Chapter 17
Ren struggled to believe his eyes. He blinked rapidly, trying to confirm that what he was seeing was real. A small, scruffy boy, no older than seven, stood before them, staring curiously at the makeshift shelter. His clothes were torn, his hair wild, and he was barefoot, but what caught Ren's attention was the way the boy held himself—there was a calm confidence in his posture, as though he belonged here, in the wild.
Before Ren could react, he quickly shook Lira awake. The girl was startled, eyes snapping open. She froze for a moment, her senses taking in their surroundings, before her eyes widened in shock as she saw the boy standing at the edge of their trap-laden shelter.
The boy gave a small grin, his bright eyes full of mischief. "Don't worry," he said, his voice calm and clear despite his youth. "I'm not here to hurt you."
Lira gasped, scrambling to her feet in alarm. "Who are you?" she demanded, her hand instinctively reaching for her dagger.
The boy raised his hands, clearly unthreatened by their reaction. "I'm Kian," he said simply. "I've been here before. I wasn't sure if you'd be friendly, but I guess I should have guessed you'd be just fine."
Ren exchanged a look with Lira, both of them confused and still on edge. After a moment of silence, Ren found his voice. "How did you get past our traps?" he asked, his voice laced with suspicion.
Kian grinned again, the kind of grin that suggested he knew something the others didn't. "I'm a swordsman," he replied. "And I have... a special ability. I can tame animals, even the biggest ones, as long as they're not stronger than me." He shrugged nonchalantly. "I've been using the local creatures to help me figure out my way around. Animals talk, you know."
Ren's eyes widened in astonishment. "You can talk to animals?" He'd heard of such magic, but he'd never seen it used by anyone his age.
Kian nodded. "Yeah. I started with ants, believe it or not. They're great for figuring out paths and finding food. Once you can talk to one, the rest are easy. They helped me find my way here."
Ren was silent for a moment, his mind whirling with questions. "But... how did you avoid our traps? You didn't fall for any of them."
The boy smirked. "Like I said, I'm agile. I've spent a lot of time in these forests. I've gotten used to moving quietly, and my little friends help guide me through. Those traps of yours? They're good, but I know how to get around them."
Lira's eyes narrowed as she considered his words. She had already seen the boy's calm and collected demeanor, but now the idea of him taming animals, navigating the wild with ease—it all seemed too much to be a mere coincidence. "So... you've been living here for a while?" she asked cautiously.
Kian nodded. "Yeah. I've been coming here for the past two weeks. It's hard to survive alone, but I've figured out the basics. I just need food, and... I'm not used to company."
Ren couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this boy's story than he was letting on, but now wasn't the time to press for details. He was still processing the shock of their unexpected guest. "You came here twice, then?"
"Yep. I'm not sure if it's just luck or something else, but I always find my way back. Animals help guide me, and it's the only place where I can get some peace." Kian sat down near the shelter, finally easing himself into the quiet surroundings. "I figured it was time to introduce myself."
Ren and Lira exchanged glances, both of them realizing that, despite the boy's unusual abilities, they had no reason to fear him. After all, they were both in the same situation—lost in this wild place with no clear way out. They'd have to work together if they wanted to survive.
"Well," Ren said, breaking the silence, "you're welcome to stay for a while. We're planning to leave soon, though."
Kian looked up at Ren, then at Lira, as if weighing the situation. "I don't know where you're headed, but I've been thinking about heading out soon myself. Maybe we can help each other."
Lira studied Kian for a long moment. "Why are you out here alone?" she asked. "A kid like you shouldn't be wandering these dangerous lands."
Kian shrugged again, a playful grin spreading across his face. "I'm a swordsman, remember? And I've got my magic to help me out."
Lira couldn't argue with that logic, though Ren couldn't help but be cautious about just how much this boy really knew. "Alright," Ren said finally. "We leave in an hour, after we rest. Stick with us if you want, but don't get in our way."
Kian stood up, his expression serious now. "I won't. I've been in worse situations." He glanced toward the horizon. "But maybe it's time to stop surviving and start finding a way out of here."
With that, Ren and Lira settled in, ready to discuss their plans for the next leg of their journey, while Kian sat silently beside them. Together, they would head out into the wilds, each of them hoping to find some shred of hope in the vast, unknown world they had been thrust into.