"This human is getting on my nerves!" Purple gritted her teeth, trying her best not to break every bone in Haya's body.
Purple and Red decided to take some rest in the middle of nowhere. They slumped down on the leafy, cold ground of the forest.
Haya was asleep again and cuddled sweetly with Purple, which was in no way a good thing for Purple.
After several years astray on Earth, the last thing Purple wanted was a cuddle.
"You did change a lot. If I didn't know her, I'd happily help you with whatever you are planning, but she's the infamous girl who made Blue laugh." Red tried to calm Purple down."
"Wait, so the others are still here? And stop trying to protect her. Blue never laughs, so that makes it the biggest lie I have ever heard."
"Yes, the others are still…somewhere. And I'm not lying or trying to protect her. This girl right here did nothing but make Blue laugh."
Purple almost slit a smile, but unfortunately, the left arm of Haya hit her face while she was stretching in her sleep and rolling over to the side facing Red to cuddle.
Purple frowned, finally giving up on frustration. She grabbed Haya's arm and was about to twist it out of anger when Haya woke up.
"Red!" Haya beamed, throwing herself at Red and wrapping him in a tight hug. "You are alive! Thank God."
Purple was stupefied.
Haya acted as if Purple wasn't even by her side.
Red hugged Haya back. "Thank you."
"I thought I was dreaming."
"I knew it. Your sleepy mumbles." Red caressed Haya's back.
"I'm really sorry I lost you. But I didn't stop looking for you."
"I know Haya. I know." Red started caressing Haya's hair.
Purple was astounded by the sight she was seeing. She wanted to say something, but she lost her chance when Haya broke into laughter.
"So, she's asleep too? A traveler does get tired after a travel." Haya stood up and sat next to Allisha, lying peacefully just feet away from them.
Haya looked around and said, "I guess, we're still here."
Purple stood up and helped Red get up; an unusual expression could be seen on Purple's face.
"What exactly happened?" Purple asked as she tore some of her clothes and wrapped them around Red. "Keep yourself warm."
"Red, did I oversleep again?" Haya asked, walking past Purple, totally ignoring her.
"Slight?" Red smiled sweetly.
"Sorry, I just missed sleeping in your arms."
"Ah, really?" Red felt awkward but blushed.
A low sound of annoyance could be heard from Purple before it stormed past between Haya and Red.
Haya winked at Red and landed a kiss on his left cheek.
"Come on now! We have to find somewhere safer before dark. Or this weakling could die, and you'll end up sleeping again!" Purple snapped at Haya before hurling Allisha up on her left shoulder and carrying Rojum on the other. "Follow me! This forest seemed familiar in a way."
"Let me help you." Red offered.
"No thanks! I need to distract my mind."
The five of them roamed around the forest. Going in circles for hours.
Purple kept a sour face all along their journey. She didn't know why Haya's laugh bothered her so much while Red was having a good time catching up with Haya behind her.
"You know what? I love the way the trees comfort the surrounding forest. The leaves' sounds create an unexplainable calmness within me. Especially at this time of day, would you agree, Red? Just like the old times. Wait, do you remember...?"
"STOP! Enough! Conserve energy, human!" Purple conceded in exasperation. She was fed up with Haya's endless stories. "He agrees, and yes, he remembers! It's been going on for so long; what else do you want to say?"
"Calm down!" Haya giggled.
"You should consider being silent, your noise could attract wild animals. My hands are full, doubt I could protect you."
"Red will." Haya bantered.
"Fine! Suit yourself. But if ever an animal attacks us because you won't stop blabbering about your amazing gift, I'll feed you. That would give us time to survive. You won't mind, right? Since you just want everyone's goodness." Purple smirked before heading forward.
"Blabbering? But Red was enjoying it?"
"He's just good."
Haya fell silent. "You are something!"
"I know. And I prefer quiet." Purple dumped Rojum and Allisha on the ground. "We'll stop here for the night. It's getting darker, and getting deeper into the woods would not do us good."
"I'll go set fire." Red covered Allisha, and Rojum with the cloth Purple gave him.
"Ok, I'll look for some food," Purple said so and left immediately.
"Hot-head!" Haya mumbled.
Purple wandered far, trying to release the emotion building inside her. The farther she went, the more vivid the memories of her and the little kid became as familiar spots in the forest triggered the moments she took the child for a walk.
Meanwhile, Red gathered wood and was able to pick some edible foods along his way back to the spot where he left Haya to look after Allisha and Rojum.
He thought how grateful he was to have two important people in his life. He looked up and silently thanked the Creator. He knew deep within, the Creator still looked after him.
But terror replaced his grateful face after seeing Haya smiling grimfully while holding a gruesome-looking knife above the sleeping Allisha.
Red dropped the woods along with the foods he was able to gather.
He caught Haya's hand and tightened his grip.
"What are you doing?" Red whispered, furious.
"Let go Red! You know what I am doing. "
"No! I don't understand whatever you intend to do."
Haya tried to strike Allisha, but Red was able to counter it, throw away the knife from Haya, and strangle Haya down on the ground.
"Stop!" Red seized Haya as she tried to struggle against him.
"What are you really up to?" Red pants on top of Haya.
"Don't you dare act clueless, Red? This is a good time to get what we want. What we were longing for all this time. You can have Purple and I can retrieve Blue." Haya quivered while she tried hard to hold back her tears.
Red let go of Haya's hands and got off her.
"I would die just to make that happen, but there are bigger things at stake. And I'm afraid, you don't have any idea about that."
Haya got up, looking confused.
"Killing Allisha is the last thing you should do if you really want to retrieve Blue." Red looked down in frustration.
"What?" a horrified voice startled them, and before they knew it, Allisha went running away.
Red and Haya looked at each other before dashing after Allisha.
It was too dark, they found it hard to see where Allisha went, so they decided to go their separate ways.
Haya ran towards the ravaging sound of falling water and was able to see Purple sneaking behind an older-looking Allisha.
She then saw the younger Allisha dash toward the older-looking Allisha, and they went down the waterfall.
"Must be on the hunt?" Haya spoke from behind as Purple stood by the edge where the two Allisha just fell off.
"Who are you, really?" Purple asked, trying to figure out how Haya was hinting about her hunt.
"I am a pure soul. A Paragon's purger! Remember anything?" Haya heavily walked towards Purple.
Purple's memory jagged back to when she met a man. When she fell in love.
"I am his descendant!" Haya added.
And before Purple could even utter a word, Haya took her down to the waterfall.