She awoke alone on the forest floor, covered by her clothes. She stared
around groggily, looking for Jaron. Seeing no one, she leaned back and
closed her eyes. She breathed a sigh of regret, remorse.
It's as if it were a play, she thought. It's as if it were a play, and I
was playing the fool. Who was I to lay with him? Sudden anger flooded her
veins. No, who is he to leave me here?
She stood and dressed, taking care to make herself look presentable. When
she was sure that her hair was not mussed, and her clothes were not
disheveled, she left the clearing. Her face looked calm, but her eyes
blazed. What bothered her most was that she couldn't understand why she was
mad. Perhaps it was the empty feeling of abandonment left inside her.
Whatever the reason, she was angry. She came in view of the school. Rivin
surveyed the courtyard. There were many children there, all in their own
tight knitted groups. Suddenly, she felt very small, and all she wanted was
to run back home to her parents. She shook herself, trying to clear away
the thought; she hadn't been home in at least a year, maybe two. She often
sent letters and messages with Palin when he went back, but she enjoyed
living her solitary life. She didn't want to be near the others. She waited
for the bell to ring, signaling the start of classes. Once all of the
others went inside, Rivin left the cover of the forest. She was about to
enter the building when she stopped, starring at the plant that had caught
her attention so swiftly. It was a Stinging Nettle plant. A slow smile
spread across her face as she got to her knees and picked the plant. She
stored it in a leather pouch she used, resolving to make sure that when
Jaron stuck his hand into his desk, he would be pricked by the nettles.
Smiling widely, she walked into the building, heading for her room instead
of class.
