As they progressed Andrea spoke, "I wonder what time it is now?" She said this not really expecting Mattaniah's reply whatsoever.
Mattaniah who heard this promptly summoned his system, and as soon as that was done, he heard the usual ding sound come from the system.
Ding!
[The time say 07:10:49 PM]
Seeing this, Mattaniah spoke to Andrea:
"It's probably about 7pm already."
"How do you know?" Andrea ask since the sky was extremely obscure to the extent that they couldn't even be able to tell if they were in the night, evening or morning, or even afternoon.
"Just a guess," Mattaniah replied shortly.
And Andrea fell silent for a while. Her head was aimed sideways as she watched some of the trees dancing to the commands of the impudent wind. Snowflakes kept falling atop her pale cheeks as they walked by.
After some time she spoke again, "Matt, I'm sorry," her voice held a little bit of guilt, innocence and hesitancy.
'Sorry?' Mattaniah thought about what Andrea just said to him. He contemplated what Andrea might be apologizing to him about, for some moments, but the only reasonable explanation for her apologies was that perhaps she felt guilty that Mattaniah had to go through the troubles of carrying her.
Realizing this, Mattaniah smiled trivially, "If what you're apologizing about is because of the fact that you think you're perhaps stressing me out by having to search for water for you and carrying you, then it's nothing to be sorry about, I'm sure—"
Interrupting Mattaniah, "That's not the reason I'm apologizing." She stated calmly.
"Oh it's not?" Mattaniah questioned as he was pretty baffled by what he just heard. What else could this young lady be apologizing to him for then, if not for that? At this point Mattaniah was unfathomably clueless as to what Andrea meant by the statement.
Or could she had done something terrible without him knowing about it? But then, what could it be?!
Mattaniah thought about it for a while, and since he couldn't produce anymore credible propaganda. He then proceeded to ask in a defeated and disappointed voice:
"Well? Why are you apologizing to me then?"
Andrea sighed before speaking, and she adjusted her body on his back.
"When you first left to find some water for me. Since you took some time before coming back. I… I thought you were simply going to abandon me here and go your own way."
'Oh so that's why she's apologizing!' Clueless Mattaniah eventually realized.
He chuckled meekly, with white steams coming out of his mouth due to the excessive cold, "And why would you even think of such a thing?"
As much as Mattaniah found it quite funny, at the same time he felt that Andrea wasn't really wrong to develop such assumptions. Mattaniah reasoned that since Andrea was so weak and even looked like she was going to die any moment, she must've thought that perhaps Mattaniah would just deem her as an unneeded subordinate that would only just draw him back unnecessarily. Therefore it's understandable to think that.
"I should've known that you were not that type of person. That's why I'm apologizing, I shouldn't have thought such a thing."
"It's okay, apology accepted. I would've probably thought the same too if it was me."
The more they walk by, the plentiful the snowflakes kept getting. And also the stronger the wind kept getting too.
'Hopefully the storm wouldn't start before we get there.'
'I should probably walk more fas—"
Interrupting Mattaniah's thought, was Andrea.
"Matt?" She called with her typical gentle voice.
"Yes?" Mattaniah became attentive.
"If we encounter another beast on the way. Just leave me and run as faraway as possible. Don't worry I won't be angry."
Mattaniah wiggled his head in disbelief, 'What is this crazy girl saying now?'
"Have you gone round the bend? Why do you think I'll leave you when trouble comes? We came here together, and I'm certain that we are going to leave this place together too. So don't say such things again."
Andrea heaved a sigh again.
"I know I shouldn't say such a thing, but I'm afraid that I've lost a lot of blood already and might not make it. So Matt, if the time comes that a beast happens to be chasing us, then don't hesitate to leave me, okay?"
Hearing this, Mattaniah wanted to laugh, however he could sense that Andrea was being serious. But then at the same time he needed her to know that she can't impose her judgement on others.
"Andrea, don't you want to see Christopher and Naomi once again?" He asked.
"I do," Andrea replied shortly not sure of what Mattaniah was getting at.
"If so then. No more talks about dying. We would both survive, I assure you."
Luckily for Mattaniah he was familiar with the saying that goes whatever a woman says to you, then she sometimes probably means the opposite, but would never admit it.
