After having a fight with her mom, she runs away to try and sort out her feelings. Ending up in the dying part of the forest she has a near run in with one of the many vicious residents only saved by the sound of a branch breaking. It didn't take a scientist to know that her mother Jerarda had followed her out there..but giving her space to think things out on her own and still protecting her. Shima returns home, stronger and more determined to face things head on.
There had been shouting, words spat back and forth between mother and daughter. The shouting was loud and frightened off most of the wild life living nearby. The argument had started like it had been for the past couple of weeks. Shima demanding to know why it was that hybrids like her were outcasts if they didn't follow the traditional rites of passage. Why did it have to be that way? Why did her brother have to feel ostracized just because he was following his own path? There was the sound of a door slamming shut, the patter of feet slapping against the ground . Pushing past any bushes or plants were in her way before she leapt for the lowest branch she could find and ran.
Tears were streaming down her face, she hated crying. Out of every emotion crying and sadness were her least favorite. Ironically she was fairly easy to spark into crying. Tears gave way to frustration and frustration, anger. Once she had put some significant distance between herself, mother and home she sat on a tree limb and allowed herself to sob. The young lass wasn't entirely sure how much time had passed before the tears had dried up but suddenly there were no more to shed and red eyed she stared ahead of her into the forest. Listening to the night creatures chirp and sing their night songs she felt herself calm.
Staring at her hand Shima tried to summon anything. To spark an ounce of magic like her brother had become attuned with. Though she had offered to go with him to see Aisha she felt inadequate to be quite honest. If she could understand the feeling perhaps she could relate to her brothers plight more so. He was so worried about the fact he could use magic, and she felt some what of a liar when she cold boldly tell him now to worry. Should he worry? Though she had done her best to support him she didn't really feel like she was the right person to really help him.
Shouldn't Momma or Mom be the ones to reassure him? It made her angry that he was seeking Momma's acceptance. But why was she so angry at her alkidike mother? It wasn't like Jerarda was forcing them to follow the path, they were hybrids after all. Perhaps it was the teen angst that was making her confused. What did she want? Shima wanted to be accepted by everyone, if she was happy, helpful even if she was a mix surely she could gain recognition amongst the other sisters. Was that all she wanted? To be..accepted for who she was?
"Shima!!"
The young girl jerked her head around...it was her mothers voice calling out...how did she manage to catch up so quickly? Using her hand to wipe her eyes and the nose one more time she got up and then moved on. What was she running away from? Her mother? But why? Shima knew deep down that she was being stupid for running away from her mother but she just didn't want to speak to her right now.
Running Shima was mildly amused by how good her endurance was, perhaps she had hoped she would run out of steam and her mom would catch up to her in this game of cat and mouse. Instead she found herself entering territory she had only boldly claimed about wanting to explore. The Dying forest.
Slowing, she felt her chest trying desperately to catch up with the amount of air she needed to breath, sweat was dripping down her face as her run slowed to a walk. The forest.was thinning. Normally healthy trees were giving way to thinner...spindling ones. Any bigger ones seemed to be dead, their normal luster gone with time. Being forced to drop from the tree branches as spanning the distance between trees was beginning to become impossible as her feet touch the forest floor they squelched into mud causing her to frown. The ground was unusually saturated with water.
"Gross..." Shima muttered as she took another longer look around her. Why had she wanted to come here again? The area ...had certainly lived up to its name sake. Dying was a very apt name to describe the area. Large area's were submerged in water, but..the water was murky and though it seemed to have signs of life in them..it was few.
Looking behind her she was about to turn back when bubbles from across one pond caught her attention. Dreadfully curious she turned to face the pond and moved towards it. Though the tree's were further apart it was still dense enough that many creatures had ample places to hide if need be. Getting closer to the pond, the bubbles popped to the surface again curiously.
There was a sound behind her, the sound of something very large breaking...like a branch of a tree. Stepping away from the bubbling edge she didn't know how close she had come to ending up in a tussle with one of the swamps notorious killers. Her eyes scanned the area as she stepped away from the pond, she didn't like that you could easily see her foot prints in the mud. Her mother would be able to find her easily... in fact she was surprised that she wasn't already descending upon her.
Glancing over her shoulder back to the pound she spotted a pair of eyes staring at her from the waters surface. Cold...calculating they then quietly slipped back into the water causing not even a ripple as it disappeared. A shiver ran up her spine, that..thing had been luring her. It was a slow dawning realization and if it hadn't been for ..
Looking back to the dying forest around her, although she couldn't spot her mother...she knew she was there. Somewhere. Giving a slight laugh she shook her head before she began retracing her steps back home.
It was a slow trek back the way she came, as soon as the tree's thickened she leapt deftly onto the closest one. Walking instead of running, gave her ample time to think. What did it matter what others thought? There were plenty of hybrids after all, many who lived normal lives and some who still felt the prejudice of their backgrounds. No matter what people thought of her..her sister and brother..of their family. Shima wasn't going to let anyone hurt her family. A new determination, set on her face a wry smile appearing.
They were family. It was the only one she had. Who were they to nay-say them..and how they lived their lives and choices they made?
She would show them..just how strong she could be. A silent protector of the forest. Like her parents and how they protected their children, even spoiled thick skinned and bull headed as she was..and she hoped it wasn't too late to apologize for her own stupidity and arrogance.
Now she just needed to find..a willing partner to help her with her future goals..
Word Count: 1246
Finished
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