Chapter 16: Dynamic

"I think Kyle is onto something, and Leon makes a valid point too. We can always pick this up again tomorrow. After all, there's no ticking clock, right?" I offered a reassuring smile in Don's direction.

"Reo, not you too," Don exclaimed, sounding almost betrayed. He shifted on his feet, letting out a sigh before addressing us with a determined expression.

"I understand where you're all coming from, but look at how far we've come already. Opportunities like this don't come around every day. Come on, guys, we're on the verge of something incredible. I can feel it in my bones. We're so close to finding Muffin," Don urged, his smile radiating reassurance and enthusiasm.

With a friendly and amiable demeanor, Don climbed atop a nearby tree stump, seemingly out of nowhere, and began to deliver a motivational speech. 

Wait, when did he get up there?

"How often do we get the chance to embark on an adventure like this? If we turn back now, what do we tell that little girl? That we ventured into the forest but gave up halfway?" Don's words resonated with a sense of urgency and determination. "No way, guys. This could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, an actual adventure, sort of. How about this: we keep searching for just a few more minutes, and then we head back home just before sunset."

Caught up in the fervor of Don's conviction, the party succumbed to his persuasive will.

"Alright, fine! We hear you. We'll keep going for a bit longer," Kyle conceded, albeit somewhat reluctantly. He rubbed the back of his neck, muttering something under his breath.

"But only for a few more minutes. If we still haven't found Muffin by then, that's it for today," Leon added, setting a firm boundary.

It was evident from their expressions that Don's somewhat inspirational speech had managed to sway them. Somehow.

But I still felt we should go home.

"Well, we don't have much time anymore. We only have about half an hour before the sun goes down, so I think we should split up to cover more ground," Don declared confidently.

As Don spoke, the rest of the party listened intently, their expressions a mix of resignation and determination. It was as if his words held a certain power over them, compelling them to follow his lead without question. Despite the potential risks, they seemed ready to heed Don's directive, trusting in his leadership implicitly.

As Don proposed splitting up to cover more ground, a sense of apprehension crept over me, prompting me to speak up hesitantly.

"Wait! I don't think that's a good idea, well, at least not entirely," I interjected, my voice betraying my uncertainty.

As my words hung in the air, the atmosphere around us seemed to shift, and all eyes turned towards me. Among them, one pair held a distinct mixture of contempt and disdain.

With a deep scowl, Leon's voice cut through the tension. "What was that?" His tone was flat and tinged with an undercurrent of vengeance.

"Ah! Well... I, uh, mean," I stumbled over my words, feeling the weight of his scrutiny. "We are in the forest right now. Aside from it getting late, if we split up, we might run into a monster or a wild animal. It's too risky," I finally managed to articulate, my voice betraying my nerves.

It was sincerely amazing how the gaze of aere group of kids converging on me could force anxiety deep into my marrows.

Splitting up in such a place, especially at a time like this, didn't seem like a wise idea. We had been fortunate enough not to encounter any monsters or wild animals thus far.

While it was true that splitting up could potentially increase our chances of finding Muffin by covering more ground, it also heightened the risk of running into danger while alone. Perhaps under different circumstances, Leon's plan could have merit, but the undeniable fact remained: we were all just kids. No matter how familiar we might have been with the forest, the risks were simply too great.

Given the circumstances, I couldn't support the idea of splitting up.

"I think I'm with Reo on this one, Leon. Splitting up is dangerous, no matter how you think of it," Kyle chimed in, voicing his agreement.

"He's right, Leon," Trise added, her support reinforcing Kyle's stance.

Leon's reaction was unexpected. He seemed momentarily taken aback, blinking blankly as if dazed by the turn of events. The expression that followed was one I had never seen on him during our hours together. His eyes were blank and glassy, as if he had been dealt an inexplicable blow by their words.

From what I had observed, Leon was the strategist of the group, Don's right-hand man and the one who typically provided suitable suggestions or plans when faced with seemingly perilous situations. This dynamic had allowed us to navigate through numerous minor adventures without encountering any real trouble.

Indeed, Leon was not only the voice of reason but also the one who could usually sway Don's decisions with logic and sound judgment. He was like Don's right-hand man, his trusty knight in shining armor.

However, my recent action had disrupted this dynamic. It was a mistake on my part. I had failed to consider the already strained relationship between Leon and me, and now my careless words seemed to have solidified our status.

Silence hung heavy among the group, the only sound punctuating the stillness being the rustling of trees and leaves in the wind. Finally, a sigh escaped Leon's lips, breaking the oppressive silence and easing the tension in the air.

He regained composure, recomposed from the sudden shock, he raised his head and said. His words directed at me:

"So, what do you think we should do then, Reo?" Leon's words carried a neutral tone, but beneath the surface, there was an underlying emotion.

His expression appeared calm, but there was a hint of animosity in his voice and a glint of intensity in his eyes that betrayed his true feelings. He scrutinized my face closely, his gaze slightly accusatory, before turning his attention to the rest of the party.

"So, you don't have a better plan? Okay, does anyone else have a better idea?" Leon's voice dripped with sarcasm as he addressed the group.

Don tilted his head slightly to the side, assuming a pensive pose, but remained silent, seemingly lost in thought. The rest of the group followed suit, maintaining their silence.

"Um... actually, I might have an idea."