534 A River! (Please Read in a Dramatic Voice)

This new environment is extremely gloomy—lots of darkness with some slight glow from the lichen. Overall I'd say it is like the set of a horror movie. 

You know, the kind where you expect some creature to jump from the shadows and eat the handsome male lead's face. In that case, that would be me. 

Ah, but there is one thing that is far from gloomy. That would be the humongous smile on my companion's face. Phobia? Gone. Fear? No trace of it. He's even humming along with me. Not a care in the world. 

Why? Because I said I'd protect him. That's it. Nothing else. He has no concrete proof of my identity or that I have been truthful and yet...

Now, I feel kinda dumb. If he trusts me so much, what's the point of this journey in the first place? I can just tell him not to be scared of the domesticated Gus. 

Oh well, this is now a sightseeing journey, I guess. Anyway, I'll be here for a little while.