Anna Leto ~ Discontinued

Chapter 5

Running through the green field, I let my fingers brush against the longer grass.

The sky was now a bright blue, silver-lined, white, puffy clouds dancing high above me, the birds twittering and singing a heavenly tune, and the butterflies fluttering around me as I glide through the lovely field.

I abruptly stop as a fairytale silver butterfly lands on my nose, an occasional open and close of its gorgeous wings.

"Well hello there little butterfly." I smile, looking down at my nose where the butterfly sits, "I shall name you Ree-ree, after my bestest friend of all time."

The butterfly flaps its wings a couple of times, before doing a tiny circle around me and sitting itself down on my now raised finger.

"Seems like you like your name, Ree-ree. I'm glad you do. I really miss my best friend, now more than ever. Do you reckon I should go back? You know, back to St.Vinny?" I ask Ree-ree.

St.Vinny is my shortened version for St.Vincents, it's just much easier to say.

Ree-ree seems to understand me as she seems to answer me back by drooping her antennas.

"I'm guessing that's a no then." I sigh.

The silver butterfly leaps into the air and starts to flutter into the distance. She suddenly stops in mid-air and glances back at me, as if asking me to follow her. I take a few steps towards her and break into a jog as she turns back around and leads me into the forest that sits on the rim of the field.

I breathe in the fresh forest air. The trees becoming thicker and thicker the further we go and the air giving off a more green smell.

Ree-ree guides me to a clearing and gently lands on a large rock beside me.

Wow.

There in front of me was a flowing, crystal blue waterfall with a little lake at the bottom of it.

"It's absolutely gorgeous, Ree-ree!" I exclaim, excited at seeing such a beautiful view.

I sit down at the edge of the small lake and take my shoes and socks off, rolling up my leggings to my knees and dipping my feet into the warm, crystal clear water.

"Who knew water could be this warm in nature at the heart of winter." I breathe out, looking up to my new friend, Ree-ree.

She flutters down and joins me by resting on my shoulder.

"You know, Ree-ree, we kind of look similar. We both are pale and my white hair looks similar to your silver wings. But obviously your silver is much more beautiful."

I look down at my reflection in the water.

"Ree would love this place. She once told me that if she could, she would live near a waterfall and dip her feet in the water often, taking her time to admire nature's beauty. She said she would live surrounded by nature and spend her time gazing at the sky. I wish she could. I wish she could be here to see this."

Ree-ree then fluttered her gorgeous wings and flew in front of me giving a little dance and fluttering off and away.

I sigh once again.

"Goodbye Ree-ree, I hope to see you again soon, byeee, thank you for showing me this!" I call after her, waving my hand.

Once again, she gives me a little dance, as if answering me with a magical yes and glides away.

I turn back to face the waterfall again and take a few deep breaths.

"Ah, I love this place, so peaceful and calm."

Since finding this field and forest yesterday, I've had the biggest smile on my face. But sometimes even that wasn't enough. I just. I really miss my best friend, Serene.

I lay my head down on the soft mossy ground, my feet still dangling in the warm lake water, and close my eyes, savouring every second of this moment.

As I take this time to store this pleasant moment in my little head, soft but heavy footprints sound to the right of me.

Oh no, people.

My body tenses and I lift my head, quickly jumping up to stand my ground.

Moments later, a human head finds me through the thick of trees and there emerges a half human half horse.

I stumble back, frightened of this creature, my feet tripping on pebbles causing me to land on my bottom and my hands.

"Ouch." I mumble.

I raise my hands to my face to inspect them only to find them grazed and dirty.

A single tear slips down my face as I start to panic.

I move my hands to hide my face and start sobbing pathetically.

"P-please, don't hurt m-me. I b-beg you, please."

The half man half horse approches me.

"No, why would I do that? You are only a little girl." he assured.

"Who a-are you?" I ordered, getting a little bit of confidence, "A-and why do you look like that?"

"I'm a centaur, didn't you know little one? My name is Atticus. What is yours young lady?" he informs me.

I fully uncover my face now and take in his appearance.

He has slightly tanned skin, with dark brown hair and two scars that go from his left shoulder to his stomach. He has a pouch on his bag carrying arrows and holds a bow in his right hand. His horse body and tail are the same dark brown as his hair and his eyes are a soft amber brown.

"I'm Anna." I tell him.

"I saw in the stars, a couple nights ago, that I'd meet you today, and I have a message I need to pass on to you." he states.

"The stars? How? And what message?" I furrow my eyebrows, "Wait, what's a centa... Actually nevermind, nice Halloween costume though, bit late but that's ok."

Atticus chuckles. "You're funny, little one. Now before I tell you the message I have to pass on, would you tell me why you are here in the first place?"

"I could ask you the same." the corners of my lips twitch upwards to form a smile.

"I live here." he simply replies, "now answer my question."

"I-I... Um, nothing, I'm not doing anything here, I was just sitting. Sitting here w-with my friend." I spit out, suddenly nervous again, I have always been told stranger danger and he to me is a stranger, even if he's dressed all funny.

"I don't see a friend here, where are they?" he states firmly.

"Errr... Well, you see, she's gone." I look down at my feet.

"Where?"

"I-I... I don't know." I hide my face once more.

"Little Anna, don't be afraid, please. I, Atticus, am only trying to look out for you." he sympathises.

"What's the message?" my small, weak voice sounds, ignoring his previous statements and questions.

He sighs, "They are after you, I don't know who exactly, but I'm sure you do, you're not safe, you have to run, little one. I wish you the best of luck. I'll keep a lookout for you in the stars." and with that he disappears into the distance, back in the dark from where he'd emerged earlier.
_______

1225 words