But there is a semblance of hope that I feel when I do come into contact with those that I think will harm me, and offer kindness; yet my first instinct is to give them the cold shoulder and go about my business as normal. Normal, I say. Hah...there is nothing normal about me. ______________ Her ears twitch, taking in the sounds of the forest as she walks through, taking the rougher terrain route, because it’s rather hard to track someone through the brush, than taking a straight path that leads to certain death. She makes what markings she can upon the trees, using symbols that only she can understand, pressing her hand to the tree therefore and apologizing, before moving on. A small break in the trees catches her attention for but a split second. A patch of green, with very few bushes, lined with fruit and a small pool of water. She finds herself staring for longer than she should, her eyes eventually catching a shift of movement across the way. Her eyes narrow, crouching low and peering through the brush as the figure moves closer, and closer still, but the movement is slow; wavering. She blinks, continuing to watch the figure until it breaks into the clearing, and she can feel her heart in her chest. A darker skinned man, beaten, broken, bloodied, finally breaks the clearing. The sight of water seems to overjoy him, but before he can make it to the water's edge, he collapses. She stays hidden for what she thinks is an eternity, but it wasn’t even that long. Perking up, she quickly makes her way into the clearing, rushing to his side. She tilts her ear close to his mouth, checking for signs of life; if he is still breathing, has a pulse. Frantically, she takes a moment and retrieves her water skin, pressing it to his lips. “Drink.” She urges, and with slight hesitation from the male, he does so. After a moment, she slowly pulls the water skin away, and smiles ever so slightly, before pressing her hands to his chest and closes her eyes. “This will help a bit...to hopefully get you to a safer place…” She murmurs, a slight glow emanating from her hands. She repeats this once more, the cuts and scrapes upon his body healing ever so slightly, but only enough to at least get him onto his feet. “Come…” She says quietly, sitting him up and putting his arm over her shoulder. “There is a town not far from here. We have to get there quickly, sunset is almost upon us.” It is at that moment that she realizes that they are very much alike. Though they lead different paths.
I have known the gods to be cruel and kind in their own right, but those that walk this earth to be far crueler than that. In my travels, I have learned many a thing, and it is that humans, and all others alike, cannot be trusted.
