"THANK YOU, DUDE! YOU SAVED MY ASS JUST NOW!" exclaimed the tiny, petite man to Sigu, showing utmost appreciation, almost worshipping him.
"No problem! By the way, what's your name?" He questioned the grateful young man.
"Oh right, my name is Woops! Just call me Woops." the strange-looking, yet endearing young-petite...no i mean Woops replied, who finally introduces his identity.
"Haha alright then, nice to meet you Woops!" Sigu greeted heartily, meeting him eye to eye, as the tiny man looks up at him, standing several inches shorter.
With the ape-looking foe now vanquished, they together ventured deeper into the woodland, with Sigu leading and Woops tailing close behind, having no real direction. The former tried to open conversation multiple times, but each time he tried Woops would just seem to be busy scratching his crotch, sniffing his finger, or flicking his ears repeatedly, as if there was an imaginary itch or just and biting his lips, making obscene moans, which was starting to get a bit too weird at the point, but nevertheless, the champ of courageous acts remains firm, ignoring it in favor of guiding the little man.
"Hey... Sigu?..." After a long period of silence, Woops finally speaks up to him, walking side by side this time.
"Mmm, what's up man?" his aqua-eyes narrowed at Woops, wondering what was on his mind.
"Did you also by chance get teleported by that weird white-looking dude?"
"White-looking dude..."
At this, Sigu paused in place, stunned beyond measure by the familiarity of this encounter. He turns around, locking gaze, and looks down, staring back into Woops' yellowy eyes with extreme seriousness, almost frightening the poor man.
"...Did it appear from nowhere, and in a flash of bright white light? Did he just disappear again after doing so?" He questioned the much shorter young man.
"Yeah, man. I was just chilling, watching some femboys twerking, and BAM! Here I am, surrounded by fucking air!" Woops exclaimed with exaggerated hand-gestures to enhance his statement.
"So there are others โ it's not just me." Sigu muttered to himself, piecing it together as the dots connected within his head, feeling relieved with this information.
"Where are you from, if you don't mind me asking?" Sigu probed further, his curiosity gradually shifting into a serious concern for how many others are teleported like Woops, with no discernible rhyme, nor reason.
"Ohio!" He exclaimed, puffing his tiny chest, declaring it with pride.
"Ohio" repeated the champ of courageous deeds as a contemplating murmur.
"You don't know Ohio, Sigu? Don't worry man. Let me tell ya, Ohio's got the finest breed of bitches and bros you could ever ask fo--errr, I mean girls, definitely girls. Damn, that was too close..." Woops stutters as he could feel the mood becoming tense, especially with those aqua-colour eyes directed at him like he was ready to maul him with just a growl, which was intimidating enough.
"Well Woops, let me fill you in on this: i am also from Ohio." He proclaimed, punctuated by a wide, grin on his face.
"I AM NOT FUCKING GA-AAA wait, OHIO?? Man, OHIO!!" Woops said with absolute awe in his face.
The whole exchange leaves both men enlightened. Now they both were convinced they weren't alone in this crazy circumstance, and could rely on each other in case of dangers lurking.
"Do you know what this means Woops?" The question he poses rings with deep seriousness, echoing within their brains.
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"That the white-looking dude only targets the finest breed from Ohio?!" The strange-looking Woops replied, almost at the verge of tears.
"Spot on Woops! I'm glad we can understand each other! But to be on the safe side, how about we work together on getting through this unknown place and return back home to Ohio?" Two heads are better than one after all."
Woops nods at him, affirmation flashing through their aqua, and yellow colored eyes, respecting each other's status, even if one is a little smaller.
And at this moment the men agreed whole-heartedly on their task ahead, in hopes of finding out exactly who or what brought them here.
"Actually Sigu, before we move on, i gotta come clean, and tell you this.."
Woops pulled up his sleeves, revealing his wrists, while looking at him guiltily. Sigu, in response, walked closer, examining the two wrist, both adorning an emblem, similar to the ones Sigu has but different, depicting prison cells.
"As you can see, I am an Ohio-stepper, and this is my mark..." he sighs deeply, slowly lowering his arms in front of his legs, avoiding the piercing gaze Sigu is giving.
