Timeless Hero Without a Goal

33rd Tick: The First Town 6

Rose walked around with Thomas to no result. She saw that it was too dark, trying to cross the forest was practically asking to get lost. Instead, she found her way back to the pond, sitting back down with Thomas. She was dead tired, Thomas was starting to get sluggish. She could only hope the environment could change in her favour.

“Fifty-one bottle under the sea, fifty-one bottles of joy.” Rose muttered to herself, half singing half yawning. “Lift the ship, drop the anchor, set sail...”

Thomas fell asleep in her arms again, satisfied with his playing time. Rose looked over the pond, the water surface clearly reflecting the moon. Rose sighed, she was safe at least. She looked as the moon slowly crawled its way across the sky. Rose yawned and leaned against a tree, wondering if she would ever get to talk to anyone. Her eyes started dropping, her surroundings dark, the creatures left her alone after witnessing what had happened to the reptilian creature. Rose eventually fell asleep, she was just too exhausted for the day.

In her dreams, she saw an odd image. Everything around her was white, she looked forward, seeing a pair of hands reach out towards her. She leaned backwards, not wanting to come in contact with the stranger. She looked inwards, seeing a trace of white hair before she was rudely awaken.

Rose jumped while sitting, looking around. Thomas had pulled her hair playfully, smiling and laughing. His laugh was odd, the pitch and loudness all over the place. She looked around, expecting to be lean against a tree and the pond in front of her. She stood up warily, looking around.

She was leaning against a tall thin tree, she was sitting on sand. She looked at where the pond was supposed to be, realising it had changed. She now saw a vast ocean with no end in sight, she was quite near the sea, white sand under her. She walked around, wondering what kind of place it was, she walked around the edge of the island, trying to see if there was anyone else around. She continued walking despite her legs hurting, Thomas sat on her shoulders again, giggling.

Rose sighed, continuing her walk. An hour passed, and there was no sign of anyone on the island, so Rose set Thomas down. She had walked along the edges of the island, she needed to enter the island, see if anybody was there. She sat down for a break, taking deep breaths while Thomas played with the sand. In the distance, the sun started rising, casting an orange glow.

She carried Thomas on her shoulders again, walking into the island, crossing the forest. She hoped the island provided shelter and water at least. Hopefully, she would be able to find the first town they were supposed to go to. Rose pushed a few leaves aside, the gash on her left arm starting to hurt again. She looked around, her stomach was empty, and Thomas’ stomach grumbled. Rose put him down near a tree and told him, “Stay here, okay?”

He gave her a blank look.

She looked up the tree and grabbed the lowest branch. With much pain, she lifted herself up, using mostly her right arm. She did not need to climb high before she was able to grab the lowest fruit hanging from the tree. Rose carefully hopped down, sitting on the ground across from Thomas. Using her hands, she split the fruit open. It was blue, but looked and smelt like a mango. She opened it, her fingers getting sticky as she dug out a chunk with her fingers, giving it to Thomas. He ate it off her hand, smiling widely. Rose let him eat until he was satisfied, by then, there was nothing left. She threw the remaining inedible parts behind her and wiped her fingers on her pants.

Rose put Thomas on her shoulders again, continuing the search for people. She went with feeling, her sixth sense magic coming into play. She wanted to quickly find a place where she would be safe. Around her, there was scuttling, ants gathering around the husk of the fruit, a few seconds later, nothing was left. Rose watched with awe before she saw something else near the tree she climbed. Ants, their shells were crimson red, their eyes beady and black. Their antennas stretched about two feet long, each ant half of Rose’s size. Rose steeled her nerves and continued walking, ignoring the gradually increasing group of ants forming behind her. She held her breath, hoping Thomas’ ability still worked. When she was a good distance away, ants broke through the greenery.

An army of them, swarming the area with a crimson red. Their mandibles were sharp and they were ready to kill. Rose closed her eyes, ready for the worst. When she reopened her eyes, she saw clear shards touch the ground and disappear. She looked around, the ants obviously confused as to what was happening. Rose took a deep breath and walked through the their ranks, the ants scurrying to make way, a few unluckily enough to shatter. Rose passed by them, the ants eventually just returning to where they came from. Rose breathed a sigh of relief as she walked onward, not thinking too much. Thomas was quiet, Rose assumed he was already asleep again.

Eventually, the vegetation lessened, Rose quickened her pace, hope in her heart. The forest was about to end, and she doubted she was at the other end again. She broke through the last of the trees, and was greeted with humans carrying makeshift weapons. They pointed their sharpened wooden spears at her, the look of desperation in their eyes. Rose made eye contact with them, they dropped their guard. She looked past them, seeing a town with a few people walking around quietly. The mood seemed to be bad, no one talked to anyone, it was a depressing sight, even for Rose.

She took a step forward, opening her mouth to say something before her sight was engulfed in darkness. She heard cries from the men, the village started acting. From behind Rose, a wave of darkness had emerged.