“Quit staring at it and take a bite,” Ambroz demanded.

Theon nodded and continue eating the fish. He hasn't eaten ever since what happened to their village that night. He was so hungry and ate it with nothing left but bones. He wiped the side of his lips with the back of his palm.

He glanced at Ambroz and saw that he also had something dripping from his mouth. Surely is from the food they are eating. He was about to reach out and wipe when Ambroz slapped away his hand in instinct.

Ambroz's eyes flashed over his. "What were you going to do?"

He blinked a few times. Feeling intimidated by his stare.

"I... I was just going to wipe your lips."

"Don't do that. Only I can touch my skin, do you understand?"

He nodded continuously. "Sorry about that."

Theon then realized how careless his movement was, he asked himself why did he even attempt to try to touch a man who looks like it does not want anyone to even lay a finger on them. He was such an idiot. Ambrox was also in fact a man so that worsens it all.

Somehow, the longer they stayed silent while sitting on the bare ground made Theon very uncomfortable with it and so he stood up.

Ambroz gazed at him while still eating his grub.

Theon thought of coming out to face the broad daylight. It was still at midday, he went to a near tree without Ambroz questioning him. The man does not even concern with Theon furthermore. Theon has a lot more questions to ask Ambroz but just kept his mouth sealed.

He went by a near tree. He sat leaning his back on the stem, his knee bend and the other was flat on the ground. Rested his hand on his bent knees and bowed his head down. He contemplates himself there. His chest tightened by the sudden pain he felt. He will never forget such tragedy.

'The people' he lifted his head almost instantly as that thought struck him.

"I can't just sit here and do nothing. Eliaz entrusted the people to me." He convinced himself as if cheering his subconscious that was about to end in sorrow.

He stood up and gazed at Ambroz. Surprisingly, Ambroz was standing in front of the cave and it made him think about it.

Ambroz hair strands swayed as the breeze brushed through his pale body. The sunlight emphasize the colour of his eyes and it looked at him intensely as the duration started increasing.

Theon thought of it. This man will surely help him no matter the odds. He will do everything for the sake of his people. Even if it means sacrificing his soul and body. Ambroz might not know of a way to get out of the forest rapidly however, with the both of their strength and wit, he can't see why they can't her out of this forest.

"What are you staring at me so intensely, for?" Ambroz asked. His brows furrowed.

Theon just faintly smiled. He was optimistic and tried to restore back his strength. This is what he was trained for now he needs to take responsibility for it.
In an instance, his grey pupils were filled with the light of perseverance.

"Nothing. Where are you heading, sir?" He raise a question as he went near him.

Ambroz diverted his gaze. "Stop calling me that. Ambroz is my name and where I am heading is not to your concern."

Theon furrowed his eyebrows and pressed his lips. He was on edge thinking, what could he possibly do to close their distance.

He has gotten him in deep thinking. Later on, he managed to think of a way.

Ambroz was carrying his old bow and arrow again.

"Are you against the conquerors?" Theon asked him.

Ambroz froze and slowly faced him. "What do you mean against?"

"They have been striving to colonize almost all of the land. Murdering people as if they are mere insects and abusing possession of others. Will this end? How about you, I may not know more about you but you seem to be living in this forest for a long time-"

"Stop putting this on me. If you hate them so much, why must you run like insects? Murder them as well too and grab all your possession back." Ambroz disrupted him before he could even ask.

Theon lowered his head. "Is that what we should have done? Warriors fight for their lives and if defeated they will take what was ours?" He heaved a sigh. "I have someone very dear to me that once said that vengeance was never a way to bring an end to all of this. Maybe, if we could just discuss with them and question them about what they are trying to do. Maybe then my family and Eliaz's family wouldn't have died."

Ambroz laughed in a half-suppressed and manner. "Those kinds of people will never think of truce. They are foolish, self-centred and basilisk conquerors, do you think they would listen to a word you will say?" He snickered once more. "Not a chance."

He raised his head and met Ambroz's eyes. "How could you say that?" He asked almost yelled with the way Ambroz was disagree

This time Ambroz grew more rage in his eyes and walked toward Theon. "You saw it with your own eyes, didn't you?" He pointed somewhere. "They are merciless. Even gathering all of your people's strength will not be enough to convince them. Truce? They have already killed your family, you say. And they could do much worst than that. They would even turn someone into a hideous mons-" He cut off his sentence when he realized what he was about to say.

"Into what?" With worried eyes, Theon asked.

Ambroz gulped. "What I'm saying is that they are not just simply human beings. They possess powers you would never have imagined. And the forest would not even forgive if you grant them death. There's no end to this. I have known more of them than you do."

"Then if you really do know more. What can I do to save my people?"

They stare at each other for a few seconds with full of tension emitting. Ambroz stepped backwards.
"Search for your people and run further away," Ambroz said. He could not think of anything but to say that to him.

Theon was flabbergasted and words can't seem to be formed from his mouth as he deeply thought of something to utter.

"How about you? What are you gonna do?"

Ambroz was already walking away and his back was the only thing Theon can see from his perspective when Ambroz turned his head sideways.

"Asking me irrelevant questions again. No matter what will happen to me is none of your concern," He faced front again. "Even if I die, this will benefit you." He whispered.

Theon couldn't hear it so he went near him but Ambroz already decided to walk away.

Theon was dumbfounded. But he is optimistic about persuading Ambroz to negotiate with him into helping him find a way out of the forest.

He heaved a sigh. Thinking, he should just wait for Ambroz to come back. To saunter further beyond this forest will only grant him unfortunate comings like what happened to him with those huge monkeys that almost bruised his body. Going back into it, how could Ambroz scare those away when they are almost the same size when it comes to their features.

Ambroz really is something he should look up into and find out what about him could possibly be of help to him.

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ABYSSCESS