"No."
Cho cho blinked, she opened and closed her mouth for a few seconds then snorted in amusement. she spun in her chair turning her attention to the small metal box.
"Don't get cocky kid, just because you beat their bounty by a decent margin doesn't mean shit in the Vile Lands."
After she was done messing with box Cho cho moved out of the way to show a screen, two words bold and large was above four portraits of blacked out silhouettes.
"Uh, why are they-"
"That's intentional, they wanted their identities to be a secret."
Valeo nodded but his eyes were squinting in suspension at Cho cho, The older woman offered Valeo a seat but when he tried to sit on it splinters went flying.
"My chime, your a big one."
Cho cho chuckled while Valeo grimaced.
"Your probably wondering why I asked you to come in, don't worry I'll get to that....but not before I ask something."
"You've been nothing but asking us things."
Cho cho took Valeo's silence as signal to continue.
"You said Laylana told you something before she.....anyways, what did she tell you?"
Valeo was about to say it but something stopped him.
"Why do you want to know?"
Valeo said giving her a suspicious look, he honestly thought she'd be offended but her reaction was the opposite.
"Good, you got a head on your shoulders after all, you'd seem the too trusting type."
Valeo blinked before he thought about more, was he really too trusting?
"I don't blame you though, from you told me last night you practically like a new born walisk that was left to fend for themselves, but there's something you need to know."
Yellow essence covered her body as Cho cho whispered something Valeo couldn't hear. The room was enveloped in the essence.
Valeo looked around in silent wonder before realizing Cho cho was in control of his surroundings which put him on edge.
Cho cho noticed this and quickly shot down his growing readiness.
"My role is silence, I made sure none of what I'm about to tell you leaves the room."
Valeo relaxed a little but not fully, Cho cho nodded in respect.
"She told you something, it was obvious when you got defensive, there's no need to worry."
Cho cho relaxed in her chair before she dropped a bomb shell on Valeo.
"The map, I know about it."
* * *
Kim finished applying the last board covering the hole, he wiped the sweat of his brow, in the corner of his eye he spotted Anastasia through the window.
Her face something he hadn't seen in years, he briskly made his way outside taking bite of the yellow glow coming from his mom's room.
When he made it outside Kim saw Anastasia disappear into the trees and followed shortly after, once he made to a opening in the forest Kim saw Anastasia sitting in the tree across from him.
"Beautiful as ever."
Kim couldn't help but to stare as the sun kissed the lighting scarred skin of Anastasia.
"You know a picture last longer."
Kim stammered a bit from her words, this made her laugh which brought a small smile on Kim's face.
When she stopped laughing Anastasia looked at him with a face full of regret. She jumped down from the tree with a painted groan and tried to walk past Kim but he quickly grabbed her arm.
"Let me go."
Kim shook his head.
"Not before you tell me what's wrong."
Anastasia tried to shrug off her grip but realized it was mechanical one, she began to struggle more which made Kim grab her other arm to stop her.
They began to struggle with each other.
"I SAID LET GO!"
"NOT UNTIL YOU TELL ME!"
After a few seconds they fell to ground with Anastasia on top of Kim, she seemed to stop which made Kim look down at her, the sounds of struggling hiccups and sniffling reached his ears.
"Why, why did you do it?"
Kim sat up a little a bit but still had Anastasia lay on his chest.
"Did what?"
Anastasia looked up, her face of anger and sadness making Kim's eyes widen.
"Why did you save me, I know I asked Valeo too but I....you....I didn't deserve it, after what I did."
Kim expression morphed into realization and slowly hugged her, she protested at first but his firm hold made her stop eventually, her face back in his chest.
"That's in the past now Ana, you weren't in your right mind when that... bitch used her role."
Anastasia lifted her head.
"The, Kim cogner, cursing...it must be the end times."
They both laughed, for a minute or two they laughed, once they stopped both Kim and Anastasia stayed where they were.
"You know, if it were someone different holding them down until they spoke would look horrible for you."
Kim looked ashamed but still had a grin.
"Yeah, I know, but luckily it was your stubborn behind."
Anastasia got up and dust herself off, she offered a hand to Kim who took it.
"C'mon, I bet Mama Cho cho is cooking."
They both began to make their way back to the cabin, not realizing they were being watched by a shadow, it vanished when they entered the cabin.
* * *
Valeo's mind was a storm of confusion, how did she know about the map, what is the map, why does the figure want it.
"Uh kid?"
Valeo was brought from his thoughts to see a slightly sweating Cho cho who was further away then what Valeo last saw her.
"Sorry we were lost in-"
Valeo tapped his head since the word slipped away from his head.
"Your thoughts?"
Cho cho guessed, Valeo nodded which made her sigh in relief.
"I've seen a lot of shit in my time, but by chime your stare is unnerving."
Valeo was a little saddened by this but it went unnoticed by Cho cho.
"How do you know it?"
Cho cho looked back the screen, her eyes shine with reminiscence.
"I was one of the war mothers."
* * *
All four of the cabin occupants sat down at the table for breakfast, Valeo had to sit on the floor since he broke the chair.
"How did you not break it last time? I saw you sitting on it at the table last night."
Anastasia asked looking at the grumbling four arm teen.
"We don't know."
The others began converse, Valeo took the scene in and felt warm in his chest.
"It won't last long."
Valeo stopped eating.
"Who are you, what do you mean?"
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha..."
"ANSWER ME!"
"Hey, are you alright?"
Kim's voice pierced through his mind making Valeo look up, all three were staring at him. Looking down he saw the plate was shattered and the fork he couldn't seem to get use too crushed.
"Yeah, we...we just need...tired."
Valeo quickly left before anyone could ask anything else.
"We just need tired, that's a phrase I never knew could be said."
Anastasia said sarcastically, her face not matching her tone.
"Maybe he is tired?"
They all went back to eating but couldn't shake off the event from their minds.
* * *
The early morning sun woke him up before the sounds of foot steps reached him.
"Hey, Mama Cho cho made you something to eat."
A plate of meat and potatoes was placed on the grass in front of him, Valeo was still not use to cooked meals, in all honesty he prefered eating the animals after a battle.
"Whooooa, where did that come from?"
Valeo blinked at the thought he had, but put it on the back burner as he ate.
"I keep forgetting to do this, but I want to properly introduce myself, I'm Anastasia Vunderwall nice to meet you."
She reached out her hand for a handshake.
"Valeo."
His hand was twice the size of hers so they awkwardly stumbton the handshake before settling with hold on to the forearm's.
"Just Valeo?"
When he nodded Anastasia hummed in acceptance and sat down next to him, the morning sun shining through the trees, the wind blowing gently, and the smell of the forest made Valeo feel at peace.
"I wanted to thank you again, this is the second time you saved my life, how could I honestly repay you."
It was rhetorical but Valeo began to think about it.
"Would it be selfish of us to ask her.."
"Don't... they'll only leave you, like Himrick did."
Valeo ignored the first part of what the mysterious voice said but the second one made him clenched his fist.
"Why did he leave us?"
Valeo felt a tap on his lower arm and turned, he saw the concerned face of Anastasia looking him up and down.
"You okay dude?"
Valeo nodded and quickly ate what's left of his food.
"Could you...uh...tell Cho cho thank you for us?"
"There goes asking her to be our friend."
"Pathetic."
Anastasia agreed and took his plate, Valeo didn't notice the lingering gaze of Anastasia before she left, He was distracted by one thought.
"Why did you leave us, Himrick?"