Chapter 4 The Unforgettable Boy

Sitting by the fire warming themselves were two children, one girl and one boy. The boy had a head full of silver curls and his face was matted with dirt. The girl had red hair cascading off her shoulders reaching her mid back. Her eyes red and puffy.

Milo stared at the strange girl beside him wearily. He thought she was already annoying but she somehow managed to get even more annoying. He could not understand it but he couldn't bare to see her cry. After many attempts to calm her down she had finally stopped crying. However he did not let down his guard. Milo continued to stare at Ruby cautiously, afraid that she would have another outburst.

Taking notice of his strange gaze Ruby bowed her head low, guessing that he probably saw her as a strange person. It had not been her intention to cry but she could not help herself when faced with his sincerity.

Her crying had been a mixture of sadness and happiness. Happiness at finally being cared for, sadness at the realisation a stranger cared more about her than her own family.

An awkward silence settled as neither child spoke. Both child lost in their own thoughts.

"Why are you in the wastelands?"

Milo broke the silence as he spoke.

"Wait. We're in the wastelands?"

Ruby almost shouted as she asked. Geography was one of the subjects she studied and being a good student Ruby knew the map of Rose Country like the back of her hands. She clearly knew where the wastelands was, it was the land bordering her country with the enemy country.

It was only then that she realised that the route she traveled must've cut through the Thistle Forest, an infamous forest notorious for its wild beasts and poisonous creatures. She broke out in cold sweat as she realised how close to death she had come. She thanked her lucky stars that she had managed to have not met any danger on her journey.

"Don't tell you didn't know this was the Wastelands?*

"Well"

Her pause was enough of an answer for him. Milo stared at her incredulously, how lucky was she to be able to survive this long and yet remain clueless. He observed her closely, he believed his theory even more now. No simple person could have so much luck.

His eyes immediately caught the necklace hanging from her neck. Attached to the chain was a mini anchor made from an unknown material. Under the firelight it shone an unnatural silver. At first glance he knew that the necklace was special. He had a gut feeling that it was related to her amazing luck.

The smell of roasted fish interrupted his thoughts as he turned his attention back to the two small fish roasting by the fire. He had used his primitive level of cooking skills to try and cook them dinner.

He took the food from his stash of supplies hidden in the dead tree near them. Dead trees or bone trees as they are more commonly known are the only trees that can be seen in the Wastelands. They resembled normal trees except for their lack of leaves and their bone white colour, hence the nickname. The are also much stronger than normal trees.

After living in the wastelands for so long of course he had some tricks of his own. His parents had taught him while they were still alive how to hide supplies in bone trees. He had many stashes like the one near him all over the wastelands. Most of them left behind by his parents.

Looking at the fish he judged that they were ready. He held them by their sticks, not minding the heat, and brought them close to his mouth to blow on.

After he was sure that they were cool enough he passed one of them over to Ruby.

"Be careful. It's still hot."

But Ruby was too hungry to care. She munched away at the roasted fish. To her the simple dish was one of the most delicious food she had eaten. The hot juices burst in her mouth but it could not compare to the warmth in her heart.

"Thank you."

Milo stopped mid bite and looked at those sincere eyes staring back at him. He did not know since when but he felt helpless in front of those eyes.

"It's okay, don't worry about it."

Then he gave her a reassuring smile. To Ruby that smile was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.

As they sat by the fire they began conversing to pass time. That was how they both found out that they came from different countries.

"My dad says that all Whites are brutes."

"That's not true, my mum wasn't a brute. She was the kindest person I knew."

Milo was quick to defend.

"Maybe Father didn't know. If he met your mother he would probably change his mind."

Ruby at that time had naively believed in her father.

Milo snorted in disdain.

"Don't you get it? He probably lied to you."

"Father wouldn't lie to me."

"How would you know?"

Ruby was unable to answer. How would she know? All she's ever known was her father's cold face.

"My mum and dad told me that the Reds aren't all bad, most of them are only confused. They said that there was no difference between Red or White, we are all the same."

Ruby's face had a look of enlightenment. It had been the first time she had ever heard such a notion. It made her realize that he was right. Milo was a White but he was nothing like how her people described him to be. His parents didn't seem to be bad either.

"Your parents sound nice. Where are they?"

"They died early this year."

Ruby was shocked by his answer and immediately felt sympathy for him. She was also ashamed of her tactlessness.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay. Don't worry about it."

Milo realized that the stupid girl thought she had upset him. Trying to reassure her, he turned to her and smiled.

"I'm okay. Mama and Papa taught me how to survive on my own and left enough food for me. Besides, I know that they're still with me even though they're dead."

The small silver haired boy pointed to his left chest where his heart was.

"I know that they're here."

The two children continued to talk about themselves under the firelight.

"Wow! You live here?"

Ruby was amazed when she heard that Milo lived in the wastelands.

"Uha, Mama and Papa built houses all over the place. They taught me where to find food and water, how to differentiate between food and poison, natural antidotes,and a lot of other stuff."

He had unconsciously puffed out his tiny chest as he spoke in pride. He looked as if he was waiting for praise.

Ruby did not let him down.

"Wow! You know so many cool things!"

She praised clapping her hands.

"Your life is so unlike mine. It's so interesting and you learn so many cool things. For me I have to learn so many boring things everyday."

She grumbled.

They somehow started talking about Ruby's life.

"Your parents sound horrible, you should stop worrying about what they feel. They aren't worth it."

"But they're my parents."

The idea of living without caring for her parents'affection was so new to her that she could completely grasp it in her mind.

"Idiot."

She was not prepared for the knock on her head, from the little brother no less. Feeling wronged she looked at Milo with aggrieved eyes.

"You shouldn't worry about unnecessary people and what they think. Nor let what they think dictate what you do in your life."

As the night progressed the two children cuddled up beside the fire, hugging each other for warmth. Milo had produced a large blanket from his stash in the tree. Both children hid under the blanket and soon fell asleep.

The next morning Ruby bid farewell to Milo as she headed home in the direction instructed by him. Before leaving she gave him a parting gift, her necklace.

The necklace was a gift given to her by her father on the day she was born. It was the only gift she had received from him and because of that she had treasured it.

But the situation was different now. She no longer cared, she decided to follow Milo's advice. She also felt that she should give him something after he had taken care of her the previous night. As the necklace was the most valuable thing she had with her, side from the bike, she gave it to him.

"This is too much. I don't know if you have noticed but this necklace is special. It may have been the reason you were able to stay safe for so long."

His theory surprised her, but she did not believe it. Her father wouldn't give her something this precious. There was also the possibility that he was not aware of its true value. Yes, that seemed possible, she thought. But that did not change her mind.

She smiled at him and continued to insist. Finally, Milo gave in. He could not win against her.

"Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

That was where they parted. Both hugging each other as they said their farewells.

Both vowing in their minds that somewhere, far in the future, they would find the other and meet again.