The next day came; Mark woke Arwin up, saying in a mocking manner, “Breakfast is ready, princess.”
Arwin pulled Mark in and sat on top of him; Arwin smirks, “Next time you’re planning to mock me, you better be ready for the consequences.”
Mark was blushing, but he looked away and shoved Arwin out of the way as he stood up, “A-anyways, wake up, we’re all eating.” He immediately left, which made Arwin chuckles softly as she muttered to herself, “Ah, so innocent and cute as always.”
Arwin comes down to see everyone waiting for her at the dinner table; she felt nostalgic as the scenery reminded her of a distant memory she had. It was her crew members from Night Rose's first meal together with her crewmates who weren't exactly ideal members- they were scavengers, hunters, and rascals, so a meal together meant a lot to them.
Arwin caught herself smiling at the mirror in front of her as she reminisced about the past.
Gloin took all of his blacksmith
Meanwhile, back at Tarra’s house, Timothy had regained his consciousness; he groaned out, “Rosa?” Rosa enthusiastically rushed to Timothy’s side and hugged him, “Never do that again to me, Timothy.” “I’m sorry.” Timothy chuckled as he weakly tried to sit up, “Where’s everyone? Where are we?” “Settle down. We’re safe here for now.” Rosa tried to explain the rest to Timothy as she fed him. Timothy processed everything and finally said, chuckling softly, “So we made it? We’re out of that village after all.” “Yeah. Yeah, we did.” “This isn’t too shabby.” Timothy remarks as he looked around, “We could live here and have kids.” Rosa giggled as she replied, “Yeah, maybe, but first, you have to be okay.” She continued as Timothy finished his food, “I’ll tell them you’re awake.” Back at the town, Arwin was told she was in the presence of the eldest shaman in their place. Sitting before her was a man called Ruben; he had long white hair
Arwin smiled as she saw Timothy; she remarked, “Good to see you on your feet again, Timothy.” Gloin invited Arwin to dinner as he said, “In celebration of hell rejecting Timothy’s application, Rosa cooked us another fine meal! Mark caught some fine pigs lost in the forest.” This caught Arwin off guard; she asked, “In the forest?” “What? Are you deaf now or something?” Mark mocked Arwin, so Arwin laughed awkwardly and tried to change the topic, “So… what are your plans after fixing the ship?” “Hmm, Rosa and I might find a place to settle down, but for now, I guess we could stay here, lay low a little, you know?” Timothy replied, stuffing his mouth with some pork belly, causing everyone to have a good laugh. Gloin replied as well, “Yeah, I guess we can stay here for a while. It’s not that bad staying here with you weirdos.” “Look who’s talking!” The doctor laughed as he continued, “But I agree; I’m planning to stay awhile to learn more f
Arwin sneaked out through the window to avoid everyone, but as she started to walk towards the forest, a familiar voice stopped her saying, “Where do you think you’re going, captain?” She turned around and was surprised to see Rosa and Timothy heavily armed; she asked, “Where are you going?” Rosa asks, “Where do you think?” Timothy chuckled as he continued, “We’re going to the restricted forest with you. We can’t really let our captain die out there, can we?” “How did you-“ Arwin continued, “Did Mark tell you?” From the corner of the house, Mark showed himself and said as he yawns, “Hey, don’t go blaming others. Apparently, Rosa heard our conversation last night, and she went ahead telling everyone your plan, and well, now, everyone’s coming with you.” The doctor added, “You did say it had riches and golds.” Everyone was laughing when suddenly Gloin gave Arwin a breastplate; Gloin explained, “I took your raven necklace and turn
Arwin walked further in the forest, the rest of the crew started to feel a little off – like a tingling sensation of nostalgia that they can’t exactly point out. Arwin tried to keep her focus as she navigated through the trees marking them with a sigil to remember the path they just took. To everyone’s surprise, Rosa halted and said, “Everybody stop, don’t move.” “Why Rosa? What’s the matter?” Timothy worriedly asked, remaining where he was as instructed. Rosa explained, “This forest. It’s changing- as if it’s adapting to our fears and past continuously sucking us deeper. It knows what makes us tick, and it’s using it to its advantage.” “What do you mean?” Arwin asks “Quick, what do you see?” Rosa asked from everyone. Timothy was the first one who replied, “A… forest and it- it’s snowing.” Arwin was next, “A forest…filled with the people…I killed.” There was a brief silence, but then, Rosa asked Gloin, and Gloin replied while t
