Chapter 2: Why me
After coming to the nearby forest, Loretto slowed to a stop. Catching his breath he surveyed the area. He noticed that the sun had begun to set.
"Today just isn't my day," the boy said, frustrated. "Here I am saving all of those people. And I get treated like a criminal! That is in no way fair!"
When the boy had walked into the building from earlier he had discovered that the sweet scent coming from several bouquets of flowers was actually a specially crafted poison.
"Nevertheless I still care for those people," sighed Loretto, "What doesn't make sense is how that got there."
Has Loretto thought this over he continued to walk deeper into the woods. The deeper he went into the forest the darker it got. Soon he was surrounded by a darkness so thick he almost didn't notice the low-growing branches before he ran into them.
After he ran into about six branches Loretto finally gave up.
"Oh come on!" Loretto exclaimed, "I just have the worst luck! To get stuck in the woods not much better than suicide! Life just ain't fair!"
Loretto presided to yell out his shortcomings. Loretto continued to yell until his throat was sore and even then he was reluctant to stop.
"Are you finished venting?"
Loretto looked up towards the voice.
Grinning he replied, "Vincent I wish I could continue but as you can hear," Loretto made an indication to his throat, " I'd lose my voice if I did."
Laughing Vincent jumped down from what one could only assume was a branch.
Vincent is a shapeshifter. One that prefers the form of a cat. Or at least the form of any feline. However this time Vincent was in the form of an owl. Choosing this point to make a conversation Loretto asked,
"What's up with the owl?"
"What's up with your face?" Vincent retorted
"Now that was uncalled for. All I wanted to know was why you chose the form of an owl. " Loretto said in a mock hurt voice "No need to be mean."
Although Loretto had begun to expect responses like that from Vincent he still subconsciously touched his face, trying to feel if it had any marks or dirt on it.
"Well, what reason would there be for me to use this form?"
Vincent paused to see if Loretto was going to guess. When he didn't he continued.
"Because I feel as if I see better in this form!" Vincent exclaimed as if the answer was obvious, " What are you an idiot?"
Choosing not to reply Loretto started to walk off. He didn't get far before he ran into yet another low-hanging branch.
Trying to shrug it off Loretto continued walking. Every couple of steps he'd hit another branch. By now Vincent had stopped trying to hold in his laughter.
"Wait," Loretto asked, "Listen."
Finally, Vincent allowed his laughter to subside. Listening he tilted his head upward. "I don't hear anything," Vincent said as if it were a question.
"That's the point, idiot" Loretto said, " We are in the woods in the middle of the night. There should be at least the rustle of tree leaves.... and yet nothing."
Now that Loretto said something Vincent heard the same or didn't hear the same.
"That is strange," Vincent said, "Or at least it would be if we're in any other forest. You see..... or rather you don't see. We are in one of the few remaining mystical forests. You know where a mystery creature such as me would be born in. "
Loretto looked at Vincent waiting for him to say more, when he didn't Loretto asked, "You said 'one of the few' that must mean there's more than one. But I've only heard of one mystic forest: the one that houses goblins"
As Loretto waited for Vincent to reply he began walking again. He got several feet away before Vincent started to speak.
"That's because all other-" Loretto didn't get to hear the rest of what Vincent had to say because all of a sudden he found himself in a tunnel. Drenched in a liquid that seemed closer to mud than what one would normally assume to be water.
Realizing that he had fallen down Loretto let out a low hiss, "Why me?!"
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone