Many more hours ter, the sky had darkened considerably. To his left, the sun had fallen and disappeared, to be repced by a sparkling moon on his right.

  The moon and the stars ensured that the world wasn’t entirely invisible to the boy, but his ability to see was very limited. Fortunately, he was certain that he was walking in the direction of a seemingly suitable tree, far away from any human encampment he was aware of.

  It would take some time for the boy to arrive, and he’d trip a number of times along the way, but he would get there eventually.

  . . .

  Oh? What’s this?

  As the boy got closer and closer to his destination, he began to hear a surprising and peculiar noise from the other side of the tree.

  It was the sound of a girl’s ughter. One just a little older than the boy, seemingly. Older than he appeared, at least.

  The sound was loud, joyful and maniacal, and was accompanied by the sound of something being repeatedly smashed and smmed against the bark of this particurly thick and sturdy tree. The noise seemed to be coming from something somewhat soft, but with hardness to it, too. Every now and then it seemed to crack and splinter.

  The boy considered finding another tree, but that could be difficult in this darkness. Plus, to his knowledge, he was very far away from any towns. That seemed to be the important thing. Nothing else should matter.

  The boy stepped up to the quiet side of the tree without a fuss, and despite the noise, he began his attempts to work out this “pissing” ritual.

  He knows he needs to grab something. That something seemed to be a little above and between his legs. But when he looked down, he didn’t see anything there… He reached around there, just in case it was obscured by the darkness, but he felt nothing.

  Perhaps it was not obscured by the darkness, but something else entirely… Could these pants be removed, perhaps?

  Ah, yes. It seems they can be maniputed, at least. He pulled them downward slightly, revealing some of his leg, and a second, smaller set of pants. Could these be moved as well?

  It seems they can!

  Instead of a third set, below this rested a small hose-like growth. It seemed like it was truly connected to his body, and it seemed to be in the right pce. This must be what he was looking for.

  Ew. Very ew.

  He grabbed hold and held it steady. He wasn’t sure what came next.

  But it was something he was supposed to be able to do. Perhaps, then, if he just tried hard enough…

  Ah!

  It was a… Uh, s-strange sensation, feeling the golden liq

  Nuh-uh, nonononope. Skipping that.

  “The HECK is that?!” A girl’s voice boomed out from the other side of the tree. It was powerful and rough.

  The boy was unsure whether or not he was being referred to. No one was looking at him, so most likely not, he decided.

  “You stay down!” The voice boomed again, and a moment ter a head peeked out from the other side of the tree, and looked directly at the boy.

  In the darkness, the boy had a hard time making out most of her features, but it was clear that she was displeased, angry, even, to see him, given the scowl and the dark look behind her eyes.

  The girl had short, slightly-reddish brown hair, and grassy green eyes. On her head, she wore an odd navy-blue lidded ballcap. Otherwise, she wore a suit of armor fashioned out of fur and hides, all over a dull grey hoodie. Again, he would not see these features in detail for some time.

  “What do you think you’re doing here, kid!?” She shouted, although the appeared age-difference was negligible.

  “i believe i am ‘pissing.” Expined the boy, continuing to do so.

  “OBVIOUSLY!” She snapped. “But what’s the big idea, doin’ it here? What kind of a pervert are you, whippin’ it out around an ongoing assault?!”

  “i do not understand what you are saying.”

  “Aah? Think you’re a real wise guy, eh??”

  In one swift motion, the girl produced a short yet deadly sharp icicle in her hand, pulled from thin air, and pressed it up against the boy’s throat.

  “UNDERSTAND NOW? EH????” She screeched with wide eyes and a hateful look.

  “no.” He returned, same as ever.

  “Ooooooh, no reaction?” Her expression fell ft. “Wow, I’m sooooooo impressed.”

  With a sense of déjà vu, the boy got the feeling that her words did not match her feelings.

  “Why the heck’re you here? What’s your pl-“ She began to spit through gritted teeth, but looked downward in a moment of sudden realization. “…You’re still goin’? Even while we’re doin’ this?”

  “yes.” He nods.

  “What is this? Is this supposed to be intimidating somehow?” Her voice was now devoid of rage, repced with ft curiosity.

  “no. it is piss. or so i am told.”

  “Well, you’re right about that, but…” The voice trailed off, and they remained silent.

  Thirty-two seconds of quiet contemption ensued, as the spike of ice remained firmly pressed against the boy’s throat. He continued to piss.

  The girl’s lips curled into a grin.

  “This is funny. You’re funny.” Her eyes sparkled with malice and innocent joy. “You’re a funny guy.”

  The boy thought he was being complimented, but… He wasn’t sure. There was something about the way the girl spoke, the way she looked at him, it filled him with uncertainty. Another new sensation.

  “I don’t know who you are or why you’re here, but I’m not gonna kill you. Nonono. Not now.”

  “thank you.” Says the boy, as genuinely thankful as he is presently capable of being. Which is to say… A little bit. Kinda thankful.

  “But I am kidnapping you.” She shifted her arm and pointed the ice against the boy’s side instead, and smiled. “Right now. Come on, we’re going. Now.”

  “okay.” There was no reason not to.

  The girl and the boy walked together, side by side, with a deadly sharp icicle pressed into the boy’s side connecting them.

  As they walked, they passed the other side of the tree, and the boy happened to see what the girl had been kicking earlier. It was the limp, bloody mess of a man, pressed against the tree. His clothes were torn, and his body bent in ways it shouldn’t.

  “are you leaving him there?” The boy asked as they quickly passed.

  “Eh, yeah, whatever.” The girl shrugged. “He’s just some guy an acquaintance of mine told me to punish.”

  “w-“

  “Don’t know don’t care.”

  “okay. is he alive?”

  “See above.”

  The boy tilted his head up confusedly.

  “what do you want me to see?”

  To this, the girl said nothing, and the boy was left confused.

  In case you’re wondering about the lump of a man by the tree, worry not. He’s currently still alive. He’s not conscious, and whether or not he’ll survive the night remains to be seen, but he’s alive. Don’t feel too bad for him, he’d been sexually harassing waitresses at a seedy bar in a nearby town.

  Now, whether or not that’s deserving of being robbed, mercilessly beaten and left for dead is up to interpretation, but you may rest easy knowing that he did some bad stuff before he died.

  Regardless, the girl lead the boy away, deeper into the grassnds, far away from civilization.