Wanderlust

Episode thirteen

They both keep walking in silence. Normally, that wouldn´t be a problem, for neither of them. But walking together, for hours, in silence is starting to become a little awkward. "So...ghosts.. are real huh?" Silence. The witch sighs. "
Yeah, probably not a good topic." Another few minutes pass by without a sound, from both of them. Thinking about it, they never really needed to talk with each other anyways. But it was different back then. The wolf was mostly watching the witch write something, eating or sleeping. And the small person was mostly writing and watching over the beast. Nothing that needed to be accompanied with conversation. While walking, they can´t write, sleep or distract themselves much otherwise. So the silence is making this a little uncomfortable.
"So, got a name?"
What a stupid question, coming from a person, that can´t even remember their own name. Even if the beast had a name, how would he tell them?
"Can I give you a name?"
No reaction, so he probably has nothing against it.
"Then your name shall be..."
they look around and think for a second.
"Rufus!"
An annoyed look faces them.
"It´s the only thing I can think of right now. So you´ll either take that or something worse might come."
The beast grunts and walks faster, but the witch doesn´t seem to notice.
"Now that I´ve given you a name, maybe you should become my pet and I´ll put a collar on you,"
he jokes. Rufus, however, doesn't seem to find that very funny and attempts to bite him.
"Hey! I was just messing around, geez. I wouldn´t even touch a collar. I´m not a big fan of these things either.."
Their hand wanders up to their throat, clearly tracing something, hiding under the scarf. Suddenly, Rufus twitches with his ears and starts lightly growling, into the direction of a tree. The witch now also looks into that direction and carefully takes out their sword. He would´ve liked it, if he still had his bow. But apparently, that still lies within the tree,
"Oh, now. No need for that."
A man comes forth from the tree, having his hands in the air, to surrender.
"I didn´t mean to alarm you guys, or to eavesdrop on you. My carriage just lost a wheel, and I was searching for someone to help me, get my stuff back to the city."
"The haunted one?"
"What?"
"Nevermind. But well, as much as we would want to help, old man, I don´t believe we are very welcomed at your home town. So, we would like to decline your trap. Have a nice day."
He waves the man goodbye and moves on. Rufus stares at the elderly person, for a second, before following the witch again. "No, no! You are misunderstanding! I am not trying to lure you into a trap. The city allows travelers with beasts, as long as the beasts don´t start to go wild."
The man runs after them. Still, 666 hides his face with his scarf. "Why would we wanna help you?"
"Well, I could provide you food or something else. I am sure, as a traveler, rations are a very limited thing. You could also take a bath at my home, so that you.., you know, don´t smell like blood anymore."
The witch abruptly comes to a hold and draws their weapon at the man´s throat.
"What was that?"
their voice deepens with anger and their eyes start glowing a little.
"Nothing, nothing."
he surrenders again, with a scared smile. As the blade leaves his vision, he begins to breathe normally again.
"So, will you help me?"
"You insult me and still have the guts to beg me for help? Foolish hu-.."
he comes to a hold and clears his throat.
"Don´t worry, your secret is safe with me."
"Huh?"
The witch turns around.
"Normal people don´t have such a mesmerising eye color."
Out of instinct, the small person pulls their hood deeper into their face.
"You´re really a weird human." "That might be true, but it comes with the job. Well, not exactly, but I do this job a little more professionally than others."
The witch sighs.
"Alright, where is your carriage."
"I knew it! I knew witches don´t really have a stone cold heart. Thank you very much, this way, please."
With excitement, the man takes the lead.
"Witch, huh..?"
they mumble to themselves.
"Did I say anything wrong?"
"No, keep walking."
Rufus nudges the small person´s arm.
"What is it?
"The beast grunts.
"Oh come on. It´s not like we have anything better to do. Also, he´s right, we do need to refill our stuff and maybe..take a bath.."
"If you´d like, I can also give you a collar for your pet."
Rufus barks at the man, followed by growling.
"I suggest you not to. And he´s not my pet, more like... a friend?" the witch looks at the creature with a questioning look. Apparently, he seems to have nothing against that status. "Alright, you really are an unordinary witch. Say, what is your name, maybe I have heard of it before?"
"Uhm,..it´s..."
their voice becomes quiet. They've heard that question before, when they were still in hell. Alice has asked them that, and so did Philo. And back then, they answered by showing the number on their arm. The people who attacked him, a few weeks ago, called him crying witch, which was probably because of his condition. Tho, they seemed to know him from somewhere. Not personally, but they did mention, that he was not supposed to be alive or something. But they didn´t say a name.
"..-s your name?"
The man's voice slowly fades back into 666's consciousness, asking his question again.
"What, oh, ehm.."
Suddenly, a book makes it´s appearance in the witch´s memory.
"Sag...Sag Island..?"
The man comes to a hold and twitches, as he hears the name. Then he turns around and smiles.
"No, never heard of it."
he continues his walk. That was weird. Even Rufus is grunting at his behavior. Maybe, picking that name was a bad idea.