Daydreaming

[In A Local Forest]

The forest was shrouded in a cloak of darkness, where only the outlines of ancient trees stood out under the pale light of the moon, when it managed to break through the dense clouds. The rain fell incessantly, forming a symphony of droplets drumming on the leaves and the soaked ground. The sound was sometimes soft, sometimes intense, as the rain's intensity varied.

The air was heavy with moisture, each breath carrying the scent of wet earth and vegetation, an aroma that evoked life and renewal. The wind blew through the trees, making the leaves whisper ancient secrets known only to nature. The trunks, covered in moss, glistened under the water that ran down their surfaces, reflecting the scarce light available.

The darkness was occasionally interrupted by flashes of lightning, which illuminated the forest in brief moments, revealing the vastness and depth of the place. Each flash of light showed a different scene: twisted branches, exposed roots, and the silhouettes of animals moving silently through the shadows.

The forest animals, accustomed to the harsh weather, sought shelter. The owls, with their piercing eyes, watched from the treetops, while the small rodents hid among the fallen leaves and tangled roots. The chirping of crickets was silenced by the sound of the rain, creating an atmosphere of calm and mystery.

The stream that cut through the forest was now swollen with rainwater, flowing with renewed strength. The sound of the rushing water, hitting the rocks, added a layer of depth to the forest's symphony. The phosphorescent glow of some fungi and insects provided a faint light that contrasted with the prevailing darkness.

The forest at night, in times of rain, was a place of indescribable beauty and serenity, where each element contributed to a natural harmony. It was a world apart, where time seemed to slow down, and human presence became insignificant in the face of nature's grandeur.

Yet, amidst this serenity, two beings walked through the forest as if they knew every grain of earth and leaf. One of them wore a goat skull on his face, an imposing and mysterious figure, while the other had deer antlers, his silhouette slender and agile. Their steps were light and precise, almost as if they glided over the soaked terrain, avoiding each obstacle with supernatural grace.

The presence of these beings added an air of mystery to the forest. They moved in silence, their intentions unknown. The rain fell on them, but it seemed not to bother them, as if they were an integral part of the environment. Each movement was calculated, each gesture reflected a deep connection with the nature around them.

Évora: "Will this rain ever stop?"

Payner: "Patience."

"Patience? We've been walking in this rain for hours, and it shows no signs of letting up. It's even gotten dark."

"I don't see any inconvenience in the rain. We just have to wait, and it will pass."

Évora stopped and looked around: "There's nothing here to shelter us. If we're going to wait for the rain to stop, at least let's find a drier place."

Payner changed the route and continued walking. "There's a cave nearby. We can take shelter there."

"Really! But... do you think that cave still exists?"

"It's only been eight years since we were last here. Unless there's been an earthquake or some other catastrophe, I think it's still intact."

"I hope so."

The rain continued to fall incessantly, creating puddles and temporary streams along the way. Payner and Évora walked with firm steps, knowing every trail, every turn, and every tree in that forest like the back of their hands. The lightning briefly illuminated the path ahead, revealing the silhouettes of the trees and the dancing shadows around them.

As they advanced through the forest, the presence of nocturnal animals became increasingly evident. The glowing eyes of small creatures appeared in the shadows, watching intently the two beings walking along the trail. Payner continued forward, indifferent to the animals around him. He moved with a quiet confidence, as if this situation were natural.

Évora, on the other hand, interacted with each animal that approached. A small squirrel descended from a tree and ran up to her. Évora bent down and gently stroked the squirrel's fur, which shook off the rainwater and seemed comforted by her touch. Soon after, an owl perched on a low branch and made a soft sound, as if greeting Évora. She raised her hand, and the owl landed on her arm for a few moments before flying away again.

As they continued walking, a large snake was coiled around a nearby tree. Its movements were slow and heavy as it tried to free itself. Payner kept walking, unbothered by the snake's presence. Évora, however, approached the snake calmly and carefully, her hands gently touching the cold scales of the animal. The snake, recognizing the familiarity and gentleness in Évora's touch, ceased its movements and remained still, comforted by her presence.

The sounds of the forest at night, mixed with the rain, created a natural symphony. Each interaction of Évora with the animals seemed to reinforce the feeling that they belonged to that place in a strangely natural way. A group of fireflies danced around them, lighting the path with a soft, phosphorescent glow. Évora extended her hand, and one of the fireflies landed on her finger, glowing brightly before flying off to join the others.

