It is night, and Aami is busy packing for tomorrow's trip. This one week had already gone without any particular excitement, but if there is one thing to highlight now, it's this: during these past few days, that recurring dream has not come looking for her. A small sense of disappointment lingers within her because of it. A disappointment she can't quite explain... to be honest, has she started falling in love with that blurry figure? What nonsense, right?
More than just a blurry figure, it was a strange form—a Werewolf. And yet, is this disappointment the result of her mind finally accepting that form?
Aami shook her head, trying to clear those thoughts, and focused back on her packing. She packed some snacks, water, cooking items, and a tent. Since she was used to trekking often, she knew exactly what was necessary and what wasn't. Her father had a slight fever; otherwise, he definitely would have joined her.
Alex had said they would leave in the morning. She had taken a one-week leave from work, though it wouldn't be necessary. At most, the trip would take three days. But then again, what if the journey got extended for some reason?
That night, as she lay in bed waiting for sleep to take over, her mind was busy analyzing the upcoming trip. Along with it came a strange sense of excitement.
Even though there is a forest area right at the back of her house, she cannot go through it now. One must report to the Forest Office to be granted permission for that route.
At morning Aami bid everyone goodbye and set off in her car. Within 10–15 minutes, she reached the office, where Alex was already waiting for her.
After parking the car, they met the officer and reported their entry. They were given a lot of instructions; they were warned that traveling without following these rules would certainly result in punishment.
They slowly began their journey forward. Although there were 2-3 other people around, they eventually split up toward different locations once they reached a certain area. Then, it was just Aami and Alex. As they walked, talking and sharing stories, she found she was truly able to enjoy the journey.
Through the chirping of birds, the dense forest atmosphere, tall trees, small streams, and valleys, they trekked onward. They ate the food they had brought when they felt hungry. The atmosphere was completely silent, with nothing scary in sight.
The only minor issue she felt was the cold. For one thing, the cold had already begun to set in here. If you looked toward several spots, you could see the mist-covered valleys in all their beauty and terror.
As the trek continued further upward, Aami found it a bit difficult to breathe. She felt exhausted. However, Alex had no trouble at all. Well, he is someone who is quite used to the forests and mountains, isn't he?
Aami struggled to keep pace with Alex's speed. Alex insisted they find a safe place before it turned dark, noting that as they went deeper into the forest, the chance of animal interference increased. He mentioned that bears and wolves were common in this area. Aami wondered, "Wait, didn't someone say there were no wolves in this forest?".
One cannot say for sure that they aren't here. After all, it was years ago in this very forest that she had first seen a wolf and had a close encounter with it. As that memory returned, the image of its eyes and its form rushed back into Aami's mind.
"Where could it be today...?". To tell the truth, her heart longed to see it, but who knows if it is still alive?. Animals have a shorter lifespan compared to humans. Amidst these thoughts, the eyes from her dream appeared again, creating a sense of unease. Aami shook her head, trying to push the thoughts away.
Gradually, darkness began to spread through the atmosphere. From a distance, she could hear the powerful sound of the sea crashing against the rocks.
"It's only a little further from here... but we shouldn't travel further," Alex said. "Let's set up the tent somewhere here". They sat on the rocks of a mountain slope, setting their bags down.
"Is it safe?"
Aami asked as she sat down beside him.
"It's the forest; danger can be anywhere. Even so, we can expect it to be safe here..." Alex replied.
They rested for a while to recover from their exhaustion, then took the tents out of their bags and began setting them up close to each other. Once finished, they gathered some dry wood from the surrounding area and lit a fire. Alex took out a small traveling mini camping gas stove. The menu was noodles, mixed with a bit of lightly fried beef, followed by two glasses of coffee.
Eating the food while it was still hot brought a small sense of peace. After finishing their meal, they sat by the fire for a little longer. Finally, after saying goodnight, they both headed to their respective tents. Because she had traveled a long distance, Aami fell asleep quickly—a deep sleep born of pure exhaustion.
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Looking down from that high mountain, one could see the endless waves of the sea crashing into the base of the peak. It was a feast for the eyes; the moonlight in the sky decorated the earth with a blue light, making everything look incredibly beautiful. Despite the biting cold, Aami stood there with her arms crossed, shivering. The whistling wind only added to the intensity of the atmosphere.
Suddenly, she felt a warmth transferring to her body as two hands hugged her waist. It felt like a warm blanket pressed against her.
"Aami..."
a voice whispered in her ear. She smiled, and though his face wasn't clear in the darkness, she saw those glowing blue eyes again. These mysterious eyes drew her in like a magnet. She felt a deep love and intense romance for this person. Even without seeing his face clearly, she understood him perfectly in that proximity. She felt his warmth and, above all, his scent.
Aami turned to face him. She stood on her tiptoes, reaching up toward him. She asked him longingly,
"when will you take me to your kingdom as your queen, Devi"...
He replied,
"Even if I don't take you as the queen of that kingdom, you will always be my queen Mate...".
Those words held many layers of meaning that Aami couldn't fully grasp. He then slowly and affectionately began to kiss her cheeks.
The warmth of that kiss and his love in the dream left a beautiful smile on Aami's lips even as she slept. It was the smile of someone truly enjoying the reality of their dreams.....