Thanks for choosing to read this story! It's a work in progress so any reviews letting me know what you think will be greatly appreciated. I know the CoAD community is pretty small, but even just one is motivational! Enjoy x
ooooo
Renn gathered some soapwort, her fine elk bone comb and her bark scrubbing brush before excusing herself and making her way down to the river in the nearby glade.
It was a fine spring afternoon, and the warm air was rich with sweet, warbling birdsong. Squirrels chattered noisily in the branches above her head, and chubby queen bees drifted lazily through the bushes around her seeking a new place for their hive. The towering trees shifted and sighed in the gentle breeze, letting their leaves shimmer and dance like thousands of gleaming fish scales.
Dragonflies and pond skaters skimmed over the surface of the river as Renn located a suitable area along the river bank to bathe. She hung her bow on a branch of a nearby silver birch tree, and placed her quiver and the rest of her gear at its base.
Renn quickly glanced up and down the river bank to ensure no one was there, but she didn't know why she bothered to do this anymore, since they hadn't met anyone or seen any traces of people for the four moons they had been in the new eastern forest. She believed by now that no other clans lived here.
Stripping off her boots, leggings, jerkin and under bindings, she gathered her washing items and stepped slowly into the river until she was shoulder deep. It was a hot, humid day and the cool clean water on her skin was very refreshing.
Placing her items on a nearby rock, she dipped her head in the flowing water to wet her long red hair. Then she rubbed in some soapwort before rinsing again. When her locks felt clean and soft, Renn began working on her body, lathering on the soap and scrubbing off the ingrained dirt.
It was a beautiful day, and the forest around her was perfect. If she was being honest, it was a little too perfect and was almost mocking her agitated mood. She waded to the shallows and began vigorously scrubbing her pale legs as she recalled the events of the morning:
She and Torak had woken in their shelter and he'd woken up a fire for cooking breakfast. It was a normal routine for them. After eating some duck eggs they'd found the previous day, Torak had been talking about nothing of interest whilst she sat beside him, subtly shifting closer and batting her long eyelashes whenever their eyes met. It was only when their shoulders touched and she'd looked up at him that he'd stopped babbling about a deer track he saw.
Their mouths were so close, and Renn had wanted him to kiss her so badly. She'd gingerly glanced down at his parted lips, then back up to his silver-grey eyes. To her frustration, she'd seen what she always saw when she tried to kindle some romantic action between them: uncertainty.
She'd tried to ignore it, and instead focused on making herself look more feminine. If she looked more attractive, maybe he'll want to kiss her. Coyly tucking her long hair behind her ear, she'd subtly pushed out her chest and licked her lips, leaning closer...closer...
He had angled his head down to meet her, and for a few glorious moments their lips had met. She had moved against him, letting instincts take over as she'd placed her hands on the back of his neck and drew herself closer to his chest. He'd responded by cupping her cheek, but then, to her utter humiliation ad disappointment, he'd broken the kiss and looked away.
'We better get going. That red deer isn't going to track itself.'
Renn smacked the surface of the water with her hands at revisiting the embarrassing memory, wanting the river to wash her downstream away from it all. After that they'd walked in awkward silence, tracking the deer for their dinner. At midday when they were taking a break, she'd hurriedly excused herself to bathe, not wanting to be around him for a moment longer.
She moved back into the deeper water, so that the river was just above her breasts, before rinsing her hair again. Renn knew she was clean, but she didn't want to go back to him yet, she needed some space. She used to crave his company, but being around Torak recently was starting to slowly drive her insane.
For the hundredth time since she left the Ravens, Renn's mind floated back to the heartfelt kiss Torak had given her when she'd injured her ankle before defeating Eostra, the fierce affection in his eyes when they'd met up again after, and the rare delight she'd seen in his face when he swung her in his arms, the day they decided to leave together.
She'd believed that Torak was attracted to her as she was to him. She'd thought that now they were free of the Soul-Eaters and the judgemental clans, they could be together and be happy.
But every time she tried anything with him, he'd shy away as if he were a child. She was so confused. Sometimes when she kissed him on the cheek or on the lips, he'd blush and kiss her back. But on other occasions he'd refuse to look at her and turn away. He didn't seem to have a problem with just touching or hugging, but anything more intimate than that and he'd act so uncertain.
She'd tried talking to him numerous times, but he'd always change the subject and she ended up feeling like she was being annoying and clingy. Was he hiding something again? Was he not attracted to her anymore? Had she done something wrong?
Why in the name of the World Spirit would he not just tell her what was going on?
Combing her wet hair and snarling in frustration as her brain ran round in circles, she failed to notice movement in the reeds on the other side of the river until it was too late.
