Song: https://youtu.be/EhF8_eX5dt0?si=oMNPwLuvA0NtfAvL

I tried to walk quietly as I made my way through the dark trees. Admittedly, they didn't look as terrifying during the day. But I'd rather not get stuck out here by myself at night again.

The sound of someone humming made me pause before creeping closer. Just a little ways further was a small campfire and a man huddled next to it turning something on a stick. It was Barrett, with his bow set next to him and his eyes on the fire.

"Where are the heroes? Powers of the just? They left to be legends, and threw us to the dust." His voice was a low drawl, and the melody was somber. Still I found myself swaying slightly to the tune he hummed. He had a nice voice.

"Barrett?" I called out, deciding to let him know I was there. I didn't want to startle him and end up getting shot.

He looked over at me in surprise. Then his surprise melted as a lazy grin stretched across his mouth. "Well, I'll be... you're still alive." He said as I approached quietly. "How did you find me?" He asked, watching me take off his cloak. But as I held it out to him, he simply shook his head. "Keep it..Your clothes will draw attention, and I doubt you can afford to buy anymore."

I simply nodded, putting it back around my shoulders when my stomach growled again. Biting my lip harshly, I willed it to stop being so loud, but that didn't stop my body from groaning for nourishment. Barret chuckled before lifting the stick he'd been holding over the fire. Looking at it, he ripped off a piece to taste.

"Hungry?" He asked around the small mouthful.

The heat over my cheeks was evident as I tucked some of my hair behind my ear. "I was a little more focused on finding you. I spotted the smoke from your campfire and followed it." I explained. He tilted his head as he looked at me before holding the stick towards me. Taking a piece, I put it in my mouth. It wasn't seasoned meat, but I was hungry enough, I really didn't care.

"Now what?" I murmured, surveying the area around us. Barrett tore off another piece to put in his mouth before answering.

"We continue on after we eat."

I glanced back at him before taking another piece of meat for myself. "We?" I asked quietly. According to my dreams, Barrett didn't normally like hanging around others for too long. I didn't quite know why, but it surprised me that he was willing to let me tag along.

Although, I didn't exactly have anywhere to go, and the only safe place he could have left me at was burned. At least, it was the only safe place I knew of.

Thinking about the fire, and the man who'd caused it made my blood run hot as I balled my fists into the cloak Barrett had given me. Why on earth would he do such a thing? Even if he may have caught a few thieves, he had likely killed many more innocent people. It didn't make any sense.

"Monica."

I flinched at the sound of my name, my eyes snapping back to the man sitting next to me. "Huh?"

He snorted. "Do you want any more?" He asked, offering the stick to me. There wasn't too much left at this point.

Gently taking the stick from him, I began to eat the rest slowly. Barrett watched me for a moment before getting up to stretch and take a gander at our surroundings.

When I had finished, I discarded the stick and got to my feet also, brushing my hands on my jeans. "Where are we going?" I asked after Barrett had picked a direction.

"This way."

I tilted my head curiously in the direction he gestured. The trees looked pleasant enough along the way, but as he started forward, I followed at a slower pace. I hadn't thought to grab the map when we fled Tyren's so I hadn't the foggiest idea where in Astra we were going.

"Just, this way?"

He paused, turning back to look at me. "I know where I'm going, if that's your concern. I know these woods very well." He assured me before continuing on. I had to pick up the pace to keep up with him.

We walked for a while, but I didn't mind too much. The trees weren't so scary when I was with someone and Barrett was very welcome company. We didn't talk much once we got going, but again, I didn't mind. As we walked, I took another look at him. He strode with purpose, but kept his shoulders hunched forward, as if he expected someone to jump out of the trees at him. Considering where we were, I didn't need to wonder why. But what I did wonder was why he was here. Why travel in the dark forest? Only nightmares seemed to live here, the proof of that had just torched a place that was supposed to be a safe haven from it all.

But perhaps I was simply judging it too quickly. After all, last night did certainly remind me of my nightmares, with the dark night and dead trees. Walking along in the daylight was much more peaceful. Was there more to this place than meets the eye?

I still preferred the firefly forest in contrast. Which reminded me of how Barrett and I had met yesterday. Why had he been shooting at me? Chasing after me even, as if he wanted to kill me. He had said my clothes made me look as if I'd been robbed, so why try to kill a traveler who'd already suffered misfortune? It didn't sound like the Barrett I knew.

