The Traps of Black Swan

Aaron never heard her so frightened other than the repeated nightmares in the beginning. He ran a few long steps and met her. "Cupcake!?"

He was about to hold her thinking she might be scared looking at something, or she might jerk to stop and spill out the reason. Anyway, she clutched the wrist of his extended hand and ran towards the steps where they will have to climb up.

"Run… Ronron…" She screamed as though he wasn't close enough to hear her.

Aaron didn't stop her. He glanced behind to see if somebody or something was chasing after her. He found nothing, "Cupcake… Cupcake… Cupcake, what's wrong?"

He didn't want her to run on the slippery steps that would exhaust her or twist her ankle. He tugged her hand and Aarvi fell back to his arms with a gasp.

He supported her to stand and watched her panting, fear-filled eyes staring at him and her slightly trembling hands almost squeezing the stems of the flowers. "Deep breath… Breathe in… Breathe out…"

Aarvi followed his words and obediently breathed in and out but her eyes were searching the ground. When she didn't find what she was looking for, she let herself relax a little, slacking her shoulders.

Aaron didn't get to ask, she pointed to the direction where she had gone, "I saw a viper. I almost touched it when plucking an exotic blue daisy. I thought it might be a stick but it moved. I had heard vipers are too fast, so I ran away." She told everything in a breath.

Brushing her wet hair away from sticking to her face, he appeared calm when he had a rush of thoughts in his mind. He felt he was careless for letting her wander in the woods. It was good she had quick reflexes. "My Cupcake is so brave."

Aarvi: "..."

She was shaking in fear and he was calling her brave.

Whereas Aaron knew, not everybody could have quick reflexes in danger. People usually freeze in shock or just stand there in fear. She neither ran in the woods randomly nor cried tears in his arms. Instead chose to leave the place quickly, taking him away from there.

He kissed her forehead and embraced her to relax her. He meant it when he called her brave. She wasn't foolishly brave nor a paper dragon to show as brave. He was glad she wasn't trying to bury her fear inside and strong enough to show her weakness to him.

Breathing in his scent, she relaxed but she couldn't stop her senses from heightening to be careful about snakes if they are around.

He made her sit on a rock. Kneeling in front of her, he checked her slender limbs, to make sure the snake hadn't attacked her and she might have missed without realizing it.

Aarvi wanted to say she was alright, but seeing him gravely silent, she didn't know if he was angry so she stayed quiet, keeping an eye on him and around.

When he found no mark on her fair limbs, he finally breathed in relief. But seeing small cuts and bruises on her feet, he could only sigh. That's the cost of leaving their belongings away and jumping into the water.

'Trrr…'

He suddenly heard a tear of cloth. He lifted his head and caught her ripping the hem of her lace top and then she helplessly looked at him without knowing how to cut it out.

Aaron tore it off for her and saw her tie around the flower stems. He didn't know any of the flower names and he was sure she would know their names. He couldn't believe even in the fear she was holding on to them, just to give him.

She handed him the unique floral bouquet she prepared for him. Then she held his face and asked worriedly, "Aaron... are you blaming yourself? Why are you so serious?" She didn't want to ruin their fun day to turn sour because of a stupid snake.

Aaron didn't show what he was thinking or feeling. Seeing her worried, he couldn't bring himself to lie to her. He stood up as he heard her.

"Ronron, you shouldn't blame yourself for my stupidity and carelessness. Will you also blame yourself if I bite my tongue? So stop trying to take responsibility for everything that happens around us. I should have been careful in the first place. Scold me instead." She jutted her lips and sulked.

She sincerely wanted to free Aaron from his negative thoughts. Stretching her hands, she asked for a hug. He obliged and sighed, rubbing her back, "Alright, don't run... around alone in the woods."

Aaron felt somebody's presence around them. It wasn't the first time he observed. When Aarvi ran towards him, he had heard footsteps from far whereas Aarvi and he were barefooted. He had assumed it to be an animal but Aarvi said it was a snake. Snakes wouldn't make such a loud noise.

Aarvi hummed obediently listening to him before noticing his frowns. "What's wrong?"

Aaron knew she wouldn't panic if he let her know, anyway, he chose not to. Holding her little face, he told her why he was serious before, "Vipers are indeed fast. They would attack you before you could even take a step. In which direction did it move?"

Aarvi shook her head as she shrugged her shoulders. She couldn't focus on it as she started running immediately.

Seeing her get into complex thoughts, he flicked on her nose, "There might be its prey around so it didn't get to see my sexy wife."

Aarvi giggled hearing him and then, she sheepishly asked, "Ronron, shall we leave from here, pleaseee? If a snake bites me, you will save me. But if it bites you, I don't know what to do." She couldn't carry him and ascended the mountain to reach their car. She never learned how to remove snake poison out of a human's body.

Aaron chuckled hearing her main concern. He couldn't believe she wasn't scared of the snake bite, instead, she wanted to keep him safe. He piggy-backed her to avoid more bruises on her feet.

She curiously watched the water pool as he climbed. To think of it, she forgot him because she assumed she had pushed him into the water. Water was the reason for their separation and also the reason to excite both of them while together.

She was turning to look at Aaron when she noticed a silhouette move between trees on the ground. When she focused at the same place, she didn't get to see anybody or any movement.

Am I hallucinating? She thought they hadn't brought anybody with them. If there were any tourists like them, why would they hide?

She needs to confirm none were following them. If Leon had indeed focused on her instead of the trouble at hand, Zelda was also in danger with them.

Them? She knew Leon wouldn't kill her so easily. So Aaron and Zelda were in danger.

But how to bring the hiding man out? Or am I overthinking?

Aarvi bit her lips and turned to Aaron. She felt like Aaron was already aware, sensing his consciousness about the surroundings.

Could the prey Aaron mention be a person? Is he friend or foe?