Creation's Lament Chapter Two: The Life and Death of a Mother
Minazuki hadn't been exaggerating when he described Haru's usefulness. Naoko was finally able to reclaim the countless needles, thimbles, and bobbins of thread that had been lost over the years between the floorboards and underneath the bed where she couldn't reach. Haru was also a good duster, being able to reach places that her new mother couldn't when placed in a spot where she could climb up. True, she couldn't cook by herself or open the door, but the Creation had learned to take those things in stride.
Naoko adored spoiling her new daughter, and made her several new outfits, some being more useful than others. The biggest challenge was making a pair of gloves Haru could use for outside work after the sun went down so she wouldn't be spotted, since her hands would have been considered slender, even if she were at regular height. The quilter often had to restrain herself from telling others about the miracle she kept in her cabin, but the thought of thieves was often frightful enough to help her hold her tongue.
The years passed happily for them, content in their own world. Haru was an excellent conversationalist, and would sometimes contribute an idea to Naoko's work to make it extra special while helping her mother sew it together, which wasn't as difficult as it would seem at first glance.
Naoko's red hair slowly faded to gray, and lines began to crawl across her face, but the woman was oblivious to them.
One day, the mayor of the village approached her as she sold her work and bought supplies to last for the next few months.
"Mrs. Yoshioka, I need to talk to you on an important matter."
The woman grinned at him.
"Are you expecting another child? Because you know how fast I can sew first quilts."
He blushed hard.
"Oh, no, not that kind of matter. I meant for your future residence."
The quilter looked at him, confused.
"Did someone tell you I'm moving?"
"Well, no, but surely at your age, you would wish to seek accommodations in town, so that the journey from your home can be less exerting."
She stared at him, and started laughing.
"Are you trying to say that I'm too old to live by myself?"
"Sort of, yes."
Naoko laughed again, struggling with her secret.
"I appreciate your concern, Mayor Gyers, but I assure you that I'm not old enough to move into a home for elders. I still feel young, but thanks for the concern."
She patted his head indulgently while making her trek back up the mountain. The quilter didn't ever think about what would happen when her health would fail her, she was so lost in happiness.
But eventually, the day had to come.
Haru sat up and stretched in her little bed, bright sunshine greeting her. She hopped off the low shelf that served as her room in order to wake up her mother, who now left her door open for the Creation. Using the blanket trailing off the sides of the bed, Haru pulled herself onto the mattress and walked up to her mother's face.
"Rise and shine, Mother! It's a beautiful day outside."
But she didn't budge. Confused, the Creation placed on hand on the wrinkled cheek, the coldness scaring her as she moved the head slightly. Naoko still wouldn't move. She wasn't even breathing.
Haru gasped, now realizing that her mother was dead. She sank into the folds of the blanket and cried her heart out.
'It's not fair. Why do they die and I keep living?' Haru was fifty-three now, but she still looked and felt like a young girl.
After an hour of crying, she used the corner of the blanket to wipe away the remaining tears and thought about what to do next.
'Okay, I know that Mother never told anyone about me, and the mayor's been sending someone up to check on her an average of twice a week. The last time was two days ago, so I have about a day in order to think of something.'
Although the only humans she had ever talked with were the ones she considered her parents, she knew that there were bad humans too. She didn't want to take the chance with letting whoever walked in to find Naoko find her too.
'The Refuge.' She wasn't sure if there was a time limit between being born and when a Creation could come to the Refuge, but it was the only choice she had. The journey would be an adventure, after being kept inside a house all her life. She leapt off the bed and headed to the front room to her little shelf. She grabbed the huge shoulder bag Naoko made for her outside chores and carefully pondered what to take.
There was no way that she could take all the clothes she now owned, so she took her five favorite outfits and changed into one fit for traveling. She stuffed her gloves into the bag along with a few needles, a bobbin of thread just in case she needed to make repairs, and a thimble. Satisfied that she had all she needed, she broke off a chunk of bread and opened the window to let herself out.
'If I were a real human, I'd stay and give my mother the final respects, but being what I am, it's best for me to leave.' She took a final look around the home to preserve it in her memory, blew a loving kiss towards her mother's room, and jumped out the window onto the soft ground.
She didn't have to worry about knowing where the Refuge is, since all Creations are born with the knowledge of where to find it. However, actually getting there was the sole responsibility of the Creations. Haru brightened as she walked through the mountain forest. There were bound to be other Creations at the Refuge, maybe even one like her! Naoko would sometimes tell her daughter about how she met and fell in love with her deceased husband, and Minazuki always spoke lovingly of the woman of his past.
For some reason, hearing about those experiences always made her feel a little empty. Well, that was to be expected; she had never met anyone that could make her heart race. But perhaps at the Refuge… who knows?
Her progress was slow, due to the constant need to hide from predators and humans. In fact, it took her several months just to get off the mountain. Good thing she never tired, being a Creation. Only occasionally would she feel safe enough to shift back into her wooden state, which was her way of sleeping.
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The leaves were falling especially hard today, the crunchy red and gold leaves breaking apart underneath Haru's tiny feet. The air was turning colder now, foretelling the winter ahead. She shuddered, thinking of all the snow that was forthcoming.
'With wet stuff everywhere, I can't shift into wood, but staying alive in a blizzard won't be very fun. Snow was a lot better when I could watch it from a window.' She could hear someone coming closer on the road in front of her, and prudently fled to the enclosure of a bush. It was just three men on horseback, obviously drunk. She wrinkled her nose in disgust.
"What should we do with our little friend back here?" one man slurred terribly, gesturing to something struggling inside a burlap sack. Another man laughed.
"I don't know; we do owe him five barrels of ale for his fine gold collar. But I don't feel like paying it back, do you gentlemen?"
The other two shook their heads and laughed. Haru started skulking from bush to bush, wondering what was in the bag. The last man spoke up, barely able to stay on his horse.
"If we let him go, his owner will wonder about the gold, so I say we throw him in the river and let nature take its course."
The Creation's blood ran cold, and her eyes narrowed in anger as the other men laughed in agreement. She suddenly got an idea. Very carefully, she started trailing the three men, and managed to grab a hold of one of the horses' tail, the one with the struggling bag. The horse became agitated as she climbed up the tail, but was soothed when she rubbed his backside while holding onto the saddle. She leaned in close to the bag and started whispering fast.
"Listen, I don't know what you are, but I'm getting you out. Stop struggling for a second, okay?"
The bag did so, making it possible for her to loosen the knot enough for the bag to fall off the horse. The three men were so drunk that they never missed losing their prize, whatever it was. Haru jumped off the horse and ran back to the groaning bag on the road.
"Sorry about that. If I was tall enough to catch you, I would have done so."
She pulled the rest of the knot loose and held the opening up. An elegant gray cat stumbled out, and he looked around wildly for his rescuer. He turned to Haru, his face shocked, and his mismatched eyes disbelieving.
"A tiny human?"
She shrugged as she looked him over for any cuts, being about the same size as him when he stood on his hind feet. She was a little surprised that he could talk, but decided not to raise an issue about it.
"Actually, I'm a Creation. Hmm, you look okay, all things considered. Did they hurt you?"
He shook his head, still staring at her.
"Not permanently. My apologies, I'm sincerely grateful for your act of bravery. I am Prince Lune of the Cat Kingdom."