Disclaimer
I don't own pokemon or any of their characters.
Notes: This is chapter 7 of the story. It starts off slow but I'm soon getting to the plot.
Chapter 7
She's glad that she finally saw Lisneth amongst the crowd. But all eyes were fixed on her. She couldn't understand what this is all about. She could hear these land creatures making soft noises with each other as if they're using a different language with her around. The males just looked at her differently. She could feel the coldness and warmth of their emotions. They're sending her mixed signals. They must be waiting for her to move. She just offered them a smile but none returned it. And they kept staring at her.
Lisneth had a look of fear across her face. She looked around her what triggered such a reaction from her.
What are you doing?
She asked the stupefied girl but Lisneth was glued to the position.
Another voice boomed which startled her. It was Lisneth's father. "And who might this beautiful girl be?" he asked. He gave her a look as if he'd seen something strange. She didn't know what he is talking about. But she replied politely.
My name is Flow.
There was no reaction from the people aside from Adain as if he's listening closely to her words. She also smiled politely, waiting for them to react any time soon.
Still, there came none. She gave a confused look. Why aren't they saying anything? Maybe they are afraid of the people from the oceans because they're from another world. But Lisneth earlier wasn't afraid of her.
"Her name is Flow. She's a new girl who must've come from another village. Lisneth brought her earlier to the house." Cuin said, finally breaking the silence. This earned another whispering session from the other villagers.
Chi nudged Lisneth, snapping out of her shock. "Flow." She called.
Then she noticed the way the villagers looked at her. She must've missed a lot. And her appearance and clothing must've also scandalized the others.
"She's Flow. I just met her near the fence earlier." She noticed Adain raise an eyebrow but didn't say anything. So she continued on, "So, we should get back to the house. Excuse me." She said quickly and took hold of Flow's arm. Without any more words, the walked away from the villagers.
After the have made a distance, they ran. First thing when they arrive to the house, Lisneth should dress her up properly.
Edain gave Cuin a puzzled look. "What an odd girl. Is she mute?" he asked.
"Father, by her reply earlier you should've already figured that out. She just told you her name earlier through her mind." said Adain. This earned him curious stares. Edain also gave him a look of disbelief as if he's crazy.
"I never heard anything come from her mouth or what you are talking about." said Ninia.
"What?!"
"We never heard her talk." One of the villagers chimed. They were also intrigued about this girl. She clearly stood out among the people. Her presence seemed like magic to them. And they wondered if she was sent by the fire god.
"But that can't be." Adain trailed off. He just heard her plain and clear earlier. Was he just thinking things up? He needed answers and decided to solve it by speaking with Flow. Without as much a word, he walked away and went back to the house despite Ninia's calling.
When they reached Lisneth's room, they stopped. Lisneth hurriedly ran over to her things. "C'mon Chi, help me find Ninia's old dress." She said to her tired chikorita.
"Chikorita!" It went to the sack at the corner of the room while Lisneth went near her futon.
She searched the pile of clothes, finding something that could match the water deity standing at the door of her room.
Why are there so many of you gathered around?
Is it some kind of habit?
What are they talking about earlier?
Flow asked as she slowly approached Lisneth. Meeting creatures from the surface world is so exciting yet the more she knew the more she got confused. It is just like what Leviathan is meaning to tell her. The surface world and the oceans are too different
Another side of her was telling her to go back to the ocean and forget all the things about the surface world but something is pulling her away from it. She wanted to learn this world. Maybe this is the world she truly belongs even though she came from the ocean. And somehow, Lisneth is helping her fit in for the moment.
Different kinds of colorful cloths were thrown around. The room was clearly a mess. Lisneth answered without looking up as she finally picked out a dress that Ninia had grown out and left to her. The secondhand dress still didn't fit her so she stashed it at the bottom of her dress sack. If she could think of how long was it there, she assumed that it she could see mold growing there.
"My father and the other hunters came back from Udun Mountain. It takes a lot of time during the travel, usually weeks. Then if they are back, we meet them and thank the fire god for his blessing upon us." She answered.
She looked up when she didn't hear Flow's reaction. The water deity looked confused and lost. Was her world different from theirs? Do they not have families there? Does she even have one? "It's really not a habit for us. It's just that is our custom. And I miss my father." She said, catching Flow's attention once more.
When she finally snatched the last pair to the dress from Chi, she immediately gave them to Flow. "Here, this was Ninia's but it doesn't even fit me so you can have it." She said.
Flow hesitantly took the clothes from Lisneth's arms. She looked at the clothes in question then at Lisneth. What should she do with these?
After a while, when Flow didn't move from her spot, she realized that Flow didn't know about clothes. "Oh, you should wear them. You nearly caused a commotion running around while wearing my dress scarf." She said with a laugh. "Here, let me help you with that." She offered and Flow gave her the lead.
"So, what is your worl-, I mean, the ocean like?"
Ninia felt like a part of her heart wanted to cry out. Adain is still the same person who only thought of her as a buddy and nothing more. Her eyes were sullen at the thought of rejection. After all, she is finally of age. And this time, her feelings are finally starting to realize and open up to only Adain. But clearly he's pushing her away. His attention must've been with that new girl in the village. The girl named Flow.
Well she couldn't really oppose such an attraction. She noticed that nearly all the boys from the village and even the married ones are looking at her with interest that she wouldn't want on herself. Even now, they still kept talking about her.
