The two continued walking past the trees that were still damp, time passed until they walked so far that when looking back they could no longer see the village in the distance, leaving only to continue with their search.
Following for some more time, the strong green scenery gradually diminished to a slightly lighter color, the leaves were already receiving the sun and changing their tone along with the trees that changed to taller and thinner ones, with many branches and leaves. light greens.
It was the first time for both of them to go so far from the village and they faced the trees with a certain surprise, Arthur tried to remain focused, but often had his attention called by Chris who pointed when he saw some smaller animals like birds and some insects that inhabited these trees .
Time passed until the afternoon, the previously tense atmosphere gradually dissolved until they found some bushes that appeared more frequently and in them there were some small, round and purple fruits that seemed to be filled with something inside.
After looking up and seeing that the sun had already passed the middle of the sun, he soon saw a place with more trees and then said.
"Let's take a break, we've walked a lot so it'll be good to stop for a bit."
Chris, who continued to follow behind Arthur, stopped walking and looked at the bushes noticing the berries and staring, seeming curious about them, while Arthur stopped walking and continued standing while remaining silent, seeming to be trying to hear something.
Still being attracted by the berries, Christopher approached feeling a little hungry and soon after he smiled, taking his hands to some of those fruits, but soon he heard a voice.
"Do not even think about it."
It was almost like a scare, but he noticed Arthur who was talking while trying to look for something.
"Why not? We need to save the wild boar meat, don't we?"
"What if they are poisonous? You'll get a nasty stomach ache at best and trust me, we're in a forest, maybe an animal bites your ass when you do that."
Chris would stop and look at the fruit again, then raise his hands and speak.
"You're exaggerating, but even if it is, there's only one way to find out, isn't there? If not, it will help a lot, so I'll take a risk."
He would give a smile indicating that even after the warning, he still wanted to try it. Which made Arthur stare with lowered eyebrows, but soon the two heard a low noise that caught the attention of the two, who turned around and saw a small animal next to them.
A small creature, with a tail longer than its body, covered with brown hair that stood on end, but when moving it jumped and ran in a quadrupedal way, it seemed to be watching the two young people curiously.
Arthur looked at the animal and then at the fruits, taking one of them and calling Christopher's attention.
"Hey, weren't they poisonous?"
"Maybe, but you're going to eat it anyway, so wait for him at least."
With the fruits in hand, Arthur threw some that bounced and fell next to the animal that seemed to cower, but seeing that the fruits were no longer being thrown, he decided to approach and pick up one of the berries that was on the ground.
He held the small fruit that in his hands looked huge, staring at it and sniffing it for a while, until he finally bit down, tearing off a piece and revealing the interior of the fruit that was yellowish and looked solid.
Arthur continued to stare at the animal that finished eating the fruit and then jumped close to another, biting again and starting to eat.
Seeing that nothing had happened, Arthur relaxes and listens.
"Can I eat now?"
It was Christopher who had the fruits in his hand, with one already close to his mouth and seeing that, Arthur sighed and spoke.
"Do what you want, man..."
Soon after he was walking again, leaving behind the animal and Christopher, seeing that he would be left behind, the blonde hurried to collect a few more and put them in his shirt as if it were a bag keeping them there so he could eat on the way .
As they walked, still heading north, Arthur, who was looking ahead, noticed something different and quickened his pace a little, drawing the attention of Chris, who looked curiously, following along.
The swordsman stopped next to a part where there was no grass, it seemed to be the beginning of a path where the two were going, still eating the fruits and with his mouth half full, Christopher spoke.
"Trampled earth? Looks like we're going to get somewhere with people at least."
"Yeah, a little bit of that. But are you listening to this?"
"This what?"
Christopher saw Arthur point a finger upwards as if asking for silence and stopping the chewing, Chris finally swallowed the fruit and became silent to try to understand what it was he should hear.
The place had a certain noise, it was possible to hear birds singing in the trees while some other animals ate leaves or grass, but after a few minutes of silence, Chris could hear the sound of something pouring or flowing.
It was as if something flowed and then the blonde widened his eyes and spoke.
"Water?"
Arthur lowered his finger and nodded as he looked in the direction from which the sound of flowing water seemed to be coming, noticing that it was next to a large concentration of tall trees and then he continued to stare at it looking thoughtful.
Meanwhile Christopher pulled the flask rope to see how his was, noticing the almost non-existent weight he took the flask cap and turned it upside down, seeing that nothing came out, he spoke.
"Maybe it's dangerous because of the animals or monsters, but we'd better fill it up now that we've found a likely trail."
Even after the sentence, Arthur continued to stare, but he realized that his canteen was also emptying and then he nodded and said.
"Okay, but let's keep an eye out, one watch while the other fills up."
"Okay."
Coming into agreement, the two followed the direction that apparently came the sound of water.
Arriving at that accumulation of trees, the two realized that the weather was more pleasant and much less hot for not having the sun over their heads, Chris sighed relieved feeling even a certain pleasant humidity in the air while the sound of water seemed to have increased a little.
The climate somehow brought back memories for Arthur, the corners were a little darker and the animals in the place seemed much quieter, hearing only a few small ones walking under the wood and grass.
It was too familiar and Arthur continued to look around, seeming to be looking for something different, still worried.
"What is it, Art?"
"It's nothing, I just don't want to be attacked by surprise, let's just go quietly..."
Christopher squinted his eyes slightly uncomfortable, but noticing the dark corners of the forest, soon he also alternated between looking forward and to the sides.
The walk continued and they passed by some trees, they seemed to have the leaves with a little more vivid color than the previous ones, but that didn't stop them from following while they saw a light in the background that seemed to be the end of the forest path.
Continuing to approach until they reached the light and again had their senses taken, quickly everything cleared and they could see the source of the water noise.
In front of him was something similar to a lake, but a little further on there was a low stone wall that from its top dripped water as if it were a small waterfall, around there was a little sand that mixed with the earth giving the impression of a beautiful location.
Christopher looked at the lake surprised and distracted by the beauty of the place, he then opened his mouth with a wide smile and exclaimed.
"Wooooaaah!"
Arthur also looked in surprise, but casting his eyes around, soon he touched Christopher's arm with his elbow, drawing his attention to something he had noticed.
The blonde looked and noticed a simple cabin further away, still close to the lake, with a small wooden bridge that led to a little deeper into the lake, which seemed to be used for diving and fishing.
Returning to look at the surroundings, Arthur realized that the trees surrounded the place as if it were a protection of nature there, in addition to the climate being very pleasant even in temperature, seeing all that place that seemed to have an aura that flowed like the wind.
Something there caught Arthur's attention, who remained attentive while looking at the house, but close to where they were, without realizing it, an air bubble appeared from the bottom of the pond that went to the surface and soon dissipated.
Even though he couldn't see anything there, he felt something warning him that they weren't alone.