"The monkeys, I almost forgot." He uttered.

Once again he tiptoed, sat and hid himself at the closest tree that was grown close to the river. He waited for another noise to be heard. He expected them to be climbing around the trees but steps were heard.

"Do monkeys usually walk?" He mumbled to himself.

Even louder steps were heard and he flinched. He covered his blabbering mouth.

And again it was nostalgic. He was right, there really is an enormous creature lurking inside these woods and now he would probably see it with his own eyes. There's no way that he was dreaming when he was drop awake when he saw that creature.

He thought, how could Ambroz, a man of that cave, not know of this creature's presence?

‘He must be just ridiculing me.’

But he was shocked when an arrow almost hit him, it was pinned close to his right eye and it startled him.

"Ah!" His slightly deep voice echoed. He rapidly stood up.

He noticed it was just as identical as the arrow Ambroz was carrying earlier this morning. He looked around and he was definitely right when he saw Ambroz glaring at his position and was still holding its bow.

He stood up and his mouth was formed in an 'o'. He thought it was a dragon but he was even more frightened right now that he almost died by a mere rusty arrow.

"You! Were you trying to kill me?" He screamed in frustration.

Ambroz was not trying to kill him but he believe otherwise. Ambroz was trying to kill a fish that his stomach feasted however, it hit the near rock and it landed almost exactly at Theon's stance.

"I was not trying to kill you-"

"Oh, you were! But luckily, since it's rusty and old it didn't hit me. Otherwise, I'm probably chasing after my breath right now." He exclaimed while panicking.

Ambroz tilted his head and shook it. "What are you muttering about? I was not," he sighed. "You know what? Think whatever I did. How about you, why are you hiding behind that tree, didn't I tell you to disappear from my sight already?" Now he reversed their position.

Theon was fed up with Ambroz's temperament however, he refused to lose to this argument. He was shaken by the fact he got almost hit by an arrow. He was expecting him to apologize but he never knew he has an even abrupt temper than he already has. His pride was frustrating him.

"You really do have no mercy at all, at this point no one would ever like you." After he said that, his conscience chased him real quick. "Uh, I'm sorry."

Ambroz just shook his head and went towards him. Theon backed out as Ambroz pulled out the arrow. His silky smooth black hair brushed through his face, he noticed that he tied it. He gulped as Ambroz faced him.

'Too close' Theon thought. He could feel his breath already, he avoided his gaze as his heart palpitated loudly.

He leaned towards Theon and whispered, "I don't care if no one likes me. I don't plead for their affection."

Then Ambroz started again to walk away from him. He sighed in relief and held his chest. "What was that?" He murmured.

He sensed that he tensed the atmosphere between him and Ambroz. So he kept his mouth shut for a while.

"Talk. You haven't answered my question yet. Why are you still here? He asked while leaning on a tree.

"I was planning to look for a way to get to the other side of this mountain. But, the monkeys-"

He was startled at the grunting he heeded to somewhere. The thought of finally escaping at the sight of these monkeys, delayed. Theon ran towards Ambroz and hid behind him. He closed his eyes while grabbing Ambroz's long coat. He was not able to see it. But once the monkeys saw Ambroz they left forthwith.

'Twas his sharp gaze with his vermillion coloured eyes and the familiarity of his face that skimmed those huge monkeys away. The animal was frightened just by seeing his eye, somehow.

Theon was still holding onto him. Ambroz cleared his throat. "They're gone.
"
Theon opened his eyes and peeked. When he found out that they had disappeared, he move swiftly away from him. He was embarrassed but acted as if he wasn't by diverting his gaze elsewhere.

"Ehem." He jokingly pretend to cough.

"What you're trying to say is that those monkeys were after you? So instead of heading to the other side of the mountain, you had to save your life and get chased no matter where you go?"

Theon gulped. "Erm, sort of. Furthermore, I don't know where I am actually heading. The forest seems to play a trick on me."

He was a trained warrior but was only taught to fight with his sword and other weapons. Now, that he actually thought about it. It was that very night that he also lost his sword. The moment he fainted in front of the creature he saw.

"And I also lost my sword when I saw that creature." He muttered.

Ambroz snickered. "You lost your sword becaus you're careless. Not because of an unreal creature."

Ambroz already caught the fish he was targeting a while ago. The man had skills that Theon don't know of yet.

"Are you really a warrior of your village? You couldn't even scare off a troop of monkeys." Ambroz asked but Theon felt like he was mocked but the man was right...

"I have never seen such animals before. I don't know how I should deal with them."

Ambroz chortled. "Even so, running is an act for a wimp."

Theon didn't utter a word, he could not bring himself to oppose to him much longer. He was again pressed by his guilt. No matter what he says it does not even matter anymore. All he could think about was how to get out of here and look for the people. He needs to save them and assure that they are protected. There was a lot of youngsters and with juvenile minds. The elders are at risk as well if he wouldn't make it out ahead he might not see them alive.

"Where does this river lead to?" He asked Ambroz who was still catching some fish.

"I'm telling you. I haven't been out of these woods in a long time. My memory won't serve you right." Ambroz answered.

"Then at least give me a few details on how to get to the side of the mountain?" He asked in the most affable way.

"This river might lead you to the other side of the mountain. But who knows, the woods play with people like you." Ambroz shrugged his shoulders and later on went out of the river.

Theon was thinking seriously about whether to believe the man's words or just follow again the ludicrous instincts that have been failing him since then.

"We don't know each other, but I begged of you. Please, don't lie to me." Theon pleaded to him slightly screaming.

Ambroz was already at the other side of the river when he heard him. Thinking twice, he really has no reason to fake all that he says. Lying was never his doing as he has no intention to keep someone beside him.

"What makes you think that I'm lying. Your leaders might have not told you about this yet. However, the forest is keeping you here as hostages. Try to escape here and you'll find out what's coming for you." He said with a very heavy intention.

Theon has silenced again. "Then, do you not plan on escaping the forest, too?"

Ambroz was pent up. "I am stuck in here. There's no escaping it. If you can't get out of my sight fine then, stay."

He walked away and vanished in the presence of the tall trees. While theon was standing still at the other side having thoughts of two. He thought that he must decide soon or the people will really be in grave danger.

He crossed the river and followed Ambroz back to its cave. He thought that asking Ambroz a few questions might just make more sense and will help him get out of this forest sooner. Persuading Ambroz will not take long but is he really aware of what is coming for him? All he knows is that the safety of the people is much more important than anything else.

"Eliaz, I won't let you down." He exclaimed.

———————
ABYSSCESS