Zyra wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand. This job was more exhausting than she had expected. They had been working for hours, yet their shelter was still not completely finished.
The roof, made of large leaves, was starting to take shape, but there were still gaps that needed to be sealed. Ziero gathered more branches and leaves while Zyra ensured the side walls were tightly secured.
The wind rustled through the trees, carrying the distinct scent of damp earth from the Lostwood forest. Wild birds chirped in the distance, but occasionally, a deeper sound echoed—perhaps the growl of a beast lurking somewhere unseen.
Zyra turned to Ziero, who was still busy reinforcing the sides of their shelter. "Are you sure this is strong enough?" she asked.
Ziero tapped one of the wooden poles with his fingers, then gave a small nod. "So far, it's a lot better than what we had last night. At least if a monster shows up, we'll have something to protect ourselves with."
Zyra bit her lip, then let out a long sigh. She didn't want to seem weak, but she knew this place was far from perfect.
"If we had more time, I could build something sturdier," Ziero continued as he adjusted some leaves on the roof. "But for now, this will do."
They both took a step back, looking at the shelter they had just built. It wasn't a luxurious home, but at least they had something safer than just hiding behind trees.
Zyra rubbed her sore neck. "What do we do next?"
Ziero crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing in thought. "We need food and water. And maybe better weapons if we want to survive here for long."
Zyra gave a slow nod. She knew life in this forest wouldn't be easy, but at least now they had shelter. That was enough—for now.
Ziero sat on a large rock, gazing at the simple shelter they had just built. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves on their makeshift roof. Morning sunlight filtered through the gaps in the trees, casting shifting patterns of light and shadow on the damp ground.
Their shelter was basic—walls made of branches tied together with vines and roots, with a roof of broad leaves they had gathered. It wasn't perfect, but it was far better than sleeping out in the open.
Nearby, Zyra sat with her arms resting on her knees, her breath still slightly heavy from working since morning. Her hands were covered in small scratches from handling branches and leaves.
"I still can't believe we managed to build this," Zyra muttered as she looked at their shelter.
Ziero glanced at her briefly before offering a faint smile. "Where there's a will, there's a way."
Zyra let out a sigh and stretched her sore limbs. "But it's still not enough," she said. "If it rains heavily, this place might not hold up. And if a big monster attacks, all we can do is hide and hope it doesn't find us."
Ziero nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we need something stronger… but we also need food and water first."
They fell silent for a moment, listening to the sounds of the forest coming to life. Birds chirped in the distance, and a faint rustling noise came from the underbrush. Whether it was just the wind or something else, they couldn't be sure.
"I'll go look for water," Zyra said suddenly. "Yesterday, I heard the sound of a stream to the east."
Ziero looked at her, a hint of hesitation in his eyes. "Are you sure you'll be okay on your own?"
Zyra gave a small smile. "I'm not a child, Ziero. I can take care of myself."
Ziero sighed before standing up. "Alright. I'll gather stronger wood and maybe some stones to reinforce this place. Don't go too far, and if there's trouble, come back immediately."
Zyra nodded, then turned and started walking east, following her instincts.
Her steps were slow but steady as she moved through the forest. The sunlight grew dimmer, obscured by the dense canopy above, casting shifting shadows as the wind passed through the leaves. The farther she walked, the clearer the sound of running water became.
---
"Just as I thought," she muttered, quickening her pace.
After a few minutes, she finally arrived at a small, clear stream. The water was so clean she could see the rocky bottom beneath it. Without hesitation, she knelt down and scooped some water with her hands, drinking carefully.
"Refreshing," she said with relief.
She quickly filled a few makeshift containers they had crafted from hollowed wood and large leaves. Just as she was about to head back, a chill ran down her spine.
The bushes across the stream rustled.
Zyra froze. Her breath caught in her throat.
Slowly, she reached for a sharp stick she kept tucked in her belt—a makeshift weapon. She had sharpened it the night before, hoping it could at least offer some protection.
From behind the bushes, a small creature emerged. A wild deer, staring at her with wide, cautious eyes.
Zyra let out a breath of relief. "Just a deer…" she murmured, lowering her weapon.
But before she could turn around, another rustling sound echoed—louder this time. Zyra instantly knew it wasn't just a deer. Something bigger was lurking in the shadows of the trees.
Without thinking twice, she grabbed the water containers and sprinted back toward their shelter.
Meanwhile…
Ziero swung a large branch down onto the ground, testing its strength before deciding if it could be used. He had already gathered several bigger logs to reinforce the shelter walls.
As he bent down to tie some branches together, he heard rapid footsteps approaching from a distance.
Zyra.
He immediately knew something was wrong.
Zyra emerged from the trees, breathing hard, her eyes alert. "There's something near the stream," she said bluntly.
Ziero stood up straight, eyes narrowing. "How big?"
"I didn't get a good look," Zyra replied, placing the water containers on the ground. "But it's not a small animal. Its steps were heavy, and I felt like I was being watched."
Ziero paused, thinking it through. "Then we need to be more careful. We can't risk running into something we don't understand."
Zyra nodded, still trying to steady her breathing. "At least we've got clean water now."
Ziero looked at the containers she brought back and nodded. "Good. That means we can last a bit longer."
The two of them got back to work, this time more alert. Ziero began placing larger logs into the shelter walls, while Zyra helped reinforce the roof to better withstand rain.
The sun began its descent on the western horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and red. The Lostwood forest remained silent, but after Zyra's encounter at the stream, the silence felt heavier—more tense.
They didn't know what was watching from the darkness.
