Jioni patted her knees as she returned to reality. She opened the latch to the van’s back doors. “It was nice seeing you. I’ll come back for more tea.”
“Yeah, next time, I’ll charge you for it.” Hippie Girl relaxed into a smile.
“By the way….”
“Hm?”
“What’s your real name?” Jioni asked as she hopped outside. Her legs wobbled from sitting in a confined space for so long.
“Stay safe against the deer spirits, Jioni,” Hippie Girl said. She signed and shut the van doors, but not before she laughed profusely.
Jioni looked up at the sky to check the time; she soon inhaled a stressful breath. The sun was setting soon, and Derrin was all the way at the city’s entrance, guarding the gates. She stretched her legs and then her one good arm then stuffed the tea bag in her right pocket. She wasted no time by walking as she had little to no time left.
