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➤ Content Warnings:
-emotional trauma
-mild verbal use
-anxiety

♫ Song of the Chapter:
"There Is A Light That Never Goes Out - 2011 Remaster" by The Smiths

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Chapter 15

"Hey, Daniel!" Sean's voice rose just enough to catch Daniel's attention. "You hear that?" He pointed up toward the treetops.

Daniel's eyes widened as he followed Sean's gaze. "Is that... a bird's nest?" he asked, looking up at the cluster of sticks high in the tree branches.

Sean nodded, his voice filled with quiet wonder. "Oh yeah, there are nests all over out here."

Daniel's face softened, his expression thoughtful and distant. "At least... at least they have a home."

Sean gave him a gentle nudge, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "Come on, dude. We're too big for a nest anyway."

Daniel managed a small smile, his eyes brightening as he stepped forward. Together, we pressed on, Sean and I jumping down a small stone ledge, our feet landing with soft crunches on the forest floor below.

Daniel hesitated at the edge, his eyes darting down to us with a flicker of nervousness. "Uh, this is pretty high up..." he murmured, shifting from foot to foot.

"Come on! I got you!" Sean called up, reaching his arms out with a steadying grin. With a deep breath, Daniel let Sean lift him down. As soon as his feet hit the ground, they exchanged a quick, triumphant high-five.

"Whew...thanks!" Daniel's voice held a spark of appreciation, and his shoulders seemed to ease and the brothers gave each other a high five.

As the path began to open up, we stumbled upon a clearing. In the center stood a large, strange tree, its trunk adorned with a vibrant red mushroom that seemed almost out of place among the greens and browns of the forest.

"Uuuhhh..." Daniel muttered, tilting his head as he studied the mushroom with wide, questioning eyes.

I squinted at it, trying to recall anything I knew about mushrooms. "Looks like a clicker..." Daniel mused, and I let out a chuckle at the familiar name. "Creepy," he muttered, letting out a small chuckle as we exchanged knowing looks, the game reference sparking a shared memory between us.

Right on cue, Sean leaned in and made the clicking noise of the game's creature, low and eerie.

"Stop it!" Daniel squealed, bursting into laughter before wandering off to explore the edges of the clearing.

Sean glanced back at the mushroom with a grin, shaking his head. "Should've listened in biology class," he sighed, adopting a mock-serious tone.

I smirked, a glint of mischief in my eyes. "Looks like a 'chicken of the woods' mushroom, actually. Guess you missed your calling as a scientist."

He raised an eyebrow, a grin spreading across his face. "Of course you would know that, smartass," he shot back, a playful hint of annoyance in his voice.

"Hey, someone has to keep you informed," I said with a shrug, feigning innocence. I sidestepped a low-hanging branch. "Otherwise, you'd be out here thinking every mushroom was a clicker."

"Lost in the woods? Please," Sean said, puffing out his chest in a mock display of confidence. "I'm basically your woodland protector."

I laughed, shaking my head. "Your 'woodland protection' didn't exactly save that raccoon from running off, did it?"