A long journey (1/4)

After the elf calmed down and let go of him, Joseph got up and resumed searching the campsite.

In the end, he managed to gather the following: the tent, the dagger already strapped to his waist, a second knife that he handed to the elf, the cloth pouch with coins, two worn-out backpacks—one containing some fruit—two canteens, one half-filled with water and the other empty, a handful of dry branches, three fur blankets, and the mage's staff.

'No map, just my luck,' Joseph thought, scratching his chin as he observed the items in front of him. 'We could take one of the horses, but where to? It's been seven days, and we still haven't left this forest. This dirt path looks abandoned, and we haven't run into anyone so far…'

"Luneth!"

The elf's soft voice pulled him out of his thoughts. He turned his head and saw her holding a fruit from the backpack, offering it to him with a smile.

"Ah, thanks," he said, grabbing what looked like an apple. Taking a bite without thinking much, he was surprised by the burst of sweet juice in his mouth. "It really is an apple," Joseph muttered, watching the elf take one for herself and nibble at it with small bites.

'We're already showing signs of dehydration,' he thought, his gaze returning to the supplies as he chewed. 'These fruits help, but not for long. We need meat…'

Joseph closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath to organize his thoughts. 'One step at a time. First, we need to pack everything properly.'

***

A few minutes later, Joseph finished organizing the supplies. He distributed the weight between the two backpacks: the heavier one, carrying the tent, dry branches, and two blankets, would go on his back; the lighter one, with the fruit, canteens, and a blanket, would be for the elf.

Using the knife, Joseph also cut pieces from the "beds" of two of the men, turning the rags into two makeshift wool blankets. 'These will come in handy at night,' he thought, eyeing his thin clothing and especially the elf's simple dress.

***

"I think we grabbed everything we can carry," he muttered, standing beside the only horse he hadn't set free. 'Now we just need to figure out where to go.'

Joseph turned to the elf, who stood beside him. 'Hmm… I have no idea which direction… but she's an elf, and this is a forest. Don't they say elves have, like… a special connection with nature? Well, worth a shot.'

He placed a hand on her shoulder to get her attention. "You… know… the direction… where… your… home… is?"

The elf tilted her head, her big eyes blinking as she processed his gestures and tone. Joseph sighed, scratching his neck. 'Yeah, this is going to be just as hard as I thought.'

They needed a direction, and he was counting on her to point the way—even if it was just a guess.

"Alright, let's try again." He pointed at her once more, tapping his own chest lightly to get her attention. "You… which… way… is… your… home?" Joseph made a broad gesture with his hands, tracing a roof in the air, then pointed in various directions around them, raising his eyebrows in a silent question. 

The elf tilted her head, her eyes following his movements with curiosity. She furrowed her brows, clearly trying to decipher what he meant, but didn't respond. Joseph huffed, rubbing his face with one hand. 'Alright… last attempt.' 

He tried a different approach, picking up a stick from the ground and drawing a figure in the dirt—a small house with a triangular roof and a chimney releasing smoke. 

Joseph pointed at the drawing, then at her.

For a moment, the elf just stared at the drawing, her fingers playing with the hem of her dress. Then, something seemed to click. Her eyes widened, and she nodded quickly.

'Did she really get it?' Joseph raised an eyebrow. "You understood? Your home?" he asked, pointing at the drawing again. 

She nodded once more, her face lighting up with a smile, then lifted a hand and pointed behind them—the direction they had come from with the cart. 

Joseph turned his head, following her finger with his gaze. 'So it's the way back… I kind of expected that. Now, it depends on whether she really knows where it is. But either way, we don't have much choice—if we keep going forward, we might run into more of those guys.' 

"Alright, if that's where you want to go…" He adjusted the heavier backpack on his shoulders. 'Ugh! I miss my real body.'

Turning to the horse, he motioned for the elf. "Let's get on, then." Joseph crouched down and gently held her by the waist, feeling his muscles protest at the effort. 

"Hold on tight—why do I even bother talking?" he muttered to himself, grunting as he lifted her onto the saddle. She clung to the horse's neck, her short legs dangling for a moment before she settled into place. 

Joseph stepped back, taking a deep breath, then pulled himself up behind her, his arms trembling as he climbed. 

The staff, secured to the saddle with a leather strap, swayed slightly beside the horse. 

Sitting in the saddle, he adjusted the backpack on his back and took the reins, the elf nestled in front of him. "Let the adventure begin," Joseph declared, offering a half-smile as she turned to look at him with a confident gaze. 

With a light tug on the reins, the horse began to move, following the dirt path.

***

The sun was low in the sky when Joseph spotted the glimmer of a stream winding through the trees. After hours of riding, the heat and dust clung to his skin, and he knew the elf needed to cool off too.

"Let's stop here," Joseph murmured, guiding the horse to the bank and dismounting with a groan. He helped the girl down, holding her by the waist before setting her gently on the ground.

"You first," he said, pointing to the stream and mimicking the motion of washing his face. She tilted her head but quickly understood, her eyes lighting up with excitement.

She ran to the water, her dress flowing behind her, and began splashing it onto her face. Joseph turned his back respectfully and busied himself untying the backpacks from the horse.

"Enjoy," he said over his shoulder, keeping his eyes fixed on the supplies as he listened to the splashes.

Only when she returned, her silver hair dripping and her face glowing with a radiant smile, did he allow himself to approach the stream. He washed his face and hands quickly while she watched from the grass.

'You're not going to turn around so I can take a bath?'

...

...

...

'Guess not.'

***

Night fell thick over the forest, and the cold began to creep in.

Joseph set up camp, using the branches to start a fire and struggling to pitch the tent.

He and the elf sat side by side, wrapped in wool blankets, the warmth of the fire pushing back the night's chill. She held a fruit in her hands, biting into it slowly, while Joseph roasted another on a stick, its juice sizzling as it dripped into the flames.

"I'd kill for a barbecue right now," he murmured, turning the stick with a sigh. The elf stared at him, her silver eyes reflecting the fire, then held out half of her fruit.

He chuckled softly and shook his head. "You can eat it."

***

The second day of travel started off peacefully—until a deep growl echoed through the forest, sending the horse into a panicked whinny.

Joseph tightened his grip on the reins and turned just in time to see a massive wolf emerge from the trees.

"Shit! Go, go!" he shouted, snapping the reins. The horse bolted, its hooves thundering against the ground as the beast gave chase.

Joseph held the elf tight against his chest with one arm while pulling the reins with the other.

The trees blurred past as the horse pushed itself to the limit. Even so, the wolf was closing in.

'Screw it.' Channeling Ki into his legs, Joseph anchored himself on the horse and let go of the reins.

"Spirit Cannon!" He yelled, aiming his free hand backward as energy gathered in his palm. The blast shot out, hitting the wolf square in the snout.

The impact sent the beast tumbling, its legs tangling as it crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust and leaves.

Joseph didn't waste time looking back. "Let's go, Sugarfoot!" he shouted, grabbing the reins again and kicking his heels into the horse's sides.

***

By late afternoon, a furious storm had taken over the sky, rain pouring in thick sheets that drummed against the trees. Joseph hastily set up the tent and pulled the soaked elf inside.

Now, the two were squeezed into the cramped space, blankets wrapped around them while the wind howled outside, shaking the tent so violently it felt like it could collapse at any moment.

'Where the hell is my luck…?'