A sigh blew past her tiny lips at seeing the empty stone plate before her, wishing for dinner to magically appear onto it so she could eat. Brown eyes darted around the small hut, damaged and run down from the attacks that had befallen from night bandits moths before. Turning back to the stone plate that was void of food, tears welled in her innocent eyes as memories of her mother cooking at the small stove, her father chopping away at the vegetables they grew and her and brother playing with the small toys they loved so much came to mind.
Since her family's death at the hands of the bandits, Rin was left all alone at just six years old, forcing the young girl to fend for herself and lose all moments at having a proper childhood. Pushing the stone plate away and gazing toward the shredded door flap that blew in the warm breeze, she knew that hiding in the hut would not get her fed. Letting a breath blow out her nose she decided that she was hungry enough to face the villagers, hoping to beg enough food to last her the evening.
Standing to her dirty feet, Rin pushed the flap away and sighed as the sun slowly began to make its decent into the ocean, urging her to find food before night came. Trekking the soft sand from her small hut that resided under the crumbling bridge, she made her way up the path and into the large village that took her in, casting her eyes away as the people peered down upon her filthy form. Yes, she was not well cared for, being old enough to not be considered a babe, no one in the village wanted to take her in, seeing as they were poor themselves they knew that caring for another child would only put a large burden on their shoulders.
So everyone ignored her, throwing wasted food or just screaming at her when she stayed too long in one place. Rubbing her dirt stained hands together in hopes that making them appear clean, making begging easier as she continued to trek among the shops that sold various goods; from cloths to weapons to food and even animals, items that an orphan child would never afford.
Letting a small grunt escape her lips she raised her still smudged hands toward a couple who passed by with baskets of carrots held at their waists. She stepped in front of them with her hands high in pleading with tears welling in her eyes with a loud growl escaping her stomach. The couple stopped before the small child that was well known around the village as an orphan beggar, a child whose family was murdered some months before. Looking to each other then back down toward the girl whose hands were still beckoning to them, they made the decision to bypass her without a downward glance, holding their baskets tightly as they briskly walked away from the girl as she slowly dropped her hands in defeat.
Rin watched them walk away from her with their backs turned as the bitter dismissal shot a pang through her heart. Sniffing away the oncoming tears she walked onward down the path, holding her hands up out of reflex whenever someone walked too close, hoping for a small scrap of food to fall into her waiting palms. Sadly, it never happened and soon all the villagers were aware of her begging. All not even sparing her a second glance as she walked by, making the little girls heart sink into grief. Wiping her nose with a sniff, she let the tears trace down her dirty cheeks, leaving clear trails that made her appearance even more pathetic. In her despair, she grabbed at her stomach which screamed for food, rubbing it softly in hopes of calming it but all it did was send starving cramps through her belly which made Rin whimper.
Trekking away from the main circle of the village, she held her stomach and kept her head down as she passed by vendors that sold fruit at prices that even the villagers could barely afford.
Ghosting her starving eyes toward a stand that bore stark red apples ripe with season, her mouth watered and she so desired to reach out and grab one but before her fingers could even graze the apple skin, a large wooden paddle smacked against her fingers, sending a severe jolt of pain through her hand and forcing a startled scream from her dry lips.
"Reach for my apples again, beggar and you'll lose that hand!" A large balding man screamed in her face as he raised the paddle threateningly above her and relished in the scurry she left in. Turning his back on the small child, he continued in his stock as he leaned down to grab another basket.
Oh how her hand hurt. Rin pulled her tiny extremity from her chest, staring at the giant red welt that was forming on her knuckles and watched as they began to swell before her eyes. Shaky sobs erupted from her tiny form as she fell to her knees, cradling her hand to her chest and rubbing it, wanting the pain to stop so she could continue and try to find food. The swelling cramp of hunger in her belly only made the pain in her fingers more excruciating, the discomfort adding to the pain that she also felt in her heart.
She wanted her mom to kiss her fingers, she wanted her father to yell at the men who struck her and she wanted her brother to tell her to toughen up. Sobs shook her tiny shoulders and she willed her legs to lift her up but they refused the command, she sat in the dirt with her loneliness; that is until a soft thump struck her foot.
Wiping her tears from her eyes with her already soaked sleeve, Rin looked down to see a large red apple lying at her foot. She stared at the apple then looked up at the vendor, seeing that the man who struck her was bent over with his back toward the displayed fruit, not knowing that that one of largest apples laid at her feet. Her brown eyes darted this way and that, seeing that no one was near the stand that could have tossed her the fruit. Not wanting the man to turn and see her with the apple, she grasped it quickly with her good hand and jolted to her feet to run into a bush that kept her out of sight.
What luck she must have had! She gripped the red fruit tightly in her hands and just stared at it with her mouthwatering. Bringing the fruit to her lips she went to take a bite until something caught her eye. Holding the apple to her lips, her eyes followed as a green dressed woman glided past where she was sitting to step into the trees at the lip of the woods. Rin could see hair that was hued like fire pass by the trees, disappear and then appear again. No matter what direction she tried to look, the woman kept her back toward her as she swayed around the trunks.
Still holding the apple to her lips, she took a small bite and rose to her feet to follow after the lady that continued to walk deeper into the forest, red hair swaying behind her melodically. The emerald green dress that wrapped around the woman's body swayed in her walk, often being lifted gently to step a pale bare foot over fallen logs and twigs.
Rin continued to trail a few yards behind the woman, following her closely as she would dart left, then right and then left again, taking her deeper into the darkening woods. Even though there was a small pang of fear in her chest, Rin also felt a wave of comfort from following the lady.