As they approached the cave, a lone wolf appeared in the distance. It watched the group for a moment but showed no threat. Évora looked at the wolf and nodded slightly, as if acknowledging its presence. The wolf, satisfied with the silent interaction, turned and disappeared into the forest's darkness.

Finally, they reached the cave entrance. The dark mouth of the cave welcomed them, sheltering them from the rain. Inside, the cave was spacious and dry, with moss-covered walls and stones that reflected the scarce light available.

"Finally, shelter," said Évora, feeling the relief of being out of the rain. Payner nodded, adjusting the deer antlers on his head.

Évora removed the skull from her face, placing it over her head. The skull slid back and fastened firmly on her back, near the nape of her neck.

"Much more comfortable. All we need now is a light source here," said Évora, adjusting herself.

Payner looked outside the cave. "We could make a fire, but all the branches are wet."

A deep sound echoed from the back of the cave, as if something large were breathing heavily. Évora looked into the darkness with a subtle smile on her face. "Seems like we have company." Payner calmly observed and turned his gaze back to the rain falling outside.

The sound of paws approached closer, and a lightning flash briefly illuminated the cave, revealing a bear approaching them. "A bear?" questioned Payner.

Évora ran up to the bear, excited. "It's been a long time since I've seen one of these, haha. How are you, big guy?" She stroked the bear's shaggy, messy fur. With Évora's gentle touches, she calmly groomed the bear's fur. The animal sniffed Évora and, lazily, threw itself on her, knocking her down and falling asleep on top of her.

Évora, trapped under the sleeping bear, tried to move, but the weight of the animal kept her firmly on the ground. With a sigh, she looked at Payner, who was sitting calmly near the cave entrance.

"Payner, a little help here, please?" Évora asked, trying not to laugh at the situation.

Payner stood up and walked over to her, observing the scene with a calm expression. "Come on, bear, you need to move," he said, trying to push the bear off Évora.

The bear woke up with the movement, lifting its head and letting out a lazy huff. It looked at Payner with sleepy eyes before slowly getting up. With an awkward movement, the bear moved away from Évora and lay down in the spot where Payner had been sitting earlier.

Évora got up, laughing as she brushed the dust off her clothes. "Well, that was interesting," she said, still smiling.

Payner looked at the bear, now comfortably lying in his spot. "Seems like he liked my place," Évora observed with a slight smile.

Évora: "At least we have some extra company, right?" She approached the bear, grooming its messy fur and petting it.

Payner: "The sound of the rain is quite soothing. Too bad we can't sleep."

"Ah, please, don't remind me. When I think about it, it's kind of torturous."

Payner looked at her curiously. "How can something you've never experienced be torturous?"

"From what I see, other living beings seem so calm and relaxed when they're sleeping, and they also dream about things, whether good or bad. I wish I could experience that too, but I can't. That's why it's torturous."

Évora observed the bear sleeping deeply. "Look at this bear, for example. He seems so calm."

"More like lazy than calm."

"You get the idea, Payner. One thing leads to another and vice versa."

Payner smiled slightly.

Évora looked at him, surprised. "That's a rare sight."

"What?"

"You smiling. I rarely see you smile at anything. You always have this serious and dark demeanor, haha."

Payner: "That's not true. I just follow the rules of things. What we do doesn't require a smile from me. Unlike you, I can't have many connections with things, but I respect each one of them."

Évora stopped petting the bear and sat down next to Payner. "Just because we take the lives of people who break the rules doesn't mean we should stop ourselves from seeking our own happiness. We should enjoy things."

Payner: "Don't talk to me as if I were a depressed person. I am happy, but in my own way."

Évora rested her head on Payner's shoulder and said in a soft voice: "I know, but I'd like to see you smile more."

Évora: "But at least you're more cheerful compared to before."

Payner: "I guess I'm getting used to it little by little."

The rain continued to fall incessantly outside, forming small cascades that ran down the leaves and temporary streams across the terrain. Payner watched the rain, his eyes fixed on the droplets falling from the sky, lost in deep thoughts as the rhythmic sound of the rain provided a tranquil soundtrack.

Évora continued to rest her head on Payner's shoulder, feeling his warmth and stability beside her. The sound of the rain and distant thunder created an atmosphere of serenity that made her deeply relax. Each thunderclap that echoed seemed to synchronize with her breathing, creating a sense of peace that only the storm could bring.

Évora: "Seems like the rain won't stop anytime soon."

Payner: "Yes, we might have to stay here until dawn."

Évora: "Staying idle is quite boring."

Payner: "We can try to find something to pass the time."

