It's been close to a month--two weeks, really. No other way to say it. I've been hunting small game, trying to track the dragons, and roughing it outdoors. That's all, seriously. Not a single encounter with another intelligent creature this whole time. While that's a nice break from human stupidity, it's also irritatingly boring. There's no one to mess with. Yeah, yeah, others aren't the only ones affected by being human, I am too, but at least I can somewhat manage despite that. I narrowed my eyes at the sky. A lime green, a dark yellow, and a deep bloody red. The yellow was female, the others male. I remember those vile dragons perfectly, right down to the shapes of the scales around their eyes. They'll regret taking them from me. Although...what I can't quite wrap my mind around is what he said. Something about my sister being the 'offspring of the one before'. What actually happened 11 years ago? It's likely my memory got distorted over time, so nothing is definite. Speculating won't get me anywhere! I stamped my foot and glared at the forest. I can't see anything because these trees won't end! Freezing, I took a moment to calm down, attempting to shove the emotions back into their respective corners. There's no time for that...I have to find her! In the correct state of mind once again, I made my way through the trees, relying on the knowledge of the cardinal directions. They flew southeast in a straight line, too arrogant to hide their path. I may be human, but I can still fight...don't underestimate me.
Anyway, at least I found a way to wear all one hundred knives. On my body and inside my jacket. I stopped to glower at a sudden drop-off. ANOTHER cliff! There's so many of them! Taking a few deep breaths, I scared my emotions into hiding once more. I guess I need interaction more than I thought...well, it is in my nature to want company. If it wasn't, there wouldn't be any towns or groups of any kind. Fuck it, I'm gonna jump across. I hate people, no doubt about it, so I'd rather risk dying than start searching for others like an idiot. After getting the correct distance back, I sprinted and leapt, reaching for one of the many tree roots protruding from the other side. Having trained for almost ten years, that had been easier than it otherwise would be. Yep, I spent an entire year locked up in my room, barely eating enough to stay alive, when I realized that I had to get stronger to prevent a second occurance--not that it helped, apparently, or else I wouldn't even be out here in the first place. I hoisted myself onto solid ground, taking a few seconds to slow my heart-rate. Only...with a single glance at the sun, I made a time estimate--ugh, three hours? Not nearly enough to keep going. I have to find somewhere to stop for the night. Agitated, I snapped branches off the trees rather than gather them, aware that I had to release the tension or risk exploding. The process of setting up a small camp in a good area took so long that I had hardly a single hour left to hunt. Great...just great.
Hopefully I'll find something tonight, unlike yesterday. Grabbing my staff from beneath my tent made out of whatever I could get, I began my search. The wind was light, but still present, so I made it a point to travel from downwind. Don't want them to run before getting a chance. Even so, when I closed my eyes and listened, allowing all my other senses to take over, a sense of excitement thrilled my spine. Nature is kind, but also cruel. In other words--beautiful and peaceful, all the way until some predator gets hungry and takes a life to sustain its own. Just like I'm about to do, really. Oh, there's an animal trail here! Looks small, so they aren't deer. I followed the path quietly, crouching low to avoid being seen. When I came upon a small rise, I had to pause and pay close attention. Is that…? Rustling from the other side, advancing into what sounded more like a chase. Shit, did something else beat me here?! I peered over to see something far more surprising. A horned rabbit was chasing a creature I didn't want to admit was there, honestly. It's distracted! Now is when I should take this chance! I activated the spear form and threw it, piercing the carnivorous rabbit through the chest. I missed the heart, but it was forceful enough that it slammed into a tree, snapping its neck. Having achieved my goal, I gave up trying to be stealthy and went up to it, picking up the spear with the animal stuck on to other end.
Will she shut up already?! I stared at the tiny fairy, losing patience. Seems like she got her clothing stuck just before I killed her attacker. Her eyes are squeezed shut--she doesn't even know what's happening. Even though I was slightly entertained by her futile attempts to tug on the cloth, I decided it wouldn't be the best idea to leave her like that. Carefully, I snapped the small twig and she tumbled backwards, having been in the middle of pulling. There, now will she be quiet? I watched momentarily as she shook her head, trying to see what happened. When her eyes landed on me, they registered complete terror. If I wasn't looking at her, perhaps she wouldn't have been frightened. Already done with this small interaction, I left her there. Yeah, I know I wanted someone to talk to or whatever, but now I have, so it should be fine, right? Ignoring the fact that there was a lack of words, it is. Making my way back was short and uneventful, just like most other things. I skinned the rabbit and set the hide apart to use it later. I cut off the horn from the base, wondering if it could be used as a needle if worn down. Once that was completed, I chopped up the meat and stabbed it all onto a stick. Oh, the fire. How did I space that? That's something Jiyak is more likely to do! Despite my frustration, I got it started so I could cook my catch. Now what? It's all so tedious. Well, since this much is done… "Is there a reason you've been watching me?" I heard a gasp and their presence vanished.
