Dhisnaek. It's the oddest name I've heard since being here (and I thought my dad's name was foreign sounding), but I much prefer calling him that than grandpa since I just met him and already have a grandpa. I also like relating to him more by using his real name, it's just cooler or whatever- I don't know.

After that, it's question after question from him, mostly about my dad but a lot about the rest of our lives too. Where do we live? How educated are my brother and I? How'd my parents meet? Everything under the sun was asked.

Truth be told, I've shoved this encounter in my deal-with-later pile, not because I don't care- I'm actually intrigued by him- but because I'm still on a time crunch and wondering where the hell the other three are and when they're going to get here. I could just leave them but I don't for whatever reason.

After giving a half-ass answer to another of his endless questions, I interject before I'm asked something else.

"I need to find my friends," Wow, I actually used the word friends. "We kinda got separated when I fell off this cliff nearby. They should be searching for me."

Hopefully.

He pauses in his eager questioning and surveys the area.

"You already have companions on this journey?"

"Yeah. Honestly," I lower my voice as if they're hiding around a tree. "They're kinda tagalongs I wasn't expecting to bring, but they have their uses."

"Uses?" He questions, clearly looking for clarity.

Before I can explain- speak of the devil- I hear them coming from a distance then soon am able to spot them.

I get their attention by waving and yelling, "Hey guys, over here!"

Taking notice, they hurry over to me and judging by their facial expressions and sighs, they're relieved to see me alive.

"You must have a thousand lives," Lan teases.

Rubbing the nape of my neck with a sheepish shrug, I reply, "Yeah, well, it wasn't too far of a drop as it looked."

Dhisnaek's deep voice interrupts our little reunion.

"These are the friends you were referring to, I assume?"

"Oh, yeah, this is them."

"Who's this?" Nimu questions.

"I am Dhisnaek Lantstdar," He says, answering them himself.

Chasan nods, ready to add some unnecessary shit to this conversation.

"She must have run into your path it seems."

"I wouldn't describe it like that," I reply in subtle curtness. "More like, fate has made our paths cross."

"Okay," Nimu says, not even having to phrase it in a question for me to know she's seriously questioning me right now.

Lan steers this back to more important matters.

"Should we get a move on now that we're all back together?"

I glance up at the sky. "Yeah, we probably should."

"You are going to continue on your quest against Tymos?" Dhisnaek asks.

"Yeah. He has my brother and I'm not leaving without him."

He thinks on that for a brief second before nodding at me.

"Then I will accompany you."

"Really?" I'm not against this, but the more people I bring along the slower this process might be and I only have a few days left. "This might be dangerous."

"As I've stated before, I have experience dealing with that serpent. I've been absent thus far in my life, I would hope not to live with any more regrets, especially not this one."

I can see where he's coming from with this, and there's a part of me that wants him to tag along, but I can't ignore the cause-and-effect this might bring about.

"I dunno know..." I say. It's one of the few times I don't have the answer straight away. "I'm just not sure if it would be the best idea."

Before he can try to persuade me some more, Lan pipes up.

"Why not vote as a group? We can make a collective decision- I mean, this affects all of us doesn't it?"

"I agree with Lan," Chasan says (of course he would). "Let's cast a vote."

Aw, isn't this cute- bless their hearts- they still think this is a democracy.

"Um, nice thought but no," I hold back a snide chuckle.

Before they can even protest, Tymos' clear voice echoes disapprovingly in my head.

"You are quite the bovine one. Such a shame when I keep putting opportunities right before you."

Can everybody just let me make my own decisions without adding their input!?

"Bring the old man along- I haven't had the pleasure of toying with him in quite some time, it'll be a nice change of pace in our game, don't you think." 

"I don't need anyone's input, thank you very much," I say, mistakenly out loud.

"We don't have all day," Nimu states, sounding a bit peeved with her arms folded across her chest.

She's right. You know what? To hell with the rules and regulations. This guy knows about Tymos' ways and knows this area from the looks of it- not to mention he's now blood- I have no reason not to bring him along.

"Let's go," I wave them on, already marching forward. "We're all going."

"Really?" Lan questions as if not believing me.