But one thing was certain—they had to be ready for whatever was out there.
The evening breeze blew gently, carrying the scent of damp earth and wilting leaves. A small fire flickered softly in front of their shelter, its glow casting dancing shadows on Ziero and Zyra's faces. They sat side by side, soaking in the warmth after a long day of building a stronger refuge.
The walls, made from thick wooden branches, were now sturdier—arranged more neatly and tied with strong plant roots. The roof, once made of just large leaves, now had an added layer of twigs and plant fibers for better rain resistance. It was far from perfect, but it was more livable than before.
Zyra stared at the fire, turning a small stick in her hand. Her face looked calmer, but there was still a hint of worry in her eyes.
"We still don't know what's out there," she said quietly.
Ziero, checking one of the wall bindings, glanced over. "True."
"But we can't live in fear forever, can we?" Zyra continued, letting out a soft sigh. "If we keep running, we'll wear ourselves out eventually. We need to learn how to survive here—not just hide."
Ziero looked into the fire, reflecting on her words. He knew she was right. They couldn't rely on the shelter alone without finding a way to protect themselve.
---
"You're right," he finally said. "Tomorrow, we need to start figuring out better ways to survive. Weapons, traps, maybe even a new hiding place."
Zyra nodded. "I'll try to look for edible plants or fruits too. We can't keep relying on luck."
Silence fell between them. Only the crackling of the fire and the whisper of the wind could be heard.
Then Zyra glanced at Ziero from the corner of her eye. "Ziero, can I ask you something?"
"Hm?"
"If you could leave this forest right now… what would you do?"
Ziero fell silent. The question was simple, but the answer wasn't.
"I don't know," he admitted. "I have nowhere to go back to."
Zyra lowered her gaze. "Me neither."
Silence returned. Both of them were children cast away, seen as curses by their own families. There was no home waiting for them out there.
But in that silence, a quiet realization began to form—they weren't alone anymore.
Zyra smiled faintly. "At least we still have each other, right?"
Ziero glanced at her, then gave a slight smile. "Yeah."
The night deepened, and slowly they drifted off to sleep, resting for the day to come.
---
The Next Day
The morning sun filtered through the gaps in the trees, its light warming the dew-soaked ground. Birds chirped in the distance, their songs blending with the breeze flowing through Lostwood.
Ziero was already awake. He stood near their shelter, scanning the surroundings with sharp eyes. No sign of danger—at least, not yet.
Zyra stirred slightly inside the shelter, then opened her eyes. "How long have you been up?" she asked hoarsely, still half-asleep.
"Since dawn," Ziero replied without turning. "We've got a lot to do today."
Zyra rubbed her face and sat up straight. "Alright, what's the plan?"
"We need more materials to reinforce this place. Harder wood, maybe some stones to strengthen the base," Ziero said. "We also need weapons, and food."
Zyra nodded. "I can go look for food and water again, while you focus on gathering wood and other supplies."
Ziero looked at her for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "But don't go too far."
Zyra chuckled softly. "I'm not that reckless."
After preparing a few simple tools—a stone knife they made from sharp rock shards and sticks, plus a container made of bark—they split up to carry out their tasks.
---
Ziero moved carefully through the forest, searching for trees with wood strong enough to serve as extra support for their shelter. He examined tree trunks, knocking on them gently to test their strength.
Eventually, he found a suitable tree. Using the stone knife and some extra effort, he began cutting down a few thick branches, tying them together with roots he found nearby.
While he worked, his ears caught an unusual sound—rustling in the bushes, just a little too loud to be a small animal.
Ziero instantly went on alert. He gripped his stone knife tightly, eyes scanning the area.
The wind blew softly, carrying an odd silence with it.
Then, the noise stopped.
Ziero stayed still, waiting. He knew something was out there, watching him.
But after a while, nothing emerged.
Finally, he returned to his task, though now with greater caution.
---
Zyra walked the same path as the day before, but this time she was more careful. She examined the surrounding plants, looking for anything edible.
After a while, she came across a bush with small dark purple berries. She recognized them—not poisonous, though a bit sour.
"Better than nothing," she muttered as she began picking a few.
She (a girl) also found several mushrooms growing beneath the roots of a large tree. Recalling lessons she had once heard from the royal chefs, she made sure the mushrooms were safe to eat before placing them into a container.
When she returned to the river to fetch some water, she felt that strange sensation again—as if she were being watched.
But this time, she didn't run.
She stood still, listening.
The rustling sound came again, and this time she caught a glimpse of a dark figure among the trees. It wasn't large, but enough to make the hairs on her neck stand on end.
Carefully, she stepped back slowly, not wanting to draw attention.
After a few steps, she turned around and walked quickly back to the shelter.
---
When Zyra arrived, Ziero had already returned, carrying a few thick logs.
"Did you see something?" Ziero asked the moment he saw the look on Zyra's face.
Zyra nodded. "I don't know what it was, but something was watching me near the river."
Ziero let out a quiet breath. "I sensed something in the forest too. We're not alone here."
Zyra bit her lip. "Should we move?"
Ziero shook his head. "No. We can't keep wandering aimlessly. We just need to be prepared."
They spent the rest of the day reinforcing their shelter, adding a layer of stones to the base of the walls and crafting a few simple traps using roots and sharp branches.
Night fell, and they sat by the fire again, more alert than before.
In the distance, there was a faint rustling sound.
They exchanged glances.
"There's something out there," Zyra whispered.
Ziero gripped his stone knife tighter. "Let's see if it's stupid enough to come closer."
They waited in silence, ready for whatever came.