As dawn's gentle light began to pierce the veil of darkness, I stirred awake from my sleep within the hidden alcove. Immediately my eyes wandered to the girl, her skin a shade of purple that seemed even more vibrant in the morning light. She lay beside me, still profoundly asleep.

Careful not to disturb her peaceful slumber, I rose and approached the entrance of our shelter. With a thought, I willed the bark and roots that served as our door to part just enough to allow me passage.

I decided to venture out for a short patrol of the vicinity. I also wanted to gather some more fruit, assuming the girl would wake with an appetite. Slipping my satchel over my shoulder, I started walking into the woods.

Not far from our alcove, I stumbled upon a small grove where I discovered fruits that bore a striking resemblance to apples, except for their unusual purple hue.

These are new… never saw them in the heart of the forest.

Name

Dappleberry

Description

Distinguished by their vibrant purple skin, dappleberries offer a juicy burst of sweetness with a subtle, tangy aftertaste.

Safety

Safe to consume

Special properties

Nutritious

After quickly reading their info panel, I picked several, carefully storing them in my satchel. Satisfied by my short patrol and spoils, I started heading back.

Upon my return, the sense of tranquility that had accompanied my morning excursion shattered. I looked at the alcove at the base of the oak, and I realized I had forgotten to seal the exit before venturing out. Panic briefly seized me as I rushed inside, and just as I feared the girl was nowhere to be found.

Frantically, I began to search for any signs of her passage, any clue as to which direction she might have gone. Yet the forest floor, with its blanket of fallen leaves and dense underbrush, revealed nothing. It was as if she had vanished into thin air, leaving no trace behind.

I knew that if I wanted to find her, I needed to employ a method I had used only once before, during my search for Tom's core. I closed my eyes and reached out with my senses, attempting to connect with the forest in the same profound way. It was a task that demanded intense concentration, letting my consciousness sail through the underbrush like a breeze. Normally, such an endeavor would place a considerable strain on my mind, taxing my mental resources. Yet, just like I had found previously, my connection with this part of the forest proved much easier, probably due to the reduced density of the flora.

As my consciousness expanded, I became acutely aware of the forest's subtle cues: the slight bend of grass blades, the minute disruptions in the soil, the gentle sway of branches that spoke of recent passage. This intricate web of signs, invisible to most, became glaringly obvious to me, a trail illuminated in the depths of my mind.

To my relief, I didn't have to extend my search far. The presence of the girl resonated clearly not too far from our makeshift shelter. I released my hold on the surrounding forest and took a moment to recover from the mental fatigue of my actions.

This might be easier to do here but it still is quite straining…

After a minute my mind was cleared up and ready to focus on its next task. I looked in the direction of the girl’s presence and bolted forward. As I sprinted through the underbrush with ease, I considered my actions once again.

Why am I going after her again? If she wants to escape so badly I should probably just let her…

For a moment I considered halting my chase, but then I remembered that the girl had a wounded leg, she was probably starving and there were bandits in the area.

Whatever… but if she runs again that’s it.

It didn’t take long for me to find her. She was ungracefully scrambling through the bushes and ferns, giving off the feeling of a hunted prey. As I approached I decided to make my presence known. The girl looked behind her and her eyes widened with fear, before she started running off again with renewed determination.

“Look, I don’t mean to hurt you okay? Just stop for a moment.”

I looked as the girl approached a tree and began climbing it with surprising agility, completely disregarding my words.

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Right… language barrier.

I approached the tree and looked up. She was nestled on top of one of the higher branches, dropping occasional glances at me to see if I tried to climb after her.

What to do… what to do…

The girl was totally scared to death, chasing her up to her small refuge was sure to make her panic even more. I sat there at the base of the tree, thinking of a possible solution while being constantly under watch of the two small bright eyes above me.

Suddenly an idea popped up in my mind. I opened my satchel and pulled out a dappleberry, then I willed a small branch from the tree to extend towards it, firmly grasping the fruit.

With the dappleberry now securely held by the branch, I slowly guided it upwards towards the girl, taking care to not startle her too much. At first, her eyes followed the moving branch with a mix of panic and curiosity. When she noticed the fruit attached to its end, her expression shifted from fear to cautious interest.