Renn screamed as she spotted a man staring intensely at her from the reeds, about 10 paces away.
She immediately covered her chest, though it was already submerged, and moved to hide behind the rock with her items on. She tried to calm her breathing and think straight, but she was stuck – she couldn't get out to get her bow without him seeing her naked!
Burning with embarrassment and anger she poked her head out from behind the rock to see if he was audacious enough to still be staring.
He was.
'Hey! Stop staring at me you pervert!'
He looked away; suddenly aware of what he was doing. He called out in a voice that was deep and smooth, and reminded her a little of Bale. 'Forgive me, beautiful water nymph of the Forest – I was merely surprised by your presence! I shall avert my eyes if you wish it.'
'I'm not a water nymph!' she shouted back, her cheeks flushing. She moved so that he could see her face clearly and he looked even more embarrassed at noticing her clan tattoos and prickly expression.
'Sorry I- uh...' he stuttered before regaining his composure, 'well, who are you then? I've never seen those tattoos before.'
'I'm from the Raven clan.' She answered, still feeling embarrassed but moreover curious. She'd believed there were no people in the eastern forest. Now she was interested in finding out who he was. 'My...friend and I are just travelling. We're both from the open forest to the west.'
'Over the mountains?'
She nodded, taking in his appearance properly as he stepped out of the reed thicket, closer to the water's edge. He was older than her, probably by about 10 summers. He had long sandy brown hair that was shaved short at the temples and pulled back in a high ponytail which ran down his back. His eyes were the warm brown colour of bear fur, and he had a sharp-featured, handsome face. He was shirtless, wearing just leggings because of the heat, and Renn had to berate herself for staring a little too long at his broad and muscular chest. She also noticed three vertical lines that encircled his neck as his clan tattoo. Unsurprisingly she didn't recognise it.
'What's your name?' he asked, interrupting her thoughts.
'Renn. What's yours?'
'I'm Leos. I'm from the Bear clan, in case you were wondering.' He pointed to his tattoos and Renn smiled back. Despite the embarrassment she felt, she was excited at having met someone from a new clan. She wondered what the Bears were like.
'I was.' Renn was about to ask him another question when she heard someone crashing through the trees behind her. Turning and sinking into the water to cover herself, she watched as Torak burst from the thicket onto the river bank, axe in hand and breathing like a bull auroch. He must have heard her scream from earlier.
'Renn!' He took in the sight of her in the water and his eyes widened as he noticed she wasn't alone. He glared at the man and pointed his axe threateningly. When he spoke his usually soft voice was venomous, 'get away from her!'
Leos crossed his arms over his chest and bowed, which Torak did not reciprocate. 'I'm sorry, I will go now. Renn, it was nice to meet you.' He smiled and turned to leave.
'Wait! Don't go!' Renn called out, hating how desperate she sounded. But she didn't want him to disappear. She was curious about his clan; maybe visiting their camp could be fun. It would certainly be a welcome break from the awkwardness with Torak. He turned back around expectantly at her voice, and Renn took the opportunity to introduce him, 'Torak, this is Leos. He's from the Bear clan.'
'Bear clan?' he lowered his axe a little.
'You're not Raven,' Leos observed, 'what clan are you from?'
'I'm clanless. But, I used to belong to the Wolf clan.' Renn watched as Torak completely lowered his axe, glancing suspiciously between them as he did so. 'What were you doing spying on Renn as she washed?'
'I wasn't spying,' he sounded offended. 'I came to get my birch bark that I left to soak.' As he spoke he waded into the water and drew out a sodden bundle of bark pieces, held together with sinew string.
'I didn't mean to scream,' Renn apologised to Torak, 'I was just surprised.'
He relaxed a little at hearing this. Sighing he tucked his axe back in his belt and appraised the older man.
'Is your camp near?' he asked.
'It's about half a day's walk to the east. You should both come to visit. We hardly ever get strangers.' He sounded genuinely enthusiastic as he shouldered the bark load. Smiling at Renn, he said, 'especially those from the west. It's unheard of.'
'We'd love to come to your camp,' Renn replied, excited at the prospect of meeting new people. None of them would know who they were, it was like having a clean slate.
She glanced over her shoulder to see Torak nodding as well, though he didn't seem as eager as she was.
'Great, but I'll let you get changed first, magic water nymph,' he laughed, moving off into the reeds to give her some privacy. Her cheeks burned as she glanced at Torak, who simply raised an eyebrow.
After she had changed, she met up with Torak and they crossed the river, finding Leos waiting for them. Together they began to walk towards the Bear clan settlement, not knowing how their lives would shortly change forever.