War of the Heart

Kaya

The trees rustled and twigs snapped. The forest was filled with subtle movements, yet each one stood out to Kaya, confirming her fears. Dropping the nourishment she'd collected, she ran. Her feet raced her heart, each trying to outrun the other. She wanted to cry out in pain, her feet were decorated with sores and blisters. Each muscle hated her. She'd thought the pilgrimage was hard, but this was significantly worse, some twisted form of self torture.

Like every time, it stopped being clear whether the sounds originated from a concealed pursuer, her own footsteps or the wind. She never discovered anyone while peering back, but the shadows cast by the trees were enough to keep her running. Was it really such a stretch to believe a spirit was controlling them? She wouldn't put anything past the Chèr now, or Detruienn, as they'd called him.

She wasn't quite sure who she thought was following her. There were so many potential candidates that her mind cycled through, like a roulette wheel. The other Eseterrians might have sent a guard to follow her. What if Detruienn was searching for her, desperate for revenge? Could Sutoku have sent someone after her? Would he even know yet? What about the pilgrims; one of them could have seen her leave. She continued running, with short, shaky breaths.

Eventually, she tripped. Her foot got caught on a bramble, throwing her body forward. Her hands shot out and landed right on some nettles. She took in a sharp breath, tears stinging at her eyes. She felt pathetic.

It was only natural after three days of next to no sleep, she would be suffering the consequences. She tried, she really did, but only drifted off for a short spell each night. Still, she didn't mind as much as she maybe should because it meant she was increasing the distance between her and the others. Nevertheless, she had yet to figure out how to get into Caelos since her lack of any papers meant she'd have to illegally cross the border. That part of her plan was still in the works. She supposed it would be easier after a good night's sleep.

The sounds had stopped. It had just been the wildlife and she'd scared it off with her sudden running. Her paranoia protested, convinced her pursuer had just stopped walking to lure her into a false sense of security. She pressed her jagged, bitten nails into her skin, that still stung from the nettle's touch. This was real, not whatever her brain conjured.

Kaya glanced up at the sky. The sky's redness faded into a dark blue. The first stars strained to light the sky. It was time to call it a day; she doubted she could get far in this darkness. With a sigh, she closed her eyes, struggling to listen for any sign of water. She could make out a faint murmur of a creek ahead. Hopefully it was clean.

The evening iciness began to set in. Kaya shuddered slightly, although she wasn't particularly affected by the cold. Still, if you wore a tank top at night during the early weeks of Cinean spring, even being a fire Elementida couldn't save you.

On her way, she kept her eyes on the floor and her surroundings. When she came across a mushroom, nut or berry she knew to be edible, she picked it up. Her knowledge was limited, but she had read a book or two about survival in the wilderness.

By the time she reached the creek, her arms were full of various knick-knacks she hoped wouldn't poison her or induce hallucinations. She crouched down beside the river and scooped up water with her hands, lifting it to her lips. In the past, she'd never really liked water, preferring juices, but her escape attempt meant she had to confront her fear. Besides, a little creek wouldn't hurt her. She could see its bed lay close to the water surface, about half way up her shins. It was harmless.

She dropped the first berry into her mouth and closed her eyes. She had expected to be met by memories, but instead she was met by a resounding emptiness. It couldn't be shaken once it had been acknowledged. It accompanied her while eating, while washing her face, while sorting out a sleeping space. The numbness and loneliness stayed close, even past her falling into a fitful slumber.