Hae Ri
I couldn't feel a thing. Not the scrapes, bruises, or my beating heart. I aimlessly traveled the forest not knowing where I would end up. All I knew was that I could not go back home. My feet sloshed in the fallen rain. A little alcove I found served as a shelter. I sat there holding my knees to my chest. It was then that my emotions resurfaced, and the tears came streaming down my face again. I so badly wanted to be held by someone.
Just then, I heard a soft ringing nearby. The beautiful melody I longed to hear had returned. It was the boy, he was close. I looked around for his glowing eyes. He suddenly popped out from above the alcove, hanging upside down. This caused me to stagger back. He jumped down with a magical green aura swirling around him. His face was pleading this time, not playful or taunting.
"What do you want from me?" I asked.
He waved me over. When I tried to get close, he took off running on all fours.
"Wait! Where are you going?"
The boy did not make it easy for me, but I managed to follow closely behind. I wasn't going to let him get away from me again. He led me to the same rock cliff and climbed it like he did before. So many thoughts ran through my head at that moment.
He's a complete stranger. What if this is a trap? Its too high, I could fall.
He took notice of my caution and shook his head at me before disappearing over the cliff.
With nothing to stop me and nothing to lose, I took hold of a vine and braced my legs against the rocks. One hand over the other, I scaled the cliff. It was difficult, but I made it to the top. Before I could celebrate I was thrust onto a steep slope. I screamed the whole way down. My body eventually slid into a curtain of leaves before making an ungraceful fall onto the ground.
A boy about the same age as the one I followed stood over me with a torch in hand. He wore a dark green headband that kept his shoulder length brunette hair out of his face. Like the other boy, he wore a tunic, only his was brown. The trousers were of the same color and stopped mid calf. "This is not good. You're going to get into so much trouble," he said looking concerned.
The person he was talking to stood in front of me. When I looked up, I found a pair of emerald eyes looking at me with delight.
"Hi Ribbon Girl ."
~
"Ribbon Girl?" I asked.
The boy with the emerald eyes took out one of the silk blue ribbons I had used to mark my trail.
"I guess that would be me." I stood, my body aching from the fall. "Why have you been following me?"
He threw the question back at me. "Why'd you follow me?"
I didn't want to get into the details of what happened earlier, so I stayed silent.
The boy holding the torch stepped forward. "Areum, just because your the chief's daughter doesn't mean you can do whatever you want."
To my surprise, the boy with the green eyes was actually a girl.
"Yes it does," she said and stuck her tongue out at him. She then turned to me. "My name is Areum and that stick in the mud is Min Woo."
He rolled his eyes at her.
"I'm Han Hae Ri," I replied unsure of how I managed to remember my name.
"So pretty. I knew you'd have a name like that," she said. "Follow us."
"Hold on, you didn't answer my question," I said.
"I'll explain later. We have to get out of here before someone sees us."
I let them lead me. I struggled to walk across the uneven land, while Areum and Min Woo avoided all the fallen branches and holes. We eventually reached a beautiful waterfall. The water pounded on the rocks at the bottom.
Areum stood directly in front and clasped her hands together
Areum stood directly in front and clasped her hands together. Then, with one swift motion she pushed her hands back. The water parted and revealed a dark tunnel. Min Woo outed the torch.
"Quickly now," she said guiding me through the darkness.
In the distance I could hear the faint sounds of drums. It grew louder and louder as we walked down the corridor. At the end was a curtain of leaves that had an orange light peeking through the gaps. Areum pulled back the leaves and revealed the most beautiful sight. Silver moss clung to the trunks of thick mahogany trees that rose so high they could touch the moon.
The night sky was like a painting, with streaks of purple and green stretching for miles. Small dragonflies flew by, their wings glowing white. Blades of grass sparkled as they danced under the moon's light. Magenta dandelion puffs tickled my face before flying off into the sea of trees.
This was a forest village of some sort, several wooden buildings were scattered around a central fire pit. A celebration must have been taking place for there were a group of people dancing happily around a large fire. Men, women, and children held hands and circled around the fire. They wore brown robes and cloth shoes. Some did not dance, but were talking and eating. A few children ran around playing with wooden dolls.
Those that took notice of me stared me down in shock. I wasn't used to all this attention. All I could do was smile and bow.
"Why is she here?" someone asked.
"Look at her dress," said another.
"Don't mind us. Go back to your party." Areum tried to hide me from the others. "Sorry, they are just excited. We don't get visitors much." she whispered.
I have no idea where she was trying to take me, but I just hoped it was somewhere away from here.
Just then, a loud voice roared above the crowd. "Who has brought this outsider?"
The people immediately scattered away from us and bowed. A tall, fit man wearing a long sage robe stood in front of us. His beard was thick and his hair was tied in a ponytail. He had many scars on his face and looked to be Father's age. He was no stranger to battle that was for sure. Areum pulled me down into a bow. When we rose I was careful not to look him directly in the eyes.
"Areum, you have brought this outsider?" his voice rumbled like thunder.
Areum looked uneasy for a moment. "I have Father." She stood in front as if she were protecting him from me.
"I tried to stop her Chief Jang," Min Woo cowered.
"Silence," he snapped. "To endanger our village--"
"She's not dangerous," she interrupted. "Father, please. I found her in the woods all alone. She needs us."
"You were warned about going to the other side," he said through gritted teeth. "The Jurani do not give handouts. Now get her out of here," he demanded.
I figured I could go back the way I came, I clearly was not wanted. Just when I started to back away, she grabbed my wrist. She's surprisingly strong for someone of her size.
"I feel like she can fit in. If we teach her our ways, everything will be fine," she said.
"We cannot simply allow an outsider in based on feeling alone," he explained.
"You've done it before." Judging by the tension in the air, she was walking on a fine line.
The chief was fuming inside, I could see it in his face. "Leave us," he ordered. All the village people, including Min Woo, immediately retreated to their homes. He waited until everyone was gone to continue. "That was a different time. You will not use that against me. I said no and that is final."
She took a step forward like she was challenging him. "You will listen to me." It was as if I was watching a kitten face off against a lion.
"How dare you," the chief said.
I feared that he might strike her, but he didn't.
"Father, the forest called for her."
I was stunned by her words.
The forest can talk? And it wants me? This can't be real.
Chief Jang took a look at me before shifting his gaze to her. "Her? You will not lie to me Areum."
Yes, please let it be a lie. I prayed.
"Father, I cannot lie to you. I heard the forest, we need her," she held my hand tightly.
He said nothing for a while and had a stare off with his daughter. She held her ground. He sighed. "I know you will fight this until the end. Just like I taught you," he said before turning to me. "If this is true, you will have no problem proving it within the next seven days. Try anything out of line and I will dispose of you personally."
Areum jumped for joy beside me while I stood there in a daze.
Seven days? To prove what?!
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