Was this the person who tossed her the apple? She really hoped it was as she continued to follow the woman, picking up her step when the woman began to gently fall into a jog, her green dress billowing around her ankles and hair bouncing in the sun. Gripping her apple in both hands, Rin tried desperately to keep up with her but from small branches coming into contact with her eyes and a root tripping her to the ground in her haste, she fell hard with a whoosh of air. She stood to see that the woman was gone and she was alone in the forest, the trees almost blocking out all light as the sun tried desperately to peek through. Picking up her apple and dusting it off, she turned here and there looking for the fire haired woman with sad eyes.
She sighed loudly and turned to leave when a sound caught her ear from her far left. Gulping down her fear she turned and began to follow the heavy sounds of breathing that erupted from a small clearing. Holding her apple to her chest, Rin reached out and grasped a large branch, moving it softly to the side and hitched a large air bubble in her throat.
It was a man; a tall silver haired man was lying against a large tree trunk with a boa of fur surrounding him. Rin could see the blood stain that marred his left shoulder but could not get a clear view of his face. Stepping forward just a fraction she stepped on a twig that snapped loudly, making the man jolt up with a large snarl and red eyes that froze her where she stood.
A demon!
Dropping her apple in fear she gripped the tree next to her and stared at the terrifying beast but grew curious when his eyes changed and the markings on his face become less frightening. He stared at her, studied her with a soft gaze before snorting to himself and leaned against the tree once more.
When the man closed his eyes and turned his head from her, Rin reached down and picked up her dropped apple before scurrying away back to the village without a glance behind her. She ran all the way back to the entrance of the forest where the village could be easily seen then she turned back in the direction the man was. Her heart hammered in her chest as she straightened up and gazed around the trees. The fire haired woman was gone as well; no longer being able to see the bright red tendrils amongst the forest.
Turning back to the village her heart gently stopped when she saw the apple vendor standing over his produce, his finger pointing at each of them like he were counting and it was then that Rin realized she still held one of his apples. Bringing the fruit to her lips, she quickly bit into over and over again, stuffing her cheeks with the juicy bites and relished in the crisp texture that her teeth bit into. Finishing the apple quickly and disposing of the core over her shoulder, Rin hastily chewed the pieces in her mouth before swallowing the fruit and sighing at the refreshing feeling that enveloped her, making her feel so much better than she did before. The cramps in her belly had been sated as it finally held food again and she sighed as a smile was brought to her lips.
Looking back once more over her shoulder, she had it set in her mind for what she wanted to do. That man was alone just like she was, although she wasn't gravely injured; he was still alone. With determination, she ran back toward her hut with new energy as she bypassed the villagers who were finishing up their work for the day as the sun began to set.
She didn't realize that the day had gone by so quickly but she didn't care, reaching her hut with a skid she threw the flap open and dug through a small chest that she kept by the door. She rummaged and tossed items out until her fingers wrapped around the item she was digging for. A spare bamboo water canister was wrapped in her fingers and a smile formed at her lips as she ran back out of her hut toward the ravine at the edge of the village.
Dipping the bottle into the cold and clear water, she waited until it was filled before pulling it out and closing the top tightly so none escaped. Seeing that she still had some daylight left, Rin ran from the ravine and back toward the edge of the forest where she saw the red haired woman before. Holding the water canister tightly in her palms, she leaped through the forest edge and used nothing but memory as she navigated the path that the woman had walked. Her heart beat at the thought of flaming hair; she had never seen it on any other person before in her life. The humans that lived in these areas were all black headed, not one ever having light hued tendrils, not like the woman whose hair was spun from the sunsets themselves.
Stopping in her tracks, Rin stared at the canister in her hands with furred eyebrows hitched in confusion. Was that lady a demon as well? Was she trying to tell her something by leading her to the man that lay against the tree? Thoughts swirled across her mind as she slowly picked up her footing and began to trek the path once more. At this moment she did not care that if the woman was demon or not, or even that the silver haired man was a demon. She had nothing back in her run down hut, she had no family to love and she had nobody to love her. If this fire haired woman who led to her to this man was a sign, she was going to take it.
With added haste at seeing the sun soon setting, Rin picked up her running; leaping over the same fallen logs and twigs just as the fire haired lady did before and she landed with a halt right next to the clearing where the man lay. Pulling back the flimsy branch that blocked her vision from the silver demon, she saw that he was still in the same position but had raised himself up higher upon the trunk with the boa falling down his thighs comfortably. Seeing that his eyes were closed and his chest was rising and falling slightly, Rin stepped forward slowly until she was just at his side to see his face up close and she was marveled at the sight. Even while in sleep he was ferocious and beautiful all at the same time, tracing her eyes across the magenta streaks upon his cheeks and then craned her head to stare at the crescent moon in-between his relaxed eyebrows.
Her rapidly beating heart instantly slowed at the sight. Looking up to see the forest becoming increasingly dark, she placed the water canister just within his arms reach and turned away from him to run back into the brush. Turning back once more to see that he had yet stirred and when she turned to run, a flickering sight caught her gaze from above. Craning her neck she could just make out the flow of green fabric falling over the tree branch just above the silver man, pale legs from the knee down softly swaying in the breeze. Before her heart could grasp for fear, it left in an instant when a small sparkle of red hair caught the shine of the moon, it was then Rin recognized her as the woman from the forest by her hair. Giving the woman the best toothiest grin she could, Rin threw her arm up in a friendly wave before turning her back and ran through the trees to her village for the night.
