White Hair

White Hair (part one)

She waited silently, in the trees she sat, her bow pressed against her side. She was a shadow; a figure that moved without a sound in the dead of night. Her dark green cloak blended in with the leaves that shielded her from sight. She was clever, hiding her long white hair in her hood; she became a faceless creature of the darkness. She looked to the stars as her guide. She knew they could insure her escape and lead her to a new life. As a nameless body, she nimbly jumps from branch to branch; she was agile and discreet as she moved.

Though a dark hooded stranger now, she was quite the vivacious character. However, recently, her ebullient personality had become dejected. Filled with regret, she somberly walked along the small path made of crushed grass and twigs from years of wagons and horses traveling through the area. Above her, tree branches intertwined to form an elaborate design. A heavily wooded area, she was alert of her surroundings at all times. The forest stood in a lull that night; a peaceful stillness covered the area. An occasional hoot from an owl or a shift in the wind kept her awake. She hummed a sweet lullaby to herself, the one her mother used to sing to her; oh, how her stomach sank at the thought of her parents. At first, she felt guilty about leaving them behind but came to accept the truth; if she was to be happy, she must go somewhere new. Suddenly, a small flight of birds came soaring out of the top of the trees that stood a couple hundred yards away. Someone was following her.

She began walking slightly faster than she had been, careful not to provoke the person, or beast, following her. One of the best hunters of her generation, she knew how to catch prey and also, how to avoid being it. She continued on her path as if nothing had changed and slowly she strayed toward the right near a large group of trees. Soon, she disappeared; she was swallowed by the black abyss.  

He waited in the trees; stalking his prey, he watched her every move. He too was hidden by a cloak, though, a dark blue color to match the sky. Quietly, he would fade in and out of the darkness. He hid behind the trees and in the braches, making sure to keep his distance. He recognized her song; a melody he was very fond of. He hummed along as he tracked his victim. His focus was steady; he was prepared to strike. Under the night sky, two mysterious beings walk. Covered by hoods, their identities go unknown. Stealth is essential for survival. However, his target began to move. Swaying towards the right side of the path he became confused. He took to the trees once more, wanting a better view of where she was going. As he approached the top, a small flock of birds became frightened and swiftly flew into the sky, flying across the silver full moon. He stood on the edge of a branch, watching her very carefully. Suddenly, she vanished. Startled, he fell out of the tree.

All of a sudden, two daggers were pointed at his throat. Now, the hunter had become the hunted. Adrenaline rushed into his veins; he stopped breathing. Completely still, he stood there waiting for his opponent to make their move.

"You're good," she said as she moved the small knives away from the back of his throat, "but not as good as me."

"I could never fool you," he said with a charming smile, "How did you know it was me?"

"Your hair." She answered simply. "You didn't hide your hair. I could see it from a mile away. And your footing isn't the quietest."

"Ah, my hair," he sarcastically said in a dramatic tone.

They both laughed a little as they fixed their cloaks.

"What are you doing messing about so late at night, Ceilidh?" he asked her in an amusing tone.  

"The stars seem to shine brighter this eve. Would you mind taking a look with me, Eirnin?"

He nodded with a smirk as they climbed the tallest tree. They shared a branch to sit upon and gazed up into the sky, admiring the shimmering dots above their head. After a few moments of silence, Eirnin became impatient waiting for his answer.