Th-this is scary," Meme whispers, tremulously grabbing the drawstrings of her green hood and tightening them until only her nose and eyes are peering out into the Dark Forest. "M-Master Maka, do we really have to go through here? Aren't there better lit p-paths we can take?"
"This is the shortest path to Grandmothers," Maka states. Meme moans again, despairing at the thought of entering such a frightening place. But Maka gives her a comforting smile. "Don't worry, I know how to get there from here! We won't get lost! I did this all the time when I was your age!"
"I'm not worried about getting lost," Meme gulps, brown eyes opening exorbitantly when she sees the shadows cut frighteningly against the bark of a tree. She grabs Maka's hand, squeezing it so tightly her knuckles crack. For her part, Maka barely winces. "Ts-Tsubaki told me that a m-monster lives in the Dark Forest. She says he eats people and then takes their soul!"
Maka can't help it: she bursts out laughing. She smothers her giggles into her own red hood while Meme gapes at her. "So that's what you girls do at night," Maka shakes her head, grinning. "Tell scary stories and then you're too tired to bake in the morning! Don't believe her, Meme, there's nothing in there that can hurt us except our own imaginations. Whatever was in the forest is long gone by now-you heard the Rangers." She beams down at the girl, rubbing her head comfortingly. Meme's shoulders relax the tiniest bit and Maka considers it a victory. "Now, come on, we can't waste any more time. Grandmother is expecting us at dawn."
"Grandmother Liz sure likes dark places," Meme murmurs, hopping after Maka when she strides into the Dark Forest fearlessly. She considers the roughly hewed entrance that gave them access into the forest for a second before shrugging. Master Maka was responsible; there no way would she ever disobey the lands laws.
"It's not so bad during the day," Maka dismisses, surveying the dark trail ahead of her. She signals
