As he woke up and looked around, he felt his stomach drop. Trees surrounded him, and he had no idea how he got there.
He searched for his phone or anything that could help, but all he found was the comic he had fallen asleep reading. At least he was glad to be wearing his pajamas: his Spiderman trousers and Olaf poncho.
Suddenly, voices filled the forest. He crouched down, trying to hide, and listened carefully. A man and a girl were speaking an unknown language. He held his breath, not making a sound. But as soon as he turned around, he was greeted by a spear at his throat and a very angry face.
"Nieuq Sere?" said the man, his voice rough, revealing a gigantic scar on his neck beneath his cloak.
It was incredible that in the face of life and death, his response wasn't to beg for his life but simply to freeze, as if every person were a freaking dinosaur.
"EDNOPSER O ET ERATAM."
"I don't know Chinese! Please, please don't kill me" he whispered.
The muscular man must have thought he posed no threat, as he withdrew the spear from the boy's throat. The man said something, and the girl emerged from her hiding spot. Completely covered by her cloak, she spoke with the man before turning to meet the boy's gaze.
She waved her hand at him, and he waved back. She pointed at him, waiting for him to say something. But, being the idiot he was, he didn't know what to say. So, the intimidating companion helped and said, "Kirax." The boy, mustering all the bravery he could, replied loudly, "Kiro, my name is Kiro" his body tensed waiting for the punch but to his surprise it never came.
The girl pointed at him again and said, "Kiro." The two cloaked figures exchanged words, and the man tossed some clothes to him along with a piece of fabric. The child looked dumbfounded as the man sighed and pointed at his own eyes, as if he were crying. The boy touched his cheeks and realized they were covered in tears, so he used the fabric to wipe them away. He went around a tree and changed his clothes.
They were a very used spare cloak they must have had, the same with a very old looking, almost medieval, shirt and a pair of trousers which were really long for him since he was 1'60m. He looked hideous, like a child who stole his dad's clothes.
As Kiro adjusted the ill-fitting clothes, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was in over his head. The forest was alive with rustling leaves and distant animal calls, but the voices of the man and girl had faded into an unsettling silence.
Suddenly, the tranquility shattered. A loud crash echoed through the trees, followed by the frantic barking of dogs. The man's expression shifted from annoyance to urgency as he exchanged a quick glance with the girl.
"Erroc" the man shouted in his rough language, but Kiro understood the tone all too well.
Heart racing, Kiro followed them as they sprinted deeper into the forest, dodging branches and leaping over roots. The sounds of pursuit grew louder—heavy footsteps and a low growl echoed behind them.
As they reached a clearing, Kiro stumbled, falling to his knees. The girl turned back and offered her hand, her eyes wide with determination.
"Somav" she urged, though he couldn't understand her words, the meaning was clear.
With a surge of willpower, he grasped her hand and pulled himself up. Just as they were about to escape the clearing, a shadow loomed behind them. Kiro glanced back and froze.
A massive beast emerged from the underbrush, its fur a mix of vibrant colors, with eyes that glowed like embers. It wasn't the vicious predator he had imagined; instead, there was an air of curiosity about it. The creature sniffed the ground, its growl deep but not aggressive.
The man beside him positioned himself protectively in front of the girl, brandishing his spear, ready for a fight. Kiro felt a strange mix of fear and intrigue. He had heard tales of beasts like this, creatures that roamed the forests, neither wholly good nor evil, but he never thought to be in front of one himself.
As the beast stepped forward, Kiro noticed its demeanor shift; it seemed more curious than threatening. Adrenaline coursed through him, and he instinctively took a step back, but something in the creature's gaze held him in place.
The growl deepened, but it didn't attack. Instead, it tilted its head, studying Kiro as if trying to determine whether he was friend or foe. The tension in the air was palpable, each heartbeat resonating with uncertainty.
At that moment, Kiro understood that everything hinged on this encounter. With danger lurking behind them and the enigmatic beast before him, he felt the weight of an impossible decision pressing down on him: should he flee with the others or take a chance and attempt to connect with the creature?
Before he could decide, the man beside him let out a fierce battle cry, brandishing his spear with a swift motion. The beast, startled by the sudden display of aggression, recoiled and let out a low growl, its curiosity replaced by instinctual fear. Without hesitation, it turned and bolted into the trees, disappearing into the underbrush.
The man shouted, urging Kiro and the girl to move. They spirited away, hearts pounding, until they reached a small clearing where they could finally catch their breath.
As dusk settled over the forest, they set up a makeshift camp, gathering fallen branches for a fire. Kiro sat on a log, still shaken by the encounter. The girl moved close, her expression a mix of concern and determination.
After a few moments, she reached into her cloak and pulled out his comic book, handing it to him with a soft smile. Despite the bizarre circumstances, Kiro felt a flicker of comfort in the familiar item.
"Thank you," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. She simply nodded, now that she took her hood of he could see just how little she was, she might as well was 12 years old and already living through that hell, her eyes reflecting the flickering firelight.
As they sat together, surrounded by the sounds of the forest, Kiro realized that this adventure was only just beginning. The night stretched ahead, filled with uncertainty and danger, but now he had companions. Perhaps together, they could navigate the challenges that lay ahead.