Wow! Nearly forgotten I got a song in there! Another chappie done!
Happy Reading!
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CHAPTER 5
When Kagome next looked up, she found herself inside a dense forest. The tall trees growing on either sides of a half-obscured path, their branches an arch high above her head, like a cathedral ceiling she had once seen on TV. The warble of birds lending a fairytale-like air to the surroundings as light filtered through the canopy of leaves above, throwing a sense of unreality.
Tenshi let out a snicker and plodded on, picking her way through the maze of roots and undergrowths, sensing where to place her feet. She seemed to tread carefully, communing with the nature around her, knowing that this place was to be taken with the utmost awe. It was their place, the dearest memories of her heart. It has been too long since she had her mistress with her, enjoying the simplicity and the surreal beauty of the forest at its most enchanting.
Kagome somehow felt that Tenshi was trying to tell her something with the careful way she walked, almost as if letting her feed off the beauty of the place, and hoping for something of significance to happen. Kagome glanced around in dismay, her heart yearning to understand the unspoken plea.
At length they reached a clearing. It was a rather simple place at first glance. A small garden if you will, with an almost flat expanse of rock situated at the middle.
Kagome dismounted at the edge of the clearing and walked forward. She reached the rock and lowered herself on it, looking around at the spot Tenshi had decided on. It was one of the few places in a forest that was left bare of trees. The more she looked around, she began to notice certain things.
The grass on the base of the rock she was sitting on didn't grow overlong, almost as if it was well-tended. The trees around looked like walls, some growing clump together, others with spaces in between, and with a little imagination, would take the form of windows. The clearing was like a room in a fortress of wood, with grass for its carpet, and the rock its divan. The sunlight filtering through the myriads of leaves overhead giving just enough illumination to throw the whole place in stark enchantment.
Tenshi had followed her mistress to the rock, as their custom, and the mistress would hand out a sugar cube in a delicate hand and would stroke her nose, letting her wander around the area, listening to the mystically melodic songs.
Today was no different from the days of the past. Kagome had unconsciously performed a ceremony of re-establishing acquaintances when she held out a sugar cube for the mare to take. She smiled softly as the horse took it from her hand and grazed around. It somehow felt familiar to her, the trees, the rock, the horse, even the light.
Unbidden, a song formed on her tongue, and in the quiet of the forest, saved for the chirping birds, she felt safe, unencumbered with self-consciousness. Softly, laced with uncertainty, she let the song roll off her lips.
How is it possible,
That I could feel this way?
Lost in the wild,
But my heart feels safe.
Her voice grew stronger, as if the birds had stopped their chatter to listen to her, as if the wind blew softly, to carry the notes in the air.
Is this what they mean by home?
Am I truly home?
The trees and the birds,
They seem to know who I am
The forest, the wind
Reaching out to welcome me back
How am I to know
Why I feel this way?
Lost in a daze
Living in these days.
Confidence infused her song, her voice a gentle blanket, a welcome sound that the woodland inhabitants had missed sorely. One by one, the creatures had shown themselves at the edges of the clearing, warily staring at the girl before them, sitting on the rock, bathed in light. It was the voice they had heard their elders told them about, the mystical human that will not harm them in any way.
Kagome opened her eyes and her song got stuck in her throat in surprise. She looked around and found the most fascinating assembly before her. Birds in all shapes and sizes sat huddled at the branches jutting out towards the clearing, rabbits, hares, squirrels, raccoons, and even a deer or two were all standing on the edge of the clearing, looking at her with such curiosity and… could she be mistaken? They all seem to know her, greeting her with their eyes full of welcome.
Startled by this feeling, Kagome stood up from the rock as gently as possible, not wanting to spook the gathering into fleeing back to their homes. Tentatively, she took a step forward. As if sensing her invitation, the woodland creatures stepped into the clearing and gathered around her.
Laughing gaily, she gave everyone she could touch a slight pat. The animals settled around her as she sat on the grass amongst them. She couldn't understand the feeling of welcome, no more than the feeling of finally being home, but if there's one thing she understands most at the moment, these creatures aren't here to hurt her, and regard her as their friend.
"It's about time that you got back. They all but nearly had forgotten about the singing angel."