…and Life.
My eyes flutter open. A dense forest canopy is all I can see directly above me. I contemplate it for a moment, trying to understand. What is it?
What am I?
All I know is that I am thoughts, a sensation in a vibrant world around me. AlI I feel is the ground underneath me and the light breeze race over my body.
"KEALLA, KEALLA!" A noise breaks through the stillness around me. A warm presence falls beside me and sweeps me into their embrace, wrapping me tightly into a large cloth. A tousle of white hair tickles my face as I am pulled closer. Then... wet. I feel drops fall onto my face as the warm presence shakes and sniffles into me. I look up and see a beautiful face. Soft features are crunched up in pain. Tears fall on my cheeks as they escape from the eyes looking down at me.
"You're…" I feel the presence take a deep breath. "You're alive," he whispers disbelievingly.
I don't know why, but I want to reach up and hold him. Comfort him. But I cannot. I am unable to move. All I can do is lie in his arms as he holds me and sobs.
"Asra," a deep voice interrupts. I hear steps come closer to us, and feel a hand pulled away from my back. "You need to heal this, first."
The beautiful face looks up at the looming presence that holds his hand. I see the palm is stained red, and blood continues to seep from a gash on it. Underneath us, intricate symbols are drawn on the ground. They hold the exact same color.
Asra regains his composure and responds, face still moist. "You're right, Muriel. I wouldn't do anyone any good by bleeding out here." The looming figure just grunts in response.
I watch as Asra concentrates on his palm. Suddenly, I feel a rush flow through his body. It makes me tingle where our skin touches. Then, I watch in awe as the cut seals right before my eyes. He catches me staring, and gives me a small smile. It quickly falls to concern.
"Do you… Can you not understand what I just did?"
I look at him in confusion. I try to open my mouth, and make the words as he so effortlessly does. Only an undefined noise comes out.
His eyes widen in fear. Then, he pulls me closer to him once more.
"I guess that's to be expected… you've.. You've been through so much." He sighs. "I can't just expect you to be as you were before. At least..." he looks down at me and caresses my cheek gently. "At least not right away."
Fatigue washes over me. I fight to keep my eyes open. There is so much I need to understand. So much I still need to learn. But my body begs for rest.
I feel the warm presence shift underneath me, then rise. The soft sound of crunching footsteps echoes in the air around me.
"Asra…" it's the deep voice again. "I should be the one to carry Kealla since you... Since your heart…" Muriel hesitates. His words drip with concern.
I feel Asra grasp me tighter, pulling me closer to him. "Thank you Muriel, but I don't think I'll be able to let go for awhile." They continue treading through the forest. "Besides, I feel much better than expected…" He stops and turns to him. "Thank you for keeping an eye on me."
Another grunt.
My weariness overtakes me now and I close my eyes again. My face is tucked into Asra's neck. The gentle sway of his body as he moves through the undergrowth starts lulling me to sleep. I may not know much, but I do know how wonderful it feels to be so warm, so safe, in his arms. He is my tether to the outside world. I know inside of me that he will guide me through all of it, with the same love and care I have felt from him since the beginning. I feel myself drift into unconsciousness, comforted by his steady presence… and a strong heartbeat pulsing gently in his chest, as if it's speaking directly to mine.