Her hand still hurt a bit, but it wasn't swollen like a balloon, grateful for the caregiver's help and especially for her new friend. She didn't understand why he saved at her, or maybe that's just how it happened. However, even the course of events showed her that a stranger has a kind heart, and she shouldn't doubt that. Her sleep was slightly disturbed by the hooting of owls perched on a hanging piece of wood somewhere above. Her knight likes owls and had taken care of them from the first day he found them. These wild animals had been tamed, almost like chickens. All that was missing was a crowing and a cock-a-doodle-doo at 5 in the morning. Their savior was already awake, placing a tray with slices of bread with jam and tea on a low table.

–Good morning, my lady.

–Mmm, I don't know if I'm alive.

–Well, then I'll eat the jam myself if you're not.

He couldn't finish the sentence as White-Hair comfortably settled in front of the table, trying to look serious. A strand of hair tickled her nose, making her sneeze loudly into the crook of her elbow.

–Oh, no, did you catch a cold?

–Yes, I caught a cold because of you, thinking you're my knight.

–Not again! I lose my appetite.

–It was just a joke, calm down.

They burst into laughter, choking on their tea like two madmen. The third madman joined them. It wasn't a he, it was a she. She wore a long purple dress with three-quarter sleeves, over which cascaded curly hair. Like a warrior, she carried a somewhat heavy bucket with both hands, grinning broadly. You would have thought she would throw them, but she snapped her fingers, and the owls perched there, pecking at worms. Caroline looked surprised at Ethan and her new friend.

–Oh, so here's the newcomer! Exclaimed, merely noticing the long hair. This luxury wasn't allowed here, especially because of parasites. Mey still didn't know the rules, but she was sure she would never respect them. She already had elaborate plans, specifically to turn the orphanage upside down, if possible. She sat next to her, asking if she could touch her hair. She had never seen anything like it.

–The first time I understood they brought a new caregiver! Not an orphan! Oh, what a mess! she continued to gossip, w
eating a slice of bread.

–Leave her alone, Caroline, can't you see she's speechless? Ethan addressed sarcastically, knowing he would annoy her.

–I have nothing! I'm not a little kid!

–And if you're not, then what are you doing here? The curly-haired one threw the question, sure that the girl didn't come from a filthy environment. Oddly, she wasn't scared of the things here, which anyone would run to the bathroom to vomit. Mey rolled her eyes, annoyed by the chatter, grabbed a worm from the bucket, and waved it at her.

–Oh, you want to know what I'm looking for? Well, you see, I'm looking to stuff you, may I? She grinned sarcastically, waiting for an authentic reaction. She grabbed him with her fingers, not letting her humiliate her. She was about to shove it down his throat when the two screamed loudly about how disgusting it was. She stopped and tossed it in the air, catching a owl in its beak.

From downstairs, a bell was heard, a sign that the cook had finished cooking. No one was in a hurry to go down, preferring to stay hungry than smell the food. Tasteless, just a warm or cold brew, if you weren't in a hurry. The queue at the dining hall was endless, taking two hours to get to that small ladle. The three decided to go outside for an excursion, not wanting to be present there. They risked being punished, but they learned not to be afraid of some old ladies. If they didn't catch them, it was perfect. In front of them was a cluster of trees, perfect for hiding. The leaves covered the ground, just like a forgotten memory that you then cherish for how beautiful it was. They gathered them into a huge pile, taking turns jumping. The colors of autumn entered their hair and souls, offering them joy when nature ceased its activity. It was as if death presented itself pleasantly at first, and the true nostalgic face appeared after taking a hallucinogenic drug. A sudden return to reality motivated you to try again, to relive again and again. It resembled a continuous game played by a few kids, without getting bored. They went through the trees to find the other end and see who would reach it first. Instead, they discovered a lake, so cold in its presence, yet better than the suffocation before. Caroline stood with a blanket under her arm, not wanting to spread it out; the ground was too wet. As they sat like that, their gaze fell on a few sticks. Their thickness was suitable, and the number was perfect. She remembered playing with 8 crayons in the classroom and how she tied them with elastics, 3 and 3 in the shape of a pyramid, parallel and then another two tied to these. Mey tied the sticks with a string accidentally thrown near the lake, and Ethan took care of the blanket. The big question was whether the material would break under their weight. The girls sat first and realized that a third person wouldn't change much.

–I wonder why we don't make a hole!

–As if we have something to make it with!

–Come on, slices of bread and tea are equal to a ton.

–Don't forget those delicious worms, right?

–Oh, spare me! Are you jealous because you haven't tasted it? A delicacy!

–Oh God, why am I still here?!

–You two agree on something?

–Shut up, a fly is coming in, pardon, the worm.

–We'd better go back.

