Short Stories

Outcast

We were gliding above the glistening water that was situated at the treeline and spotted a huge tree that looked pretty ancient. It made the rest of the forest look tiny and stood out like a sore thumb.

As we approached the gigantic tree, we could see the open rooms carved into the tree and vines crawling up and around pretty much all over. It was well shaded as the trees surrounding were dense, small golden rays shining through the few gaps. The main source of light were little fairy lights strung inside those rooms. 

It was cute and gave the place character, I guessed. 

Some rooms had cloth draped across to ensure privacy but other than that the rooms were completely exposed to the outside world. There were people seated in the rooms like they were huge abandoned apartment buildings from the city. Legs were hanging off the edge, people going up and down the ladders. 

When I looked up, I could see that the rooms stacked on top of each other reached so high that it was more of a tower than an apartment building. The people at the top were just small moving dots, the rooms just little stars on a branch.

They stared down at us and murmured to each other. Those on the ground level did the same but started to part in the centre of the crowd. A short female with almond-colored skin walked through the parting. She was in her mid-twenties but had an air of authority to her. I could recognise this well-built Brazilian warrior. Yanamaria had been a childhood friend of whom I had parted ways with on fairly bad terms.

Her face was a mask of cold calm, and though it sent chills down my spine I could also tell that she was nervous. Every now and then I would see her head tilt ever so slightly and if I didn't know her as well as I did, then I would have brushed it off as nothing. But I did know her. I knew that something was off and that me and Savvy weren't going to be able to stay here for very long.

"What are you doing here, Maebh?" she asked, her voice low and raspy.

"You already know what I came here for, Yana. I have never come to you for anything before so surely you could do me this one favor? Just one night here with guaranteed safety for me and my friend here. Is that too much to ask?" There were knots in my stomach as I waited for her response. 

She took a step back and looked to her male companion who then leaned down closer. Her head angled back towards me and both of them made eye contact with me as he very quietly said something into her ear. As she was about to say something, a small girl wearing baggy dirt stained clothes ran towards Yana. The girl cupped her hand over her mouth to Yana's ear and quickly whispered something to her. I could see Yana's eyebrows furrow and a muscle twitch in her jaw.

"I'm very sorry but you must leave now. I can't say it was nice to see you after all this time, but I definitely hope that the next time we meet will be at your funeral. You don't deserve our help and we won't put ourselves in danger for your safety." Some of the people in the trees grabbed nearby spears and started coming down to stand next to Yana. Their chins held high, they blocked us off from the entrance of the tree and started to slowly move forwards. Spears were being pointed at our faces, ugh. I kept my eyes on the spears so I wouldn't be skewered by accident and tapped Savvy, signaling to her that we should move back slowly.

"Okay, naw it's fine. I totally understand." I fake smiled at her, not hiding the poison in my eyes but also making sure Savvy didn't see. 

Not that it mattered if she saw. 

I just didn't feel like making up excuses so as no to lose her loyalty. 

Carefully, I dropped a piece of paper on the ground as I pulled my hands out of my pockets and walked away, making sure that it looked like an accident. I swung my arm lazily over Savvy's shoulders and put my free hand back into my pocket. I could feel the people's eyes staring holes into our backs and knew that Savvy could too. Guilt gnawed on me and I almost felt bad for bringing her into this whole mess. 

Almost. 

Looking over my shoulder I call out to Yana.

"I'm gonna pop by here again to repay the favor someday." Those around her looked confused but she knew what I meant. She knew what was coming for her. I promised myself to give her hell after this was all over. And so, pleased with the fear etched onto her face, I turn my head back to the path in front of me. "Remember that!" I shout out to her. I quietly say to myself-

"Remember that."

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A/N

I realise that this story is much shorter than the first one. It also doesn't take place at the start of the story so if the first parts are wanted then I'll sort that out at a later time. 

Hope this wasn't too confusing lol.

This was also one of the scenes from a specific dream that I could remember clearly and the other parts of that dream are slowly coming back to me.