The faint lightning—the clap of thunder was wearing away. The rushing, thrumming of rain on the frayed straw roof and leaden leaves waning to droplets of muffled, light pitter–patter.
In the womb of the dark forest, the late of afternoon—bare of sunlight, the abandoned, tattered little thatch house provided the boy a sanctuary.
He was hunched on a corner, chin shored on his folded knees, shivering from the chillness of wind that gushed through the unclosed door, the ripped windows and roof.
A golden retriever laid curled by his side. As if sensing him cold it leaned in to him, nuzzling the side of it's face to Rhean's legs.
Rhean's gaze aligned with the dog's dark brown, affectionate eyes. A smile bloomed in his face. He rubbed lovingly, running his hand through it's soaked goldish fur turning darker.
But then the loosened posture of the dog stiffenned, the hair on the back and neck raised. It straightened up to fours and started walking towards the door, confusing Rhean.
"Where are you going Zoro?" Rhean stood up, trailing behind his friend. Then through the rustling of leaves, chirping birds, tinklimg of insects, soft falling of rain on trees and the roof; came creeping in the crunching of twigs beneath footsteps in a close distant.
The sky was clearing of black and gloomy clouds, sunrays seeping through the clinches of close woven branches, the dark green misty forest illuminating slow.
Soon followed the hazy voices ringing in his ears.
"Do you really think a kid could survive here?" Asked a man, and was immediately, harshly countered back by a woman, "Can you shut your mouth for a fucking second?!"
"Hey!"
"Goddamn you're hurting my head!"
"You!"
"Look!"
"Huh! Where?"
"Look at the hut dumbass!" Sky huffed, bending her body to move beneath the looming branch, dripping water on her blue raincoat from a slight shake.
She stepped over a trunk lightly broken from a storm.
Ace followed her.
The slits of learning path between the overflowing wilderness of plants and trees was crammed, twigs and thorns poking, ilitching him.
She paced towards the thatch house, covered in crawling vines, hands hustling to veer away the leaves and branches on her way.
"I swear to God Sky, if a leech sucks me—" Ace's grumbles were interrupted by a low growl made by an animal.
His steps seized.
Staring ahead: Sky stood glued to her ground.
A golden retriever towered, a thorn in their way. Cruel and alert—it's glaring intense, a tensed posture primed for a fight.
"We're not gonna hurt you buddy," Sky raised her hands—carefully inching forward.
"Calm down." She mumbled, keen gaze riveted to the dilated ones. But the growls only grew louder, barking at her.
It seemed to her the dog was guarding something, rather someone—in the hut; for she heard light footsteps running inside the worn–out straw cabin.
"Did you hear it?" Sky asked Ace, maintaining a strong eye contact with the animal.
"I did. Could it be him?" Ace asked, attempting to look through the rifts of the breaking shack.
"I'll take care of the dog. Inform Boss and pursuade him out." She instructed.
"Okay."
"Such a good dog. Be calm..." Sky spoke softly, taking small steps, smooth and slow, while the beast continued barking at her.
It's hair raised and sharp fangs on display attempting to terrorize.
Rhean stood against the wall in the dark corner of the small space. He didn't know these people, and he hesitated to show himself before strangers in the unknown woods. He was fine not seeing any human for three days anyway. Were they here to punish him for beating up his classmates?
His eyes rounded in trepidation, a timid and tautened form, heart pounding loudly in his ears.
"Is someone here?" The stranger had barged in the hut, and his dog was not making any noises anymore.
Did they hurt him? At once, in the cocoa pools, salty water brimmed over.
Rhean with invisible steps backed away, attempting to merge with the shadows.
"Hey! Reveal yourself!" Ace narrowed his eyes, with caution closening to him.
The little frame not escaping his trenchant sense.
"Is he in there?" A different voice of a man.
Somehow, surprisingly familiar asked.
"Not sure. Ace went in," Sky replied, and then sounds of hurried footsteps nearing the shack became lucider.
Rhean stood unmoving, wide orbs staring at the giant brute before him. Scared and trembling against the wall, tears wetting his chubby cheek.
He shut his eyes when he reached a hand to grab him, then he halted—as a man rushed in through the door.
"Rhean?" Rhett called, his voice mellow and sedulous.
Rhean felt his heart skip a beat, ears perking up.
He raised his head, looking up at the tall frame, pulling down the hood of his raincoat—approaching him slowly.
The agape between the roof of the hut had light seep in, and the succouring face had drifted the curtains of horror; now spark of hope visible to him.
"Dada," Rhean ran to his father, who knelt on the ground and opened his arms for him.
Rhean collapsed in Rhett's embrace, searing sobs escaping his trembling lips.
"It's alright my boy." Rhett murmered, holding him close, while Rhean's clutch on him only tightened.
"You're safe,"
He closed his eyes, caressing his head, a sigh of ease escaping him, his body relaxing—embracing the warmth of his son.
He could feel his heart breaking at his wrenching cries, face buried in his chest.
"It's alright. I'm here." He assured lovingly, soothingly rubbing his back.
Ace and Sky looked at them in relief. Exchanging glances, they smiled at each other.
Pulling away, Rhett wiped the tears off the hiccuping child. Rhean sniffed, his weep dying down, his breathing slowly steadying. His lips pursed down, he looked at his father; he couldn't believe he was here.
"Are you hurt anywhere?" He asked, scanning his frame—concern barelling in his orbs. "No." Rhean shook his head in refusal.
He smiled thinly, stroking his half—drenched hair. "Let's get you home. Shall we?"
The boy nodded at him, rubbing off his flowing tears.
The rain still hadn't ceased wholly, so Rhett took off his raincoat and draped over Rhean. Zipping it up and securing the hood over his head. He then picked him up in his arms, and Rhean immediately wrapped his arms around his neck, burying his head in the crook of his neck.
The little soul was filled with gratitude his father was back, he didn't even realise going home could feel this mirthful until he came.
"My Zoro?" Rhean suddenly jolted up at remembering his friend. "Who's Zoro?" Rhett asked, frowning at his terrified son. "He's my dog Dada." He replied, his features ashening.
"Don't worry. He was a bit angry so I just made him sleep for a while." Sky chirped in, gesturing at the golden retriever laying on the muddy grass with it's tongue splayed out.
"Zoro!" Rhean exclaimed, wanting to get down and be with him, anxious of his motionless body.
"He's fine, uncle here will carry Zoro." Sky remarked, nudging Ace walking beside her with her shoulder. "Me?" Ace in disbelief pointed at himself, eyes widened in dread at a merry Sky.
He glared daggers at her. She's always causing him grave hurdles. But Sky could care less and hopped away, while he held his back, the kid's backpack swung on his shoulder, already feeling a throbbing pain—glancing at a large slumbering Zoro.
"How did you meet him?" Rhett asked the child, coursing away to leave the woods through the trail they made, leaving a fearful Ace suffering with his poor back.
"I met Zoro here. He didn't mind me staying with him. We are friends now." Rhean asserted, while Rhett just hummed in return. In great wonder—and guilt at how he endured this far in the forest.