The branch, acting under my silent command, extended the dappleberry towards her like an offering of peace. She hesitated, eyeing me and then the fruit, clearly torn between hunger and mistrust.

After a moment of deliberation, marked by a deep breath and a glance that seemed to weigh her options, she reached out slowly. Her hand, trembling slightly, grasped the dappleberry, and she pulled it towards her. I watched intently as she examined the fruit, turning it over in her hands, before she finally took a cautious bite.

The immediate change in her expression was unmistakable. The initial wariness gave way to a look of surprised delight as the sweetness of the dappleberry filled her senses. She took another bite, this time with less hesitation, and soon, the fruit was consumed, leaving only the core in her hands.

Encouraged by this small victory, I offered a second dappleberry. This time, she accepted the fruit with less hesitation, a small smile creeping onto her lips.

As she ate, I remained seated at the base of the tree, watching her with a mixture of relief and hope..

"See? I'm not here to harm you," I said softly, more to myself than to her, knowing she might not understand my words. But I hoped the gesture conveyed my intentions clearly enough.

After she finished the second dappleberry, she looked down at me, her bright eyes now holding a hint of curiosity instead of fear.

“...Thank you.” The words escaped her lips with a soft tremble.

I nodded at her remark, which seemed to surprise her.

“You understand what I’m saying.”

I nodded again.

That’s right! Progress!

She looked around a bit, seemingly considering her words before glancing back down at me.

“Do you want to eat me?”

This time I vigorously shook my head from side to side.

She looked at me suspiciously.

“That’s what you would say if you wanted to eat me!”

I visually rolled my eyes in annoyance.

This girl… if I wanted to eat you why not do so yesterday? You think I’m letting you marinate with that healroot bandage or what?

I decided to take a few steps back. She was still looking at me, so I made a gesture with my paw, patting on the ground next to me a few times.

For a long moment, she just kept staring at me, as if still trying to understand my intentions.

“Fine… it’s either die here or die back in Kyrekeep anyways…” I heard her mumble to herself as she finally started climbing down from her branch.

She took a while to climb down, almost losing her grip a few times. I was ready to catch her with a branch if she fell, but eventually she was low enough and just hopped onto the grass. The girl moved with great caution, her steps hesitant as she slowly closed the distance between us. To reassure her I remained still, making a conscious effort to appear as non-threatening as possible.

As she came just a few steps away, I reached into my satchel once more. I could see her slightly recoil back in fear, until her gaze met the dappleberry I pulled out holding it out to her.

Come on now, don’t be scared.

Her eyes flickered between my claw and the dappleberry, a silent battle raging within her as she weighed her fear against her hunger. For a moment, it seemed as though her apprehension would prevail, and she would retreat once more into the safety of distance.

She took a glance back at the tree, then her eyes met mine as we stared into each other for a long moment. Her bright eyes were like beacons of light, their radiance and intensity was in stark contrast with her deep purple skin. I could feel it, there was a resilience in her, a strength that I hadn't fully appreciated until now, the strength of someone who had gone through many hardships but survived in spite of her odds.

Gradually, her shoulders relaxed, and a determined resolve appeared in her eyes. With a deep, albeit shaky breath, she edged closer, her focus fixed on the fruit cradled claws.

The distance closed between us, her small hand tentatively extended towards the offering. Her fingertips brushed against the scales of my claw, a contact so light it was almost a whisper. I remained perfectly still, allowing her the space and time she needed to overcome her fear.

Finally, she grasped the dappleberry and quickly retreated a few steps, clutching the fruit close. She took one last look at me before sitting down on the grass beneath her. As she took her first bite, the relief and satisfaction were evident in her expression.

After gobbling down about half of her fruit, she suddenly stood up and slowly approached me again. I held still as she inched closer and sat down next to me, a small but significant gesture that spoke volumes of the trust she was beginning to place in me.

For a while, we sat in silence, the girl munching on her dappleberry next to me. The forest around us was alive with the gentle symphony of the morning sounds.

In this quiet companionship, I found a sense of purpose in the kindness and protection I was capable of offering. This encounter, unexpected as it was, had opened my eyes to the possibilities that lay beyond the simple existence I had lived so far.

Little did I know that this was only the beginning of a journey I could have never anticipated.