Lost

Chapter 24

×~ Close calls ~×

- Ranboo's POV -

I lightly jogged through the unfamiliar forest in search of gravel. I'm pretty sure I can find some near water, so all I have to do is find a river or pond, or something similar to that. Hopefully, it won't take me too long, it'd suck if I got separated from Techno.

I continued to sprint until I noticed the faint sound of running water coming from somewhere in the distance. I slowed down and eventually came to a stop to try and get a better idea of where the noise was coming from. I turned my head and tilted my ears in a couple of different directions to try and see where the sound was louder. It was hard to tell exactly where the noise was the loudest, but it did seem to be coming somewhere to the left of where I was standing.

Once I was sure it was somewhere to the left I started sprinting in that direction, tripping up on a few loose branches, roots, and rocks while doing so but somehow never managing to fall down. The sound of the rushing water quickly got louder. But it remained gentle enough for me to know that the water wasn't running that quickly.

As I continued to sprint forward I noticed a break in the trees, but I didn't think to slow down or stop before it was too late. I had tripped again, but instead of being greeted by the snow-covered forest floor, I was about to meet face to face with the running water of a brook. Thankfully I was able to grab onto a nearby tree, but that didn't stop me from falling completely, and my legs dipped down into icy water, soaking my shoes as well as part of my pants.

Almost immediately I started to feel the stinging burning sensation of water hitting my skin. I quickly started to try and scramble and scratch my way out of the water, but the deadly liquid eating away at my flesh was a little distracting. I lost my grip for a moment before regaining it and pulling myself onto solid ground.

Once I was safe I quickly tore off my shoes and rolled up my pants, making sure none of the damp fabric was going to touch my skin. I also made sure there was no water residue left on my skin by patting them down with my cloak to further dry them off. Why does this always happen to me, how many times now have I almost fallen into a river or creek now? Probably more times than I can count on my hands.

I let out a sigh and stood back up, it's always so annoying when this happens. I looked up at the quickly darkening sky and winced when a sudden gust of wind hit my legs, partially covering them in snow while doing so. I should probably head back now, even though I still have plenty of time until the sun sets, it's probably not a good idea to be out and about with no shoes and open wounds.

I bent down and grabbed my shoes, their damp fabric started to sting my hands so I quickly dumped the water out of them and dropped them on the ground. I guess I'm going to have to take off my cloak and carry them that way. I sighed and brought my hands up to the thing that fastened my cloak closed and started to fiddle with it, trying my best to undo it and failing miserably.

My ear twitched when I heard the distant crunching of snow. I froze and my head snapped up in the direction of the sound. I stared forward across to the other side of the river, the noise probably just came from some random animal, but I couldn't help but feel on edge. Something was very wrong.

I continued to slowly glance around the trees in front of me while slowly and as quietly as I could backing up. I can just get my shoes tomorrow. Just as I was about to turn around and start walking away when I noticed something green move by in the distance, it was an unnatural, yet, familiar shade of lime green...

Why is it so familiar?

Smiles...

I turned around and took off running as fast as I could. The only thing I could think about was getting away from that thing and finding Technoblade. I completely ignored patches of thorns, puddles of water, and out-of-place jagged rocks as I ran.

Soon I started to catch sight of an unnatural light coming from further in the woods in the direction of where the camp is. Hopefully, Techno found some flint and lit the campfire. Maybe if I call out them they'll hear me.

I shouldn't try that though, it might just draw in unnecessary attention from Smiles. I'll just wait until I know for sure Techno is in earshot. Hopefully, that will be soon.

Hopefully...

- Techno's POV -

I bent down and picked up the piece of flint I had spent the last 15 minutes trying to find. When I stood back up a gust of icy wind rolled past me. I need to get back to camp soon, I don't want to be out at night longer than I need to. Hopefully, Ranboo is there when I get back.

- Ranboo's POV -

As the campsite got closer I started to realize that Techno wasn't there, they just lit the camp up with torches before they left. Which direction did they go when they left? I don't remember, I don't even think I saw them leave camp. God, today couldn't have gone worse.

I quickly stopped when I realized that I had made it back to camp and was now standing in the middle of the clearing that the campsite occupied. I quickly glanced around the area looking for the direction Tecno most likely went in. I picked one that looked good enough and started running again, hopefully, I'll run into Technoblade soon, but until then, I need to keep running.

- Techno's POV -

As I jogged through the woods the light from the torches at camp started to present itself in the distance. I felt a sense of calm wash over me when I realized that I'd finally be able to rest for the evening. But something seemed off. The voices were oddly quiet, and when they did speak the words they spoke didn't make any sense but we're still familiar to me somehow, but when they spoke normally I could only hear a few of them, most weren't even audible.

And the forest was strangely silent. Everything, even the plant life seemed to be on edge. Is Ranboo okay? Hopefully, he is, I'd feel so bad if something happened to him. I pulled Orphan Obliterator out of my inventory and started running towards camp, something was very wrong. I was rapidly getting closer to the camp, but I wasn't going quick enough.

"Damn it legs, move faster!" I quietly yelled to myself. I continued running until I was close to camp, then I slowed down and focused on being quiet. I got near the edge of the clearing and hid partially inside and behind some of the flora, making sure I still had a good view of the clearing itself. I sat there waiting for something, I'm not quite sure what I'm waiting for, but I'm sure it will show itself eventually.

After a minute or so the wind started to pick up, and I gripped the sword I was holding a little tighter. In one final gust of wind, the torches that were scattered around got blown out, and silence fell over the dark clearing once again. Shortly thereafter the faint sound of quiet footsteps entered the clearing, but I only saw the faint silhouette of something inhuman, with odd, human characteristics that seem out of place but still managed to fit in perfectly into the silhouette.

I tried looking a little closer, to see if there really was something there, or if I was just hallucinating. There was definitely something there, and it seemed to be looking around for something. It looked in my direction and I noticed its... Face? I think that's what that is. It had a lime green emoticon smiley in the place its face should probably be.

It's appearance was similar to that of a dreamon, so similar in fact, that if I were asleep I would be completely convinced that what I'm looking at is a dreamon, a high-class dreamon to be specific. But something else was familiar about the way this thing looks, I think I've heard or read the description of this thing somewhere before. I started to rack my brain for the memory I was looking for, and soon found it when I read Ranboo's memory book.

So this is the fucker that's scared Ranboo so bad. I tightened my grip on Orphan Obliterator and prepared to lunge at the creature standing in front of me. I can't let it just get away with doing that. I waited until it focused its attention somewhere else, and attacked.

1545 Words: Haha cliffhanger go brrr. Sorry about that, I've never written a fight scene before so it's probably going to take me a while to get it right, and I wanted to get this chapter out in a reasonable amount of time.