The lonesome Tuk Tuk lies next to the disheartened and whimpering Raya who's still curled up in a ball of despair after many hours on the sandy riverbank. As the sun sets on the horizon, Tuk Tuk stares forwards into the flowing and glittering river, listening to the trees' green leaves softly rustle in the mild wind and to a marvelous symphony of wild animal cries, calls, screeches, and chirps play out in the tropical rainforest.
Tuk Tuk sighs, wondering when his owner will return, but unwilling to disturb Raya for fear of another rage or crying episode.
Crack
Snap
Tuk Tuk turns around. His eyes scan the dense tropical rainforest a few meters behind him where the sounds of snapping branches came from. His eyes widen as the trees' shadows shroud a figure moving through the nearby bushes towards the riverbank.
Yelp
Screech
Tuk Tuk wails in freight as the figure leaves the shadows and...
A topless and pint-sized young boy with short straight black hair and emerald green eyes wearing turquoise blue and baggy pants emerges from the shadows while carrying two handfuls of kaffir lime leaves. The boy's sweaty and dirty body and frazzled hair reveal a long hard-working day. Noticing Raya's curled-up body, he drops the leaves onto the sand with an O shape on his mouth.
The boy starts cautiously approaching Raya while Tuk Tuk shakes his head back and forth at him. As he gets closer, he cringes at Raya's revolting and musty odor and starts breathing open-mouthed.
"Ar-are you ok?" The boy whispers while trembling, standing over Raya.
No response.
"Hello?" The boy asks, starting to reach for Raya.
Tuk Tuk yelps at the boy and the boy withdraws his reach and turns to Tuk Tuk, acknowledging Tuk Tuk's warning with a slow frightened nod. He gazes around and walks to a long stick lying on the sand, grabbing it and returning to his original position. Tuk Tuk stops his warnings while watching him proceed.
The boy shakily glances at Tuk Tuk and then at Raya. He has heard stories about the mischievous Kappa and how they sometimes lure their victims into the water, never to be seen again. His eyes scan the water trying to spot any indication of the Kappa, but his search yields nothing.
"Pl-please be alive." The boy whispers, facing Raya with the stick in hand. Tuk Tuk winces as the quivering stick softly pokes Raya's shoulder.
No response.
The stick firmly pokes Raya's shoulder. Tuk Tuk hides in his shell.
"Who's there!" Raya demands, quick to her feet while jerking Ba's whip sword out of her waistband. The boy flinches and yelps as Raya turns to him. He staggers back while facing Raya and he trips and falls backwards onto the sand with a thud.
"Don't hurt me, I'm begging you!" The boy pleads, his arms covering his face while he trembles. Raya stares at the boy in disbelief for a moment, then tucks Ba's whip sword into her waistband.
"I'm not gonna hurt you." Raya reassures in a low voice while walking to the boy and away from Tuk Tuk.
"So-so, this isn't a trap?" The younger boy asks.
"No. This isn't a trap." Raya states, standing over the boy while he slowly lowers his guard and stops quivering.
Raya lends a helping hand which he takes; she pulls the smaller boy off the sand and takes a few steps back.
YOU ARE READING
A Fallen Warrior
FanfictionFive hundred years later, the Drunn returned. Afterward, a pre-teen Raya washes ashore on the side of a river. But then a young villager boy finds her. Now, she starts a new journey to save a village, and, unknown to her, save herself.
