“Whosssp!” Heracles was startled and woke up. He believed that he just fell in sleep a bit and it’s the thing he didn’t want because the forest was very dangerous the moment. However, when he opened his eyes, it had been morning and Amelinda and Gwen were still there, lied on ground sleeping in peace. He breathed a sigh of relief then stood up, let Gwen and Amelinda to sleep more. He wandered around to take a look.
Heracles turned back and gently shook Amelinda’s shoulder. “Wake up, Amelinda. It’s morning.” he said gently. Amelinda woke up. She managed to sit up, rubbed her eyes by hand. “I don’t think that I could sleep on ground.” she lamented.
“It meant you are too tired.” replied Heracles, walked cross her to wake Gwen up.
“Gwen--” he said.
Gwen seemed to be startled; he sat up at one. “What happen, Heracles? Do the serpents turn back?” he squealed, opened his eyes widely, swung his head around.
“No, they don’t.” said Heracles, “It is morning. We have to wake up and go.”
Gwen calmed down, stopped looking around. “Oh god, I just dreamed about them.” he groaned.
“Anyway where do we go now?” he added.
“We should have breakfast first then we will find the way to go.” said Heracles.
With the remaining water, Gwen couldn’t cook so they had light breakfast, a little bread and some water before they stood up and continued to go to the north. It’s the third day they wandered in the forest and they got a big problem. They couldn’t found the water and bread they brought was almost out.
***
Gwen reached to the bag on his back, grabbed on the water-skin there then pulled it out from the bag. He raised his face, held the water-skin upon, took a gulp of water then gave the water-skin to Amelinda in front of him.
“Amelinda – drink a little.” he called. Amelinda stooped. He took the water-skin, drank then gave it to Heracles. Heracles received the water-skin. It didn’t have much water there. Heracles raised his head, drank then gave it back Gwen. That time, it was almost out of water but Gwen was still thirsty. He opened his mouth widely, took the water-skin’s upside down and tried to drink the last drops of water. One, two then three water drops fell down his mouth and then stopped. They didn’t satisfy his thirst but there had no more water falling down. Disappointedly he tied it to his bag then made his way chase after Heracles and Amelinda. They all were in hurry wanting to reach on the other side of the forest. They believed that it’s the place they could get food and drink.
However, the thirst and weariness made their steps more and more heavily. Their steps got slower and slower. Later, they had to force their feet to move. There didn’t have much leaves upon their heads. Foliage couldn’t shade the bright sunlight at noon not to burn them.
“Hey Heracles” said Amelinda, gasping. Her lips were dry and turned white. “We should stop here. I can’t walk more.” he added tiredly.
Heracles stopped, turned to Amelinda looking at her pale face and her wet hair. Sweat drops on her forehead slid down. “Yeah – we take a rest here.” said Heracles. “Gwen.” he added.
“Yeah.” said Gwen, bowed his head.
Then they walked toward a large tree, made their way to sit on grasses under shadow of the foliage.
“We have run of water and only have a little bread.” said Gwen seriously, “How long do we have to go more?”
“It is not long.” said Amelinda, tried to keep her voice not to break by her breaths. “We have gone out from area of ancient trees, came to area of young tree. We nearly reach on the forest’s edge.” she added.
“Hope we can find some food and water around.” said Heracles thoughtfully, “If we can not, we had to endure hunger and thirst.”
“We only can hope it will happen.” said Gwen.
Heracles, Gwen, Amelinda kept staying at the place resting and waiting for the sunlight to be less dazzling. When the hottest period of the day passed, they stood up and continued walking to the north and only stopped until the sunset.
It’s an unpleasant night for all Heracles, Gwen and Amelinda. They felt really hungry and were forced to satisfy their thirst by some wild grapes which they got on their way. The grapes were really sour and acrid they very difficult to eat but they had no choice they were the only things they could have the moment. Right after the poor meals each of them stood up, made their way go in the makeshift tent which they made in hurry at late afternoon. They put on their sleeping bags they lied down next to the others. They slept, tried to forget their empty stomachs which some rolled up.
Heracles, Gwen, Amelinda woke up very early in morning. Hunger tormented them and they couldn’t sleep much. They turned sleepy and tired than ever. Gwen even had big shadows around his eyes and his eyes became lifeless. Made their way walk out the tent, they sat down, had the few remaining grapes then quickly stood up and continued going.
***
Heracles felt really thirsty; his lips turned dry and he had to use his tongue to wet them. However, his status was much better than his friends. He still could control his body well while Amelinda and Gwen didn’t. Amelinda’s lips turned very dry they turned white but she couldn’t wet them because her mouth and her throat were also dry. Her steps turned very heavy. Her body leaned forward and seemed able to be fall down at any time. She walked very slowly trying to move after Heracles. Gwen moved at last and was sinking deeply in his thinking about food and drink.
“Milk, yogurt, Loukhoumades, Moussaka, Gyro….” Gwen spoke unconsciously. He called up the names of food and drink he knew.
“Gwen - Keep your head awake.” said Heracles loudly.
“Heracles - I’m still awake.” yelled Gwen, “I’m only trying to forget my hunger.” he lowered his voice then started muttering names of food and drink again. Heracles ignored, let him do whatever he wanted.
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