Flipped over on her back. Although the carriage was much better than the enclosure, she still felt impossibly bored.
And based on what Arlitos told them, this trip took a month in total. It was the reason why he came back when they were five-months-old and didn't take them immediately.
Ria understood, but this was more boring for her than it was for Arlitos because he actually got to go outside and interact with more than one person.
Ria sighed. They were curled up, sleeping right next to Arlitos next to the campfire. Well- it was more like they were just lying there since Arlitos seemed like he had no intent to sleep just yet.
And Fallios.. well, he was always tired, but he had the same justification for why he was sleeping so much, like her.
They were bored.
Suddenly, Ria sprung up, startling Fallios into alertness since he always slept curled around her. [What is it?] He asked as he stood up and scanned the campsite vigilantly.
[I want to explore!] Ria exasperatedly shouted. Even though she was a tortoise in body, didn't mean so was one in mind. She wanted action!
Fallios stared at her blankly, not even angry that he was startled awake. [We will get in trouble..] He mumbled, looking at the still-awake Arlitos. He hadn't moved a muscle even though Ria made a bit of noise.
Arlitos seemed to be thinking as he stared at the stars. His face was incomparably focused right now.
It was almost mesmerizing watching him so focused when he was usually supposed to be energetic.
[Stupid. If we don't want to get in trouble, then let's bring him along] Ria exasperatedly said as she sprayed water on Fallios's side.
Fallios suddenly jolted- not from the spray though. [Right.. I didn't know that was an option..] He muttered in realization.
His tail swayed in anticipation as he looked at Ria like a kid in a candy shop. Ria shook her head and sighed like she was a disappointed mother about to scold her child.
Why did it feel like she was the older one sometimes?
Actually, it was more like they had split personalities. When they were in a passive situation, Ria was playful and Fallios was aloof, but when the situations were reversed, Ria was the serious type and Fallios became playful.
Hah, whatever. Having this kind of Fallios around isn't so bad either..
Ria sighed again and walked up to Arlitos, who had his arms behind his head and was staring blankly at the stars.
Even when she got within his peripheral vision, he still didn't move an inch to acknowledge her presence.
She stared at Arlitos. She was basically standing over him at this point, but he still didn't seem to notice her. Was he just pretending or was he really that focused?
"Ooo~." She softly hummed. Arlitos finally moved his blue eyes away from the sky and slowly turned his head.
"What is it?" He lightly asked, a small smile etching his face as he scratched the top of her head.
Ria backed up and looked alternately at him, then the forest. Arlitos furrowed his brows. "Do you need to go to the bathroom?" He asked, tilting his head.
Ria violently shook her head and gave Arlitos a disgusted look. [Do I look like I'm constipated or something?]
She repeated the same motion again, alternating glances between Arlitos and the forest. "You want to.. go into the forest?" Arlitos hesitantly guessed.
She nodded this time. Arlitos sat up. "I'm not sure I can-" He was cut off by a tug on his pants. Ria became impatient and stopped trying to play charades with him, instead attempting to just show him what she wanted.
"Uhm.." Arlitos curiously stood up and followed her as she dragged him towards the forest. Fallios followed behind the two as well.
"Do you want to go into the forest with me?" He finally asked, guessing correctly this time. Ria let go and nodded rapidly. Arlitos looked behind himself at Fallios. "Are you two bored?" He asked.
[Absolutely, yes] This time, it was Fallios who nodded and swiftly approached Arlitos, circling around him.
"Alright. I'm bored too, let's go!" He loudly whispered and walked off into the forest with two reptiles trailing behind him.
Somehow, Fallios felt like he was forgetting something. He looked paused and look around in confusion, trying to remember what he forgot…
Eh, whatever.
He decided it probably didn't matter and caught up to Ria, shooting a puff of smoke in her face before running away.
"…" Turro, who was loudly snoring, sound asleep in his sleeping bag.
[…] Ria, who was just suffocated by Fallios for no reason. She was too heavy to even catch up to him. She cursed her rock body and shook her head to get rid of the residual smoke.
Ria took a deep breath. [One day, I will drown you] She said with a dangerous glint in her glowing eyes. It wasn't just a statement, it was a promise.
-
"Where do we go?" Arlitos asked, looking around the dark forest with furrowed brows. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but there wasn't much to do in a forest without a goal.
They had already walked pretty far into the forest already, but Aritos had no idea why he thought walking inside a dark forest would be stimulating.
Fallios hopped onto a high rock, eagerly scanning his surroundings. Fallios and Ria didn't have trouble seeing in the dark, so he could still see almost as well as when it was daytime.
[I think I see a clearing over there] Fallios said, gesturing with his head to the right. Ria craned her neck, but couldn't see anything from her vantage point.
[I don't know. Let's go check] Ria said, not really caring if Fallios was right or not.
All that really mattered to her was that they were outside now. She breathed in the cool and fresh night air and let out a contented sigh as she walked behind Fallios.
[It's amazing we can see the stars in this world] Ria pointed out. They were breathtaking, and Ria wanted nothing more than to sit under the beautiful bright stars each day, just like this.
Fallios nodded. [We're here] He said, abruptly stopping at the edge of the clearing. Ria stopped right beside him and let out a mesmerized gasp of astonishment.
In front of them, a patch of black flowers bloomed brilliantly under the night sky. Ria swore she could see wisps of light traveling from one flower to the next, like the sacred dance of a fairy.
Arlitos stopped next to them and squinted his eyes. Unlike Ria and Fallios though, his expression turned serious and his face became deathly pale.
His lips trembled, and his blue eyes went as wide as saucers as he stared at the patch of black flowers.
Ria and Fallios worriedly looked at each other. Finally, Arlitos opened his mouth and let out two words which made their blood freeze.
"Demon portal."