"Distrust"

As Donan and Luna walked through the forest, the tension in the air seemed to grow with each step. The sounds of nature, once comforting, now felt more threatening. Suddenly, the silence was shattered by hurried footsteps, and before they could react, a group of men in dark clothes, holding knives, appeared, quickly surrounding them.

Without warning, one of the bandits grabbed Luna from behind, holding her tightly as the others closed in, their intentions clear. They spoke no friendly words, only threats and malicious laughter. Panic began to grip Donan, who was restrained by another bandit, but Luna, though her breathing quickened, kept calm. She knew she had to act fast and intelligently.

She forced herself to appear fragile, her body tense as she concealed her skill and strength. Donan couldn't see how capable she truly was—not yet. He needed to believe she was vulnerable, that he could still be the hero of the situation. Fear mixed with strategy as she searched for an opening, a chance to turn the tide against the bandits.

They dragged her to a darker part of the forest, where the shadows seemed to converge, making the atmosphere even more oppressive. Donan was terrified, his expression full of anguish as he feared the worst. He didn't understand what was happening, only that Luna was in danger. But inside, Luna smiled, a plan already forming in her mind. She was in control, even if he didn't know it.

The bandits began mocking her, thinking she was truly intimidated. One of them moved closer, ready to do something cruel, but Luna was prepared. With a quick move, she turned the situation in her favor. Impeccably mimicking the leader's voice, she spoke loudly enough for Donan to hear from afar: "You're all weak. Eating those weird forest fruits? No wonder you can't handle a girl's punch."

The leader and his men paused in confusion, unable to comprehend what was happening. Luna, with deadly precision, gave a signal to Donan. She shouted to him from a distance, her tone full of confidence, "If you hit him hard enough, he'll go down."

She prepared to throw a precise rock at the bandit just as Donan struck him.

Donan, still dazed, didn't know what to do, but seeing Luna seemingly in control filled him with a surge of courage. Without much thought, he followed her suggestion and landed a solid blow on the bandit holding him. The man fell to the ground, and Donan, surprised by his own strength, looked at Luna, who approached with a mischievous expression, leaving him more suspicious and confused than ever.

"Turns out these guys are weaker than I thought," he said, eyeing the fallen bandits.

Luna, seizing the opportunity, didn't waste time. "Let's go, quickly!" she yelled. "They'll try to follow us, so we need to get out of here!"

Donan watched her, paralyzed. He didn't know what to think. He knew Luna was strong, but he never imagined she was this capable, this powerful. Now, more than ever, he was afraid of her.

Luna noticed the fear in his eyes, and her heart ached. She knew he was afraid of her now. It wasn't admiration or respect as before, but genuine fear. How could she earn his trust again? How could she make him see her as more than an unstoppable force, a hidden danger?

"I… I just didn't want you to get hurt," she said, trying to break the uncomfortable silence. Donan still couldn't look at her directly, and it hurt her. She forced a smile, but it was a sad one, full of insecurity. "I'm not a threat… I just wanted to protect you."

But Donan remained silent, only looking at her. The fear was evident in his eyes, and Luna knew she had a lot of work ahead to regain his trust. She might be strong, but protecting someone didn't mean she knew how to handle the fear she caused in others. She looked at him, trying to smile, but she knew words weren't enough yet.

They continued walking cautiously, but something had changed. The dynamic between them felt heavier. Luna knew she had to find a way to break the wall that had formed between them. Her secret was now closer to being revealed, but how much could Donan understand? And how vulnerable could she afford to be with him?

The forest was full of dangers, and they both knew it. But now, the greatest danger was what was growing between them: fear, insecurity, and the difficult task of rebuilding trust.

She began running through the forest, Donan at her side, feeling a mix of relief and uncertainty.

While they ran, Luna knew the bandits wouldn't wake anytime soon. They were completely incapacitated, defeated so efficiently that there was no real threat left. But she didn't want Donan to know that—not yet. He needed to believe they were being chased, that there was still a reason to keep running.

The forest, now calmer, seemed to swallow their footsteps as they disappeared into the trees, leaving the defeated bandits behind, unaware they had been outsmarted by a brilliant mind.

The scene was tense, but somehow, they had escaped immediate danger. Luna, still slightly tense, but aware she needed to stay composed, looked at Donan. He was beginning to recover from the surprise, his mind still processing what had happened. She knew they weren't out of danger yet, but there was something different in the air—a feeling that maybe, this time, they could take the next step safely.

They had crossed a significant part of the forest and were now near the edge. But then, a colossal figure appeared before them. A gigantic gorilla, more imposing than anything Luna had ever seen. She froze, her eyes fixed on the animal, as panic began to consume her.

Her deep, ingrained fear of gorillas took over. Her body trembled, her legs felt weak, and her breathing grew heavy. It was as if the ground beneath her vanished. But then, Donan, as always, stepped forward without hesitation. He didn't share her fear. Instead, he seemed to feel something different—a need to protect, to ensure nothing happened to her.

The gorilla raised one massive hand as if preparing to strike, and Luna was sure it was the end. But then, Donan shouted something unexpected, something that made the gorilla pause. Before Luna could understand what was happening, the gorilla embraced her in a warm, almost comical hug.

"This is Bongo Mongo!" Donan said, laughing as the gorilla affectionately hugged him.

Luna stood bewildered, watching them. How? A gorilla, which looked like a destructive force, was now acting like a playful pet?

"Come on, you'll like him," Donan said, gently guiding Luna toward the gorilla.

Initially, Luna was disoriented, her body still in shock from the fear she had felt. But when Donan spoke, a small smile crept onto her face. She knew this was a unique opportunity. She needed to overcome her fear, and Donan was there to help.

"This is my friend," Donan said, smiling at Luna. "Bongo, this is my friend."

The gorilla made an approving gesture, beating his chest with a resounding thud. Luna, her heart still racing, hesitantly extended her hand. But then Bongo did something even more surprising. He gently touched her hand, as if offering a genuine gesture of friendship. And with that simple act, Luna felt a profound sense of relief...