|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 9:18 am
Emerwyn was overcome. She could be seen all over the Island.
From her door, through the village, past the cafe, into the trees.
Through the trees she went, along the river. She almost came close to the beach. She had to run; had to express her joy. She'd done it!
In her arms, one could see papers, hapharzardly clutched between bony appendeges. Her eyes watered as she ran, half from the wind, half from her overwhelming emotions.
A song issued softly from her throat. Anyone who passed her would not have heard it, but it echoed loud and clear throughout her entire body.
Nothing else mattered, except one thing - her Jerrick was alive!
Not even the basic principle of sight mattered to the ecstatic deer-woman. Otherwise, she might have noticed the object that she was about to make a front-on collision with.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 9:31 am
Sayuri was lost. Well no, she thought as she flip-flopped along, her geta getting a little clogged with mud as she went, you are just - exploring! The low and constant noise of the jungle insects accompanied her as she walked, and her kimono snagged occasionally on plants but she pressed on. She didnt know the way back, so she just wended her way forwards, occasionally crossing dirt tracks.
She paused in the act of un-hooking her sleeve from another grabbing bush, sure she had heard some..thing? approaching. She tugged the sleeve hard, the silk gaining a ladder in the weave and she turned on the spot, trying to see if anyone was coming. As she turned to face front again the...person ran straight into her. Caught off-guard and off balance she pin-wheeled and fell to the floor with a hard bump.
'Itae..' she moaned from the ground, sitting up to see who had run her down.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 9:37 am
Thwack!
The collision sent Emerwyn reeling backwards. The speed at which she was running set off such an impact in her, that she landed completely on her back, her papers flying in all directions.
Slowly she sat up, Holding her head. "ohhh, my... ?" Her state of ecstasty now distilled as she tried to gather her bearings. It didn't even occur to her that her precious work was all over the jungle floor. Or that there was a young woman, the victim of her collision, only a few feet away from her.
When she did come in to focus, the girl was the first thing she saw.
"Oh, dear! Oh... dear. I am so sorry, so very sorry!" She pulled herself up, then leaned over, offering a hand to the fallen kimono-clad person.
Emerwyn herself looked a mess. Her green cowl was tossed lop-sided over one shoulder, her hair was frayed. She adjusted a fallen sleeve before resuming her offer to aid the girl.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 9:44 am
Sayuri's head felt a little muzzy. The bump she had received on arrival to the Island had healed, though the area was a little tender still. She felt around gingerly, trying to see if she had hurt herself this time. Maybe she had managed to get away without hurting herself this time! She looked at the confetti of paper on the floor around her and the other - Sayuri covered her open 'o' of a mouth with a sleeve as she saw the person she had collided with properly.
The 'hand' she had been offered could not look less like one to her and she recoiled a little, her eyes taking in everything that was changed of Emerwyn. She wasnt sure if it was because she was female or what, but seeing this advanced a change broke through the fog of denial that Sabin had helped build around her.
'That will happen to me?' she asked, not so sure that she wanted to know the answer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 9:54 am
Hoofed hand remained poised, and the rest of the deer's body froze for a moment. It was an interesting reaction, and no mistake. For certain, Emerwyn was used to the various states of distress of new arrivals, but perhaps in her delusinal bliss today, this one had caught her off guard.
Her hand lowered and her back straightened. She crouched down once more to the girl's level. Her half-shapen legs bent out at an odd sort of angle.
"Yes... In a way, yes, it will," Emerwyn said, her deep, heavy eyes sympathetic - empathetic.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 10:02 am
Sayuri felt panicked as Emerwyn crouched down near her. She was too frozen to move, her kimono was too bulky to run away in and she knew that the deer-woman would easily be able to catch up to her if she wanted.
Sayuri covered her face fully with her sleeve, in a silly attempt to make her go away. She dropped it again, a moment later, her cheeks flushed red under her makeup at her foolishness. The woman didnt seem to be about to attack her, and in fact she looked gentle.
'He lie,' she said, her voice sounding small.
'Did hurt?'
Maryke had said her change had, but this looked to be so much worse.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 10:08 am
Absentmindedly, Emerwyn began to gather her nearby papers. She hated doing this - she hated it so much. And this girl, sounded so innocent. It didn't even sound like she knew very much English.
He lie. Moreau. The doctors. They all lie... She nodded solemnly.
And now... well, she couldn't lie, too.
She met the girl's eyes again. "Yes," she practically whispered. Her normal speaking voice was very soft, so this was hard to hear, but easy to understand. If Sayuri did not hear her, she could see it in her eyes.
For a while, Emerwyn had to forget about the joy in those papers strewn about the leaves. It felt like a bad omen.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 10:16 am
Sayuri shook herself, trying to push out of the sudden misery. She was being so rude! Sitting here whilst Emerwyn needed assistance.
'I sorree,' she apologised for her behaviour, helping the deer woman to gather the scattered paperwork. Once again the years of constantly pushing back ones feelings in order to serve the needs of others had come to her rescue.
'I do not want it to hurt.' she said, holding the papers she had gathered out to Emerwyn, her english coming out smoothly for once.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 10:25 am
Emerwyn nodded thanks to Sayuri and accepted the papers. She slowly and tenderly stacked them neatly together.
"I understand," she said, grateful that her knowledge of English grew apparantly more fluent.
"Yes, it will hurt. But, that pain shall go away, with time. Sometimes it is worth the wait.
And, there are friends here. People who will help you through the pain. No matter how much it hurts, they will be there to share some of the burden."
Emerwyn didn't have many friends like that anymore, however. She was gone from Ian. Emelyn, she had not seen in ages, nor had she seen Greer. And Julian... oh, god, Julian.
Where were all of Emerwyn's friends?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 10:35 am
Sayuri's expression became a little downcast again before she rallied, putting her 'teahouse' smile back onto her face. It was the expression she affected whenever she was the object of teasing during a party.
'No friends. I have been here not many days.' she looked at Emerwyn, concentrating on the kindness that she was showing, rather then her appearance otherwise she would be afraid again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 10:39 am
"You shall have friends, make no mistake of that. After all, we are friends now, are we not? We have only just begun, but all friendships must begin sometime."
Was Emerwyn making sense to the girl? Was she even making sense to herself?
"So, let us begin. I am Emerwyn." And she held out her hand again, her papers secured in the other.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 10:46 am
Sayuri let her gaze flicker to the outstretched hand; she had to make a decision. She didnt want this to be something her ingrained manners made her do, but a proper choice that only she could make.
She stretched out her own hand, the small fingers gripping onto Emerwyn hoof-hand.
'Sayuri,' she said simply this time, remembering F's comment about her name.
'I am happ-ee to meet you.'
Sayuri smiled at Emerwyn, letting her hand go again.
'What are papers for?' she asked, curious now that introductions had been made.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 10:52 am
The smile was returned, and Emerwyn took the papers gently into both of her hands once more.
"These papers hold very important work that I have been doing for several weeks now. It is very important to me, and to someone else whom I care about very much."
Now, all I need is to find out how I can help him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 10:58 am
'I am happy you have papers then,' Sayuri gave a little bow along with her words. She didnt quite understand all that Emerwyn had said just then but got the jist that the papers were something special. She looked around where they were standing, feeling her sandals sinking a little again in the mud and she shifted.
'Do you know way? I was lost before fall.' she explained.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 11:02 am
"Yes, yes, I am very glad of it, as well."
Emerwyn looked off away from the direction of the river, her lips pursed.
"I know the way. Come, I shall lead."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