I dislike being spied on. Who it is doesn't necessarily matter to me near as much as what they'd been doing. Either way, I didn't feel them come back by the time my food was done. Concealment magic? What are the chances a mage is following me? Slim to none. I grabbed the stick and blew on the meat, trying to help it cool down faster. After taking a few bites of the juicy rabbit, it was apparent that whoever it was had come back. As I was about to throw a knife, the fairy from before came into view, holding her hands above her head in what looked like surrender. She's most likely trying to convey the message that she doesn't want to fight. Why did she follow me? She flew closer to the fire and I was able to get a better look at her. She had purple hair and eyes, a simple frilly top that only covered her chest, and short trousers. Her hair was swept to her right eye and appeared to be darker at the roots than the ends. She looks like she'd be my age, but it's hard to tell for sure. "I-I'm peaceful." Ah, did she take my gaze for hostility? Most do, so not a surprise there.
"Then what do you want?"
Clearly nervous, she said, "Can I h-have some? I haven't eaten i-i-in a while…" That's unusual.
I know they're omnivores, but… "Why are you asking me? Don't you fairies hate humans? Why did you show yourself in the first place?" As I questioned her, I used a knife to cut off small pieces, then held out my hand, the chunks on my palm. To my utter amazement, she came right up to me and hovered next to my hand to get it.
"You helped me…"
"That's because you were annoying as hell. You were so pitiful that it actually hurt my eyes to watch." Her eyes locked on mine and she shuddered, overwhelmed by the barely contained emotions swirling behind them. Fairies are perceptive...there's no way she can't see it.
"Your soul is a kind color." There was hesitancy, but stated it as a fact. That's right, they see more than practically any other creature.
"Leave me alone. Your voice is high pitched and squealing, you sound like a pig."
She examined me then laughed lightly, finding something about this funny that I couldn't see. "Even if you say that, the color didn't change at all! Are you trying to distance yourself? What for?" I hate fairies now.
"Stop. Keep out of my business." My tone went icy and she flinched, eating faster. Did something with the color alter?
"O-oh, uh, my name's Riin...you…?"
I glared for a moment, but said, "Kaistyn." And that ended the conversation. I was pissed and she was too scared to say anything else. Not like I'd actually harm her, but if thinking that I will makes her stop, then so-be-it. When she finished, I got up to put everything away for the night. Riin backed off a bit, then went higher and decided to hover near my head. Without so much as a glance her way, I asked, "What are you doing? I gave you food, now go away."
"But you're so strange. When you're angry, the color of sadness floods in even more. I can't figure out why." I waved my hand in her direction, forcing her to move away.
"You're no better than a mosquito." This time she giggled, zooming in circles around my head. "Stop." I lifted my hand and stopped her easily.
"Woah! How'd you know where I was going to be?" She grabbed one of my fingers and I scowled. "Amazing! What else can you do?" Actually, I guess she's tall for a fairy, considering the tallest they can get is six inches and she's at four. What I can't understand is why one of those extremely reclusive creatures outright hugged my hand.
"Stop dodging my questions and tell me why you're still here." I curled my fingers to grab her, trapping the fairy effortlessly.
She quivered nervously, her eyes locking onto any movement I made. "You're strange. I want to know why…" I tightened my grip slightly and she trailed off. "Uh...I can't go back...I can't get my own food...I...was banished…" So they kicked her out?
"Why?"
"Ah, I was too fascinated...by humans. They thought that was dangerous and I was causing it."
"It is."
"I know that! I would never get myself caught!"
"You just did, you know."
"...yes." She deflated, beaten at her own game. "Do whatever you want with me, human boy named Kaistyn." So dramatic. I released her immediately and hurried up with putting out the fire. "Huh?"
"What is it now?"
"Don't humans…"
"Stop putting me in the same class as everyday morons. Your wings would sell for fifty gold a piece, but I have no need for money. I can do this without relying on other humans for items I could find out here at any time." When the flames started dying into embers, I tossed dirt onto it to prevent smoke. "You're just as much a pest as they are, so there you need to have a much better excuse if you want to stay with me. My path is perilous, one that could kill me at any given time."
She studied me carefully. "Really? You just told me that if you needed money you'd tear off my wings? But you won't because 'it's bothersome'? Just what kind of human are you?" Memories flashed through my mind and I lowered my head.
In a low voice, I said, "I've gone through worse things than their nightmares." And lost far too much in the process. "Are you just going to follow me around? Get out of here." I waved her off again, wondering why she insisted to this level.
"C-can I at least stay through the night? It's not safe when it gets dark…"
"Fine, but stay away from me." I'm not going to bother arguing. She'll do it anyway, no matter the answer. I lay under my makeshift tent, pulling the thin blanket I'd brought over my shoulders. Way more exhausted than I thought, I fell asleep quickly, falling into nightmares.