Caroline and Mey nodded to each other, leaving him gaping. They grabbed him nicely by the hands and feet, swinging him, then let him go into the lake. On the shore, they giggled like two hyenas, sure they put him back in his place, the troublemaker, the clown. He emerged from the water like a dog and splashed them as revenge. The clothes stayed to dry, and until then, they sacrificed the blanket so as not to leave him naked. On their way back, they held their stomachs as they laughed, unable to step properly. From somewhere, though not hard to guess, a growl sent them running. A dog with a broken chain, surely escaped from the orphanage, was eager to nibble on them like sticks. Moving away, they stumbled upon some ruins, hoping that way they might survive. They would have talked nicely to him or told him cuțu, cuțu, if he hadn't been possessed by the devil. Through a hole, they watched with bated breath the confused movements of the animal. The bad part was that they couldn't leave the ruins. Around them was only open field, and the orphanage was in another galaxy.
Terrified, they climbed the ruins, pondering how to escape alive. Waiting for someone to rescue them from the looming threat was futile. The creature couldn't reach them from the stone walls, but how long could they endure without slipping into its jaws? Caroline screamed wildly, like a frenzied monkey turned into a beast herself. Due to her carelessness and, of course, her antics, she lost balance. Her fluttering blouse caught on a protruding stone just as the beast gained momentum. Kicking and screaming for her life, she fought to stay on the edge. Ethan and Mey descended from above, mimicking her actions. At least, if they were to die, they'd die together, mourning one another. In a way, the dog seemed to flee tail between its legs, but it wasn't enough. Drool flowed, creating a foam larger than the sea waves. Though they disliked the idea, they grabbed the heaviest stones, hurling them aimlessly. They coveted the luck of hitting their target before it was too late. At their last strengths, seeing double but happy for their success, it was the feeling of laughing at death after a severe illness. Back at the orphanage, no one missed them, though the matter was far too suspicious. Before climbing into the attic, they sneaked into the staff bathrooms, and the warm water brought them bliss. Steam covered their nudity as they dried off and donned clothes pilfered from boxes meant for new arrivals. Any fear, fatigue, or shock left them, and they decided to inspect the surroundings. With ears perked and eyes peeled, they encountered, to their relief, Miere, who assured them that everything was in order. They breathed a sigh of relief, thinking their little madness remained unknown. Caroline wandered off, and Mey stared as Ethan read from a book.

—Is it a story? If yes, can you read it to me?

–Hmm, there's only one, and it's good. I can give you the book. Embarrassed, she barely reached out to grab the book, and the tension was palpable. His voice soothed her, instilling confidence not to give up easily. The pencil pointed out each letter as she heard it in reality, sounding like a spell she had to learn because otherwise, there would be no more stories. After hearing them, she struggled on a piece of paper to bring them to life. Shaky, crumpled, large or small, they teased her, but she persisted. Over time, she made them elegant, easily readable. She learned more in a few weeks with him than in that filthy classroom. Afternoons spent struggling and cramped, they tried to have fun, as it was more entertaining to wash the floors, skating with brushes tied to their feet. Who needed all those nonsense when the outside world meant different fish dishes? When the Frog wasn't looking, they threw paper balls at each other or pulled hair with a pencil shared by four people. Bitten at the end, it was on its last legs, and they were even deader. Only jokes about it helped them stay awake. They were like plants without water. Ethan, a flower lover, had taken some pots from somewhere and procured something cute from the wild garden. Taking care of them was trivial, with a gardening guide at hand. Step by step, he showed them how to pluck leaves and flowers to propagate or bloom more beautifully. Often, the attic was full of plastic cups with leaves in water. He hoped they would grow roots so he could transfer them to something bigger. If he left the orphanage, he would surely open a shop. The display would be adorned with trailing plants or ferns. He projected his dreams with open eyes until brought back to reality. Just as the pages of the book ran out, they read it cover to cover with a smug smile in the corner. And from here, a new madness was born, speculating on who had undone the dog's chain. Suddenly, the appetite for a snack from the kitchen arose. Mey sneaked cat-like into the cupboards to reach a jar of jam. They didn't get dessert, so it wasn't invented for them, as the fat ones claimed. The cook with a rolling pin in hand started playing that game with holes, where you have to catch the mouse. He missed the target, lacking skill. Power to chase them in the yard existed. The game changed to a game of tag, spinning around an old shed. Leaning a ladder against the wall, he pushed a bucket with a black liquid. Now, the cook looked like the Black Man in the flesh. Sulking for not having a victory, to punish them, he gave up the idea. The girl passed the jar rightfully won to the boy and hid behind the tree with a smirk.

–I bet she went to breathe fire.

–Oh, because of those grass tubes?

–Unbearable, especially the smell!

–The smell of dragon smoke.

–I think she breathes fire to cook.

–That's why so much smoke, even the food tastes the same.

–Pff, that how is Firemouth..
© BlairAmy
#escape #forest #fun #children #playful
Ps: I almost forgot to post it and also forgot about a lot of things..