She had never heard a silence so quiet. The sound of her footfalls seemed deafeningly loud. She could hear with clarity her faint heartbeat, and a ringing of the ears. Her own thoughts seemed to boom within her head; they were erratic and uncontrollable, expressing themselves with different levels of clarity and tone. Was she hearing voices? No, these were just her own thoughts. She had never heard them like this before.
Slowly, quietly, she made her way through the forest once more. After some time and consuming some food and water she had prepared in a small pack she carried with her, she started to regain her energy. She moved, quickly, to not stay in such an unsettling forest for a second longer.
Sleeping was difficult. Her thoughts seemed to grow louder and more intense the closer she came to slumber. So, she only slept when she couldn't stay awake any longer, sometimes sleeping when the sun was unabashedly present in the middle of the sky.
Corpses. Dead animals. She encountered them as she traversed the large forest. But they didn't rot. So she ate them when she was hungry.
At some point, the trees started to change. She found a few that were on the brink of death, their life a much needed refreshment from all the death she had passed through. She felt pity and sorrow for the trees, which she had never known she shared so much in common with.
Then, the ground changed. It grew smoother. The trees grew sparser. The dense shrubbery and plantlife seemed to grow further apart as she advanced. Her speed increased as less obscured roots and shrubs blocked her path. The air changed from an empty and dead void to one that brought life, one that brought the stories of those that breathed it. She had never felt this sensation before.
And soon, she came to a clearing. Stepping through the treeline, she saw the land.
She was up on a hill, and she could see far out into the distance. Other mountains, other forests, large and towering rocks, and splotches of clouds. An entire lake, filled to the brim with water, and a roaring river that pierced it. She couldn't see all of it clearly, and the ground rose up in places, obscuring her view, but…
She knelt on the ground. This. This is what Yrma wanted, what they longed for… At some point, they must have had it. They must have felt this overwhelming sense of life, once upon a time…
The world she knew never looked anything like this one, but she knew how easy it was for even a view so beautiful and grand to be taken for granted. She could feel something, deep within her, resonate with more than what her eyes took in, and she felt certain emotions she had no name for. So she sat, by the shade of the tree, just taking it all in.
After getting her fill of the view, she resolved herself, and set off. She was unable to make out any signs of civilization or of any humans like herself, but she saw a rough, wide, dirt road. She knew that if she traveled long enough down it, it would be a matter of time. However, she did not think it was wise to simply stroll down it, in plain sight. Without any information, and without knowing why she was pursued, hastily seeking interaction with potential enemies seemed like a dumb way to die.
She surveyed the land. The land alongside the road, from what she could make out, shifted and changed, but it wasn't completely bare and flat. And if she encountered that, she could deviate further from the road. It also wasn't a bad idea to wait for a time and observe any travellers going down it.
With a plan in mind, she descended down the mountain. With varying amounts of cover, she didn't dare risk staying in the open for long, her short legs flying back and forth as she ran downhill. Her feet knew where to land for her to avoid falling, her light weight aiding her agility and speed. To and fro, following the ground's least steep regions, she flitted back and forth, a flash. With the sun descending, she felt comfortable with her level of exposure. She was confident in her dark grey clothing's ability to blend in with the land from afar.
Having reached a certain proximity of the road she was satisfied with, she traversed the land adjacent, moving parallel to the road. At times the path would twist and turn sharply, snaking through and around small forests and groves, smatterings of trees. But more often than not, the road found the easiest way through the hills, so Suna was able to relax as she comfortably traversed the land. It was much more forgiving and flat than the rough forest, where she had to pay close attention to each step.
Sound. Wheels. People.
It didn't take long. She hid, listening to the rolling sound get closer from afar. She couldn't see it coming as it was obscured by a hillside, but she was confident in her ability to hide. Having learned her lesson, she didn't try and intently focus on the sound of the wheels or on what could be voices. She just let the sound hit her ears, and she took what came to her.
Close. The wheels rolled by. She remained out of sight. She didn't hear any voices.
She didn't feel a sense of danger, so she poked her head ever so slightly past the tree she was hiding behind.
