Minutes had turned to an hour, and still, the girls strolled through the dense forest. The duo hadn't gotten any sleep, and Alya was getting impatient.

Nyx could feel Alya's gaze drilling holes in the back of her head.

"Are we lost?"

"Of course not. I've gone through this forest many times, I know the place like the back of my hand."

Nyx's brows unconsciously furrowed. She was puzzled about what to do, she had never been lost in this forest. She was too familiar with the place.

She summed up to a conclusion.

"Something's wrong here, we should've reached a town by now."

"And where would that be?"

"I.....I don't know"

Minutes later they suddenly, heard the snap of a twig. They swiftly turned to the source of the sound. They were on high alert.

The source of the sound wasn't on the ground, it was from high up, in a remarkably tall tree.

"Hmmhm."

A deep chuckle reached their ears. They looked up to find a guy resting on a huge tree branch over sixty feet up high. The moon shone on his silver hair, which caused it to shimmer. A long silver leopard tail could be seen holding a nearby branch. His obsidian eyes stared at the two girls amusingly.

"Who the heck are you? Are you doing this?" Alya glared at the mischievous-looking guy, who snapped another twig with his long and slender fingers.

"Doing what?" his voice was calm and clear. Nyx frowned and banged her fist on a tree behind her, causing shocking damage to the tree's strong bark. Alya was in awe of her strength.

"It's not funny kid....if you're doing this....."

"I'm not doing anything. I've just been watching. You guys are boring to watch though. This is the fourth time you've passed this place."

Alya was vexed.

'So we are lost.'

Nyx didn't notice the scowl directed at her. She glared at the guy.

"Don't interrupt a senior..."

"You're not some old lady." Alya retorted.

"And it doesn't help our situation." Alya continued, then walked forward and stopped right at the base of the tree where the silver leopard boy was.

He lazily gazed downward at Alya, who looked like an ant from up there.

"Do you know how to get out of here? Help a fox and a fellow feline."

The leopard rebutted.

"Don't group me with a cat."

"A leopard is still a cat," Nyx replied with a frown.

"I'm tired, if you could continue on your way, that'd be much appreciated."

"So, how do we get out of here? Our senior here got us lost." Alya asked once again.

"We're not lost."

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"On the contrary. I'm not keen on dying here." Alya smiled coldly at Nyx who then huffed in annoyance.

"So....."

"Get lost."

"What?"

The guy closed his eyes and sighed.

"Get lost."

"We're already lost." Alya retorted with a glare.

"Just head towards another path, find a way on your own."

"There are no paths..... it's an annoyingly dense forest."Alya was getting impatient, she then turned to Nyx, who just shrugged and held her shoulder.

"Let's just go on our way. I'm sure I'll remember the way out in no time."

Alya shook her head and folded her arms in disagreement.

"No way! I'm tired of walking around in circles."

Nyx was tired as well, but she didn't want to admit it. Any more of this, and Alya could go mad. She had no other choice.

"What if we pay you?"

Alya's face froze.

"What?"

The leopard guy's ears perked up, opened his eyes, and then turned his head in Nyx's direction.

"How much?"

Nyx smiled.

"That was easy..."

Alya held Nyx's shoulder. She was surprised at her sudden proposal.

"Nyx, what are you doing?"

"This is just a simple trade. We pay him money in return for his services."

Alya frowned in disapproval, then pulled Nyx behind a tree and whispered in her ear.

"Have you forgotten? We're broke. You wanna scam the guy or something?"

Nyx frowned.

"Not at all. I'm an honest person." She felt insulted.

"So why did you say that?" Alya was confused, but Nyx stayed calm.

"You may be broke, but I'm not. When we get to town, I'll pay him."

Before Alya could say anything else, Nyx walked up to the tree he was in and then leaped up towards the branches. She landed gracefully on a branch about thirty feet high then gazed up at the leopard. He was still way up, about twenty feet higher.

Alya was dumbfounded.

"How about ten silver coins? Is that enough?"

"No." He replied, not giving it a second thought.

"Fifteen then."

"No."

"Are you trying to rob me?"

"I'm okay with thirty."

"What?! That's too much!" Nyx was dumbstruck. The leopard didn't think of lowering the price. He frowned as he broke off another thin tree branch.

"If it is, then be on your way."

Nyx looked solemnly at Alya, who stood at the base of the tree looking up at them. She looked so naive and harmless as she stared at them in awe. Nyx still had to help her new junior. She knew Alya would soon collapse if she didn't eat and rest soon.

'Such is the responsibility of a big sister.'

Nyx gave Alya a reassuring smile, then sighed deeply.

"Fine, thirty silver coins."

"Alright then....."

After the deal was made, he jumped from the high branch and landed on all fours. His long tail swayed back and forth as he stood straight.

It was easier to see him up close, though the moon was their only source of light. He was tall, with somewhat pale skin, like that of white jade, and a well-toned build, which was covered by his loose all-black outfit. Right under his left obsidian almond eye was a small beauty mark, adding to his overall winsomeness. On his handsome face was a small frown.

He seemed to be Alya's age. But he was taller, about Nyx's height.

Nyx followed suit and leaped down from the tree branch.

"Let's go then..." Alya urged the two.

Before she could ask where to go, the leopard silently pointed at someone with the same frown.

"Why are you pointing at me?" Alya frowned.

"Where's your shadow?"

"Huh?"

"Oh! I forgot."

Nyx chuckled nervously then snapped her fingers. Suddenly a shadow appeared out of nowhere then swiftly creeped up to Alya. Alya's face paled at the sight.

"What is that thing!"

"What else, it's your shadow dummy," Nyx answered.

"I had to borrow it....."

"For what!!"

"Let's go."

The leopard soon interrupted their conversation, and then took off in a random direction.

"Alrighty then..." Nyx quickly followed.

....

It was already midnight. They were still in the forest.

Alya could barely hold herself up as she slacked behind. Moments later, her tummy rumbled loudly. Nyx and the leopard heard it and looked in her direction.

A bead of sweat trickled down Alya's forehead.

"I'm hungry." Alya may look healthy, but her empty stomach hadn't changed.

Nyx stared at Alya with concern and stopped in her tracks. She searched for something she could give Alya to eat. Luckily, she spotted a large orange berry bush and ran to pick some berries.

"Nyx, what are you doing? How are you sure it's not poisonous?" Alya quickly ran to where Nyx was and held her shoulder. She thought she was stupid to just pick something from a weird forest.

"It's edible." The leopard intervened.

"I already know that. I'm not a novice." Nyx retorted.

Nyx plucked the gold-colored berry, which was the size of a grapefruit, and handed it over to Alya.

"Eat up before you collapse."

Alya nodded and took a bite out of the berry. It tasted just like a normal strawberry, but the taste and texture were even better, and it was also cold on the inside.

Nyx also plucked one for herself, and another one for the leopard.

Alya didn't waste time gorging down the fruit, then going in for a second one. As she stuffed her face, she turned to the leopard with curiosity and pointed her small and delicate finger at him.

"We didn't get your name."

"You don't need to know." He coldly stated then took a bite of the fruit he was holding.

Alya rolled her eyes, she couldn't care less. What she was focused on was her meal.

'Rude.'