“NaNoWriMo 2020 Pt. 9”

Author’s Note: This is a Take Ten to Write story and has not been proofread for errors. If I feel inspired or if there’s interest in the story, I’ll post a revised, edited, and extended version at a later date. Happy reading!

Additional note: In honour of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), all 30 stories written in the month of November will (hopefully) create a single multi-part story that will reach its conclusion by the end of the month. Stay tuned for a new story part every day!

Read the compiled NaNoWriMo TTtW story here!

Prompt: “There is nothing permanent except change.” — Heraclitus

SKYE’S POV

Life is bittersweet.

On one hand, I now have a companion. On the other, I just learned that the love of my life is dead.

Still, I guess it’s kind of nice to spend time with Mason. We always got along, even if it was always just the weird boyfriend’s-brother-type relationship.

Then again, I can’t exactly afford to be picky about my companions at the moment, given that I just blew up the only inhabited campsite on this side of the river.

“Hey, do you have any food?” Mason calls.

I roll my eyes. That’s one thing I miss about being alone; having all the food to myself. Oh yeah, and also having food in the first place. That would’ve been nice.

“Sorry, I don’t,” I say. Then, before I can stop myself, I grumble, “I seem to remember someone eating my tomato.”

“I said I was sorry,” Mason retorts. “But I was starving! I haven’t eaten actual food in days!”

I sigh and clench my fists to calm myself. “I know,” I say. “Look, I’m sure there’s food somewhere in this forest. Worst case scenario, we just eat leaves. It’s basically a salad, right?”

He frowns and mumbles something under his breath before sighing. “Fine.”

We fall silent again. Apparently, the novelty of finding each other has already worn off and we’re back to being a couple of hungry, brooding post-apocalyptic teenagers.

We end up having to eat leaves. Surprisingly, Mason doesn’t complain and instead wolfs down twice as much as I do.

Eventually, we decide to stop for the night and set up camp. I’m actually enjoying the freedom of not having a destination; it means that I can come and go whenever I want. Honestly, though, I’m debating just setting up a little treehouse right here in this forest. It’s so peaceful here and (I think) far away from everything and everyone else.

I just don’t know if Mason would want to stay with me too.

I glance over at him to see that he’s fast asleep. A smile creeps onto my face as I watch him; the time when I could sleep that soundly feels like so long ago now.

I’m about to lie down as well when something grabs my arm. Before I have a chance to scream at Mason, something rough covers my mouth. Soon, I’m completely encased in something that feels like tree bark. I can’t move and can barely breathe.

Panic takes over me, but my fire is dead, still recharging after my little outburst earlier with the birds.

I’m helpless as I’m dragged through the trees. All I can do is watch as Mason’s sleeping form gets farther and farther away until the trees swallow him completely.

Final Comments: HAH I fixed my characters being together problem! I possibly just made it more complicated now though…

Overall Rating: 😬