"Manaj!" Mukta called, straightening from the crouch she'd adopted to pick sweetgrasses. "Manaj, look what I have!" But the heifer continued to watch the treeline.
Her usually liquid purpley-brown eyes were wide and frightened, and even her whip-like tail was still. Mukta approached the cow from her left side, humming a lullaby to make her presence known. She couldn't see anything in the direction Manaj watched, but the greenery was thick and opulent on the ground and anything could hide behind the screen of vines draped about the trunks of the trees.
A sweet yowl from behind her, and little Teja came streaking out of her parent's hut like her very tail burned. Smallish and gold, she had graceful thumbprints of black all over her soft, short hide. She took a leap from the ground to Mukta's shoulder and hooked her claws in to keep from overshooting her landing. Mukta yelped in pain and steadied the little jungle cat with her free hand. "Dratted cat!" she hissed between clenched teeth. "You'll scare Manaj with your antics- "
But Teja's golden eyes were locked on the same spot currently engrossing the cow. She was staring with unusual intensity, flicking her silk-thin ears back and forth to gather nearby sounds.
Mukta frowned and focused on the string of vines nearest to her. What was so interesting?
She should probably run back to her father's hut and inform him something hide in the trees behind the village, or find her brothers to care for it. Yes, that was what she should do.
But she didn't. She looked over her free shoulder to search the background for prying eyes, but she found none. "Manaj?" she whispered, holding the fragrant grass beneath the heifer's wet nose. Nothing.
The foliage rustled and Mukta backed away in fear. Her dark eyes flew to the treeline, searching for the distinguishing black-on-flame pattern that would signal a lethal tiger attack, or the small brown shadows cast by troublesome monkeys.
But what caught her attention, moving smoothly like Teja stalking mice, was the glistening bronze skin that shifted from one tree trunk to another. Her eyes strained to make out the form that wore the skin- the streaming shape that wore the brilliant color-
It knelt on a low, wide branch close to the ground. The limbs bent strangely, forward rather than back, and they were oddly long and slender. She could make out the curves of delicate muscles beneath the skin, patterned and dappled in the leaf-cast shade. It shifted again, rolling back on strong haunches, perfectly balanced...
Mukta gasped and stumbled back. Her hands flew to her face, to her veil, and she tucked it around her nose and ears to hide her fear. It was no thin predator- it was a well-built, strongly muscled man.
She turned on her heel back to the village and at the same moment, Manaj wheeled away with her, lowing in distress. Her sudden movement dislodged Teja, who hit the ground spitting. Mukta turned her head to catch the movement that caused the chaos, and found the figure half out of the trees and holding out an elegant, forestalling hand. She froze in mid-step.
It wasn't a man, but a boy. A tall, fierce boy, tight gold skin laced with scars and lean hips covered in wildcat skin. His hair was roughly hewn and inky black, and his face was very handsome- almost beautiful. He paused when she stopped and held up both hands in what must be a peace offering. She waited and watched as he approached her, mind whirling with a storm of questions.
Why as he dressed so? His wounds were numerous and long-healed, usually four in a row like the bleeding gouges in Mukta's shoulder. Why did he look so ragged? Where was he from? Not HER village- she had never seen him before, and a boy like him would make quite sensation. Why was he reaching for her so? What would he do if she didn't scream and bring fast attention to her location? Was he a criminal?
He was only a short distance away now, and close enough for her to make out tiny details she had missed earlier. His eyes were a very rich brown, like the mahogany wood brought by traders. His fingernails were short and broken; he either bit them or wore them down with prolonged use. He was much taller than her, by at least a head and shoulders; he must outweigh her by at least half her weight. His long arms were extended and almost reached her chin- they, as well as his shoulders, back, and legs, were corded with muscle and very strong. He was most unlike any of the boys from her village. He was better.
His fingertips fell from a breath away from her chin, to the scratches on her bared shoulder. He ran them over the raggedy cuts in her skin and his rough hands were gentle. With his free hand, as slowly as it took, he pulled the veil back from her face.
Once again, Mukta's rosebud mouth and button nose matched her dark, sooty eyes. It pleased him to see her; a dazzling, knee-weakening smile touched his mouth and she swallowed convulsively.
"Who are you?" she whispered. The movement of her lips brushed against his fingers and Mukta realized suddenly how much closer he was now...his rich brown eyes were mesmerizing, hypnotizing...she could feel the heat of his exposed body on her arms, she felt a little overwhelmed by his sheer physical presence around her, his teeth were white and sharp as he smiled again...
And she felt...
"Mukta!"
Mukta jerked away from him and turned back to the village. The boy's hand fell away from her mouth and he dropped his arm from 'round her shoulders.
Her elder brother and one of his friends were running up the path that led to the hut. They carried machetes and they knew how to use them. "Mukta, answer me!"
"Here I am!" she called back to them, pulling her veil over her face again. "By the well. Here."
They both turned and saw her. Her brother's handsome face was twisted with worry.
"Mukta! Are you alright? Manaj came into town but you weren't with her. We thought you were hurt or lost. What happened?" his voice was chiding but his hands were gentle as he inspected Teja's gift on her shoulder.
"I am sorry, elder brother. It was- " she turned back to the boy- but he was gone. Not even so much as a rustling of leaves betrayed his presence in the trees beyond.
"-a...monkey." she finished lamely. Her brother's friend made a tssking noise and lowered his weapon.
"I am surprised at you, Mukta," he scolded, stepping back as her brother guided her back towards the hut. "I thought you more level-headed than this."
She apologized profusely, wondering inwardly why she didn't tell her brother about the wonderful boy with the colorful skin from the jungle.
