They were two lost boys out in the open – seeking thrill and adventure as they ran away from their unfortunately mundane lives. Despite their eagerness to explore the unknown, their whimsical decision brought them unprepared and oblivious of the things awaits them. They stop on their track when the other tried to make sense of the map and their location.
"I think we're lost." Marsh declared.
"You're kidding…"
"I'm serious!"
Choco took the map from his friend as if he could navigate their current place. He scratches his head, clueless where to look on the map and glanced at Marsh. "I thought you were good at map reading! Did you fail geography class?" He asked.
"Dude, I haven't had that subject yet. I barely even finished my first year in the academy."
"Tch, great… just great."
"And if anyone has to be good at navigation, it's supposed to be you! Aren't you a second year?" Marsh pointed out.
This made Choco groan. "Sweet lord, if only I had taken those classes more seriously!"
Marsh sighed, "This leaves us with no choice."
"You're not suggesting we go back and return, are you?"
"Heck no! I say, we just keep moving forward. And even if we did try to go back, I doubt we can find the path that leads us back home."
"Good enough for me." Choco nods his head, and they continue to walk forward without any sense of direction like they always do.
Despite how scary it may feel to be lost in the woods, the two remained unbothered with the fact. They were rather fascinated by their surroundings; seeing things they have never seen throughout their sheltered lives.
"You know what, I can get used to this kind of life." Choco stated, "I can't believe we've been missing out on the beauty of sugar nature. I wonder why they don't encourage others to explore the woods."
Marsh nodded, he kept getting distracted by the small critters appearing here and there. He's also amused to see other types of flowers he never saw before. They also find it fun to walk on the crumby chocolate ground rather than the hard sugar marble floor at their homes.
Then after Choco picked a jelly bean fruit hanging from the cotton candy tree, he smirks and took a bite. "See this? Food!... And father says I should study hard so I can get a job and do even more work! Why should I need a house when I can get shade from these trees, and a soft comfortable ground to sleep on? Why should I study and work hard when sugar nature can provide all the things I need? Are you getting what I mean here, Marsh?"
"Aw yeah! I can feel it, Choco. I can totally feel that we're destined to travel to lots of places! We'll soon conquer Cotton Candy Forest, then Rainbow Taffy Grounds, and then– "
"And soon enough, we'll be travelling to other kingdoms!" Choco yelled excitedly.
As they feed their minds with the most delusional ideas, they underestimate the reality of their situation.
It has only been 2 days since Choco arrived in the Cotton Candy Forest, while Marsh had arrived a day later. It's only a matter of time before their food supplies runs out, and they'll soon get sick of eating fruits they'll pick from trees.
Indeed, they have spoken a little too soon.
A few days passed, and they were already running out of supplies. They stopped on their tracks to take a rest for a moment and assess how to ration of what's left. "I swear I brought a whole box of Bavarian Cream Puffs, that was supposed to last me until the end of the month!" Choco said in disbelief as he saw that he only had three left.
"How can a box of cream puff last a month with you? You'd eat one whenever you want one." Marsh sighed, "But more importantly, we only have 5 muffins, 7 cookie sandwiches, a half bottle of jelly spread, and… your last three cream puffs. Wait, where's the seventh cookie sandwich?"
Marsh looked at Choco who was munching with a few cookie crumbs on his chin.
"Dude!"
"I was hungry, okay?! Don't judge me."
"Ugh, better keep this away before it all disappears into your stomach." Then Marsh kept all the food supply in his bag.
"Hey, it's getting dark. Maybe we can camp out here for the night." Choco suggested. The place seemed safe and comfortable enough, and they both agreed to stay there for the night.
They pulled out their sleeping bags and tucked themselves real nice and warm. Marsh kept the bag of supplies beside him just in case Choco tried to sneak and take a midnight snack for himself.
He was still stressing out on the food supplies but yawned from today's journey, he'll leave that problem for tomorrows concern. During that cold night, Marsh can feel something cold and sticky on his face. He didn't want to open his eyes, but the thought of Choco eating their food got him upset.
