Ae-Ra walked silently, with the stealth of a spy through beautiful still night, the moon shining above her, the cosmos above her watching her tread cautiously to the Cherry Blossom Forest. She had worn a dark misty violet Hanbok, with puffy skirts the colour of the sky during twilight. Byeol, sat reassuringly on the sash on her hip, the weight comforting, giving her the taste of a wild, feral and uncontrollable power. Soon the soft blush coloured forest came into view, illuminated by the stark moonlight. A small smile creased Ae-Ra's lips, she was there. Pulling up her many layers of skirts she fastened her pace, hurrying to her paradise, to her freedom. She entered the forest, breathing in the sweet scent of cherry blossoms mingled with the scents of spice and pastes of the different food items prepared for the Festival. She did not know why she loved this forest so much, perhaps because it was her escape from the gilded cage of her home, or perhaps because the trees always listened to her. Whatever the reason was this forest was special, and soon, unknown to her knowledge, it would become more special. She sat underneath one of the blossom trees, her soft obsidian hair scraping against the bark of the tree. What this night hold? And how would be tomorrow? Would it be a blessing or a curse? Would her father find her a match and send her of, or would she still live in the peace of freedom? There was so much she yearned to know, so much knowledge she craved to gather, yet she could never seem to get her wishes fulfilled. Perhaps she wanted too much. Perhaps her want and wishes were too much, maybe she should have stopped, wishing, all together. With no desires, she would have no sorrow, but would she have joy?
A sharp cry of pain broke her out of trance of thoughts. Ae-Ra straightened up, with the full alertness of a War General, and strained her ears to hear where the cry came from. Another cry came through, reverberating through the skeletons of the trees. It sounded like a man's voice. East. That was where the cry came from. Ae-Ra started running to the source of the cries automatically, through instinct. The map of the forest traced in her mind, she ran without hesitation or fear. The sound of the rushing wind, played in her ears as blood gushed thorough her blood vessels. She could hear the wild pounding of her heart, mingled with the faint cries of pain. She arrived to a small clearing, and hid herself behind the trees. She saw a man clad in dark plain clothes, with even darker hair, fallen on the ground clutching his abdomen from where bright crimson blood flowed out. He was a painfully beautiful portrait of the night and blood. There was a wolf beside him, its snout covered in his blood, baring its teeth at him. It was a dark charcoal in colour in looked completely wild, and feral. Without even realising Ae-Ra had taken out Byeol, her hands wrapped around its handle in a fighting stance. Something in her compelled her to go and save the man, but suddenly, just in the moment of action, fear hit her. What would the man think? What if somehow people got to know of her secret nightly visits to this forest because of him? But she could not just let a human die, because of her own selfish reasons. That was not what Mama had taught her. She was brave. And she would be brave, even if her secret got exposed. Without a second thought she ran to the wolf from its back, and with one swift fluid motion, plunged Byeol into its neck. She put in all her strength, feeling the blade go though the fur, muscle and finally to its life vessels. Blood spurted out, as the blade hit one of its Carotid Artery, splattering on to her face, painting her with the blood of death, the blood of her first kill. The wolf fell limp onto the ground and Ae-Ra pulled out Byeol with as much force as she could. Blood pooled on the ground, trickling in slow sluggish rivulets. Ae-Ra quickly stepped to the side, not wanting her satin shoes to be stained, already her Hanbok and face was stained, how would she explain this? She would have to make sure it was clean before the morning staff came.
"Excuse me but will you just stand there or help me? There is a severely injured person here in case you can't see.", said an airy and arrogant voice behind her. The man. She had completely forgotten about him. Ae-Ra, turned around, her face splattered with scarlet blood, the long single-edged sword in her hand stained with blood, she looked like a Goddess of Death and Destruction. Ae-Ra clenched her teeth,
"I just saved you and this all you have to say?", she bit her tongue. She was to bold, talking rudely with a strange man in the night, killing beasts. She had become too bold.
The man pouted. Beautiful, was a word to lowly to describe him, his face was made of sharp angular panes of moonlight, his lips dewy and the colour of the dusky rose sky. His eyebrows were artistic strokes of the finest and darkest ink, and his almond eyes were big beautiful pools of a warm freshly brewed tea swirled with honey. Ae-Ra had to hold back her gasp, she had never in any of the celebrations or parties her family attended, seen a man so ethereal.
"I am in pain, and wounded, how can you expect me to bow down in gratitude to you? Agh! It hurts even to talk with you.", the man whined like a child, almost as though he was throwing a tantrum. Ae-Ra looked at him, his clothes were plain, like a simple peasant, but his behaviour and the tone of arrogance in his voice like the nobles. Perhaps she was being to harsh on him, yes, she was indeed being to hard on him. He was injured, how could she expect him to be thankful now? She should help instead of standing like a bloodied crow.
"I apologise Sir, shall I take you to the city's Doctors?"
"No! Absolutely not.", his eye widened in fear almost. Ae-Ra's eyes narrowed down on him was he a criminal on the run? Oh Good Lords! Why was she so suspicious? She should just help him.
"Why not? They can help you.", Ae-Ra said her eyebrows furrowed.
"No, they cannot. Not at this hour, it's too late now."
"I am sure they would not mind-…", she was cut of by the man.
"No,"
Ae-Ra sighed.
"Are you a convict of some sort?"
"No! I just have reasons, okay? Its personal. Can you not help me?", the man wailed almost like a child. Heavens! Ae-Ra closed her eyes. She was starting to have a headache because of this man's whining. But he was right, she could help him. Her father being the Minister of the Health ministry, allowed her to have a good knowledge on medicine. But taking him to her home at this hour, somehow in secret, and then stitching up his wound could get her into immense trouble. What would people say if they saw her bloodied, bringing a strange, maybe a convict, to her house? This was a horrible idea. All of it was a going to be big mistake. But if there was one thing Ae-Ra excelled at, it was making mistakes.
"Fine, my house is not to far from here. I'll take you there and bandage up your wounds. But after that you must leave, and not be seen by anyone whilst your leaving. Promise me that."
The strange man's face lit up like the divine heavens.
"I promise."
Ae-Ra sighed, how much trouble could her impulsive nature get her into? Sighing, she picked up the man, who was relatively light, like a sack of potatoes, and began walking towards the direction of her home. She could feel the man's shock at this. She laughed a small twinkling laugh. She had always been relatively strong, and this man, was tall but lanky and skinny.
"Hey! Put me down!"
"You cannot walk, you said you could barely talk, how do you think you will walk?"
"What are you? A man secretly crossdressing as a woman? How can you be so rude and strong?" he gave a loud and sharp gasp.
"Oh, my! First the wolf, now a crossdressing man!"
Ae-Ra gave an unladylike snort.
"You are absolutely right sir. But do you lack something called common sense? Have you ever a man's voice so shrill?"
He shrugged.
"Anything can happen."
"Don't make me end you up like the wolf."
"Did….did you just threaten me?", the man's voice held horror and shock in it.
"No.", Ae-Ra smiled.
"I promised you."
The strange man was suddenly silent.
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