Lost (Trequel to "Sight")

Lost In the Woods

"Rose? Rose, are you okay?"

Tears streamed down Rose's face as she sat up, breathing hard. She lifted her hands to look at them-- they were back to being solid. Everyone was crowded around her, looks of worry on their face.

"It... it was just a dream?" she asked no one in particular.

Varian put a hand over her's. "What was just a dream?"

"I... I was sitting at the edge of a forest, when someone ran out of it. I went to go grab them, but I was transparent, as if I was a ghost. I thought I was..." Dead.

Varian pulled her into a hug, and she felt more tears escape her eyes. "I was so scared. I didn't want to be dead. Not for myself, but for you."

"I know this is all emotional for you, but do you remember who that person was?" Rae asked. "Maybe you had this dream for a reason."

Rose shook her head. "They wore a cloak-- I couldn't see what they looked like. But... they seemed like they were older. Not elderly, but not super young, either."

"Could it... could it have been my mom?" Varian inquired, staring into Rose's eyes.

"Possibly," Rose answered, wiping the tears off her face.

"Do you remember where this forest was?" Excitement built up in his voice.

"It was next to a small village," Rose explained. "It didn't look like much and was really small."

"I recognize that description." It was Nova who had spoken. "I think... I think that's my hometown."

"Could you show us where it is?"

"I-I think I remember where it is. I'm pretty certain it was on the outskirts of Bayangor," Nova explained.

"So it shouldn't be too far from here," Varian replied. He glanced outside the tent-- the sun had just risen. "We should probably go now, so then we can get there before dark."

They all got out of the tent, which Varian then turned back into pocket size, then headed towards the silhouette of Bayangor in the distance.

. . .

It didn't take long to reach the kingdom, since it was a straight line from point A to point B. There was a forest sitting right next to it, too, which they assumed was the one from Rose's dream. The people in the kingdom didn't pay much attention to them, which was perfectly fine by them. After that last incident with Oskar, they didn't want to risk trusting anyone. So instead, they silently padded up to the large, green forest.

"So, should we go through the forest, or around it?" Rae asked, staring up at the tall trees.

Rose looked to each side of the forest. It seemed to stretch on for miles. "I think we should go through it."

"Woo, I've always wanted to venture through a creepy forest," Kenny groaned. Rae nudged him in the ribs with her elbow.

"Well... this is definitely going to be a first adventure I'll never forget," Splash said as they started walking into the ominous forest. "First retrieving a necklace and almost being thrown in jail for it, now walking through a spooky forest."

"Pfft. This is nothing compared to my first adventure," Viper bragged. He glanced over at Nova. "There was this deadly viper-"

"Not again with the viper," Musica moaned. "It was a piece of paper."

Viper folded his arms. "You're always a party pooper."

The tree's branches started to get longer and thinner-- they almost looked like clawed hands reaching out for them. It really freaked them out. Fog entered into the atmosphere, and soon that was all they could see.

"Guys?" Rose asked into the void. There were distant replies, nothing she could really make out. Panic flooded through her. Were they all going to be separated?

Rose held out her hands, hoping someone would be there. Eventually, a hand grabbed hers. She pulled them closer to her; it was Nova.

She let out a sigh of relief. At least she had someone. "Do you know where the others are?" Nova shook his head. "Oh, I hope the others are alright."

"Thank goodness I have you, sugar," Viper said to Rae, taking her hand. Rae wanted to pull her hand back, but knew that could risk losing him again.

"Alright, you can hold my hand. Just please stop calling me that."

"Oh, alright," Viper said with a small smile. "Hopefully we can find the others."

"Do you have any ideas on how we can find them?" Rae quizzed.

"Well, if we keep walking, we're bound to reach the end eventually. So we could just wait by the edge until they, too, find their way out, or go back in, knowing where we are this time."

"That... is surprisingly a good idea," Rae admitted.

"I'm more than just a pretty face, you know."

Kenny looked over at Splash, who was shaking with fear. The poor kid was just expecting a short trip to retrieve a necklace, and that's it. Now he was stuck with a group of people he hardly knew in a creepy forest. And now, he was left alone with Kenny, someone he had just met yesterday.

Kenny wanted to comfort the kid, but had no idea how. Sympathizing wasn't exactly his thing. Usually he'd just stare at the floor as the other person vented, or awkwardly pat them on the back. He took a deep breath and held out a hand towards Splash.

"Do you... do you want some comfort?"

Splash stared at Kenny's outstretched palm, then a small smile appeared on his face. He took it gratefully. "Thanks."

Musica and Varian walked shoulder to shoulder, trying to find their way back to the others. There was no conversation, and the silence was eerie.

"So..." Musica started, trying to break the ice. "Your mom's been gone for thirteen years?"

"Yeah," Varian replied. "My dad always told me she was dead... but I never really believed it. I knew she was still out there somewhere."

"You know, it's kind of crazy," Musica slightly laughed as Varian turned towards her with an eyebrow raised. "I actually had an aunt named Ulla."

"Oh, really? What was she like?"

Musica rubbed her arm. "I never met her. But my mom used to talk about her." She looked back up at him. "She said that she had a husband named Quirin and-"

"Wait, wait, wait." Varian put up his hands. "Quirin? That... that's my dad's name."

Musica's eyes widened. "Really? If so, then that means..."

"We're cousins!"