They both fell silent.

The gentle night breezes touched their facial landscapes and that made them shiver a little.

Our bodies longed for some warmth. Maybe the fire was not enough to warm them.

And suddenly, out of nowhere, I heard a growl beside me.

"Sorry, Please excuse me, Francis." Claire stood away and shyly went to the water stream. Her embarrassment was clearly visible from her body language.

While she went and drank some water, I took my bag and took out two big chunks of meat I had.

As she sat down, I tried to pass it to her but…

"Thanks, But I don't eat meat." She announced it to me.

Truly commendable was her expression, as she gulped down some saliva meaning her mind wanted that but her face showed something else, she almost gave a disgusted look to that meat.

"Are you sure? Think again. If you continue like this, before death comes, you would be lifeless. Don't be a child, Claire. In a forest, you can't continue like this."

No matter how enjoyable an adventure is. Still, an adventure is risky and it sometimes costs lives. You can't pretend like a child and go on. Forests have their own rules and those who don't follow them either turn to dust themselves or sabotage the whole ecosystem all by themself.

Even though my voice was a little harsher than usual, her expression remained usual. No hint of any regret or understanding.

While awkwardly smiling at me, Sliding her long lustrous hair over her ears, she said, "Aha! Please don't worry. I will see. Sometimes, it's okay to leave things onto the fate."

"I will not make you understand any further. But fate is not something you should stick to. Some things are not in your hands, some situations are not

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in your control, some people will not do as you would want. But If you leave every circumstance in your life and associate it with fate. You will never be able to do anything."

Fate is just an excuse. It's a trap or rather a calming thread which lets you blame everything on God and God's plan. If everything in life would be solved by accepting fate, then I would have been the first person to sing praises of it. But sadly, that's not the case. I would not accept my fate. I would write my own story, which is not bound by someone's plans.

Claire was rather taken aback by my rather rude comment, but she retracted herself from saying anything and simply watched the full moon shining in front of us.

While I gently placed the meat over fire, and turned it round and round to cook it tender and sweet.

I was in no hurry to taste the food in front of me but my entire mouth was just casually drooling a bit.

Once I smelt the vapor coming out of it, I knew it was now well cooked to be consumed. While I took it in my hands, my mind asked me to peek a glance at Claire. To my surprise, she was sleeping peacefully.

That's what I thought at first until I noticed her gulping her own saliva, which made me wonder if she was performing some hard meditation exercise upon herself.

I must say that she was rather very strong and mentally.

And with that, a few hours flew by. The young night felt shuddered. Claire was still sleeping. I still was not able to tell if she was sleeping or meditating.

"Hmm? What happened, Francis!? Aren't you going to sleep!? Don't worry about the wild animals, while you will be asleep I will guard the night for you, So, rest and rest well!"

"Thanks! But that's not the main issue here. My main concern is that while I am sitting taking the support of the trunk, it's okay, It doesn't hurt at all. But if I move even a bit, My shoulders just can't handle it. So, that's why I am not sleeping or rather why I can't sleep."

After all, what I need the most here is sleep more than anything else.

"Well, I have an idea. Why don't you lay right here on your right shoulder and place your head over my lap. This way it wouldn't hurt your wounds any much."

"Sorry, but please I don't want to take such big help from you. Also, it would be extremely uncomfortable for you."

"Was it for you, though?"

"Hmm? What!?" I was shocked at her question. I didn't get what she asked.

"I meant when I woke up today, my head was resting in your lap. So, was it extremely uncomfortable and unbearable pain for you? Then I must apologize to you immediately-"

With the sudden assumptions over myself, I quickly retracted her from saying more things. I knew what route she was going for.

"Hold on! Hold on! No, I was not uncomfortable. I truly understood your point."

I quickly laid myself and placed my head over her lap. The fabric of her clothes was the first thing that my cheeks noticed- their softness and puffiness.

And I quickly started to doze, I knew I was comfortable.

This was a good experience to have before your upcoming death!