"Barrett?" I asked, and he looked over his shoulder at me as he walked.

"What is it?"

"Why did you shoot at me, when I was entering the dark forest?"

His eyes glanced at the trees once more before looking back at me. "The dark forest isn't a place to be wandered into. If you don't have anything to be robbed of, you're most likely going to be killed or sold. Sometimes both. I was trying to scare you away. But when your leg got caught, well...I couldn't simply leave you be." He said as my eyes widened.

He had been trying to keep me out of the forest. But, if that were the case, why bring me into the forest?

Barrett didn't say any more, making me frown in confusion. "But, then why take me into the forest? What changed your mind?"

A sigh left him, but he didn't look back at me again, simply answering as he kept looking forward.

"I thought you were a loon, or perhaps simply stupid. People with those traits don't learn from a scare. Better to guide you through than leave you to end up wandering back in."

I thought about his reasoning and nodded. It made sense. The thought of him trying to keep me safe, pulled a smile over my lips. Just like in my dreams, he really was a good man.

"Ah, here we are." He said, coming to a stop, and as I caught up to him, I spotted a smile on his face as he stared at a large house straight ahead of us.

I blinked at the rather large cottage in amazement. It was lovely! With a tall hedge surrounding it.

"What is this place?" I asked, as Barrett took my hand, making my face flush lightly as I looked over at him.

"This is where we can get you some proper clothes." He told me before pulling me closer towards the house.

I kept up as best I could while he ran towards the house and we walked through the front gate that separated the hedges. Looking around, I could see the rest of the cottage, along with a garden off to the side in a spacious looking yard.

"How are we going to get clothes from here? Is this some sort of shop?" I asked him, rather confused. He chuckled before taking me around the other side of the building to the back. There was a stable set in the back, along with another opening in the hedge, big enough for a wagon.

My eyes lit up when I saw the horses, they shuffled and snorted when we came inside, but Barrett hushed them, petting their noses.

"Hi girls, miss me?" He asked as I watched him with a smile.

"They're beautiful." I told him, looking at the two mares. One was a milky white, with a blonde mane, and the other was brown with splotches of white all over her coat. Her mane was a lovely shade of black, dark as ink.

"Yep, this is Morgana, and Sprite. We take care of these two for a little while, and we'll get some clothes in return." He told me, grabbing a bucket of oats.

I arched a brow as he handed me the bucket. "Really? That's it?" I asked as he picked up another bucket, taking it over to the white mare.

"Yup! Could you fetch them some water? I'll..let the lady of the house know we're here." He told me as I set the bucket close enough to Morgana that she could eat from it. He walked back out of the stables, leaving me alone with the horses. To which I sighed, going to grab some water for the horses.

It wasn't terribly difficult to take care of these two. After they had been given the water, they were very calm and happy. I decided to give them some hay as well, just to give them something to munch on while I was there. It was almost an unfair trade in my opinion. I didn't know if sewing machines were a thing here, and making a dress by hand was a lot of work. Much more than feeding and watering horses.

But before I could think much more on the matter, Barrett was back with a dusty blue dress.

"It's not the fanciest, but you wouldn't want to dress fancy in these woods anyway." He told me as I took the dress in my hands. The fabric was thick and the skirt was long. I tried not to wrinkle my nose at it.

It was a nice dress, really it was, but wearing a skirt in the woods wasn't something I thought was practical. Even so, we'd traded already and I didn't want Barrett to think me unthankful. So, I simply slipped the dress on over my clothes. This way, I wouldn't have to worry about the skirt too much if I had to hike it up higher.

"Have you just been walking around in your underclothes?" Barrett asked, looking a bit perturbed. I laughed softly.

"No, I can assure you, these clothes are perfectly modest where I come from." I assured him before looking at the gown once more. "But, is feeding and watering these horses really worth a whole dress? I mean, the time and effort doesn't seem to match." I told him when he took my hand.

"Trust me. They won't miss it." He told me before starting to take me out of the stables. But the tone in his voice was darker.

*Gasp* What does he mean? Where exactly are you? And has he been lying to you? How well do you respond to lies?

Have a lovely Evening,
G'Night Stars.