"Ah, I see. An Ohio Stepper. Those who enter Ohio and weren't born there are forced to live in Ohio forever with no escape, and that mark is the proof of it. Am I right?" Sigu surmised.
"Spot on..I don't possess any of those goofy, abnormal abilities or strength. All I have are my hands and legs, so my combat strength will only hinder us. That monkey ape would have ripped me apart had you not interfered, that's a fact..." the little Woops expresses dejectedly as his eyes lower themselves to ground level, disappointed in himself.
But his gloomy mood is lifted with one simple, bold move by the taller one's hand. He gives him a pat in the back.
"What are you talking about? You had courage to stand your ground, no matter how slim the chance of winning was! If anything courage is your ability Woops! Like i've mentioned earlier, I greatly admire it. It isn't a weakness!" Sigu emphasized, with a sharp look, in a fierce, but supportive expression, assuring the latter of their strengths, and flaws alike.
"DAMN MAN, YOU'RE THE GOAT!!" Woops exclaimed, feeling a wave of relief, before hugging him tightly, as if their fates were connected.
The embrace between these men might be a symbolism for what was to come, a harbinger, perhaps, foreseeing the unity these two shall form in the coming conflicts.
But they have not noticed that even now they were still being monitored, watched, by a very special person. The Watcher had been observing their entire interaction, starting with when they were alone, up until their meeting. But the question is why is this mysterious character watching and what their motives are. For now, this entity will remain unknown.
"Alright alright, I think we've hugged long enough now. Let's find a way out of this forest, sounds good?" Sigu suggests, detaching himself from the hug.
"Fuck yeah man, lead the way and i follow!" And thus they moved forwards in tandem, searching for their exit from this unnerving forest, in a hope of reaching civilization of some sort.
"Wait... how long have you been in this forest for exactly?" Woops suddenly pondered, realizing he knew none of Sigu's story.
Sigu looked to the sky, deep in thought.
"I'd say about three months, but I've lost track of time honestly." he responded nonchalantly, scratching the back of his neck.
"Could be longer though."
"THREE WHOLE MONTHS?! THATS ABSOLUTE WILDNESS!" Woops was left aghast yet again, reaffirming the dangerous nature of this zone, that lasted an entire three months for someone like Sigu.
"So you're basically saying you've been living in the forest for three fucking months? Wow, that's insane..." Woops's voice trailed off, pondering if he now was being forced to endure the same thing.
"WAIT IS THAT WHY YOU LOOK LIKE FREAKING TARZAN?!" Woops pointed to Sigu who's clothes and skin were full of mud, blood and some gore bits from the last 3 months he survived here.
"Nah, I just got summoned while I was, uh, enjoying a shower with monkeys riding each other so i had to make clothing with whatever the forest offered." Sigu confessed nonchalantly. Without a hint of shame.
Woops in response froze in disbelief. His mind slowly processing the absurdity of Sigu's explanation. It didn't sound impossible, yet...
"๐... I should've known you weren't normal."
"Does that mean I'm not a good person?" Sigu asked sarcastically with a smirk.
"You're a good person, just not a normal one๐"
"Says the guy watching femboy twerking just a bit ago." Sigu quickly shot back.
"YOU CANNOT DISRESPECT FEMBOYS! THAT'S BLASPHEMY!!!" Woops' face turned red with anger.
"FEMBOY IS A SUPREME BEING, ESPECIALLY MILKYRAY! EVEN IF YOU SAVED ME, I WON'T TOLERATE THAT LEVEL OF DISRESPECT!" He screamed angrily.
"๐... What is bro on?" Sigu wondered aloud, holding his forehead, attempting to stave off the impending headache.
"Let's just get moving already" Sigu said, pointing northward through the forest with a heavy sigh.
"FINE, BUT NEVER DISRESPECT FEMBOY AGAIN! OR I'LL MAKE YOU MY PERSONAL MEAT RIDER!"
"LET'S JUST GET MOVING ALREADY!" Sigu shouted in frustration, leading the way.
And so the odd pair set off deeper into the forest, arguing and screaming from afar, unaware of the threat that would soon befall them, lurking in the shadows, in wait for its next victims...
To be continued.