"Yeah, now we're running behind so let's hurry."

They all begin to follow me as I forge on with absolutely no idea where I'm headed. Dhisnaek joins me by my side.

"I'm assuming your destination is Tymos' palace."

"Your assumption's spot on, yeah," I reply, keeping my eyes on the path ahead. "You know how to get there or something?"

"I have visited the place once but it was a long time ago- when I first arrived here actually- so I doubt my memory is reliable."

But there's no need to fret about that. Forming before me, sending a wave of relief through me, I spot the footprints in the dirt leading us forward.

"Well there's no need for that," I tell him. "I know exactly where we're going."

"Oh?"

He wants to know more but I know Tymos doesn't want me spoiling our little "game" so I dodge the question completely by switching the focus to him.

"So, how'd you get stranded here?" I ask him, noticing, out of the corner of my eye, Nimu giving me a brief look before glancing away.

He heaves a heavy sigh. "I was returning from my errand home back to Aelita when the vessel I was on became caught in a violent storm. I thought the situation was hopeless- that that would be my resting ground- but after we became lost at sea, I woke up washed up on a shore, alone. I didn't know how I would get home, but I also didn't know I had landed on an island that was easy to explore but impossible to escape."

"So you're just trapped here?"

He nods.

"So the rumors are true that no one returns from this place alive?" Chasan grumbles- eavesdropping in on our conversation.

Dhisnaek lets out another sigh.

"I haven't heard of one man yet escaping this land."

He doesn't know it, but he's only giving Chasan more fuel for the fire that he plans to roast my ass with. I don't need to hear the impossible, I need to be given some hope in this gloomy bucket.

Speaking of gloomy...

"How often does it rain around here?" I ask, glancing up at the darkening skies.

"Often enough to keep the vegetation alive," He answers.

I can practically smell the rain- as Brent would usually say about an approaching storm.

We haven't made that much progress, but I don't want to get caught up in the rain so I have to make a decision about our next move.

"We need to find a place to wait this storm out," I announce.

"Doesn't appear to be too many options," Chasan gestures around us.

"Looks can be deceiving."

"Oh, believe me," He replies flatly. "I know that."

Not even going to bother going there.

"Maybe we can make a shelter ourselves," Lan suggests.

"There might not be enough time for that," Nimu says. "I think it's wiser if we keep looking for a suitable structure."

Look at that, a cat who would risk getting rained on- the things I've learned on this journey.

"What about you?" I ask Dhisnaek. "You must have come from somewhere that we can crash at for the time being."

He regretfully shakes his head. "I am not from around these parts, I was only passing through, so I haven't a clue where we might find shelter."

Right now, Lan's option seems to be the best option, but I decide it's best if we keep pushing forward until we find something.

The clouds overhead keep getting darker and darker the heavier they become as rain saturates them- just one poke might leave us soaked. It might be a little too late to start building a shelter, but thankfully Chasan points something out off to the side.

"There," He points to what looks like a fox's burrow. "That looks like it might be a good place to wait out this rain.

"That's perfect," Lan wholeheartedly agrees.

Dhisnaek chimes in his agreement. "Yes, that will do."

As I've said before, I never really paid attention in school, but I have a feeling that a little fox burrow isn't going to comfortably house five people. But we're running out of time and I really don't want to be soaked to the bone- plus, those prints might disappear in the rain.

So, reluctantly, I decide we can hide out in the burrow.

"Alright, but just be aware I'm not having anyone's ass in my face."

Chasan completely blows me off, already hustling to the hole like he might melt in the rain (which he might and that wouldn't be heartbreaking for me). Lan quickly follows behind him and they both enter the burrow, crouching down then lying on their bellies to get in fully.

I'm not claustrophobic or anything, but this doesn't seem comfortable so I'm not dying to be next like I usually like to be. Nimu goes in third, disappearing in a few seconds, making the squeeze in look like nothing. I would prefer Dhisnaek go in next and I be last, but he gestures for me to go and, again, I have no desire to look like a drowned rat so I get low and start crawling my way in just as I hear a crack of thunder.

