Blake stares deeply at the bonfire that light up in front of him. He can't sleep yet because now is his turn to watch the cave, their home. Tonight's wind is cold, just like any other days. But it is not really a problem for Blake, he and his partner used to it since they had live here for nobody knows how long. So it's just like a routine task for him to stay awake in the middle of the night.
Sometimes, Blake think about his condition right now. Why can't he remember the reason he and Wyatt stranded in this vast desert that had nothing but wild animals? Since the first time he opened his eyes, he just remembered his and Wyatt's name. Other than that, it's blank with no clue. Blake couldn't careless about all of that stuff since they lost in his memory.
Except one thing.
Who is he?
His own dreams lately is always bugging him like a broken recorded video. He always dream about a silver-haired woman, such like a divine goddess, cry for help in the middle of the crescent-shaped lake.
"...O the fallen one... Please... Save Winongard... Save this world..."
"She is crying... The Mother Winongard... She is suffered by such a strong ominous and evil force... Please hurry... You got to save her..."
Confused but also worried, there's a little urge in Blake's heart to go on a journey and find what's actually happen in this world. But deep in his heart, he doubt it. How come he can save the world if he doesn't even know who he really is?
Whenever he look at himself on the water surface, he always had the feeling that maybe he was a knight or a student from some magical school that lost his memories because of some accident. But if he think about it again, it's impossible if a mere student would bring such a huge scythe with him.
The black, huge scythe with a word 'Darkfrost' engraved on it's blade. it's already there since the first time he opened his eyes. He also can cast a few ice magic spells that make it impossible if he only a mere student. But, what about Wyatt?
He only wear monochromatic stuff, and the only thing that doesn't monochromatic is only his right eye while his left eye is covered by a black eyepatch. It just impossible to think that Wyatt is a knight or warrior. Moreover, Wyatt is an androgynous person in Blake's opinion. his face is... quite charming. But those charm is only his outer shell. Inside, he's somewhat rude and brutal.
His behavior always makes Blake think that Wyatt is the Daredevil himself. He doesn't know why, but certainly his partner isn't someone who can be judged by his appearance only.
Blake looked back at the starry night sky from the gap in the ceiling of the small cave. His uncovered left eye were glued to the stars that were presented while he questioning himself.
Is it true that he willingly to leave his comfort zone for an adventure to find his identity that even he himself doesn't know the truth, and then save the world like some other protagonist on their journey, just like what he told in his dream? Will it be worth his time?
"The world... Will Winongard really be destroyed if I don't act just like that woman said?"
Blake's deep voice broke the silence that had been holding him. He still hesitant to get out of his comfort zone. He couldn't decide all of this alone. He needs help and a little rest.
"Tch, my own mind's really messed me up. I need to talk to Wyatt about this next morning." He grumbles as he lean to the wall behind him and begin to close his eyes slowly.
* * *
A glimmer of warm light slowly awaken the young man who had just slept for a few hours. The bonfire that danced in the center of the cave all night had been extinguished, leaving some charcoal and ashes left over from burning. Slowly, Blake rise from his reclining position, stretch himself and slowly approach his partner. Blake shook his shoulders. And then he woke up, blinked an eye as red as the color of blood and sat up and leaned against the cave wall.
"Yawn~ mornin' Blake. What's for breakfast today?"
Gently rubbing his right eyelid which isn't wrapped in black eyepatch, Wyatt stares at Blake.
"Is something wrong, pal?"
Yet Blake is still in silent. His thoughts began to messed up with him again.
'What if Wyatt doesn't agree with my plan to get out of this desert and prefers to stay here forever?'
"Blake, if there's something you want to say, just say it okay?"
Wyatt's smooth yet masculine voice had shocked him. The young man stares back at his partner who now smiles at him. What should he do? Should he really told Wyatt about his plan?
"We..." he gulped, still doubting about his decision. "We will get out from this desert."
"Ah, i see." He nodded, half-drowsy. "...Wait what? What do you mean? Isn't this is our home?"
"Uh..."
Confusion, that's what Wyatt had in his face right now. Well it can't be helped, though. His conscience must be still off somewhere. Or is it because Blake doesn't explain it very well?
"Answer me, Blake. Why in the world do you want to get out from our own home? Isn't this cave comfortable enough for the two of us?"
He froze. He can't explain it to Wyatt. Gulping again, he tries to find a word that can he use to convince Wyatt. It's not so easy since he's not very good at words, but he hope that this word of his choice will convince his partner to at least understand his reason.
