Chapter 6
"Speaking"
'Thoughts'
"English"
*Sign language*
"Hey! What are you doing brat?!"
I jerk up, staring down the alley in horror as the guy who had yelled stumbled towards me. I drop down from my perch, clutching the bowl to my chest, streaking back across the street and out into the forest. I didn't bother to pause to check if I'm being followed, I just run for all I'm worth. Of course, this leads to me becoming very lost very quickly. Chest heaving, I gradually slow down as I become less and less confident of my surroundings. I'm still breathing heavily when I stop fully, standing still in the middle of an unfamiliar path. Lost, but not willing to get caught out in the open, I hurry off the path and tuck myself into some of the brush along the side of the path. I curl up around my new find within the brush, hoping that any pursuers would just pass by me. My breath escapes me in loud pants, so I cover my mouth with one of my hands to try and muffle the sound. I'm not sure how long I'm laying here, but it is long enough for my breathing and heart rate to calm back down. Still frightened, if no longer panicked, I cautiously peek out of the brush. It's quiet out. Not abnormally quiet though, just the muted hush of the forest when there are no predators about. It should be a comfort to me, but after facing yet another human-one who got a good look at me even- there is no comfort to be found. By now, there is clearly no one coming. 'Or if there is, then even the animals can't hear them' That is not a comforting thought.
I withdraw back into the brush, feeling exhausted. Eventually it starts to get dark, the sun sinking low in the sky, and I hear a soft rustling sound come from nearby. I stiffen, my slowly relaxed posture disappearing in an instant. The rustling comes closer and closer, and eventually I come face to face with what has been making the noise.
Okay, so, there's good news and bad news with this
The good news is that the thing making the sounds isn't human. Which means that I probably wasn't followed.
The bad news is that I'm now kneeling face to face with one of the Nara's deer.
'Shit.'
I freeze, Hidan's death flashing to the forefront of my mind. These are not normal deer (and honestly, strictly speaking, I'm not convinced that there ARE any normal animals in this world) and as far as I'm aware they don't leave the Nara's lands. Which would make THIS Nara land. And me a trespasser. I remember very vividly what happened to the last known trespasser to the Nara's land. The doe, or at least I think it'-she's- a doe, there are no antlers at any rate. Anyway-the doe snuffs at my face, breath ruffling my loose bangs. Nosing me gently, the doe backs me carefully out of the brush and back out onto the path. With wide eyes I allow the doe to guide me, moving slowly so as to not startle the animal. Brushing past me, the doe starts off along the path with me in tow. I've learned after the fox to just follow after the suspiciously intelligent wildlife. She leads me down the trail, taking several turns and constantly checking to make sure that I'm keeping up. Eventually, she stops at an intersection of several paths and after a moment the brush rustles and the same gray fox from earlier tumbles out. The doe nods, butts against me gently, and disappears back up the path. Left with the fox, I turn expectant eyes on the small creature and it yips at me before taking off with a swirl of its tail. I run after it, bare feet thumping loudly in comparison as I race down the trails after my guide. It is almost completely dark now, trees blocking out any moonlight, as we start to pass by areas that might be familiar in the light. I lose sight of the fox shortly before I burst through the trees, stumbling to a halt in the clearing I have claimed as my own. The moon is high, and out of the trees it is much easier to make my way across the way to the shrine's door. Yawning, I push the door open and close it heavily behind me. I stumble my way through the darkness to my over-shirt and sink down to the floor, burring my face into my makeshift pillow and signing in relief.
I'm out in seconds.