Duara switched between a light jog and a brisk walking pace to keep up with Wiko.
Duara caught her breath and asked, “Do you know where you’re going?”
“I have an idea,” he said, his pace quickening.
“How would you know?”
He stopped at the fork where Ash had run through, turning while rubbing his neck. “It’s not my place to say.”
“What does that mean?”
His eyes shifted to the woods before he closed them. “It’s not a secret here, just… be easy with her.” He shook his head. “Nevermind, I don’t think she would want that. Just—don’t worry about it.”
“Wha—”
Wiko turned back and started his pace again. A bulge underneath the kaftan fabric moved from his arm to his neck. Innocent eyes peeked out, and a tail wrapped around Wiko. He coughed once the tail hardened, and he tugged at it. The creature hissed back.
“Is that a lorynx?”
“It’s a nuisance,” he replied.
“You’re heartless.”
“I wish I was.”
By the time they reached the end of the forest, the rain had stopped—leaving behind a heavy humidity.
The border of trees opened up to a small lake. Low branches hovered above the water, and a gentle breeze caused the branches to tap the surface; small ripples grew until they reached the lake’s edges.
Underneath one of the branches was a tiny makeshift hut. Dirt-covered blond hair poked out from inside. As the two walked closer, gaps in the hut revealed Ash lying in the forest debris. She was curled into a ball, her arms tight against her chest, holding a rugged doll.
Wiko stooped near the makeshift doorway. He opened his mouth to say something—but bit his lip instead.
“Ash,” Duara finally said.
Strings of hair cascaded over her unfocused eyes; the reflected ripples were the only sign of movement in them.
“Hey,” Duara said again, tapping her shoulder.
Ash blinked a few times before responding, “Sorry—I didn’t realize—you two must’ve been waiting for me.”
“No, I-I’m sorry. I didn’t know I’d upset you earlier.”
“It’s fine.” Her eyes flicked to Wiko. “I mean—I’m fine.”
“Do you need help up?” Wiko put his hand out.
Instinctively she went to grab it, but reeled her hand back. “It’s okay.”
The other two moved out of her way as she crawled out of the hut. She adjusted the hair that covered her face, only dirtying it more as she touched it.
“Oh—that’s really good. Did you make it?” Duara pointed to the doll that Ash kept close to her chest.
“No.”
“Was it a present?”
“It was.”
“Who gave it to y—”
Wiko cut her off. “Do you still want to head over to the lab?”
Ash kept her stare on the water. “I don’t know.”
“We can work on your aki—” The lorynx tightened its tail. Wiko aggressively reached back and pulled it off his neck. It hissed again and bit his thumb. Its tail wrapped around his wrist as he tried flinging it away. “Cursed thing!”
Ash giggled, and a faint smile remained. “Where’d you find him?”
“Outside the temple.”
Blood trickled down the fresh wound. The lorynx whipped its head back toward Wiko then settled into his hand.
“Are you keeping him?” Ash asked, reaching out to pet it.
“I’m trying to get rid of it.”
The lorynx lifted its nose to sniff her finger. It tucked itself back into Wiko’s hand after a sniff, keeping its eyes trained on Ash.
Her body swayed and trembled as if it were ready to topple over. She sat on the dirt, still clenching the doll. Her eyes rested on the lorynx.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t really plan for the day to turn out like this.”
“It’s not like you caused the rain,” Duara said.
“No, I—I mean, this morning by the stream. I shouldn’t have asked you.”
Duara tried cutting in, “It’s fine—”
“And right now—you’re waiting for me to stop being so pitiful.”
“No—”
“Maybe they’re right,” Ash said. “I’m just a letdown. If it were me instead of Raylin—”
“It wasn’t,” Wiko said. His teeth left an imprint on his bottom lip. “So, what?”
Ash’s stare snapped up to match his.
“You’re never going to be like Raylin,” he said. “Everyone who’s asking you to be like him is deaf and blind.”
Wiko and Ash stared at each other for a few moments until Ash shook her head. “That can’t be right.”
“Believe it or not,” he said. “I’ll have to go back. If I stay longer—well, I’ll get in trouble for saying things I’m not supposed to say.”
“I know.” Ash re-wrapped her arms across her chest. “I’m sorr—thank—ugh, I just said that—uh—tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow.” As he started back to the temple, the lorynx jumped off his arm and scuttled to Duara. It climbed up her leg and torso, finally perching on her shoulder. “Interesting,” he said, starting his quick pace again. “Well, bring him tomorrow too if you want.”
“Wait!” Duara called after him, but he had sped off. “Tch. I know he heard m—,” a nose poked her ear, and she swatted at it, forgetting about the lorynx.
The creature hissed after the strike and threatened to snap at her finger.
“Duara!” said Ash. “You almost hurt it—or you did…”
“I didn’t mean to.”
Ash snorted and covered her face.
After a second, the air lightened. “Who’s Raylin?” Duara asked.
Immediately, Ash pulled the doll closer to her chest. “He’s my brother.”
“You have a brother?”
“No.” She sighed. “Had.”
Wiko’s voice echoed in Duara’s mind: …be easy with her. She muttered without realizing, “Oh, I’m such an idiot.”
“What?”
“I—Wiko told me to be easy on you. I didn’t know why until—”
“He told you to go easy on me?”
“I think? I don’t recall well…”
“I see.” Ash looked away, her grip on the doll loosening. “I’ll be fine, Duara. You should go back to the cabin.”
Duara put her hands out. “No—I think I finally get what he meant.”
“No, I know what he meant.”
“No, look—Ash… I hear you,” Duara said. “And I—I don’t fully get what you’re going through, but—”
Ash refocused herself on Duara, her brows pinched.
“Ugh, nevermind. I can never say things right.”
Ash’s face relaxed. “Thank you—” she snorted and immediately covered her nose, “I think.”
Duara’s shoulders loosened, and the lorynx wrapped its tail around her neck to prevent itself from falling. “These things—” she struggled to speak, “are not good pets.” With a tug, the lorynx released its grip, whipped under her armpit, and solidified there.
“Better?” Ash giggled.
“Better.” Duara offered her hand to help Ash up. “You’re soaked—” As Duara pulled her up, she rubbed at her forehead and nudged the lorynx with her forearm. “I just remembered, my clothes—oh, I’m sorry again, mister lorynx.”
“Oh—I dragged you out here.”
“Do you know how to dry clothes with akibon?”
“No…”
Duara smiled. “Do you want me to show you?”