She suddenly jumped up and bit Ceris' hand and scratched the arms using her fingers.
"What the f***!!" Ceris was cursing internally.
After several attempts only could she part with Ivy who was still struggling to fight back. Not having patience, Ceris knocked her out.
Teeth's mark was formed in her palm, skin broken in her arms but unexpectedly no blood. She felt grateful that she had trimmed Ivy's nails before, if not…her body shuddered even while thinking.
'Was it her rebel against those who torment her or is her mind unstable?' Ceris got lost in her thoughts.
She had just dozed off in the early morning when something was poking on her shoulder. A tree branch came into her view and then the one holding the branch. Taking a deep breath to calm her emotions, Ceris sat up.
Ivy tilted her head to her side, looked at Ceris for a while speaking in a low voice, "Why am I seeing Ce? Am I dreaming while dying? Maybe I lost my mind."
After that she pinched herself and shouted.
"Ahh…it's real. I am not dreaming. Ahh…my dear friend is with me. What's happening…how can you reach me…Are you really Ce and not an imposter—" Not having patience to listen to the babbling, Ceris walked out.
Limping a little, Ivy followed. Her wounds have almost healed leaving only the scars and pale skin. Ivy's stomach has been grumbling as she hadn't had solid food for a long time. Knowing she was hungry, Ceris caught some fish, roasted in the fire.
The smell of food made Ivy drool.
"Ce…hehe…are you preparing food for me?" Ivy had a silly smile. Ceris took a deep breath noticing that Ivy was fine with no mental problem.
Sharing the food, both were silent for a while. As Ivy was observing Ceris from the corner of her eyes noticed the teeth mark on her palm.
Leaving her remaining food on the ground, Ivy caught Ceris' palm, "What happened? Who did it? Are you feeling pain?" a series of questions were posed.
Ceris didn't blink and stared at the chatterbox. Ivy felt awkward from the gaze, rubbed her nose and chuckled, "Umm…did…did I do it? Hehe…"
In response Ceris only raised her brows.
"I didn't do it intentionally, Sorry Ce. Ahem ( coughing lightly) where are we? What is this place?" Speaking she backed off, gobbled her remaining food. Knowing it was her mistake she changed the subject of the conversation.
Ceris neither wanted to talk of the happening so stayed quiet. She didn't know how to answer Ivy's question as she didn't know where she was.
After that Ivy cleaned herself and both roamed around the cave. At night both laid on a big boulder watching the stars.
Breaking the fearful silence, Ivy spoke "Thank you for saving me. I don't know what or how you did or what you have been going through to bring me back to life, I am grateful for your help. If you ever need my help don't hesitate. I owe you one."
Ceris hummed in response.
"Umm…we can't stay here forever. Should we find a way to leave? I'm not sure where we are, but I feel uncomfortable and suffocated here like some energy is binding us. It is giving me a creepy feeling."
Ceris was confused as she didn't feel like Ivy but still nodded her head. As Ivy could walk on her own, she felt it was time to leave the cave.
Talking deep breaths both were lost in their thoughts. Ceris was thinking of the white wolf, Eri's situation, her adopted father, her sudden appearance in this world, her destiny and so on. Ceris knew every action had its reaction so her presence might have triggered some unexpected. While, Ivy was thinking about her past, her parents and some hidden clues. She wanted to investigate the past and know more about her identity. She wanted to believe in Ce and share her problem but didn't want to make Ce worry.
Lost in their own world both were wide awake the whole night. The early sunrise, birds chirping and Ivy's stomach grumble brought them back to the present. Without wasting a time both walked on a journey to find an exit.
Ceris was an unstoppable talker but didn't mention anything that happened to her before in the coven nor did she ask how Ceris found her. Maybe it was a mental trauma for her. As Ceris was much familiar with the surroundings led the way. There they rested, filled their stomachs and went on for days until they reached a big river. The opposite side was desolate with only bushes and at a distance were steepy mountains.
"Ce, should we cross the river? Do you know where it leads? You have been around here so do you know anything?" Ivy inquired as the opposite side gave her a headache.
Ceris shook her head as she hadn't had a chance to roam the opposite side. She also felt that was the only way out.
" I won't lie but I just don't want to go to the other side. This side is dangerously silent with only few non harmful animals but the other side is giving me a chill. What do you think we should do?"
Ceris remained silent. Walking on the side of the river, dropped a stone.
"Ahh, the water is too deep and the current is too strong, I don't think we can even cross it. I can't swim either. Sigh." Resigned Ivy sat on the ground.
Until now, Ceris had only thought of two exit ways: one was the way ahead. Even if they could cross the river, without mechanism and tools how could they climb the steep walls Focusing on the mountain on the other side, Oh wait, the hills were covered in algae; must be slippery too. It seems that would be a blank end.Then, the only way remains…thinking about the place also gave her chills.
'Do I have no other way? Should I still return back to hell? Will I stay alive through that place?" Ceris was irritated and frustrated.