Chapter 8 – Alvaro’s Story

"Do we have to keep moving all the time?" Laura asked as she followed Alvaro, who was walking ahead.

"Yes. Wild animals can sometimes pick up our scent. If we stay in one place too long, we might attract them. So, as much as possible, we have to move at sunrise to look for food and find the next place to rest," Alvaro replied.

Laura nodded, trying to process his explanation.

"But we need rest too. If we keep moving like this, won't we eventually wear ourselves out?" she asked, sounding slightly worried.

Alvaro glanced at her briefly but kept his eyes forward.

"We need to manage our time wisely. Rest is important, but we have to be realistic. We're in a dangerous place, so we have to be fast and smart with every decision."

"So basically, we just keep walking without stopping for too long?" Laura asked, trying to confirm her understanding.

"Exactly. As long as we're able to move, we keep moving. We focus our energy on surviving, not just on resting," Alvaro replied calmly, even though the tension in the air was thick.

Laura felt a bit overwhelmed by the reality of it, but she knew they had no other choice. They had to keep going, even when they were tired and afraid. "Alright… I'll follow your lead," she whispered.

Alvaro didn't say much after that, but Laura could feel the strength of his determination. They continued walking in silence, with only the sound of their footsteps echoing through the quiet forest.

***

"Wait, Al," Laura said suddenly, causing Alvaro to stop and turn around.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Look at that broad-leafed plant over there," she pointed toward a patch of wild grass not far away.

"Yeah? What about it?"

"That leaf helps speed up healing, external or internal wounds. It's really effective," Laura said as she quickly approached the plant and began collecting the leaves, stuffing them into an empty food pouch.

Alvaro watched her with a new kind of interest.

"You know a lot about plants, huh?" he asked, slightly surprised but intrigued.

Laura nodded while continuing to pick the leaves.

"Yeah, I studied a bit of herbal medicine back in college. I took a class on medicinal plants. These could help treat wounds if we get hurt again," she explained, carefully placing the leaves inside the pouch.

Alvaro looked slightly impressed. "So, you're actually useful," he said with a softer tone. "If we manage to survive longer, this could really come in handy."

Laura gave a small smile. "Survival's not just about staying alive. Sometimes, little things like this make all the difference."

After gathering the leaves, they continued their journey, this time with a bit more optimism. Each step felt a little lighter, knowing they had at least one tool to help them heal if something went wrong.

"Ready to keep moving?" Alvaro asked, his eyes scanning ahead again.

"Always," Laura replied, this time with stronger resolve.

***

Along the way, a rustling sound in the leaves made them both freeze. Alvaro instinctively stopped and took a defensive stance, while Laura quickly moved behind him, heart pounding.

Slowly but surely, a wild boar emerged from the underbrush, catching them both off guard.

Alvaro quickly raised his spear, ready to defend them if the animal charged. But the boar seemed more interested in sniffing around the path than in them. It moved cautiously, searching the ground for something to eat.

Laura clutched her bag tightly, tension hanging thick in the air.

"Do we have to fight it?" she whispered, scared by how large and powerful the boar looked.

Alvaro shook his head slightly, still keeping his eyes on the animal. "Not unless we have to. If we don't provoke it, it should leave us alone. Just stay calm and don't move suddenly."

The boar eventually wandered off and disappeared behind the trees. Laura let out a breath of relief, though her nerves were still on edge.

"I thought we were going to have to fight it. It was huge," Laura murmured.

Alvaro lowered his spear, still watchful. "We got lucky. Boars usually only attack when cornered or threatened," he explained. "But we can't let our guard down. There are many dangers here."

Laura nodded, and they continued their journey, now even more alert. Even if there wasn't an immediate threat, they both knew their situation was still precarious. But at least they had each other and that gave them strength.

***

During the walk, Laura gathered more plants and edible flowers.

"Laura, look up there," Alvaro pointed toward a tree. "That's fruit."

"What kind of fruit is it? Is it safe to eat?" she asked, following his gaze.

"Looks edible," Alvaro said.

Laura carefully studied the hanging fruit. It was bright red with a slightly wrinkled skin and hung low enough to be reached.

"But we should be careful. Sometimes the most harmless-looking fruits are the dangerous ones," Laura warned.

Alvaro nodded. "Test it first, see if the taste is off or too bitter. If anything feels wrong, we'll know it's not safe."

He carefully picked one of the fruits and handed it to her.

Laura sniffed it. "Smells fine. Nothing weird," she said, cracking open the skin slightly and tasting a small piece of the flesh.

"How does it taste?" Alvaro asked, still scanning the surroundings.

"Sweet enough. I think it's safe," she replied with a faint smile. "We should grab a few for later."

Alvaro nodded. "Alright. Let's take some and keep moving."

Feeling a little more at ease with the extra food, they continued onward, cautiously but with a touch more hope.

***

"I'm tired… Can we rest for a bit?" Laura asked.

"Sure. Let's find a good spot to sit and enjoy the fruit," Alvaro replied.

They found a flat rock large enough for the two of them to sit on. Laura pulled out some of the fruit they'd picked and sat beside him.

"This takes the edge off my hunger a little," Laura said as she took another bite. "But we should ration them. Who knows when we'll find more."

Alvaro nodded, eyes still alert. "Exactly. We need to know when to eat and when to hold back. This place is not kind to us."

They sat in silence for a while, the only sounds were the gentle calls of the forest. Laura tried to enjoy the moment, despite the lingering anxiety in her chest.

"Have you ever felt like this before? Trapped in a place you don't know, far away from everything familiar?" she asked, hoping to distract herself from her fatigue and hunger.

Alvaro was quiet for a moment, staring into the distance.

"I have. But what choice do we have other than to survive?" he said flatly, though a trace of pain crossed his face.

"You have? Really?" Laura looked at him, her brow furrowed.

"Seriously? You were trapped somewhere before?"

Alvaro's expression darkened. "Yeah. When I was ten, my father locked me in a room completely dark for an entire year. It was more terrifying than this forest."

Laura's eyes widened in shock. "Are you serious?"

"Yes," Alvaro said simply.

Laura went quiet, stunned by the revelation. Her face showed concern and sympathy. "I… I didn't know. I'm so sorry. I had no idea you went through that."

Alvaro kept his gaze forward, his voice low.

"You don't need to apologize. It was a long time ago."

Still, there was a shadow in his eyes that Laura didn't miss.

"I've gotten used to being alone and limited. That's what's helped me survive out here."

"How did you make it through that?" Laura asked, deeply moved by the story. "What kept you going all that time?"

Alvaro inhaled deeply, the forest around him briefly forgotten.

"I didn't have a choice. If I didn't survive, I would've been lost. I learned a lot about myself in that isolation. How to survive, even when no one's there to help."

Laura bit her lip, her chest aching for him. "That's… horrifying. But I can see now. Why you're so strong."

Alvaro gave her a faint smile, though it carried more sorrow than joy. "Strength doesn't mean you're never afraid. It just means you keep standing even when you are."

They sat in silence again, both lost in thought, each reflecting on their own battles. Laura felt like she finally understood Alvaro a little more: his resolve, his quiet courage, and the scars he carried.

"I'm glad you're here," she finally whispered, sincerely. "I don't know what I'd do if I were alone."

Alvaro turned to her, giving her a meaningful look.

"We're not alone, Laura. As long as we're together, we can survive."

***