Firstly, it's dark and cramped in here. Secondly, I'm inching along like a snake with no idea of what lies ahead of me. I keep going until I hear Lan's voice.

"Am I in yet?" I ask.

"Keep coming to the sound of my voice."

I continue to shuffle along the ground until I finally brush up against him. I can't see a freakin' thing but at least I'm in.

"You're good," He says.

I hear Nimu from somewhere in here. "This is actually a lot bigger than I thought."

Since I can't see the area, I'm not sure how big this burrow is so I simply rely on my other senses to help me figure it out. Patting around, I realize it is bigger than it looked on the outside. Heck, I can even sit up straight without brushing my head against the ceiling.

"What kind of animal lived in here?" I wondered aloud.

"I don't know, but hopefully it's permanently left," Chasan says.

Glancing over at the only spot that brings in some weak light- the entrance- I try to see if Dhisnaek made it in.

"Hey, Dhisnaek, you in yet?"

It feels weird being on a first name basis with my grandfather.

"Yes, I'm nearly in," He calls out.

Already, I can hear the heavens opening and dumping buckets outside- seems we made it in the nick of time.

The faint light disappears for a moment as Dhisnaek finally makes it into the burrow.

"A torch would have been useful," He mutters, grunting as he gets into a comfortable position. "Not we could use it in this space."

I feel him bump up against me.

"Was that you?" He asks me.

"Yeah, it's me."

I hear him getting comfortable next to me, shuffling a bit until the noise dies down and all that can be heard is the steady stream of rain pouring down outside. Any other time I'd be cool with this sort of silence, but it's a weird feeling sitting in a pitch black space without anyone talking (it's darker than a night out in a cornfield). I kinda just want to be reassured I'm not alone in here.

"Hey, Chasan."

"What?" He replies flatly.

I pause.

"Got any dreams or ambitions you want to share?"

"Joan, don't even start."

It's a cautionary warning, but I'm not hearing it. This is the perfect time to get him to answer my questions since there's no place to run. This might cause friction but at this point, I don't give a damn.

"I'm honestly just curious. Come on, humor me."

There's a pause before he coolly replies-

"I'd rather not- it'll only encourage you to ask more questions than what it's worth."

I fight back the urge to call him an ass and instead add, "Seriously, Chasan?"

Like the peacemaker he is, Lan hops in to defuse the situation.

"Let's not make it too hot in here," He chuckles, trying to break the tension. "You know, Chasan, I'm kind of interested in hearing about your dreams. Sorry if that's not what you wanted to hear, but it's the truth."

There's just a long stretch of silence before he sighs and begrudgingly starts up.

"My dream was to sail the sea. There, that's it."

"Boring dream," I comment.

At least I did my task of the day. Lan, though, is intrigued.

"I think that's rather ambitious," He says, clearly awed by this.

I can't see Chasan's face, but I can detect some bashfulness in his voice as he replies, "Really? I've always considered it a bit farfetched."

"No, I think that's courageous on your part. I don't know if I would ever be brave enough to explore the sea."

Chasan chuckles. "Well, seeing as we're exploring the unknown right now, sitting in a burrow, I think you're being more courageous than I would be sailing some empty sea."

Lan laughs as well. "I suppose you've got a point."

They act like they're the only ones in this joint, but at least I'm hearing voices so I know I'm not alone. They go on about who-cares-what while the rest of us sit in silence listening to the rain. Figuring I might as well get comfortable, I draw my knees up to my chest and rest my chin, staring off into the darkness as I tune out everything else- just like when I'm running.

Unlike the thoughtless serenity I have when running, though, every time I space out here my mind is consumed with worry about Brent. I get hot under the collar everytime I think what that creep might be putting him through. I swear, I'm going to make that Tymos creep sorry he ever even thought about messing with me and my family. Secretly, one of the worse things about this is that I don't even know what his deal is with me- it's like he thinks I deserve to be put through this and I don't.

I'm so zoned out that when I feel something brush against my shoulder I involuntarily jump out of fright- though I don't yelp or anything embarrassing like that. My heart is still racing, though, even as Dhisnaek apologizes.

"I'm sorry, I hadn't meant to frighten you."

"Oh, well, it worked."