Évora shook her head. "No, I just want to stay like this, doing nothing, just contemplating the sound of the rain."

Payner: "Then you'll have to endure the boredom until the rain stops."

Évora watched the rain for a few moments. "Payner, could you tell a story? It's been many years since I've heard one, since the day Bazaltho left."

Payner hesitated. "I don't think I'm a great storyteller, but I can try."

Évora fell silent, closing her eyes, and Payner began to tell the story.

Payner adjusted himself, looking into the darkness of the cave as Évora rested her head on his shoulder, ready to listen. His voice started low, almost a whisper, blending with the sound of the rain outside.

"Once upon a time, in an old and dusty orphanage, there was a girl named Ana. She had beautiful blue eyes and golden hair, but she was a lonely child, with few friends and a deep sadness in her heart. Ana spent most of her time wandering through the dark and empty corridors of the orphanage, imagining fantastic worlds and magical creatures.

One night, while exploring the abandoned attic, Ana stumbled upon a secret door hidden behind a pile of dusty boxes. With her heart pounding with curiosity, she opened the door and entered a dark and dusty room. The shadows seemed to dance around her, creating a mysterious and slightly eerie atmosphere.

In the center of the room, there was a tall, dark figure shrouded in shadows. The figure had no face, just a black void that seemed to absorb the light around it. Ana stood frozen in fear, but the figure did not move. Instead, a soft, hoarse voice echoed in the room, asking: 'Who are you?'

The girl, hesitantly, replied: 'My name is Ana. And you?'

The figure was silent for a moment before answering: 'I have no name, no face, no one. I am just... Nothing.'

Ana approached the figure, curious and a little afraid. She touched the shadow with the tip of her finger and felt a strange coldness run through her body, as if the shadow's touch had imprinted itself on her soul.

From that day on, Ana and the shadow became inseparable friends. They spent hours talking about everything and nothing, yet the sadness within the girl did not fade. Even though she had found a peculiar friendship, the pain in her heart continued to grow silently.

One day, Ana asked what the shadow's favorite game was. The figure replied: 'I like to pretend that I am not a shadow.'

Ana frowned, confused. 'What do you mean?'

The shadow explained: 'When you lose what we call joy, character, emotions, freedom, and identity, what remains? How do you pursue things that no longer belong to you? What kind of individual do you become from the moment you lose everything that composes you?'

The girl did not know how to answer so many questions, so she asked: 'But how can you pretend not to be a shadow... when you are a shadow?'

The shadow replied: 'In the same way that you pretend to be a happy girl when, in fact, you are just... a being carrying many regrets.'

With many doubts echoing in her mind, Ana simply bid the shadow farewell and went to sleep, as she did every night. While she slept, Ana had a terrible nightmare. She dreamed that the shadow consumed her, swallowed her into its black void, an endless abyss that seemed to devour her essence.

When Ana woke up, sweating and with her heart pounding, the shadow was no longer there. She searched everywhere, but the shadow had disappeared. Ana never saw the shadow again, but she never forgot it. The memory of the shadow haunted her for the rest of her life, a constant reminder of the monster she had encountered and that had stolen her happiness."

Payner paused, his voice filled with emotion and reflection, the story echoing in the cave as the rain continued to fall outside. Évora remained silent, absorbing every word, feeling immersed in the grandeur and tragedy of the story he had told.

Évora sighed: "That seemed quite sad."

Payner, observing the sleeping bear, replied: "Did you want a happier story?"

"No, this one is perfect. Thank you," said Évora with a soft smile.

"Are you thanking me for telling a simple story?" Payner asked, surprised.

Évora shook her head. "No, I'm thanking you for helping me daydream. That was the closest I've come to a real dream." She said as she briefly opened her eyes.

The bear, which had initially found its comfort, began to move slowly. With heavy, lazy steps, it approached the two, its large body emitting soft noises as it walked. It looked at Payner and Évora with sleepy eyes and then lay down near them, finding a cozy spot to rest.

The warmth of the bear's body emanated like a blanket, adding an extra layer of comfort to the environment. Payner continued to watch the rain, his thoughts wandering to the rhythm of the storm. The calmness of the moment allowed him to reflect on the stories and memories they had shared.

Évora, with a soft smile on her lips, closed her eyes, letting herself be lulled by the sound of the rain and the reassuring presence of the bear beside her. The feeling of safety and peace enveloped the three, creating a moment of pure harmony with nature. The cave, with its stone walls and echoing droplets, was now a sanctuary of rest and contemplation.