"Go where… my place was... I don't even know where here is." Their head sunk as the laid against the sand their vision trailing to the light of the fire.
Ayumi leaned back with her hands folded behind her head.
"I bet the stars are pretty tonight."
"It's cloudy..."
Ayumi smiled as she closed her eyes. "I bet they are still pretty."
/////////
The rain poured down on the beach sending streams of water through the soft sands. The stone pit fire sent up white billowing clouds as it smoked and choked in the drench. Lightning flashed overhead as the skies darkened casting clawing shadows from the branches. Winds rolled against the shores sending debris of leaves, twigs, dirt, and sand against any unfortunate soul caught in the opening.
The three sat bunched up along the edge of the dirt wall above them a forest thicket with a slight canopy of tree branches covered them from the rains. Hakk was tossed horizontally between the two with a makeshift nappy covering him up.
Ayumi sat with legs bent to her chin and arms under knees, her purple hair draped over her face as water trickled from the strands. Her eyes still baring the red where white was to be.
The other huddled in the same manner, buried in their cloak as their long hair curled against the added moisture.
"You going to get your stuff?"
"Nope."
Above them, a spout of water rushed down as it broke the mud bank half covering Ayumi in a slew of muddy water and dirt clay.
"It's only going to get wetter."
Ayumi glared to the other as she pulled herself out of the slurry.
The other turned their head as they buried a smile under their drenched attire.
They cleared their throat and coughed slightly. "How are your eyes?"
"Fine enough."
Ayumi stood mud dripped from her form, with muscles trembling she stomped towards the shore. The other watched as she walked to the water's edge and in diving deep below the waves. For several moments she remained as the waves continued to lick the edge of the shoreline eating away the sands.
Above them, behind heavy clouds, the moons set as the sun rose, through breaks overhead, it's rays reached for the ground illuminating what it could reach. The rains carried on a chill sinking in the air as the winds drifted down to a lull.
Ayumi broke the water's surface standing mostly clean of the mud. Turning back to shore she trudged out of the water. She paused before the other and looked squinting, gently rubbing her eyes she squinted again. "Were you always like that?"
"Like what?"
"You're different..?"
They looked at their arms and clothes. "No?"
"You're brighter."
"If you say so."
Taking a deep breath Ayumi looked over the campsite. The rain now coming in a gentle mist had killed the fire and soaked thoroughly every article of their belongings.
"Time for your idea." Ayumi looked to the other with a solemn stare.
-----
The three made their way across the soggy sands. Rain and sweat poured down their faces as their cheeks turned red, Ayumi's breath labored as the other wavered on their feet. Hakk was suspended between the two, Ayumi holding his torso up with arms folded in front and the box at her back. His legs were crossed over with the other holding them up under their left arm and the satchel hugging his right hip. Across Hakks midsection a cloth had been wrapped and draped, though it ends were coming undone.
"Break break…" Ayumi's knees staggered as the three sank to the sand.
Setting Hakk down Ayumi fell backward into the sands. Taking deep breaths the other sat knees folded and hunched over.
"This isn't a corpse?" The words came slowly as the other eyed Hakk up and down.
"Huh?"
"He doesn't breath."
"Oh, Hakk skin breaths it's pretty cool-" Ayumi crawled over to the other and sat up. "It's kinda hard to see, here-" Ayumi took the others hand in hers touching it to Hakks back. "Cold?"
"Yay -What are you-"
"Wait." Ayumi lifted their hands the width of a sword away from his back. Against the cold air about them warm air began to touch the palm of their hand, pulling it back they looked at Ayumi.
"How?"
Ayumi shrugged. "The bonus? He doesn't snore!" She smiled as she dug in her satchel and pulled out a small leather flask, taking from it a small sip she offered it to the other.
The other shook their head and looked out over the ocean. "Would he-"
Ayumi's face grew distance as the whites of her eyes engulfed her dilated pupils shaking her head back and forth as she looked at the other.
Continuing the two made their way along the shore. The thicket that lined its edge seemed unbroken and overgrown with bush and plant alike.
"COME ON!" Ayumi exhaled "Break!"
The two laid Hakk down against a nearby grassy area. Ayumi's stomach shifted, holding it she looked down and then at the other, and then around her. The beach was barren the sky and trees too.
"Where are the creatures?"
"Creatures?"
"Creepie crawlies, slimy dudes, birds, stuff like that, you're using your foggy powers again!"
"It's not fog it's… water and…" The other looked around their eyes darting as their mind turned.
Ayumi stared at the other. "You're doing that thing again!"
"It's not intentional! I swear, I mean…I'm not meaning to, you said about the forest I must have...I."
"Turn it off."
"Why?! It keeps us from those things!"
"If I knocked you out would it stop."
"Ye- no, don't!" The other put their hands above their head closing their eyes tightly they formed a ball.
"You want to keep walking this beach for something or someplace forever?"
"What do animals have to do with that…?" They pulled their hands to their side and eyed Ayumi.
"They can help point the right direction if I find one."
"Um…okay…I'll try."
One eternity later...
"Okay, I'm going to gently hit you with this log."
"Don't!"
"Joke, if I walk far enough I'll exit it right?"
"Eventually, I guess?"
"Be back before sundown, probably!"
Ayumi walked to the edge of the bush thicket, in the sparsest part she entered the treeline. Beyond the straggly trees that willowed at the edge of the beach was underbrush speckled with moss and viny branches. The breeze of the wind flowed through the trunks of slender white-barked birch trees. Pressing forward she moved further from her companions, raising her hands she cupped her ears as her face contorted she let out a hiss of air between her teeth. A ringing pierced through her head as she leaned heavily to the trunk of a nearby tree.
The creepies and the crawlies, the cawing of birds echoed in her ears in chaotic undertones as she took a few deep breaths, the corners of her mouth rose as Ayumi's eyes lightened. Rain echoed in the air as it drummed on the leaves and ground beneath, her steps quickened as her ears rose and fell with the sounds about.
-----
The other sat on the beach knees resting at their chest, the waves came and went in a lulling motion, above the clouds moved as turtles, the greys deepening. Across the waters, white caps rose and fell.
"Found one!"
The other jumped to a stand as they pulled their hands tight to their torso. Their face met with Ayumi's as goosebumps raised across their skin.
Ayumi walked around them and picked up the box put it on her back, tossing the satchel over her shoulder.
"It's a way into the brush, but at least it can keep the rain off us."
"W-what about the forest? Are they there? Those things?"
Ayumi shrugged. "If they are there, we aren't the menu currently."
"How do you know it's safe?"
"Don't" Ayumi smiled.
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