"hey there sweetie, its okay i won't hurt you" esmarelda slowly placed down the scythe as a way of showing she was harmless and slowly reached out towards the girl, almost immediately she turned away and darted into the forest
"hey!!"
Esmeralda and Vincent dashed into the forest after her struggling to keep up with the little girl's fast pace. She grimaced, feeling the sting of the branches slicing her skin.
She's the only source of info we have on this crazy place right now, she mustn't get away!
Esmeralda gripped her sycthe as she suddenly stopped, legs positioned, poised to throw. Vincent stopped as well, eyes wide at her actions
"Woah, what're you doing?! She's just a kid! "
"No she's an NPC. And I'm someone whose patience has just reached its limit " she dug her heel into the ground, gathering strength in her upper arm and flung the sycthe
Whoosh!
"No!" Vincent reached out, too late to stop her as the sycthe cut through the air towards the unsuspecting girl. The said girl looked back just as it flew past her and embedded itself into a tree a few metres in front of her. Effectively cutting off her path
Vincent placed a hand on his chest, feeling relief. Esmeralda scoffed
"You didn't think I'd actually kill her did you? Prince charming? " she batted her lashes, speaking in a child-like voice. This earned a glare from Vincent as Esmeralda moved towards the little girl who stood petrified and reached out to her
"Hey, you ready to listen now? " Tears pooled in the little girl's eyes as she trembled. Esmeralda frowned, panic seeping in
"Hey, hey! Don't cry, its okay, its okay, i'm not going to hurt you. Shush!"
Vincent shoved her away and picked up the little girl, cradling her in his arms as he soothed her to silence. All the while glaring at Esmeralda who avoided his gaze
How am I supposed to know she'd start bawling?! Seth never wailed even once.... I never knew this jerk had such a gentle side either
She peeked at Vincent, feeling her cheeks warm slightly. She moved away from them to avoid scaring the little girl even further.
Vincent walked up to her a few minutes later, still holding the girl "Her name's Cataleya. Her village isn't too far from here and she can take us there "
"Oh... That's good I guess." Esmeralda turned to Cataleya, unsure of what to do "I'm.. ummm... I'm sorry for scaring you earlier. Pls accept my apologies"
Cataleya reached out to her, Esmeralda froze. Vincent nodded in understanding and passed her to Esmeralda, who held her with unsteady hands. Cataleya embraced Esmeralda's face, rubbing her cheek against hers
"cute!" She giggled
"Umm..." Esmeralda's confused gaze met Vincent's. He looked away, avoiding her gaze, cheeks tinted pink
"She-she wants you to hold her"
Esmeralda looked down at Cataleya who beamed up at her, amber eyes sparkling
C-cute!!
"Which way do we go Cataleya? "
She pointed to a narrow pathway shrouded by bushes
"Home!"
Esmeralda looked back at Vincent who had picked up her sycthe at some point and began walking down the hidden path.
They ventured past a more dense looking area of the forest, stopping at a wide lake they would have to cross to continue forward.
"How do we get across this" Esmeralda said to herself as she began thinking of a way to cross the lake.
Maybe we can use the vines they seem stro-
She paused her thoughts when Cataleya began to hum a song, slowly the water began to bubble as a crystal bridge emerged from the lake
"What the hell... " Vincent said voicing out her thoughts. Cataleya just smiled at them as she jumped out of Esmeralda grip and began to skip over the bridge. Vincent followed
Esmeralda grasped the bridge, deeming it sturdy, she crossed as well. As soon as they were all across, the bridge vanished without a trace
"wow" Esmeralda stared, shocked before Vincent nudged her
"C'mon" she broke free of her trance and followed Cataleya onward. Noting that the trees began to get sparse the further they went.
Soon they reached a clearing, little houses with smoke coming out of the chimneys of some the only visible sign of life. Cataleya stopped and turned to face them, smiling
"Home!" She giggled and ran towards the center of the clearing where a bell stood out. Grabbing the rope, she tugged it making the bell chime two times.
At the sound of the bell, people gradually began to emerge from the houses but they kept a distance from the strangers on their land
A powerful voice sounded out as one villager with a hulking figure stood out amongst the rest
"Cataleya! Where'd ya run off ta this time? "
Cataleya beamed at the voice and ran towards a man who had spoken with so much authority. He picked her up effortlessly and held her close as she giggled
"Papa!"