Surprises in the Forest

Donan didn't know if it was fear or something stronger that made his heart race so wildly.

The tree branches looked like monsters in the darkness, but it was her eyes, fixed and intense, that stole his focus. Luna. That was it. Her name was so soft, but she... she was anything but delicate. The memory of the slap still made his cheek sting.

Even with adrenaline coursing through his body, he couldn't ignore what he saw. The short dress, the firm movements, the curves he tried so hard not to notice. It was a mistake. A huge distraction. But what could he do? His gaze kept wandering back, as if it had a will of its own.

"Are you just going to stand there?!" Her voice snapped him back to reality. Strong, commanding, but somehow comforting. Donan quickly shook his head, trying to appear focused.

He averted his eyes, his feet hesitant. He didn't want another slap. The first had been a lesson, but it was impossible to ignore what was in front of him. She was beautiful, like a force of nature. But that kiss...

Why had she done that? Only to slap him again right after? He had never kissed anyone before. Was that a kiss? Was that how it was supposed to be? Thinking about it made him blush, which was ridiculous considering the life-or-death situation they were facing.

"Luna…" he began, his voice barely a whisper. "Why did you kiss me?"

She turned to him, her eyes sparking like embers. "Because you seemed like you needed it, boy. Now shut up and follow me."

Donan felt his face burn. Needed it? What did she mean by that? Was it so obvious that he was lost, that he had never experienced anything like that? And why did she talk to him like he was a kid? He was almost 18!

Almost. The worry intensified inside me, a feeling I couldn't suppress. I still had so little time to grow up, and this whole situation seemed so far from what I imagined my future would be. It was just a little while before I turned 18, and what had I done with my life so far? I felt so lost, so inexperienced, trying to deal with something far beyond my capacity to understand.

"I… I'm almost eighteen," I murmured to myself, feeling an enormous weight in my chest. As if my youth was an obstacle here, a reminder that I wasn't ready for the raw reality unfolding before my eyes. The weight of responsibility pressed down on me in a way I didn't know how to bear. But, at the same time, there you were, firm and strong at my side, pulling me forward, making me forget, for brief moments, the fear of my own immaturity.

"Come on, Donan!" Luna pulled him by the arm, with enough force to remind him that there was no room for hesitation. Her touch was warm, firm. He tried to focus on the branches ahead, on the sounds of the trees threatening to give way, on anything but the fact that she was too close.

Maybe it was the testosterone, like his dad used to say when he got agitated for no reason. Or maybe it was the chaos around him, mixed with the overwhelming presence of that girl. He didn't know. He only knew that, at that moment, everything seemed impossible to control.

And Luna? She seemed completely oblivious to the turmoil she caused in him. Or maybe… maybe she knew exactly what she was doing.

The dense forest seemed to vibrate with life all around. The tall trees formed an almost impenetrable canopy, letting small rays of sunlight illuminate puddles scattered on the ground. Between the trees, small ponds reflected the environment like natural mirrors. The sound of dripping water and the distant song of birds created an unsettling contrast to the quick shadows and strange movements in the distance.

Donan, his eyes darting between the scenery and Luna, felt a growing unease. Although the place seemed vaguely familiar, it was hard to stay focused while she walked beside him, with that air of natural authority.

Then the sounds came. Cracking branches and short cries, almost laughter, echoed around them. From the treetops, grotesque-looking monkeys appeared. They weren't like normal monkeys; their eyes glowed with a wicked intelligence, and their robust bodies were covered in thick black fur. Their sharp claws scratched the tree bark as they swung from branch to branch, clearly surrounding them.

Donan stopped abruptly, pulling Luna by the arm.

"Stay behind me. I won't let those… those monsters touch you!"

Luna raised an eyebrow, surprised by his sudden bravery but also amused at the idea that he could protect her.

Donan, holding an improvised branch in his hand, tried to look intimidating, waving it in the air and shouting:

"Come on, you ugly beasts! Come and get it if you dare!"

The monkeys, however, only laughed at his attempt, and one of them leapt to the ground, advancing toward him. Donan tried to attack it with the branch, but the monkey was too agile, dodging easily and knocking him down with a swift blow.

That's when Luna sprang into action.

"My hero, huh?" she muttered sarcastically before charging forward.

With impressive strength, Luna grabbed the monkey that was on Donan and threw it against a tree. It fell, unconscious. The other monkeys hesitated, seeing her strength.

She turned to the rest with a defiant expression, lifting a piece of wood like an improvised spear.

"Who else wants to try?"

The monkeys looked at each other, their cries turning nervous before retreating into the trees. Within seconds, they disappeared into the forest.

Luna extended a hand to help Donan up. He took it, looking at her with a mix of admiration and embarrassment.

"Yeah… I was just testing their courage. It worked, didn't it?" he said, trying to regain his composure.

She just laughed, shaking her head.

"Sure, brave guy. Come on, maybe next time you'll get luckier."

As they continued through the forest, Donan's heart raced, but not because of the recent danger. It was Luna—her strength, her presence. He wanted to protect her, but he knew he had much to learn from her first.

Luna glanced back, seeing Donan crouch down to fix his sneaker, muttering something about how uncomfortable it was to walk in the forest. Impatient, she crossed her arms and said with a mocking tone:

"Man, you're way too soft to be a guy, you know that? We need to find a way out of here! Can you stop complaining?"

Donan, still bent over, adjusting his shoe, muttered:

"Easy for you to say when you don't have a rock jabbing your foot the whole time…"

Luna rolled her eyes, huffing, and turned back to him to emphasize her point. But when their eyes met, she noticed his expression and snapped her fingers in front of his face:

"Hey! What are you looking at, huh, weirdo?"

Donan, caught off guard, tried to cover it up.

"Nothing! Just… uh… the wind messed up your hair. That's all."

Luna narrowed her eyes, suspicious.

"Hmm… Sure. Try that again, and I'll leave you alone with the monkeys next time!"

Donan laughed awkwardly and took a step forward, clearly uncomfortable with how transparent he was.

Espero que a tradução tenha captado toda a essência do texto original! 😊