long day.

"There's a long way to go, but we'll get through everything together." Leaf adds as he gets closer and cuddles with the kids.

"Yeah, as long as we are together." I respond, kissing him before finally cuddling close and closing my eyes.