When she looked back, she thought perhaps she could still see the flash of those lovely brown eyes from the leaves...
Her usually liquid purpley-brown eyes were wide and frightened, and even her whip-like tail was still. Mukta approached the cow from her left side, humming a lullaby to make her presence known. She couldn't see anything in the direction Manaj watched, but the greenery was thick and opulent on the ground and anything could hide behind the screen of vines draped about the trunks of the trees.
A sweet yowl from behind her, and little Teja came streaking out of her parent's hut like her very tail burned. Smallish and gold, she had graceful thumbprints of black all over her soft, short hide. She took a leap from the ground to Mukta's shoulder and hooked her claws in to keep from overshooting her landing. Mukta yelped in pain and steadied the little jungle cat with her free hand. "Dratted cat!" she hissed between clenched teeth. "You'll scare Manaj with your antics- "
But Teja's golden eyes were locked on the same spot currently engrossing the cow. She was staring with unusual intensity, flicking her silk-thin ears back and forth to gather nearby sounds.
Mukta frowned and focused on the string of vines nearest to her. What was so interesting?
She should probably run back to her father's hut and inform him something hide in the trees behind the village, or find her brothers to care for it. Yes, that was what she should do.
But she didn't. She looked over her free shoulder to search the background for prying eyes, but she found none. "Manaj?" she whispered, holding the fragrant grass beneath the heifer's wet nose. Nothing.
The foliage rustled and Mukta backed away in fear. Her dark eyes flew to the treeline, searching for the distinguishing black-on-flame pattern that would signal a lethal tiger attack, or the small brown shadows cast by troublesome monkeys.
But what caught her attention, moving smoothly like Teja stalking mice, was the glistening bronze skin that shifted from one tree trunk to another. Her eyes strained to make out the form that wore the skin- the streaming shape that wore the brilliant color-
It knelt on a low, wide branch close to the ground. The limbs bent strangely, forward rather than back, and they were oddly long and slender. She could make out the curves of delicate muscles beneath the skin, patterned and dappled in the leaf-cast shade. It shifted again, rolling back on strong haunches, perfectly balanced...
Mukta gasped and stumbled back. Her hands flew to her face, to her veil, and she tucked it around her nose and ears to hide her fear. It was no thin predator- it was a well-built, strongly muscled man.
She turned on her heel back to the village and at the same moment, Manaj wheeled away with her, lowing in distress. Her sudden movement dislodged Teja, who hit the ground spitting. Mukta turned her head to catch the movement that caused the chaos, and found the figure half out of the trees and holding out an elegant, forestalling hand. She froze in mid-step.
It wasn't a man, but a boy. A tall, fierce boy, tight gold skin laced with scars and lean hips covered in wildcat skin. His hair was roughly hewn and inky black, and his face was very handsome- almost beautiful. He paused when she stopped and held up both hands in what must be a peace offering. She waited and watched as he approached her, mind whirling with a storm of questions.
Why as he dressed so? His wounds were numerous and long-healed, usually four in a row like the bleeding gouges in Mukta's shoulder. Why did he look so ragged? Where was he from? Not HER village- she had never seen him before, and a boy like him would make quite sensation. Why was he reaching for her so? What would he do if she didn't scream and bring fast attention to her location? Was he a criminal?
He was only a short distance away now, and close enough for her to make out tiny details she had missed earlier. His eyes were a very rich brown, like the mahogany wood brought by traders. His fingernails were short and broken; he either bit them or wore them down with prolonged use. He was much taller than her, by at least a head and shoulders; he must outweigh her by at least half her weight. His long arms were extended and almost reached her chin- they, as well as his shoulders, back, and legs, were corded with muscle and very strong. He was most unlike any of the boys from her village. He was better.
His fingertips fell from a breath away from her chin, to the scratches on her bared shoulder. He ran them over the raggedy cuts in her skin and his rough hands were gentle. With his free hand, as slowly as it took, he pulled the veil back from her face.
Once again, Mukta's rosebud mouth and button nose matched her dark, sooty eyes. It pleased him to see her; a dazzling, knee-weakening smile touched his mouth and she swallowed convulsively.
"Who are you?" she whispered. The movement of her lips brushed against his fingers and Mukta realized suddenly how much closer he was now...his rich brown eyes were mesmerizing, hypnotizing...she could feel the heat of his exposed body on her arms, she felt a little overwhelmed by his sheer physical presence around her, his teeth were white and sharp as he smiled again...
And she felt...
"Mukta!"
Mukta jerked away from him and turned back to the village. The boy's hand fell away from her mouth and he dropped his arm from 'round her shoulders.
Her elder brother and one of his friends were running up the path that led to the hut. They carried machetes and they knew how to use them. "Mukta, answer me!"
"Here I am!" she called back to them, pulling her veil over her face again. "By the well. Here."
They both turned and saw her. Her brother's handsome face was twisted with worry.
"Mukta! Are you alright? Manaj came into town but you weren't with her. We thought you were hurt or lost. What happened?" his voice was chiding but his hands were gentle as he inspected Teja's gift on her shoulder.
"I am sorry, elder brother. It was- " she turned back to the boy- but he was gone. Not even so much as a rustling of leaves betrayed his presence in the trees beyond.
"-a...monkey." she finished lamely. Her brother's friend made a tssking noise and lowered his weapon.
"I am surprised at you, Mukta," he scolded, stepping back as her brother guided her back towards the hut. "I thought you more level-headed than this."
She apologized profusely, wondering inwardly why she didn't tell her brother about the wonderful boy with the colorful skin from the jungle.
When she looked back, she thought perhaps she could still see the flash of those lovely brown eyes from the leaves...