Wale broke the ice between them.
"You do not look like someone who chases rabbits. Are you sure you know what you are doing? " He asked with a smile.
But the fair- skinned youth only frowned. "Árewá? Who asked for your help? I had it under control."
Wale chuckled, leaning back lazily on the rock. " Control? You were chasing in circles. Even the rabbit pitied you. Besides, how could I have turned a blind eye to a beauty struggling." His grin turned to a smirk.
The fair young man looked at the annoying man before him. He could not get to kill a rabbit in minutes- yet the young man before him could get that done in just three seconds. Of course he felt useless. He could not even kill a little rabbit.
The young man's frown deepened. " Mind your own business. And don't call me beauty. Do you wish to be cursed? " His voice rose, sharp with irritation.
To Wale, the anger only made him look cuter. "Eiii… come now. I am sure others have called you that before. There is no shame in it. And as for the rabbit— goddesses should not be wasting their time chasing prey. What if you tripped? What if your perfect skin was scarred? Ko ni da! That would be tragic! "
The youth's jaw tightened. He bent to lift the rabbit, refusing to meet Wale's teasing eyes.
Goddess?- He thought.
"That is none of your concern. You have a sharp tongue for one who reeks of travel dust. I do not owe you an explanation."
Wale smirked. " True. But watching you miss that rabbit was explanation enough."
The air between them tightened, like a string pulled taut. For a brief moment, Wale thought the man might strike him. Instead, the stranger turned sharply, cloak swirling. He turned to leave.
" What? You are going already?" Wale called after him. "This forest is dangerous. Alone, you won't last. Let me protect you. You're too perfect for this forest. "
The youth snapped back, "Who asked for your protection? Just because I failed to kill a rabbit doesn't mean I can't defend myself. Oponu!"
(Fool.)
Wale blinked at the insult, half-amused, half-offended. " So rude. Not even a thank you…"
Before he could finish, another figure rushed onto the path—a young man in his early twenties.
" My... " He called.
He was suddenly cut short when the fair-skinned youth lifted a hand to silence him.
The other having swallowed the rest of his words- he noticed the presence of someone. He glanced at Wale suspiciously but said nothing.
"Ja lo- let us leave. " the fair man said simply to his slave.
He tossed the rabbit to his companion and walked on without a glance back.
The "slave" nodded meekly. He cast Wale one last glare before following- though a flicker of amusement passed through his eyes. If the fair man had bothered to look closely, he might have noticed.
Wale watched them disappear into the trees. A sigh escaped him, half in annoyance, half in admiration.
" Strange man. All that beauty, wasted on such a sharp tongue." He shook his head, gathering his things.
"Someone that fine," he murmured under his breath, "shouldn't have such an attitude."
The sky was dimming, clouds veiling the sun. Night was close.
As he walked away, he couldn't help but smile faintly to himself.
"Rude or not, that divine being has caught my eye."
He adjusted his bag and resumed walking, unaware that destiny had already begun weaving their paths together in ways neither could escape.