Meanwhile, at the other side of the forest, Rosa was having a hard time; although she knew that none of the images that are being portrayed before her are not true, she can’t help but feel scared and paranoid. Before her stands her exact replica, and the longer they stay together, the more the creatures learned about her, and now, Rosa and the creature in front of her are the same. Rosa knew what the creature was. It is a tambal – a doppelganger, and right now, it’s pretending to be her, meaning that the tambal creature is planning to get rid of her so it can appear and behave as Rosa for the rest of its life until it finds another victim to copy. Learning about these creatures before, Rosa knew that these sneaky creatures would do everything to stay in the human world. Rosa can’t risk showing her powers to a tambal because she knew that the tambal could copy it, and then they’ll have no difference at all. She can’t prove she’s Rosa. Rosa aske
Gloin was all alone in the vast forest, not knowing that Timothy and Rosa were close to him, but he could not locate the others yet. He’s the one carrying most of the weapons, but he, for once, didn't really know how to use them in this situation. So all he could do is to wander aimlessly, hoping that someone would find him. Gloin heard cricketing sounds and whispers around him, so he grabbed the first thing he could and threatened the unknown person, “Who’s out there? I’m armed to the teeth, so don’t you dare!” He heard whispers and laughter, but he is not able to pinpoint where the sounds are coming from. As his eyes trailed down the trees, he saw an inhumane and enormous figure lurking and making its way to him. The forest was getting darker, and the only thing visible for Gloin is that wide and creepy smile along with those two white tusks on the side of its mouth. The creature was still laughing as it walked closer. Gloin could barely move
As the four of them: Rosa, Timothy, Gloin, and the Bungisngis creature, tried to find their way to Arwin and Mark, Arwin lunged her blade towards Mark aiming to kill him. Arwin is feeling a little disoriented, but her guard is up; she protested, “You’re lying. Who the hell are you?” “Drop your blade and let me explain!” Mark kept his distance from Arwin; as Arwin was not calming down, he continued, “It’s me, Arwin, it’s Mark.” “No. You’re probably one of my illusions; what creature are you?” Arwin insinuated, “Are you the ruler of this forest?” “No-“ Arwin cuts him off as she draws out her pistol releasing a shot hitting Mark in the stomach, “You’re lying. I can hear them. You’re one of them!” Arwin covered her ears as she repeatedly heard whispers of different voices, and they are telling her to kill Mark because he’s evil and he’s a traitor because he left the forest. Just then, Mark falls to the ground bleeding out; Arwin draws her pistol o
Timothy knew it too well that he couldn't let his emotions reign over him because the forest is tricky, and you will end up playing in the forest’s hands in no time- he just saw Arwin, the most logical among them, almost kill Mark but he couldn't control it. He is so mad furious at Sinas for doing such a thing to an old comrade- sure, they betrayed him, but Sinas had it coming. Still, seeing the doctor's horrible state right now just broke Timothy’s spirit. He could imagine just how much pain he went through in Sinas hands, and going back to his crew will even break him more. Mark’s state will break doc’s heart. Timothy could feel his heart pounding out of his chest as darkness started to consume him. He heard whispers all over, just like Arwin. He heard Sinas as he said, “You can die here and now for all I care.” The whispers are getting intense- so much so that Timothy started to draw out his arrow, and just before he released it, aiming straight at Sinas,