Darryn sighed heavily at Jesika’s sleeping form, the cat curled up next to her body. He had convinced her to get some extra sleep, promising he would pack for her. He watched her expression contort as she no doubt had yet another nightmare. He couldn’t help but still be worried for the trip ahead. Jesika wasn’t the type to quit. Could the forest really change that? He wasn’t ignorant to the dangers the forest held, but danger only motivated Jesika the more.

Darryn hesitantly touched her head and she oddly enough, relaxed at the contact, her contorted expression softening. He brushed a strand of her hair out of her face and leaned down to kiss her forehead, before standing and starting to pack.

He obviously couldn’t pack her clothes, but he packed her hygiene items and her several varieties of weapons. She had a bow, two daggers, a crossbow, a sword, and an axe. Jesika was a master of them all. Her favorite though was her sword. He packed that for close combat and packed her crossbow and some arrows for her long range. He then went to the food storage area and packed her several things to eat, like apples and bananas and such.

By the time he felt he had packed enough for her, it was already midday and he still had yet to pack any of his own items. He groaned as he headed back to his room, not looking forward to repeating the long task. When he opened his door, he jumped at the sight of Aquila in his room, going through his stuff. She laughed, pausing and turning to him.

“What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be packing?” he asked wide-eyed, as he came in, closing the door behind him.

She smirked, tilting her head and putting one hand on her hip. “And shouldn’t you?” she returned.

Darryn flushed, scratching the back of his neck sheepishly. “I’ve been packing for Jes all morning so she can get some extra sleep. I just finished.”

Aquila nodded slowly, seemingly not surprised. “I already finished my own, so I decided to come see how you were faring. Only to find out, you hadn’t started. Always the slacker.”

Darryn grinned, stepping closer. “Always the overachiever,” he countered. Her smirk widened. “How much did you pack?” he asked.

“Everything but your clothes,” she replied.

He smiled, stepping closer yet again, giving her a brief hug.

“Thanks Aquila.”

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She smiled back at him as she pulled away. “You’re welcome.” She settled down on the edge of his bed as he began packing his clothes. “I know it’s odd, but I’m sort of excited to go on this trip.”

Darryn grimaced at her words as he grabbed one of his shirts. “You’re right. It is odd.”

She laughed quietly behind him. “I just think it could be fun. An adventure. Like us three used to go on when we were kids.”

Darryn couldn’t help but grin at the thought as he turned around, putting the shirt in the bag laying on the bed next to her. “Those times were great, weren’t they?”

“Did you know that when I first met Jesika, I was too scared of her to be friends with her? I always avoided her and ran away when she would try to talk to me and be friendly,” Darryn said laughing as he grabbed another shirt.

Aquila’s eyes widened as she grinned widely. “For real?! No, I didn’t know that! Why were you scared of Jesika?”

Darryn chuckled, putting the shirt in the bag. “I was ten, Aqui. And I was a very quiet, shy kid. Jesika? Well, she was quiet, but in no way was she shy. And I was also very timid, something she most definitely wasn’t. I just found her really intimidating,” he paused, straightening, “though I guess that much hasn’t changed. I definitely still find her just as intimidating, if not more.”

Aquila giggled, leaning back on her hands. “But you two were so close when I joined training. You were practically siblings,” she said.

Darryn laughed, shooting her a glance. “Yeah, until you stole her from me!” he joked.

Her eyes widened yet again, gaping at him. “Stole her? What are you talking about?” she asked, dumbfounded.

Darryn turned on his heel, stepping in front of her. “Once you joined training, it wasn’t long before you and Jesika became really close. Closer than her and I. And not gonna lie... I was jealous for a long while. My thirteen-year-old little self couldn’t wrap my mind around the fact that she would actually prefer a friend of her own gender.” Aquila laughed, throwing her head back for a moment. Once her laughter faded, she looked into his eyes, tilting her head.

“We’ve sure changed... A lot,” she said, her voice dipping a little, taking on a bit of a sad undertone.

Darryn cleared his throat at the emotion starting to clog it, looking down at the floor. “Yeah... We have.” Suddenly her hand touched his. He looked up, startled by the touch.

She slowly took his hand, holding it in hers. “I miss... the old us,” she said. “Don’t you?”

Darryn nodded. “I do. You have no idea how much I do.”

“Then I’m sure you’ll understand when I say that all I meant earlier about this trip, is that I only hope it brings some of that old us back. You know?”

Darryn gave her a sad smile. “I really hope so too.”

They gazed at each other for a long moment, Darryn never letting go of her hand. The moment was shattered though when suddenly his door was swung open by Jesika, as she stepped in. Darryn and Aquila jumped, Darryn quickly letting go of her hand and backing away.

“Ready to go?!” Jesika asked enthusiastically.

Darryn and Aquila stared at her, wide-eyed with their cheeks rosy. Jesika picked up on the awkward atmosphere and furrowed her brows. “I interrupt something?”

Darryn cleared his throat, shaking his head quickly. “Nope, nothing at all. Was just packing the last of my things now,” he said hurriedly.