(10 Years Ago)
Aqua parked her ATV at the mouth of the main trail into Chestnut Bay Woods and exhaled. She needed a breather before they went any farther.
“Hey, Kieran, I need fifteen minutes. Are you hungry?” she asked, already pulling a box of Pocky from her rucksack. She knew the answer.
“Yes! And thank you!” Kieran sang as he tore the box open.
“What direction are we supposed to go?” Aqua unscrewed her water bottle and took a sip.
“Uh… I’m not sure…” Kieran said, voice shrinking.
“What do you mean? We’re here, and you don’t know?” Aqua snapped before catching herself.
“Well… I was a little kid when Grandpa Knox showed me the Oracle Stone. But it’s definitely here!” he said sheepishly. “I think we can find it together!”
Aqua sighed and softened. He’d been seven — scared, conf