"We'll... go for a journey to search our true self. I know, we don't have any destination. But, at least it's better than stay here doing nothing, right? I... if you don't want to come with me, then... I won't force you. I'll go by myself. But remember, Wyatt. This journey was meant to search our lost memories. The memories that shapes us for who we are right now. So... it's your choice. You can go whatever path you choose. That's what you always said to me... right?"
He just responded it with nod and hum. But then, as if those answers just kicking his senses, he gasps and stare shockingly with widened eye to his partner. Whether he shock because he still doesn't understands or because Blake's word really kicking. Well, maybe he just still can't processing Blake's answer yet.
Looking directly at his partner's reaction, Blake just sighs. He then turn his head while bring his scythe with his left hand. But when his step approaches the cave's exit, Wyatt suddenly run approaching Blake while preparing his handgun immediately, making him a little surprised.
"So... you choose to follow me?" Black tries to act stay cool, although inside he's very happy.
"Well duh, you're not the only one who curious about your past, dude. Besides, I hate to be left alone. We've promised to be together forever right? Because we are the best partner ever in the world."
Ah, the classic reason. But whatever the reason, Blake glad that Wyatt decides to join him in this journey. Although, he still can't say the 'Save the World' part to him. In his opinion, it's just too ridiculous. Oh well, at least he's not so alone right now. That's the only reason can makes him feel a little relieved.
"Hmph." He snort. "Yeah, best partner. More like, best clowns ever in the world." Blake said while keep walking,
And smiling.
"Clowns? I don't thinkー Hey did you justー Hey Blake! You just smiled, didn'tcha?! Show me again!! Blaake!!"
***
Blake's foot begin to step further from their little cave. He stares sadly while looking back to the cave. But this is their own decision to go. The sandstorm that quite strong accompany them in their journey. But that's doesn't matter.
They need to eat first. They can't go on a journey with an empty stomach. Blake scans around his surrounding, when suddenly he caught a glimpse of Desert Hares. He summons the Darkfrost, then casting a thin clear blue aura around his body when approaching his prey.
"Huh? Hey Blake, what are you doin'ー"
Blake sign him to be quite. When he almost in the right position to hunt the Hare, suddenly a giant hyena attacked him from behind, making Blake shocked and swing his scythe to the hyena, that unfortunately avoided the attack and howl to call it's other friend.
"Tch."
Blake grumps as he stood in front of the pack of hyenas that ready to attack him when Wyatt run approaching him and begin to shot his magic handgun to help Blake.
"I though hyena's meat won't be today's breakfast!"
"If you want to eat other than hyena's meat, just go hunt by yourself."
Blake keep swinging his scythe ans slashing his surrounding with a high speed, but seems this is won't end nicely because they're overnumbered.
'What a drag...'
Blake prepared his position, chanting some enhancer spell that makes the clear blue aura around him reappear again, but it's much stronger than before. "Wyatt, get off. Now."
"Whatー"
Before Wyatt can finish his words, his eye widened and he spontaneously jump backward when suddenly Blake swing his scythe and begin to attack with super speed, slicing and freezing those hyenas in front of him. Then he stop moving, swinging his scythe again just so a bunch of icicle spear appeared and scare the remaining hyena.
"...Frost Slashー Ouch!"
A rock suddenly fly and hit his head, when he turn back angrily, he can see that it's Wyatt who throw the rock to him with angry face.
"What in the world are you thinking, Stoneface?! You almost made me a ground meat!" He yelled furiously. "And stop saying your technique name after or before you cast it! This is reality, not a game nor movie!"
Blake sighs, then he just cast some ice to his hand and compress his head. "If I didn't use the technique, we'll be doomed. Besides, We now have some ready-to-cook meat."
"'Ready-to-cook' my head! Most of the hyenas you've killed were either frozen or becoming ground meat."
"Whatever. I'll go to gather some dry leaves and something to skew the meat." He said calmly while he goes away from Wyatt, while Wyatt himself just jawdropped and and grumble even more.
"Why'd even I willingly to follow that Stoneface in the first place?"
***
Blake try to gather some dried palm leaves to cook their breakfast. Although Blake prefer to chop some trees, but they are too young to be chopped. So there's no other choice other than the dried leaves.
"Sigh, what a drag."
He counted the dried leaves he had collected. It is enough to make a fire and use some of the stem as skewer for the meat. Then, he go back to Wyatt's position when he just finished sorting and butchering the meat into one-bite pieces.
"Oh, you've finished already too."
"You'd better be thankful to me, Stoneface."
