Shadow Requiem

Chapter 17: Recurrence

~~[928 Words]~~

Yuren yanked on his clothes, still warm from drying, and shrugged off the remaining damp spots. "Yosshh! Good enough," he said. His outfit was wrinkled and looked like it had seen better days, but whatever. He gave himself a brush-down, flicked off some lingering grime, and squared his shoulders—pumped up and ready for that bandana.

Amaya picked that moment to show up.

"Oh! Amaya, there you are." He grinned at her, honest relief on his face. But then, out of nowhere, Amaya crashed to the ground. No warning. Just hit the dirt, twitching and spasming, looking like she'd grabbed a high-voltage wire.

"Amaya—"

Yuren didn't even think. He rushed over, heart pounding. She'd been with him forever—since he could remember. Everywhere he went, she followed. He had childhood memories of her swirling in front of him. Not a guardian angel he'd ever asked for, but definitely the one he got. Of course he loved her, even before he knew what that meant. His hands scooped her up without hesitation.

He cradled Amaya, covering her completely between his palms, her little wings flopped open.

"Amaya, are you okay?" He paused. "Hey." He gently shook her. Nothing. He switched her to his right palm and poked her soft cheek, hoping to wake her up. Still no response.

He wasn't giving up that easy.

Yuren changed his approach. He started rubbing her side with his finger, up and down, slow and steady. Finally, she twitched, then sprang back to life.

But she didn't act like herself. She darted off his palm, and before he could even blink, she started pecking him—hard—right on top of his head. Over and over. He couldn't make sense of it. She was like a bird possessed.

"Ow—Ow—Ow. What is wrong with you?"

Yuren staggered back and he fell down.

Amaya dropped again. Second time today.

"Ow! " He pushed himself upright, rubbing his back where he'd landed. "What's your problem—"

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That's when everything got quiet. He looked down. Amaya sprawled face-first in the dirt.

"Amaya?—"

He eased closer, his hands shaking a little, and flipped her over. She didn't move. He nearly pulled back, half-freaked—until he saw her tongue hanging out.

He nudged her again, but she was completely still.

"Amaya, are you actually dead?" Yuren said, his voice flat. "Hey." He tried once more. Still nothing. Sighing, he set her on top of Baby Giant's snout. "Stay there for now. Baby Giant, you watch her, alright? I need to finish dressing up."

Yuren scooped up the rest of his clothes—pants and underwear—and dressed quick. "Alright—done. Way better."

He turned to check on Amaya, ready to fuss over her again.

"So. Only thing left—grab that bandana." He glanced at the sky. The sun was tilting west, and daylight was burning fast. "It's probably around two. No more beating around the bush—gotta move."

He took off—not for Amaya and not out of worry alone, but to figure out where he'd ended up. How far did he drift?

Still—

"Wait—" He stopped cold.

"If I came from here, we started at the stream," he said to himself, holding his hand palm-out to mark the path behind him. "From the stream, left, then right—past the mud trap…here."

He pieced together every step with just memory and instinct.

Into the thicker part of the woods, overgrown, tangled with grass and trees—that's where he ran. He scaled an old, massive tree draped in vines and moss. The structure wasn't complicated, and he moved up it like it was nothing. He stopped at the halfway point, settling onto a thick branch. From there, a towering tree came into view—the first one he'd climbed. The one hiding what he came for.

The bandana.

"Finally found it." He shook his head. "Didn't realize how far I'd wandered—can't even see the old wall from here. Doesn't matter. I'll just have to move faster."

He hopped down from the tree without breaking a sweat.

Baby Giant was right where he left him, lounging and watching while Amaya sprawled across his lap like she owned everything.

"Baby Giant, let's go."

Almost on cue, Amaya woke up—zipped up into the air like nothing at all had happened.

Baby Giant let out a cheerful noise, the cute kind that never matched his huge size.

"Glad you're back, Amaya," Yuren called. "Seriously, you had me scared for a minute."

Nothing but silence from Amaya. She hovered, staring, then without a word, zipped away through the gap they'd come from, doing her own thing again.

"Amaya—Where are you going? Not that way—" Too late. She was gone. He just let out a long breath.

"Come on, Baby Giant. She can handle herself."

Baby Giant looked back, caught between sitting and standing. It couldn't be clearer: he wanted Yuren to climb aboard.

Yuren grinned and said nothing. He clambered onto Baby Giant—no small feat, clinging to its rough back like he was the world's worst rider. He found a decent seat at the nape of its neck.

Baby Giant stood to full height. Ready.

"Yosshh! Let's go—Baby Giant, you know which way, right?"

Baby Giant bellowed, eager as always.

"Alright then—let's ride!" Yuren shouted, holding tight for whatever came next.

Baby Giant took off, barreling into the wildest part of the forest.

It definitely knew the way. Of course it did.

[Do i have any loyal readers there? Anyone? Please leave a comment, i want to know! Peace ^^]