'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.
Scratching her head, Ceris was more frustrated about how to let Ivy know the other route. If she had a choice she would absolutely choose any other way beside that. Looking around she got an idea. Breaking a branch, she pulled Ivy to a non vegetative area.
"Ce, what happened? Do you have any idea how to cross the river? Or do you have another way?" Ivy was dizzy with the pull.
Ceris shook her head first but nodded later.
"What are you saying? Do you have any plans or not?" Ceris couldn't understand.
Pointing to the other side Ceris shook her head.
" You mean, you have no idea how to cross the river and also it's not good to go to the other side?"
Ceris nodded her head. Pointing to the other side she made a sign of the mountain and indicated it was steep and slippery.
"Oh!! Then, how are we going to leave this damn place? Do you have a way?" Ivy wanted to cry hard. The forest was like a maze unable to find the end. If she alone were to roam, she was sure she would have been lost.
Ceris stayed quiet not knowing if she should talk about another way or not. That place was a hell, a torture.
After a bit of silence, Ivy spoke nervously, "You…you know another way, don't you? Don't you want to leave this place and go back home? Ce, I desperately want to leave this place because I have some investigation to conduct and deal with a few matters. I can't stay here longer, who knows if the clues I have won't expire or someone may not erase it. Please Ce, bring us out." Drips of tears fell down from Ivy's eyes.
Ceris still remained silent.
"Is that place faraway or dangerous? I know this place is our dead end but maybe that…the place you know will lead us out..Sob…sob."
Ceris nods, holds Ivy's hand and walks back to the cave determined.
The tears have dried leaving the stains. "Why are we back here?"
Pointing to the cave, Ceris made some hand gestures and told her about the danger.
Ivy understood some but ignored most. The only thought in her mind was that there seemed to be another way. A conversation after her capture filled her mind.
Lightning a piece of wood, both stepped in the cave. A day later both reached the bottom of the pit where they had fallen before being wet and shuddered from the cold.
"Ahh! There is finally some light. Shh…is this the place? Do we need to reach up? But…but how are we going to do that?" Shaking a little from the cold, Ivy questioned.
Searching around, they found the root of the tree working as a vine. With help of it, if one had skill, it could go up.
Ivy tried first but was unable. " Why don't you try Ce, I am stupid and can't climb?"
Nodding her head, Ceris tried several times. Noticing it was going to be dark, they rested but the next day early morning both resumed, by the time it was afternoon, Ceris could climb up. From above she pulled Ivy. Finally both were out of the pit.
Laying down, Ivy tried to relax. The cloth on her had been wet from her sweat.
"Finally we are out…" she hadn't finished her sentence when, "Hiss…hiss…" a sound came from a distance. Standing up Ivy looked at Ceris who stayed cautious.
"Ce, I am scare–" Ivy tried to scream but Ceris covered her mouth. Both stayed like a statue with only their eyeballs moving to see around. A large black snake came into view. Slithering out, it walked by their feet. Both were drenched in sweat and Ivy was shaking hard. Out of fear, Ivy pissed when the snake was away.
"Booo…I am so afraid…I…I.." Ivy began to sob while hugging as soon as Ceris hand left her mouth.
"Shhh…" signalling to be quiet, Ceris took steps forward. Despite the fear, Ivy followed. From Ivy's reaction Ceris knew Ivy was afraid of snakes but…there were many poisonous creatures around, she may be afraid of them too. There was no time to console. Every single second wasted will pull them towards painful death.
After a few minutes Ivy knew why Ceris had tried not to tell her this way. It was her naivety that brought them there. Both of them were about the same age and were not pampered ladies so soon had to be used to the surroundings. Ivy was a bit silly but not dumb.
Not stopping for a while, both walked day and night filled with hunger and thirst. Many times they were chased by a group of poisonous small creatures and ran out to save their life. Ivy knew that stopping for a while or having a break means to lose life. Having travelled so far, it wasn't wise to return back either.
The litter was thinning out. The misty forest was clearing out and they reached a bushland. It was about to be night. This time Ceris asked Ivy to rest and she was on patrol. On the way, she had picked some fruit but didn't know if it was poisonous or not. She was resistant to poison so it didn't matter but didn't want to eat when Ivy was also starving.
When Ivy was asleep, Ceris took a bite of those fruits and was surprised.
The litter was thinning out. The misty forest was clearing out and they reached a bushland. It was about to be night. This time Ceris asked Ivy to rest and she was on patrol. On way, she had picked some fruit but didn't know if it was poisonous or not. She was resistant to poison so it didn't matter but didn't want to eat when Ivy was also starving.
When Ivy was asleep, Ceris took a bite of those fruits and was surprised.