A carriage… Pulled by some sort of animal. It doesn't look very advanced… Suna was used to seeing metal compose most of the devices she grew up around, it was her first time seeing a wooden carriage.
She considered. If she should emerge from the treeline and attempt to communicate with the figure at its front. She didn't sense any danger from them… Better not to risk it.There should be other carriages and groups of people as well. Given how quickly I came across someone on this path, and how lightly armed they seem to be, it's likely this path isn't extremely dangerous… I'll wait for a few more groups to pass by before I consider interacting with them.
So, Suna continued, leaving the fading sound of the rolling wheels behind her. Before long, another sound entered her ears.
Voices. A group of people, rowdy. Laughs? She almost failed to recognize the sound of hearty laughter, her mind instead recognizing it first as some sort of cry of pain, or choking. Laughter… I, I used to laugh, didn't I? My mom did…
Suna pushed aside her sentimental thoughts and continued focusing on the group.
"How long until the next carriage comes along, you think? Of course it's just our luck for ours to break down like that."
"It's the fault of that decrepit old wack, selling us trash like that."
"Come on, did you seriously think you could get something good with the amount you offered? I told you we should've put down more money."
"Oh? With what money?"
"Well, I dunno, maybe you don't absolutely need a new sword so bad?"
"Hey, are you kidding me? Look at this thing! It's basically falling apart!? Look right here!"
"James, stop being silly, it's totally fine."
"Wha-! Hey, you…!"
"Come on, you two, stop fighting, we're not getting home any time soon so please don't make my life miserable, alright?"
"Oh, you think you have it rough Krax, don't you? Tell me, are you the one with a broken sword? It could cost me my life!"
"Yeah, dying to some slime, sounds like how you'd go, to be honest."
"Urrrrggh! Cyra! I am NOT talking about some stupid slime!"
"Pffft."
"Oh? And what do you have to say about all this?"
"...Pft, pfffthahahah! You guys are so silly!"
More laughter.
Suna didn't know how to react. She considered just letting the voices pass by her. But, she just couldn't. Before she knew it, she was following them, listening intently to them. Like a moth to a flame, drawn in by their light. She wrestled with herself, telling herself she shouldn't put herself closer to potential enemies. That she couldn't trust their banter, that they could be enemies just as dangerous as the ones she encountered before. But she couldn't stop her feet, they moved on their own. Still adept, following the shadows, without a noise. But involuntarily, they moved.
She continued following them. When they laughed, a smile came to her face. She almost imagined herself, one of them, laughing along with them. Friends… They were blindingly bright to her. She considered Ei to be a benefactor, a strong entity that took pity on her. She was obviously nowhere near his equal. But these people, the way they talked to each other, harassed each other, joked with each other, they were equals. They didn't bargain or seek recompense from each other, they simply existed in each other's company. The way their words oozed, and meshed with each other, the way they didn't force anything, comfortable silence living amongst their conversation… She was enraptured.
–
As the sun dipped down, further behind the mountains, as sky enacted its twice daily, colorful transformation, the group departed from the main road. She followed. She could hear their pace slow, coming to a halt, shortly followed by the dull thud and rustle of their heavy belongings hitting the dirt ground.
"This place should do."
Suna listened intently as the four went to work, setting up their camp. She heard sounds of cutting, as if a thick piece of meat was being carved and prepared. The rustle of leaves and branches, the crisp and satisfying sound of wood splitting echoing through the air. The striking of flint, repeatedly, rhythmically, until the crackle of caught flame emerged into being. Exhausted sighs, the occasional remark, none of it escaped Suna's ears. She caught every sound, almost in an effort to visualize what the scene looked like. The way they worked together on separate tasks, or occupied themselves during their downtime. She desperately wanted to watch them. But she was afraid, very afraid, of looking. It's too dangerous. I can't look. She could not risk it. She didn't know if looking at them would alert them, if they would come and end her small life before she even knew it. It's a trick. They're getting me to let my guard down. I can't give in to this! But Suna's legs wouldn't budge as she tried to move away. She was drawn in by them. By every aspect. By a life that she once knew. Happiness. Her vision grew blurry. How couldn't she cry? That sweet, divine nectar, just like water, when it's gone, you know just how much it's worth. What if I could have it? Why can't I be happy? Why can't I have friends, and just get along with them? Why? Why me? Suna longed, desperately, deeply, for the life that this group shared with one another. As the darkness deepened, and the group, content with their meal, retreated to their tents, the whole time, Suna couldn't help but imagine herself. One of them. Eating with them, and retiring for the night in comfort, peaceful.