"Choco, I told you, we got to be more careful with our supplies – " His voice sounded tired, but he abruptly stops as his eyes opened widely as a pair of hostile eyes stares back at him. "G-G-Gu…"
Awaken by Marsh's voice, Choco sat upright and yawned. "Hm? Sum'thing… the matter?"
"GUMMY BEAR!"
"HUH?"
"ROAAAR!"
Marsh threw the bags beside him to distract and escape from the wild pink gummy bear. Choco took out his sword to deal with the beast, but Marsh dragged him along to get away from the area. It was fortunate that the bear didn't chase them, but they lost everything they got except for Choco's weapon.
After they reached a certain place where the bear is out of sight, they both tried to catch their breaths, "M-My cream puffs!... You should've let me eat them when I still had the chance." Choco frowns at Marsh.
"Sweet lord, you still think of food after we encountered a dangerous beast?"
"It was just a big ol' dumb gummy bear! I could've handled it if you haven't dragged me along with you."
Marsh shook his head and realized some things, "Anyway… that gummy bear, I think that's a sign that we're near the borders of Cotton Candy Forest. Most of the wild candymals resides at the Rainbow Taffy Grounds, and the gummy bear probably got lost into this forest and found its way to our camp."
The news got Choco excited, it meant he'll finally get to use his sword on other beasts soon. He can finally practice his swordsmanship after a long time of travelling. His mischievous grin caught Marsh's attention. "You're not thinking of anything funny, are you?"
"Trust me, I don't." He even raised his hand, trying to look promising. Though the hand he hid behind had crossed fingers. "I also think we should continue travels, I don't think it'll be safe for us to stay in one place for so long. Who knows what we might encounter next?"
Convinced by his words, Marsh agreed. "You're right. Let's keep moving!"
As they continue on their tracks on that dark cold night, Choco was excited and looking forward to meet other beastly candymals to fight, while Marsh was becoming more and more uncertain with his decision to leave home.
He was starting to realize the challenges they might have to face, and there's no doubt that a soft marshmallow boy like him have a fighting chance. Especially when he lost his only weapon, a caramel dagger, which he threw at the gummy bear back there.
"Aw geez, I hope we don't run into some wolflair, jellypuma, or sugardrakes~" Choco citing the names of these candymals got Marsh feeling anxious about encountering any of it. And so, he became more sensitive towards his surroundings, flinching over the rustling sounds coming from the cotton candy bushes.
"Woah!" He jumped at the sight of the beegal.
"Marsh, are you alright?"
"I-I am! Yeah… I am."
It was easy enough to guess how Marsh feels judging by his expression. Choco smiled and pats his back, "Fret not my friend, I can protect you from any beast we'll encounter." He confidently assured.
"Ugh. Don't treat me like a scared kid."
"Then you better toughen up. Cowardice will get you nowhere, especially when you're out here to survive on your own. Say, why did you run away from home?"
Even though they have travelled together for quite some time, neither of them knows much about the other. They just happen to meet each other in the Cotton Candy Woods and agreed to travel together with certain conditions. Now that Choco have asked a personal question, this had Marsh thinking whether or not to open up about his own reasons. "I could ask you the same question." He simply answered.
Refusing to answer first, Choco smirked. "Touche."
Later on, the two have found themselves at an edge of a cliff, witnessing dawn the very first time. The rays of the sun shining upon the grounds under the cliff, revealing the Rainbow Taffy Grounds.
"Can you believe this? We finally made it, Rainbow Taffy Grounds! It's so pretty here." Marsh uttered, somehow his pessimism subsided. He stopped doubting himself if he can survive in this wilderness together with Choco.
Then an unusual sound was heard, he turned to look at Choco who was patting his stomach. "Was that you?"
"Marsh," he gave a serious look at his pal. "It's time we hunt food like the men we're made to be!"