MCSM: A Rather Ridiculously Ravishing and Romantic Anthology

Act XI: Jesse

They reached the opening in the forest before it became too dark, there were high spirits within the group, particularly Jesse, since she was looking forward to being with Lukas again. "Steady on, sis! Let's find him first okay?" Jesse said, to which his sister just nodded. You'll be mine again...

No sooner had darkness embalmed the sky, and the group was forced to camp for the night. Gathering up all the dirt they could cough up, they set up a wall enclosing their camp (one good use for ALL that useless dirt in your inventory!) and ignited a small fire using some charcoal and a shabby flint and steel (who needs a complicated when you can just strike any normal ingot of iron with any piece of flint?)

They all sat around the fire, eating carrots they brought along, Jesse was determined to find his best friend again and glue all the pieces of his sister's pulverised heart back together and to normal working order. "Don't you worry, we'll find him. If he's trekked for 6 months, he'll be as far as the Red Plains from here, and it would take years to cross. If we're lucky, we'll find him there."

"Thank you Jesse, for doing this. You're doing me a huge favour, and I appreciate that." Jesse responded with a faint grin, and Petra lightly smacked him in the back, and said "Jesse. I just wanted to say that... I'm sorry for chastising you that day. It's just that... I lost control and got so pissed off at you. He was your best friend, and friends are always there for each other, like when your sister saved me from the storm, and you did your best to keep Reuben safe- sorry. I am so sorry for saying such horrible things about you..."

Overcome with relief, Jesse lightly cuddled her, and her sorrow was dissipated. "Hey, it's okay. Things like these happen, and some people will get pissed, but in the end, we're all still friends, eh?" But Petra nodded no and whispered "Not for you and I," and Jesse was so discomforted, he backed against the wall. "What? But I thought we-" he was abruptly interrupted when Petra pressured her finger against his lips to silence him. "Allow me to finish..." she uttered, and before Jesse could intervene, or start chatting, he was silenced again, and he relaxed (isn't obscurity just wonderful?).

"Now I've finished," she said quietly. Silence. Silence. And more silence, except the crackle from the fire. "Ooooooh, riiiight. Now I get it..." Jesse then replied, knowing what Petra was trying to mean with her unnecessarily cryptic words. He turned to notice his sister was bundled in a corner and she wasn't even trying to stay warm. "Hey, what are you doing? It's gonna be freezing out her by tomorrow, you gotta warm up."

"I know, it's just that... we've never seen each other for months. What if he's... different? Changed? Or worse... not happy to see us?" Jesse understood her worry and tried to console her. "What makes you think a guy like Lukas would be upset to see you? He's probs missing you so much right now, so don't flatten your hopes like that. Look up, not down." and he received a slight nod accompanied by a worried look.

Jesse lay against the wall, he eyed his sister as she bundled beside the fire for warmth, and thought. Worried? About what? She's probably just tired; she'll be fine by tomorrow. I hope... Bundling up by Petra, who was already asleep, Jesse took one last whiff of the evening air.

Good night. I hope we can find Lukas before it's too late... I can't keep seeing my sister like this...