Suna sat, in still silence, for what seemed to be an eternity. Her heart hurt. She hurt. She stopped crying, but she couldn't rid her eyes of the blurry glaze, that heat of sorrow.
Her heart twisted, it hurt her, but she made no effort to stop it. Her throat constricted, to the point it was interfering with her breathing, but she made no effort to clear it. She indulged in these feelings, for they brought her closer to them, in some twisted way. She may not get to experience this happiness, perhaps not ever in her entire life. Maybe, in her suffering, there was something. Something human, something she could grab onto. So she didn't stop her emotions, nor her tears.
I have to go. Suna resolved herself to leave the camp. But… but once… She longed to just see it. To have a memory, so she wouldn't forget the warmth of the voices she had once heard. Her legs, stiff from immobility, creaked as they remembered how to move. Her feet dragged along the ground, mired in doubt and fear, yet finding their way through their marsh-like emotional obstructions.
Slowly, she inched closer. Slowly, with a heavy, heavy heart.
"Intruder!"
Hu- What…!
Before even a few seconds could pass, all four of the members emerged from their tents, weapons in hand, ready for combat. Suna was slow to react, having been hastily awakened from her emotional stupor, but her body did not delay long. Her feet carried her as fast as they could, her small figure darting between shadows.
"Erykh Avant!"
"Flicht einzer Auren, Floren!"
She heard hasty, yet collected chanting behind her, fading as she gained more distance. A faint rumbling, she felt it in her feet, through the ground, something was approaching. Jump! Her instincts commanded her, and she followed through. Just where she leapt from, a startlingly quick, root-like growth had pierced the ground, seemingly in an attempt to engulf her legs. Cold sweat ran down her forehead, and she quickened her pace.
"Not so fast!"
Behind her, the clattering noise of metal approached. One of the group members emerged, lightly armored. A grown man, sword in hand. All that armor, and a sword, how are they so fast! It was a familiar sensation, as if the man was moving faster than her logic dictated he should. A slight gliding over the ground, with each step. It was nothing compared to Ei's, but it was definitely connected. Magic!
Curses rang out in her head. If only I just left! Why did I do something so stupid! I'm an idiot! But none of them helped her evade the man, or the rumbling roots she felt were on their way.
"Heh, you're fast, but…
Avaarem!"
It was too fast, in but an instant, the man appeared before her, blocking her way. She struggled, pushing her thin legs to the limit and forcing them to dig into the dirt, and somehow, somehow she managed to stop herself before colliding into the man, whose arms were outstretched, clearly intent on capturing the girl. She skidded along the dirt, her right arm dragging along the ground as she attempted to steer herself away from the man. But just as she had managed to make a full 90 degree turn, her hand couldn't leave the ground. It was stuck. The roots! The man approached, she heard the sounds of the others running toward her, she was stuck.
It, It… It's just a few fingers!
Suna unsheathed her knife with her free hand, and resolutely slashed at her other hand. I can't get caught!
Her blood was racing, preparing for the ensuing pain, which soon came. That wasn't so bad… She opened her eyes to look at her caught hand, but realized. It was too late.
The man had grasped her hand, stopping her from successfully slashing through her caught fingers. He quickly twisted her hand with the knife, hard, and she was forced to drop it. Then, in a smooth motion, he brought the left arm of the girl behind her back, and pinned her to the ground with his knee, her right hand still caught in the thick roots, which had continued expanding to cover her wrist and even parts of her forearm.
She had lost.