Although Mattaniah himself wasn't certain about surviving in this hellish place, whereby any nightmarish creatures could just pop out at anytime and attack them, and not to talk of the fact that they have no current destination, or food to eat, or even proper shelter. However he just didn't want to succumb to the feeling of defeat and failure too soon. And besides, a place that could heal his crippled legs and give him a system and even turn them back into teenagers and gave Andrea superpower couldn't be too scary of a place. So therefore, they shouldn't only focus on the bad things this place has brought to them, but also on the good things too.
With every step they took, the tumultuous storm kept getting more and more violent. The mist that was in the atmosphere was making it hard for him to see the way he was going, he was slightly afraid that this might hinder his view and cause him to mispercieve his direction. Mattaniah took a few more steps forward, he soon speculated the cave he had found earlier.
His eyes lit up with joy as he realized this.
"Look Andrea, that is the cave right there!" Mattaniah pointed his hand towards it.
Andrea hastily lifted her head that was laying hopelessly on Mattaniah's neck, upward. She shifted her gaze upon the area Mattaniah was indicating.
"I can see it," she replied.
"See, I told you it wasn't too far, didn't I?"
"Indeed. I'm glad we're able to make it before the snowstorm fully starts."
Taking a few more steps, Mattaniah finally got to the entrance of the cave. He immediately took Andrea to the part of the cave where the water was dripping from.
"This is the water I told you I found. Although it isn't much. However I'm certain that if you catch about twenty drops in your mouth then you'll feel a little bit better," Mattaniah said to Andrea. Not sure of what the girl was expecting when he told her that he had found water. Perhaps a river? Or a pond? Unfortunately, none of that is here at present.
"It would do I guess." Andrea affirmed awkwardly.
"Okay then catch a few drops now," Mattaniah said.
"Alright," Andrea obeyed, and opened her mouth at the exact spot where the water was dripping from. Although this wasn't what she was expecting when Mattaniah told her he found water. But then it didn't really matter, at least it was still quite better than having nothing. Hopefully if the sun rises tomorrow morning, then they would be able to melt some snow and drink instead, but for now this would do.
Mattaniah stood there firmly with Andrea on his back. Heavens knew that if it were up to Mattaniah then he would've drop her down by now, but then he couldn't yet, he didn't want to make it seem as though he was in a hurry, which he technically was. He wanted Andrea to drink to her satisfaction. Thus until this little squirrel herself informed him that she was done, then he was going to patiently wait and not move an inch.
However, as much as Mattaniah ought to be brave, his legs were starting to tremble.
'Crap! She's so heavy!'
'Is she doing this on purpose?! Gosh I'm so tired!'
'Hey squirrel! Do you intend on finishing the whole water present in the mountain, or what?!'
Mattaniah could only fight with himself inwardly.
"So much for being a man," he mumbled, and sighed.
At long last, Andrea eventually spoke after what felt like forever.
"Matt, I'm done."
"Oh you are?" Mattaniah enquired. Pretending as though he was fine with it, he spoke again, "If you want you can still drink more. I don't mind."
'What am I even saying!' He cautioned himself inwardly as soon as that was said. 'Please don't say you're going to drink more. Please!'
As though his inner prayers was answered:
"I'm fine. Let's go in," Mattaniah heard Andrea's soft voice sound from his back.
'Thank goodness!'
"Okay then as you wish!"
Mattaniah then carried Andrea into the cave gently.
"Wow, It really is warm in here," Andrea said amusedly.
"I told you. Also, you don't have to worry about any beast, I've checked thoroughly earlier, and there's none here, rest assured."
Andrea was quite satisfied seeing this, however she was a bit foiled by the fact that it was extremely dark in the cave, but nonetheless it didn't matter, besides, it's not like they were going into a five star hotel or anything.
Mattaniah took Andrea inwards. He could discern that all those Flameflies were already asleep. He then carried Andrea towards a spot were it would be comfortable for her to sleep, then afterwards, Mattaniah carried her away from his back and placed her down to the ground.
Mattaniah heaved an extremely comfortable sigh as soon as he couldn't feel the weight of Andrea's body on his back any longer.
'Ahhh! Finally! I'm so exhausted!'
Mattaniah then look towards Andrea, "Are you comfortable there?"
Andrea nodded slowly, "Yes sure."
Then Mattaniah took another spot in the cave which wasn't too far from where Andrea layed.
"Andrea?" Mattaniah called gently.
"Yes, Matt?"
"Check this out."
As soon as Mattaniah said this, he clapped his hands together loudly, that made it echo throughout the whole cave. Then spontaneously afterwards, the normal soft and dull light that appeared earlier when he first came here, appeared again. Chasing away the obscurity, and lightening the whole cave beautifully.