I became annoyed and turned to her. "Stop being so optimistic! No one just gives people things without a price." Suddenly a Satyr popped out of a bush and handed a plate of berries out to us. "Would you like one?" May smiled at me before turning to the Satyr. "Thank you very much!" She picked one up before I grabbed her arm and pulled her away to continue walking with me. I then flicked the berry out of her hand making her gasp. "I stand by what I said!! That was probably poisoned."
I let go of her and marched away, and she followed close behind. Her face was surprised for a moment. "You know if I didn't say so myself, I'd think that you have some trust issues Rin." I didn't respond and she smiled again. "I think I know just the thing to make your case of the grumpies go away. How about a big hug?" She spread her arms and was about to squeeze me when I held her back by her face. "Touch me and I will maim you."
I let go of her and she put her arms down confused. Suddenly, the sun set and the sky darkened. Stars became visible above us, and the flowers of all sizes that surrounded us closed for the night. The light faded on all the trees and twisted branches, and crickets started to sing faintly. The pixies looked like fireflies as they flew around the forest, and cool air made its way over us and through the trees like a comb running through hair.
I was surprised at this and didn't realize it was sunset already. I then drew my sword to get ready for another night of mayhem and May raised an eyebrow as she watched me. "What are you doing?" I turned to her and wondered why she of all people was asking me this. "What do you mean? The night is when the monsters of the forest come out. They're everywhere and the reason I have barely been able to sleep at night since I got here."
She stared at me in surprise for a minute, then smiled. "Oh, you mean the goblins. Yeah, they're a handful, but you know that they'll leave you alone if you're next to a light right?" I became speechless and she started to collect sticks for a fire. "Come on Rin! A fire can't build itself." I couldn't believe that was all I had to do in order to get a night's sleep in, and I didn't correlate that they don't come out during the day because of the light either.
I sighed irritated and swallowed my pride as I started to help. Once the fire was made we laid down to go to sleep. I could still hear the creatures that lurked in the night around us and found it unnerving to fall asleep. However, I couldn't ignore the heaviness of my eyelids and kept a hand on my sword as I drifted off just in case.
In the morning I awoke to the sun's light leaking through the crevices of my helmet, and the sound of chirping birds filling the clear blue sky. I found it difficult to wake up from how tired and comfortable I was but forced my eyes open. I lifted my head and realized that May's arm was around my chest plate, and she was cuddled against me. "AHH!!"
I immediately shoved her away, causing her wings to wrap around her in a burrito as she rolled on the ground. "Ah!" She then sat up with her wings still around her and looked around panicked. "What's wrong?! What happened?!" I waited a moment to answer from how horrified and disgusted I was. "You were, cuddling me..." Her face fell to confusion. "Of course I was... Don't humans pile up at night to help create body heat and keep warm?"
I stood up even more disgusted. "I thank all the gods that humans don't do that." She unwrapped her wings from her body and stood up as well with a sad look. "No wonder you're so angry all the time. You have a serious lack of physical touch." I raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?" She then crossed her arms as her tone changed to pride. "It is scientifically proven that physical touch uplifts your mood and recharges you spiritually. A minimum of eight thirty-second hugs a day is recommended. Touch is something we fairies take very seriously."
I crossed my arms as well. "I don't care. I was serious before when I said not to touch me. This is your last warning." Her expression became surprised. "I didn't think you meant cuddling!" I raised my pointer finger towards her. "ESPECIALLY cuddling." I put my finger down and walked past the now burned-out fireplace we made. "Let's get going." She turned to follow me and continued our conversation. "Not even holding hands?"
I clenched my fists. "Ugh!! Seriously woman I get cavities from just looking at you! Just shut up and take me to the stone." She then stopped walking and crossed her arms. I turned to her in confused anger. "What are you doing?! We're losing time!" She pointed her head up a little in resentment. "Not until you say the magic word." I walked back to her now pissed. "What?! I don't know any magic words!"
Her face became a genuine shock. "You, don't know it? Didn't you learn how to ask for something from your parents?" For some reason the mention of my parents made my anger skyrocket. "I didn't learn anything from my parents!!" Her shock increased and then became something else. I had never thought empathy could take the form of a facial expression before I saw the one she made at me now.
It was so weird that I had to look away in order to speak again. "Can we just go?!" She hesitated, and then her normal smile returned. "Sure. But there is going to be a slight change of plan. I will take you to the stone only if you allow me to teach you some manners." I turned to her shocked. "What?! Do you mean table manners? Because I'm good on those." She shook her head. "No, the manners of speaking nicely to another living thing."
The very thought of it made me want to throw up, but I really needed that stone. 'Maybe she'll forget about this as time goes on. I don't have to listen to a thing she says. Right now I just need her compliance.' I thought. "Fine." She lit up excitedly and started to fly next to me as we walked again. "Yay! Okay, lesson number one! The magic words are 'Please' and 'Thank you'!"
Unfortunately, she did not forget, and this went on for days. "Lesson number twelve! Threats do not help you or anyone you're talking to!" "Lesson number thirty-five! Offering your help to someone else will promote gratitude, and the greater the chance that they would do something for you in return!" "Lesson number sixty-three! Compliments are key!" "Lesson number one hundred and eight! Put others' needs before your own!"
She elaborated on each lesson, but all of the information she fed into me just blended together into a huge tangled ball of sweetness in the back of my throat. It was official. I hated this woman. Though she was still a damn good cook, so at least I had something to help keep me sane. She would always be able to somehow create a delicious meal out of anything in her surroundings. Although she always forced me to thank her for it.