Chapter 3 Else's new name

Madriod's Pov

I found the strange lady interesting. There was something about the way she spoke and her determination to hold on to her identity even in the face of amnesia. Three days had passed since I had saved her life, and each moment had been filled with a sense of wonder and curiosity. She wasn't just a good girl, she was genuinely friendly, which made our time together all the more enjoyable.

We were both seated on makeshift wooden stools, sharing a meal prepared from the meat I had hunted earlier in the day. I watched her take a bite of the roasted meat, her eyes fixed on me. Her voice was soft and filled with genuine curiosity as she broke the silence with a question, "Madriod, what were you doing out here in the forest before you saved my life?"

I swallowed a mouthful of meat before responding, "I'm a hunter. I come to these woods to find preys, to provide for myself and sometimes for my village. It's a tough life, but it's all I've known."

She nodded thoughtfully, her fingers tracing patterns in the sand beneath her. "A hunter," she mused, "that must be quite an exciting and challenging occupation."

I chuckled, leaning back against a fallen log. "Exciting, yes. Challenging, definitely. But it has its moments of peace, too. I find solace in the quiet of the forest, away from the noise of the world."

She smiled warmly, her eyes reflecting the flickering flames of the campfire. "I can see that. It's peaceful here, with nothing but the sounds of nature around us."

We continued to eat in silence for a while, the only sounds being the crackling fire and the distant hoot of an owl. The forest had a way of making you feel both insignificant and connected to something greater than yourself. Suddenly an idea of giving her a name that I can address came crumbling into my mind and I thought of giving her my late mother's name. "I'll call you Rosa from now on until you're finally able to remember your real name, if that's fine with you."

She nodded her head accepting my request. "Rosa," she called and added. "It's nice. I'll accept that."

I smiled at her and we continued eating until Rosa leaned in closer, her eyes locking onto mine. "Madriod, can I ask you something personal?"

I nodded, intrigued by her question. "Of course, Rosa. You can ask me anything."

She hesitated for a moment before finally speaking. "Do you ever get lonely out here, away from your village and the people you know?"

I considered her question, realizing that I hadn't thought about it in a long time. "Sometimes," I admitted. "Being alone can be both a blessing and a curse. There are days when I yearn for the company of my fellow villagers, for the laughter and shared stories around a campfire. But then there are moments like this, when I feel like I'm exactly where I'm meant to be."

Rosa's eyes softened with understanding. "I can relate to that," she said quietly. "I've been trying to remember who I am, where I belong, but in these past few days, I've also found a sense of peace in our time together. It's strange, but I'm grateful for it."

"I'm glad you're not feeling all alone after you lost your memories. Trust me, you will get back to your state soon," I assured her, knowing my words meant everything to her.

|Later In The Evening|

I returned from my hunting expedition as I always did, carrying the fruits of my labor. I approached my campsite, expecting to see Rosa, waiting for me with her infectious smile just as she had always been there to greet me anytime I returned from hunting. But this time, something was amiss. There was no sign of her.

"Rosa? Rosa, where are you?!" I began to call upon her name as fear took over me. Why couldn't I see her around?

Silence answered my plea. The forest remained quiet, as if it were holding its breath. My heart pounded in my chest as I began to search the area around the campsite. The fire pit still smoldered, and my supplies were neatly arranged, but Rosa was nowhere to be found.

My eyes darted around, scanning the familiar surroundings. Had she wandered off to collect firewood? It was unlike her to be gone for so long without a word. Fear gripped me as I considered the possibilities. I needed to find her, and quickly.

As I stepped away from the campsite, my eyes fell upon a set of footprints in the soft forest floor, partially concealed by the fallen leaves. They were fresh, and they led away from our campsite. My heart sank as I knelt down to examine them. There were multiple footprints, not just Rosa's.

I muttered to myself, "This doesn't make sense. Who could have been here?"

The next thing I decided on was to follow the trail of footprints, desperate to find any clue about Rosa's whereabouts. Each step felt heavy as I ventured deeper into the forest, my senses heightened, and my instincts on high alert. The footprints led me through the dense woods, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong.

After what felt like an eternity of tracking, the footprints eventually led me out of the woods and into the outskirts of a nearby village. I couldn't help but wonder if Rosa had wandered into this village, but there was no sign of her. I needed answers, and the best place to start was to ask the villagers if they had seen her.

I spotted an elderly woman sitting outside her thatched-roof hut, busy weaving a basket. I approached her, trying to conceal my growing panic.

"Excuse me," I called, my voice trembling slightly. "Have you seen a young woman named Rosa? She has long dark hair and bright blue eyes. She was with me in the forest, but she's gone missing."

The woman paused her weaving, her weathered face creasing into a thoughtful expression. After a moment, she spoke in a soft voice, "I haven't seen anyone like that around here, young man. But I did notice some strangers passing through earlier today. They had a girl with them, matching your description."

My heart leaped with a mix of relief and concern. "Where did they go? Can you tell me?"

The elderly woman pointed down a narrow path that led deeper into the village. "They headed in that direction, towards the center of the village. But be careful, young man. Those strangers didn't seem like ordinary travelers."

I thanked the woman and followed the path she indicated, my footsteps quickening as I approached the heart of the village. What had happened to Rosa? Who were these strangers, and why had they taken her? Will I ever see Rosa again?