➤ 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?"
Sean put a hand over his heart in feigned offense. "That was a tactical retreat. I was letting you take the lead!"
"Sure," I said with a smirk, giving him a nudge. "If we survive this, maybe you should consider a career in mushroom identification."
Just then, Daniel skipped back toward us, curiosity lighting up his face. "What's a chicken of the woods?" he asked, glancing between us.
I exchanged a glance with Sean, momentarily stumped before I explained, pointing at the mushroom from before.
"It's a type of mushroom, not actually chicken, though."
"Sounds boring," Daniel replied with a shrug, clearly unimpressed.
"Well, if you ever decide to make dinner for us one day, just remember to avoid this one," Sean said, his voice dripping with exaggerated seriousness.
"Yeah, Daniel, let's avoid the hospital," I added with a grin.
Daniel rolled his eyes but couldn't help smiling. "Fine, I'll just stick to pizza, then!"
"Smart choice, little wolf," Sean said, ruffling Daniel's hair affectionately as we continued along the path.
The air felt lighter now, the laughter and teasing lifting some of the weight pressing on us. The trees began to sway gently in the breeze, their leaves whispering like secrets above us, and for a brief moment, the world felt like an adventure again, not a desperate escape.
Just then, Daniel stopped, pointing at a cluster of wildflowers at the edge of the clearing. "Look! Flowers!" he exclaimed, darting over to them with wide eyes.
"Careful, don't wander off too far," I called, glancing back at Sean, who was already watching Daniel with a protective gaze.
"Yeah, we don't need you chasing another raccoon," Sean added, his smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Okay, okay! I won't!" Daniel called back, plopping down beside the flowers to examine them closely, his little fingers tracing the petals with wonder.
As I watched him, a quiet warmth blossomed within me. In moments like these, it was almost easy to forget the shadows looming over us.
"Hey, Zaira," Sean's voice broke through my thoughts, his eyes glinting with a teasing look. "If you're such a mushroom expert, what do you think about that one?" He gestured toward another red mushroom growing on a tree.
I pretended to consider it thoughtfully. "Could be a new species. I'd call it the 'Sean mushroom'—known for its distinct sound and questionable survival skills."
"Wow, you're really pushing it today, huh?" Sean shot back, his laughter blending with mine as we continued down the path. Our laughter echoed through the trees, adding a hint of warmth to the journey and making the weight of it all feel just a bit lighter.
But Daniel was nowhere in sight. The calmness around us settled deeper, replacing the tension that had usually accompanied us. I felt a sense of ease, a rare moment of peace in this tangled escape.
"Daniel!" Sean called out, his voice breaking the quiet as we pressed forward.
Just then, from behind a thick tree trunk, Daniel sprang up, his face alight with mischief. "Muhhwaaahhh!" he yelled, the sound ringing through the clearing like a battle cry.
Startled, Sean instinctively grabbed my hand, his grip firm, and I blinked, surprised at the sudden contact.
For a second, our eyes met, a flicker of surprise and something else passing between us.
"I got you!" Daniel shouted, clearly triumphant, looking up at Sean with a smirk.
Sean quickly shook his head, dropping my hand with cheeks tinted faintly pink. "Dude! You struck out. That..did not scare me," he insisted, though the faint blush betrayed him.
I bit back a smile, catching the embarrassed look on his face. Daniel, meanwhile, was practically vibrating with laughter.
"Liar! Liar!" he crowed, grinning from ear to ear. "I saw your face!"
"That was... uh... surprise," Sean muttered, trying to brush it off. He ran his fingers through his hair, a nervous gesture he always did when flustered.
"I don't know," I said, teasingly, a playful glint in my eye. "I think you lost it the moment you grabbed my hand."
Sean shot me a look, equal parts embarrassed and amused, as Daniel chimed in, wiggling his eyebrows. "Yeah, Sean, grabbing Zaira's hand—that was just... instinct, huh?"
"Shut up, Daniel. That was... yeah, it was just instinct," Sean stammered, scratching the back of his neck, his gaze fixed anywhere but on me.
I chuckled. "Instinct, huh? Well, I guess I'm lucky to be your first instinct."
"Yeah, well... it's not like I meant to," he mumbled, still avoiding my gaze. Then he glanced at Daniel, eager to shift the focus. "Maybe you scared me for like... one second."
Daniel beamed, clearly satisfied. "Ha! I got you! I eat you! Don't mess with the zombie!" He threw his arms out, pretending to stagger like a monster.
Soon we made it to the riverbank, and Daniel's eyes lit up as he spotted a large rock formation nearby. "Ooohhh... looks like a cave," he said, inching closer, the excitement and curiosity clear on his face.
He peered inside, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Kind of... kind of spooky..."
Sean crouched down to examine the stone opening, his face lighting up as an idea took shape. "No, actually... it's kind of perfect," he said, scanning the area thoughtfully.
"For what?" Daniel asked, frowning in confusion.
"For us, man," Sean replied with a grin, swinging his backpack off his shoulder. "This could be... our secret base!"
I dropped my bag beside his, and a wave of relief washed over me, as if a weight I didn't realize I'd been carrying had finally lifted.
Daniel hesitated, glancing around the cave. "We're really gonna stay here? I dunno..."
"Come on, Daniel," Sean encouraged, his tone gentle but persuasive. "Look, this can be our own hideout. Our secret spot where no one can find us."
Daniel's expression softened as he took in the space. "Hmmmm. I bet we could keep orcs from getting us in here," he murmured, a touch of imagination sparking in his eyes.
"Exactly!" Sean laughed, clearly enjoying this turn of playfulness. "First, we need a fire, though. Right?"
Daniel nodded eagerly, his eyes shining. "Right! Yes! Uh... what do we need?"
Sean crouched to Daniel's level, his voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "Okay, you need to build a fort. Something strong enough to keep out orcs, trolls...everything."
I high-fived Daniel, joining in. "I'll help with the fort. We're going to build the best one out here."
"Yes!" Daniel cheered, his excitement infectious. "We can make traps, too! Nothing's getting past us!"
"Awesome idea, dude," Sean said, giving Daniel an approving nod.
Daniel grinned, full of self-assurance. "I know," he replied proudly, already envisioning the fort he'd create.
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Chapter 15 is up!
We get a few more sweet moments with Zaira, Sean, and Daniel.
Hope you liked this one and are excited for what's coming next!