"Whatever. Take care the fire, I'll take care the meat and skewer."
Growling quietly, Wyatt try to calm down. He try to inhale slowly, then exhale it out. Feeling a little calming down, he gather back the dried leaves in one spot. He then gather some red aura resembling fire on his hand, and shot it into the dried leaves, making them burn immediately.
"Fire's done, Stoneface. Bring the meat here."
"The name's Blake, not Stoneface."
Blake sighed, then he give Wyatt three skewers of meat ready to be cooked. He then begin to grill the meat.
"Honestly, I don't really like hyena's meat at all. They're too chewy." Wyatt begining the conversation as he grilling his second meat skewer. "I wish there's some grocery here. I really want to eat other than meat and cactus."
"Didn't I tell you to hunt your own food? This is a desert. Don't be so picky on survival mode."
"I know, I know. Geez Blake, I just trying to cheer you up." Wyatt puffed his cheeks as he begin to munch his breakfast. "Ow crap, it's still hot. Hey Blake, if we make it into the desert's exit, where should we go next?"
"Dunno. Maybe looking for a nearest town to buy some supply. We can sell something to get the money. The leftovers of our stock, or maybe our weapon." Blake said as he still grilling the skewer. "Nah, I'm just kidding. We'll looking for work first as soon as we arrived on the nearest town. Although it's such a pain to work, we need those money after all."
"Don't tell me you're going to be lazy again, Stonefaceー"
Suddenly, the wind blows stronger than before. Even the wind can extinguish the bonfire that they use for grilling their breakfast.
"This is not good."
Blake eat all the meat on the skewer immediately and begin to focus scanning his surrounding. Until his eyes catch a glimpse of two Venta Sabertooths, a very rare beast in the desert that has the power to control the wind on the desert.
"Venta Sabertooths... such a rare beast in front of my eyes. Bet their fangs and skin are worth a lot cash."
Blake summon his Darkfrost again, preparing his stance while he gather those clear blue aura again, when suddenly...
"Wait."
Wyatt tapping Blake's shoulder, signing him to stop threatening the two beasts. "I have an idea. Give me two pieces of those meat."
Confused but agreed, Blake dismiss the Darkfrost and gave him two chunk of meats. Slowly, Wyatt approaching the two beast carefully, when the two Sabertooths also tighten their caution, growling and roaring.
"Sst... relax, I'm your friend. You come here because you're hungry right? Here, come on, don't be shy."
Wyatt put the meat chunks on the sand and backed slowly. The Sabertooths in other side, approach the meat chunks and begin to eat it.
"Did you, did you just give them our limited food supply?!" Shout Blake. But then...
"Hahaha, i don't know you're such a sweet baby. Hahaha! Hey, it tickles!"
"Wait, whaat..."
Blake jawdropped when he sees what happen in front of his eyes. The Daredevil, tamed the mythical beast with a laugh and joy. What a wonderful view.
"Ahahaha, ah Blake. Come 'ere, they won't bite us."
"Nah. I'll just be here." Blake reply as he still processing what's happen in his head. Then one of the Sabertooth purring at Wyatt.
"Huh? My friend is being very edgy? Nah, Blake is just a biggest lazy bone I ever met. Look, he even doesn't tidy his hair and he didn't button his outer."
"Hey, I'm not lazy. Besides, did you really understands what they said?"
"Then why'd I bother to talk to animals whenever you don't want to talk with me?"
"Figures. Now, would you mind explain your idea of befriending this Venta Sabertooths?"
Wyatt giggling while he stands and hold Blake's hand, pulling him slowly to approach the Sabertooths.
'His hand... Soft...'
"So, you did know that the fastest to get out of this desert is three days by walking right? So when they approached us, i got an idea. Why don't we befriend the Sabertooths and we ride them as a transportation? Venta Sabertooth is famous by their speed. We can reduce the estimated time from three days into 8 hours! Damn, I'm smart."
Wyatt smirk happily while Blake is just sigh. But he got the point. He hate to admit it but that's just outstanding smart for a person like him.
"Sigh... You're pretty smart with that idea. Congrats, Wyatt." Blake smile faintly, almost doesn't look like a smile. "So can we go now?"
"Aye aye!" Wyatt saluting while riding his Sabertooth. "Come on Blake, they won't bite you."
Blake stares at the Sabertooth that looking at him with a... kind of a cute stare. He sighs, then he just climb and ride on the Sabertooth, chasing Wyatt that has already went first.
* * *
Comments (0)
See all