After rolling for dozens of meters, he barely came to a stop on the slick hunting grounds. He lay sprawled on the grass, letting the rain pelt his face, but he did not feel the slightest bit upset.
On the contrary, he felt a sense of relief.
That feeling did not come from his surroundings, but from within. He felt real. Only now did he feel truly alive.
The dark clouds and torrential rain in the sky gradually subsided after losing Hoffa's mental force field.
In the distance, a large bird spiraled down. She stood beside Hoffa and affectionately rubbed her head against his neck.
It was Maya.
Lying on the grass, Hoffa turned his head and stroked her head. "Thank you. Without you, I really wouldn't have known what to do."
Maya gave a low cry.
At that moment, a figure stumbled up from higher ground.
"Hey, Hoffa? Where are you?"
Maya raised her head and let out a shrill cry.
Argeleia finally spotted him and rushed over.
Perhaps the rain had made the grass too slippery, or perhaps the emotional upheaval she had just gone through had left her unsteady on her feet. She slipped and fell halfway through her run, then rolled all the way down, finally skidding past Hoffa with her face pressed against the turf. Her face was covered in mud, and she looked utterly bedraggled.
Though his head hurt, Hoffa could not help grinning. The smile pulled at his muscles, sending pain shooting through his ribs.
It felt so real.
After getting up, Argeleia wiped her face and angrily smacked Hoffa, then could not help laughing.
Finally, she dropped to her knees. "Hey, what was that all about!?"
Hoffa lay on the lawn with Maya's head in his arms and turned toward her with