Shizuru started to run as soon as her feet hit the ground, stumbling along a steep, rough forest track between two columns of high trees. The trees were dense and tall and towered above her. She grabbed at the branches to slow herself, but her hands went straight through and clumps of tiny leaves came away in her fingers, like hair on a brush, staining the tips green.
The path sloped away beneath her feet. Shizuru was aware of the crunch of stone and rock, which had replaced the soft earth, moss and twigs on the track higher up the mountain. Still, there was no sound. No birds singing, no voices calling, nothing but her own ragged breathing.
The path twisted and coiled back on itself, sending her scuttling this way and that, until she rounded the corner and saw the silent wall of fire blocking the path ahead. She put her hands up to shield her face from the billowing, puffing, red and orange and yellow flames that whipped and swirled in the air, like reeds under the surface of a river.
A face was taking shape in the flames, there was only one, a young woman with a gentle yet forceful expression, reaching toward her with outstretched arms. Shizuru was spiraling through the air like a wisp of smoke; the woman's thin, strong arms embracing her, holding her tight. She was safe.
Shizuru rose early, awoken by the sounds of bird song echoing across the snow-covered valley. She dressed quickly in a pair of stained trousers and a simple top, which she tucked into the hem of her pants, and then finished by pulling her arms through a thick, well-insulated coat. She then continued to tie back her tawny hair with a strap of leftover cloth. Now, she was once again ready for a hard, monotonous day of work.
As she exited her home of two years, she turned up the collar of her jacket and held it closed with a tight fist as a poor attempt to keep the chill from sinking deep into her bones. Otome's winters were famous for a reason. Her exposed knuckles were already a deep red after only a few minutes and the cold nipped at the tips of her ears. As she trudged through the snow in the direction of the somnolent barn where Tatou and Manti—the stubborn heifer she had purchased soon after she had moved here—were located. She arrived at her desired destination and willed her frozen fingers to close around the sliding doors rusty handle. The massive entrance groaned in protest but otherwise complied. Tatou greeted her with a high-pitched whiny as her black eyes twinkled in delight.
She refilled both animal's water troths and pitched fresh hay into their stables. Later, she would have to return to milk Manti and take her mare out for exercise. But, at the moment, she had to tend to the chickens that were resting in their coop behind the barn. After she had gathered eggs, placed them in a cloth-covered, wicker basket, and scattered feed along the ground, Shizuru walked briskly toward the back of the house where her bare garden would be flourished with green crops when spring melted the snow and brought warmth. There, she began the long, tedious task of gathering and chopping wood. The sound of the ax connecting with timber bounced of the surrounding wall of mountains and mingled in with the various sounds of nature.
By the time she had finished, the hazy, heatless sun was high in the sky. Despite the cold, Shizuru had worked up a sweat. As she wiped the sweat from her eyes, her line of vision shifted toward the horizon. She strained her eyes; willing for a dark silhouette to suddenly rise from behind the snow-capped mountains.
As the days grew to months and the months grew to years, her eyes would never fail to unconsciously gaze in the distance; her crimson orbs full of longing and hope. She often dreamed about seeing her beloved Natsuki materialize upon the far expanse of peaks.
"Reviennent à moi bientôt, mon amour," Come back to me soon, my love, Shizuru whispered into the wind.
This night brought with it the presence of a fierce and unforgiving storm. The clouds were marching fast across an increasingly angry sky and the air was thick with the promise of rain. In the distance, there was the occasional rumble of thunder and the sudden flash of lightning.
Shizuru laid awake in bed, as the dark clouds continued to brew up trouble. Soon after the sound of heavy rain pounded against the bedroom window relentlessly. Somehow, it was soothing for the tawny haired woman. The steady beating on glass called her to sleep and her eyes grew heavy with exhaustion.
She bolted upright with hands on her knees, her face drained to a milky white as she took in the sight before her. A shadow was standing in the far corner of her room; calmly watching her from the shadows. She couldn't make out who the shadow was because the dark enveloped their entire body; not revealing any hint to an identity. Shizuru felt as if her legs were weighted with iron and fear stopped her from breathing freely.
When she came to her senses, every nerve in her body was alert to the intruder. Neither moved as they continued to watch each other intently; waiting for the other to make the first move. Shizuru was about lunge for the small dagger she kept hidden under the mattress but froze when a flash of lightning momentarily lit up the dark room and a pair of green orbs were illuminated.
Her heart skipped in it's steady rhythm and tears sprung to her eyes.
"Natsuki?" She questioned; her voice small and thick with emotions as she silently pleaded with the gods that what she had just seen was not a trick of the mind or a cruel trick of some kind.
There was a pregnant silence before Shizuru heard that deep, husky voice that she had long dreamed of hearing.
"Shizuru…"
I'm aware that this chapter is pretty short and I apologize. I don't have a lot of time since I've been really busy lately. It seems that the more the school year progesses, more and more homework is assigned. -sigh-
Also, sorry I don't have anything clever or insulting to say this time.
Wow...why am I apologizing so much? You should be thankful I bothered writing this at all...I could have waited next week to finish.
Well, I'll be expecting many thanks. So get to it...