"Forgive me. I tried calling to you but you weren't answering."

"Sorry, I kinda go off into my own little world sometimes."

I hear him scooch closer but mindful of my personal bubble.

"Do you go often to this 'little world' of yours?" He asks, interested in learning about me still.

Even though he probably can't see me, I shrug. "Eh, more or less. It mostly happens when I run."

I can hear the confusion in his voice. "When you run?"

"Yeah, I'm a runner. Back where I'm from, I run competitively for trophies and stuff. I'm trying to get into the Olympic games- it's a sports competition that the whole world takes part of every four years."

"That sounds...peculiar."

"It kinda is now that I say it out loud, but it's really cool and prestigious, plus you get a medal if you win so it's legit."

"I would have to witness it firsthand to understand it fully, I suppose."

"Oh yeah, it's awesome watching it live and all."

"Does your father enjoy such things?"

"My dad's really not a sports fan, but he does support my running and stuff."

"He's a good father- a good father encourages his children," He says that with a touch of melancholy lingering in his voice.

"My dad's the best, he's real chill and shit, he just has this way about him. You know when people have that way about 'em? That's my dad," I mean, he really does, it's unexplainable. "Like, one time when I was eight or something, I lost a relay race in Sunday school and I threw this giant tantrum- it was so bad the teacher got my dad and he took me to our spot and he waited, no lie, two and a half hours for me to settle down. We were just out there for two and a half hours. It was always Easter by the way, but he let me throw a tantrum until I tired out. He just has that way about him."

"It's a good thing to have a close bond to your father- I had a close relationship with my own father."

"Yeah, my dad and I are tight. But my brother and I are like inseparable, for real. He has that way about him as well."

He pauses for a second before muttering softly to himself, "As I wished my brother and I were..." Snapping back to reality, he addresses me again. "You enjoy running, what does your brother enjoy?"

"He does a lot more than I do, but he's really into playing his guitar and singing and all that jazz- plus, he actually sounds pretty good, not like other kids his age would sound."

"That sounds wonderful. It's a good thing to be passionate about something. It's even better if you succeed at it."

"Oh, yeah, Brent succeeds at practically everything," And that's a fact. My mom claims he takes after my dad in that aspect.

He chuckles softly at that.

"You make it sound as though running is the only thing you succeed at."

"Well..."

"I'm sure there are other areas you succeed at," He reasons.

"Oh, yeah, I'm sure, but it's not like I care."

There's a pause on his end. I must've thrown him for a loop on that.

"How do you mean?"

"I mean, I'm great at running so what else is there?"

"There are many other things in this world to explore and succeed at. Why limit yourself to one thing?"

"Why fix what isn't broken? I'm a runner, plain and simple."

There's another uneasy pause, but he finally replies-

"If that is all you wish to be then sobeit."

Why does everyone always make that out to be such a horrid thing? Sheesh.

Apparently, rain goes on for a while in the rainforest, strange. So it seems we might as well get comfortable for the night and eat our dwindling portions.

I don't know what it is about this burrow, whether it be the seemingly softer ground or the perfect darkness or maybe even the fact that it's rather cozy in here, but I have no trouble getting comfortable and drifting off.

Already, I can hear Lan's soft, rhythmic snores and Nimu's quiet rustling on the other side as she gets situated. Next to me, Dhisnaek doesn't make a sound, and I almost forget he's there until he replies to me asking if he has enough room to lie down.

"I will be fine, thank you," He has such a calm temperament about him. "Are you comfortable?"

"Yeah," I don't bother stifling a yawn. "I might be zonked in a few."

"Good ahead and rest then- we have an uphill way to go dealing with Tymos."

Knowing he's right, I close my eyes and try to get some sleep, but I add a few seconds later, "You know, it's kinda crazy how I ran into you here. I didn't think you existed."

I feel his hand rest on my shoulder. He even has that calming grandparent kind of touch already. He doesn't respond for a minute or so until eventually rubbing my shoulder and letting go.

"I didn't either. But I thank whatever being out there that you do."

I'm kinda glad this place is pitch black because that sappy response makes me smile like an idiot as I slip into sleep.