Yazayzel stared in wonder at everything, taking mental notes of anything he could possibly draw. From the tall white aspen trees with glowing leaves, to the ever swirling rings of lights in the sky. But what caught his attention the most was the tree piercing the clouds in the distance. They'd been walking for hours and were now under its vast branches. If not for its limited reach he would have forgotten that the sky ever existed.
" Its just so amazing " said utterly captivated buy a beauty that surrounded him.
Alyssa paused, suddenly dropping to her knees. Yazayzel turned to her to see if she was alright. He placed his left hand on her back and treid to help her back to her feet.
" Whats wrong? are you alright? " He could feel her shivering profusely.
" N-no, I-i'm so damn...cold. There to, too m-much snow and i-im still soaking wet " he absent-mindedly look down at her clothes.
He could clearly see threw the more dampened and clingy parts of her jumpsuit. He looked around the frozen forest for any kind burrow they could rest in. By the time he spoted one Alyssa had clong to him so tightly he couldn't stand.
" Umm, Alyssa I know your cold but we need to get up " she tightened her grip.
" I-i don't want to. Y-yazayzel your just s-so warm " he smiled a little embarrassed at the complement.
" Then get on my back. I'll carry you until you can stand again " that had apparently been an offer she couldn't refuse.
Her arms are wrapped around his neck so tightly that she threatened to incapacitate him. Luckily for him, he spent most of his childhood working in the lumberyard with his uncle and knew how to deal with the strain and weight. He was walking for nine miles before he came to a dead end.
" You've got to be kidding me " in front of them stood a route as high as his eyes could see.
Alyssa had gotten down from his back and he'd dropped to the ground sweating so much she could see the snowflakes instantly melt the moment they touched him. She was a little disgusted at the thought that she was more or let covered in just as much of his sweat as he was. She decided to look for away around the route when she noticed something carved in the base.
" It looks like something is written here " Yazayzel didn't get up, instead he layed back the snow.
" What does it say " she rolled het eyes at him then looked back to the tree.
" What does nature symbolize? " She stood there for a second thinking before Yazayzel said something under his breath.
" Its Maturity. Mother nature is the representation of maturity " Alyssa rolled her eyes and continued to think.
But as if on qeu, two vines dropped from above them. They were both as thick as rope and looked strong enough to climb. Alyssa just stood there were her jaw trying to reach the ground. When she looked over to Yazayzel he was grinning triumphantly.
" Not, a, word. I can live with you being right, but you are not allowed to rub it in " she went over to examine the vines and then pointed to the one on her left.
" This one, we'll climb this one " Yazayzel gave her a questioning look.
" What? look I my not be a fact nerd like you, but I grew up in the woods. This is called lianas, its a generic term for high-climbing woody vines. Its usually found only in the tropics " That only deepened his questionable expression.
" But we're not in the tropics, are we? " Alyssa thought about it.
" To be honest with you. I think this entire forest is an illusion. Like a dream we're being forced to share and experience together. And if thats true, then theres probably another team somewhere we have to beat " Yazayzel grabbed the vine and yanked it hard twice.
" Then let's hope we're in the lead. You any good with heights? " she nodded and took the rope.
" I hope you enjoy the view " she says adjusting her visor and leaping up the vines.
-
" So...what have you been doing since the eighth grade? " Alyssa paused and looked down stoically.
" Really? you want my life story, now! " Yazayzel shook his head yes with genuine interest.
" It's not like I don't care. We were great friends four years ago. Then you just moved away. I remember when we first met. " she gave him a sly smile.
" So do I. Phillip was picking on me. He snatched my journal and was threatening to read it out loud to everyone on the cafeteria padeo. Then out of nowhere, some strange coffee skinned boy comes and drop kicks him " she started climbing again.
" If I remember correctly. That nerdy girl became my shadow. She followed me around so much that everyone thought we were an item " Alyssa kicked downward breaking off a few pieces of wood so they'd fall on Yazayzel.
" We were never an item " she said abit flustered.
" I was just joking. You don't have to take it so seriously " He was about to apologize when something screech in the distance.
" Yazayzel, what was that? " he gripped the vine tighter.
" I dont care and I'm not interested in finding out, climb! " he shouted and she did.
The screeching got louder as the mysterious creature got closer. It's irritating screeming were accompanied by the sounds of splintering wood and the ring of razers. They were just about at the end of they're rope when Alyssa spotted it though the mist. She'd almost let go of the rope at the sight. She looked down to warran Yazayzel, but he'd already noticed.
" We need to move quietly, it's just a little farther " his voice was just barely audible.
Luckily Alyssa knew how to read lips and found herself thinking god for all the near silent conversations she'd had in school. She felt deaf as she made her was up the vine. Her arms were tired and her legs were about to cramp, but fear kept her moving. It was almost a relief when she made it to the top. She immediately collapsed and retreated to her back.
" That...was to close. What the hell was that thing? " She asked in a hushed tone.
" I-I think that was a paranoid " Yazayzel said pulling himself over the ledge.
" That was a paranoid!? But I thought they were, like, mutant animals, or something? " he gave her a look that said you can't be serious.
" Shadowy shape, black-ish green feathers, razor sharp talons, long wings and a snakes tail. That is without a doubt a mutant animal " he let the sarcasm hang in the air before standing up.
" Now let go before it decided to climb up here. I don't know about you, but I'm not planning on getting eaten " Alyssa noded then stood up to fallow him.