If you’re listening, I’m alright.

I’m okay.

It was hard to break the silence first. In that head space, casting out the line between the living and the dead, surreal without a voice trailing behind it. Perchance the dead could read the living’s thoughts, the emotions they barred from awakening past a cold and calculated mask. Mother was there, somewhere, whether in blood or in spirit, but as Ru gazed further into the sky – hopeful for a returning answer – the lull of wind pressed back in response, eager to toss against the hum of living flesh. Careless, uninvited; reminding the girl that the world continued to carry on regardless. What was she expecting?

Uncertain if her thoughts made the ache any less noticeable, the youth managed to cradle it carefully within – tucking it close and deep into those forbidden recesses of one’s soul. Not entirely forgotten, forever thriving with its unforgiving light. And on she went with a start to her legs, unfurling those wings, and sprinting forwards into the sky. Ru could feel her eyes fill with tears, but with a heavy roar from her lungs – she fought against it as she spear headed into the air.

Fire lit her insides, embers cracked at her heels. The pools of her eyes hardened, attempting to restrict the pieces of her that wanted to give up – just once, just this time, and crumple up – let go. Without any true coarse to her abrupt departure from the earth, she huffed vehemently through those nostrils. Never. She swallowed the fire inside of her, brewing, its metaphorical pain made her body shudder against the restless, cool wind.

The inferno was raging as a voice captured the girl’s attention. It followed an initial call, weak, from where she hovered far from the ground. The evening sun dwindled in this odd and darkened part of Helovia. The trees below absorbed whatever light dined to reach their surfaces, swallowed whole into the blackness down below. She snorted incredulously, casting out her breath in disbelief. Would it be wise to submit to the forest again? To the darkness, and the oppressive cage awaiting down below? Ru recalls her last spar, among similar conditions, and the thought sends her skin recoiling with contempt.

She doesn’t want to, initially. She can feel her previous wounds – healed – ache in remembrance. Though, it only takes a moment for the thoughts to cast their way into her soul. Adding fuel to the restless, wild throes of an angry child with the knife held firmly in her hands. She wants to do well; she wants to be stronger than her demons. Ru realizes there is no room for fear to enter her heart. And just before she dives down into the small clearing, red waters glistening down below, she answers with a harsh, wild cry from creaking jowls. Riding along the wind, shaking her throat – driving away all hesitancy from her being.

Young and foolish, her wings hug close to her body as she plummets. Making out the form, barely recognizable by the dark shades of his coat, and exhales as she punches her wings out to maneuver the tight space. Her entry is one that comes across the crimson pools, her target on the other side of the pool.

Ru’s eyes just make out the nasty thing poking out his head, just as she aims to crash into his side. Instinctively she pulls her limbs up, should that pointed edge aim for the more tender areas beneath her belly. It all happens so very quickly, and the lack of light enjoys the play on the eyes. For now she can’t make out how slender he truly is amongst the shadow, just how tall by the slight glimmer of red that bounces of their shoulders, or the reflection of ruby that brightens their horn. Leering in the midst of that soul-devouring forest.

Another demon for the pickings – it would appear.

Let the hunting begin!

[word count: 660]
[1/3]