Comparing her mousy brown hair and her unshapely body to her long flowing orange hair and slender form, she's just a commoner. The girl looked like she was sent by the fire god as a gift to the village, her beauty and innocent form all packaged into one. A flicker of jealousy and anger entered her heart.
A light touch from Cuin snapped her out of her thoughts and misery. Her face showed concern and she seemed to understand her but kept quiet. "We should get going back to the house." Ninia slowly nodded in reply but her mind was still elsewhere.
Cuin turned to her husband, "We are going ahead. I still have to cook for lunch. You should know I cooked your favorite." She said with a hopeful look in her eyes.
Edain grinned in response, "I'll follow along but it won't be too long." He said. This made Cuin smile. She knew Edain couldn't resist this one. She led Ninia and both of them walked back to the house.
He was nearly at the door to the house when another voice halted him. Adain looked back. "What, Naur?" he asked impatiently.
Naur, the village leader's son walked towards him. He was sweating as if he ran to catch up with Adain from the meeting earlier. His chestnut brown hair wasn't the least bit phased by the wind. And it is naturally curled up. "Aren't you a grump today." He said. Adain narrowed his eyes but Naur kept going on. "So the new girl's staying with your family."
"Yeah?" Adain bored on him.
"Do you know who she is? Have you any idea where she came from?" he asked.
Adain raised an eyebrow. "Why would you want to know?" he asked in a cliff hanging tone. He didn't know anything about the girl but he didn't want Naur to know either. He knew all questions about her will be answered soon by Lisneth and Flow.
Naur frowned at him. He isn't getting well as his questions are vaguely answered. "I just want to know." He simply answered. "So, who is she really?" he asked.
Adain decided to humor him. He's getting impatient and he just wanted Naur to leave him alone. "Well, you all just heard that her name is Flow." He said, pretending to think. "To tell you truth about where she came from…" he trailed off.
This time, Naur leaned forward trying to get what Adain is saying. "I had no idea." Adain blurted out which nearly made Naur to facefault.
At the sudden distraction, Adain went inside the house while Naur is still recovering.
"What kind of answer is that?" Naur asked angrily at the empty doorway. Adain was already inside and he didn't want to bother the entire family for just that. He went away to his own house but not after swearing he'd catch Adain in a proper time or even meet the girl herself.
"There! You look beautiful." Lisneth said with awe in her eyes. Her eyes scanned the figure of the stiff Flow. Just the sight of her could blow the men's minds away.
The dress is a bit small for her but at least it still fit her but it hugged around the certain areas to give it highlight. An image of her is like a love goddess sent to them by the fire god.
Flow remained standing and didn't move. Wearing clothes and dress like these must have made her uncomfortable. Well, Lisneth decided to fix that.
After Flow's story about the ocean, her mind was opened to new possibilities. The world is surely a great place and they could travel around. She even discussed with her about her role in the ocean. All the details aren't that clear to her. The only things she understood are about her guardian called Leviathan, and her as a water deity. She wanted to see it someday but something held her back. The fear of nearly drowning like that day seeped into her mind. A cold feeling swept upon her and she could feel her insides tingle by just thinking about it.
The water deity…, Lisneth wondered. Why is she in the fire village? The fire god might get mad for this. Both water and the element fire don't get along well. These are opposing forces by nature. Even though they have kept traditions of worshipping the fire god, she isn't a very devoted follower like her father. She isn't about to become indifferent to Flow with that reason. She can't cast her away and even herself.
When the silence is long enough for her to stand, she warmly placed both hands on Flow's shoulders. "So, what do you think?" she asked enthusiastically.
Flow's reply was a look of uncertainty. Her hands went to her dress and she slowly ran down her hands, feeling the fabric with her fingers.
I don't feel good.
This thing is squeezing my body.
Why do you wear these things?
She asked her with disgust. She grabbed a handful cloth with her dress. It looked like she wanted to tear the dress away from her body but she didn't.
Lisneth replied with a laugh. Flow must be really uncomfortable if she's complaining. "But you're wearing a dress when I first met you." She reminded Flow.
Flow's lips turned to a pout.
Dress?
I just assumed it's really a part of my body. I don't have any legs to go with it.
Lisneth realized that Flow is right. The first time she tried looking for her legs, there weren't any. She only saw a flowing light blue cloth. It must've served as a silky fin.
Flow looked at her impatiently. The feel of the dress must be getting to her. She gave a chuckle to see a water deity look flustered. "I'm sorry. But that's the only dress that I have that nearly fits you." She said trying to show her apologetic eyes through her smiling face.
Flow looked desperate as she fidgeted and softly pulled down her dress.
I could use that piece of cloth you gave me earlier.
She suggested.
Lisneth sighed in exasperation. "I just told you that you can't wear that. You'll cause a lot of commotion wearing that." She said.
Why?
Flow asked looking clueless.
Lisneth opened her mouth to answer but no idea came to her mind. She turned a slight pink. Why did she just ask that question? She was like her when she was eight years old. "Well… it's just that you just can't go out there wearing my dress scarf. You can get sick." She blurted out. She didn't know if that is true but she just have to convince Flow.
Well…
Then I just have to endure this.
Forgive me if I am such a bother.
Flow said. She walked casually to exit the room and look around even though the dress restrained her movement.
"No, I'm the one who should be sorry. I really don't have enough clothes that can fit you enough. And for even having a water deity in house without proper things for you…" she trailed off when she saw Flow's smile.
Thank you…
This was all she said and she said no more when Adain entered the house.
To be continued...
