Moon and Thunder
By
Whiterosesdie
Chapter 1
How it all began
Rain was tapping against the earth, it was cold and heavy. A boy lay on the ground with eyes closed. He had long, light brown hair and perfect features. He wore a blue shirt with jeans. Rain was falling hard against his ivory skin. His hands started moving slightly, moments later his body shifted as he opened his eyes. They were a strange pair of eyes. They were blue...his eyes had rings with different blue tones. He got up and looked around. He only saw green and more green; he was in a forest. The boy wandered, looking for a trail. He was certainly lost.
He couldn't remember his name, nor his nation, nor his past. Suddenly a low ruffling of leaves got his attention. It was very persistent, never stopping. When he got to the bush where the sound was coming from, a shadow jumped, ever so fast he only saw a dark blur. He turned around to see a girl standing so still she looked like a statue. She had a white robe with bandages folded around her hands, her hair was shoulder-length and her eyes were like mirrors. They were some kind of purple, shining eyes that reflected any emotion, the kind of eyes that you could see the person's soul in them. She had a beautiful long sword in her hands, held dangerously. Her reddish hair flowed wildly across her face. The girl's skin glowed, it was ivory. They stared at each other for a few moments, until she spoke.
"Who are you?" The warrior asked. The boy looked up at the sky; the rain had stopped.
"Where am I?"
"Who are you? I asked." She replied menacingly.
"I can't remember, at all." He said slowly, trying to make up anything in his entangled thoughts. The girl stepped closer to him, looking in his eyes, cautiously analyzing them.
"You're telling the truth. Come with me, I know you are lost." The girl slid the sword in its scabbard, it made a metallic sound. She took his hand carefully and led him deeper into the forest. She truly knows this place, he thought. She was quick and confident about the way.
"Where are we?" he asked looking around.
"We're in the Galayaan Forest, heading to the Shirapai Village."
"Uhuh. Why are we going there?"
"That's my village, besides I don't think you would've liked to get sick in that rain all by yourself, or would you now?" Her eyes seemed friendlier now.
"Well, no. And by the way, thanks for bringing me with you."
"No problem." Her eyes shifted to meet his.
"So, what's your name?"
"Kairi…c'mon, we're almost there!" She hurried the strange boy.
"Kairi…nice." He repeated, nodding.
"You say you don't remember your name, huh?" She asked several minutes later.
"Nor my past. I know nothing about my life. It's weird you know." She removed a bush in front of them, revealing the Shirapai Village. The village was quite big and magnificent. The buildings were made out of wood and most of them had two floors. In the center of the village lay a lagoon. It had bridges coming from north, south, east and west of the land. On its center was a platform and a small marketplace was there.
Kairi and the boy went down the stone steps to get to the village. A passing girl stopped to stare at the boy. She dropped her basket and ran into the largest building. Moments later an elder woman came out with the child, two men with them. The woman looked up at Diana and the boy.
"What you're bringing me today?" The woman asked.
"This boy. He was lost in the woods. I couldn't leave him there."
"I'm going to speak very clearly, Kairi. No strangers are allowed in our village, you reckon that, don't you."
"He's just a kid."
"He's no kid! He almost looks like a young man! Besides, the last time he was also a kid and you know what happened." The tone in Mother's voice was very alarming.
"But, Mother, he was going to die there…I can't do that. Not to him…not to me."
"Girl, when are you going to stop with the 'hero' infatuation? Can't you see you're putting the village in danger? Can't you see it?"
"Yes, Mother. I'm really sorry. But if Grandfather were here, he would've understand." Her words came bitter and harsh.
"How dare you disrespect me! And in the name of Grandfather! You need to consider again your priorities and your superiors, foolish girl!"
"I'm sorry, Mother. It won't happen again." Kairi's words were forced and, obviously, she didn't really meant them.
"Oh, Kairi, you're my best guardian, you know it…I couldn't afford another of those mistakes, really, and I don't want to lose you. Please, don't disappoint me again. Accommodate the boy. Remember; don't commit this mistake again." The woman took the little girl's hand and walked away. The men went to their posts at the building.
"Sorry about that. Mother doesn't like strangers." Kairi said walking towards the village. Every house had a garden, it smelled so good. They walked in silence for some minutes.
"What happened?" The boy knew he was in no need to say the exact words.
"I'm not supposed to tell you…but what the heck? You'll know someday." He wanted to asked more, to get the truth out of her. Her expression told him not to.
"Why do you call her mother?" The boy asked instead.
"It's respect. The leader of this village should be called Mother or Father even by the elder people. How old are you?"
Sixteen, a voice in his head said. He trusted it. Ask later.
"Sixteen, I think…" he said thoughtfully.
"I'm sixteen, too. What a coincidence! So, here we are." She said opening a door. The place consisted in two buildings connected by a bridge. The place looked comfortable, dusty, but still comfortable. She led him into one of the many rooms and stepped in.
"Here you'll find clothes," she pointed the wardrobe, "That door is the bathroom and if you need anything look for me, my room is in the other building, cross the bridge. There are no doors at the first floor." With this she got out of the room. The boy changed into dry clothes and sat on his narrow bed. He felt very drowsy and decided to take a nap.