𝙍𝙚𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝘿𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙞𝙭

|20| Memories of a Past Life

TAERIC

My gaze pivoted around anxiously. I took steps forward trying to run, but it was like running through water. The door to my rukak'z was just a few steps away, and I fought the current pushing against me. The frame of the entrance began to crumble as I got closer.

Glass cracked and crumbled. Huge fissure sprinted from one wall end to the other, racing each other around the hut. I stumbled into my rukak'z and the figure of a female tucked in on herself laying on the floor illuminated the crumbling room. Her deep auburn hair blew with the wind and pale skin looked ivory against the hard, dark wood.

I fell to the ground and held her close. I expected to turn her over to see the face of the female that raised me, but it morphed into a young female with soft brown skin and freckles across the bridge of her nose. She smiled and put her hand to my cheek. "You can't save them."

I recoiled in shock as the skin peeled back, revealing something green beneath. It grew in size as I sunk into the floor, stepping closer, a vicious tongue slipping out of its lips. Emara's appearance completely melted away.

"Die."

I shot up, gasping for air. Damn. I tugged the blanket away from my legs, fighting to untangle the mess I had made with them in my dream state.

I ran my hands across my face and took a deep breath. Sweat drenched my shirt, and I yanked it off my body, hating the sticky feeling it left with me. The Kosar hanging around my neck that my father had given me slapped my chest as if punishing me for yanking my shirt off so aggressively. The frigid temperatures outside cooled me a bit as I pushed the hut door ajar.

I sunk to the short stool in front of a makeshift desk made from a plank of wood. The translator beeped and hissed before popping open and I messed with the wires again, hoping to solve the problem with the communicator. It would make my stay here a lot easier. I could also communicate with Emara and hopefully explain the situation better.

"You can't save them."

I clenched the edge of the wood and shook my head. I couldn't escape the vision of Emara's face twisting in pain. No. I can't change the past, but I will not let that affect the future. I need to solve one problem at a time and that starts with proper communication.

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"Snow!" I hear Evelyn shout. I watch through the window as she teeters back and forth on her feet before looking over her shoulder at Emara. "Please, I have to go outside and play," she states, suddenly serious.

Emara laugh. "Evey, I already told you that you could." The kit's eyes brighten and she moves to put on her shoes. "-after you clean up your toys and put on some snow clothes," Emara finishes decidedly. A humph escapes Evelyn's lips as she shuffles upstairs to clean up the mess.

I smile, pushing the door open. I tap my boots free of the snow, clinging to it before stepping inside. The door clicks softly after stepping inside. Heat radiates over my body as I move closer to the hearth and place the wood in a careful pile for burning later.

Turning in the kitchen's direction, Emara's gaze caught my attention. Something was strange. Her gaze turned sharply back to the pot of stew before her. I couldn't ignore the rush of heat through my body. The image of her dying was still fresh in my mind, even though it had been hours since this morning.

Was she upset with me?

Perhaps I had made something difficult for her without realizing it. Everything was much more difficult with the weather, and knowing her temperament, she would only mull over trying to solve it on her own instead of telling I was doing something wrong.

Checking the floor on my way back to the door for any snow tracked into the rukak'z, I made my way back outside. Slipping on my boots, I stifled a sigh. If I showed any discomfort, Emara would jump to help fix it, even leaving something for herself left undone.

I moved back to the small hut that I had been staying in for these past months while on earth. Maybe that was it? I was making her feel on edge with the work that still needed to be done. I shook my head and stepped inside. The instruments I had been using to repair my communicator were strewn across the table haphazardly.

A river of wires and metal pooled next to my translator. Picking the device up, I closed the opening I had been working on early today and gripped it with resolution as I exited the hut. I didn't need to worry over my own thoughts. I just need to ask her.

As the front door came into view, my steps faltered with shock. "Emara?" her name came out heavily accented on my tongue but she glanced up immediately, her cheeks looking flushed. She was bent over, still slipping on one of her boots.

"Oh!" A soft laugh escaped her lips, visible in the air through soft white puffs. "I was just coming to get you." She stood up, her foot slipping the rest of the way into her boot with the movement. Emara stepped forward, taking a few steps down the deck.

The couple of steps left from where I stood made her closer to my height. She opened her mouth as if to speak but sucked in a breath instead. Shaking her head softly, she looked down at my feet, and I resisted the urge to smile at her sudden shyness. I took a small step forward as if to encourage her to speak and she looked up, a glimmer of confidence in her gaze.

"Taeric, it's been freezing lately, and if you feel comfortable, I wanted to invite you to stay here with me and the kids." She seemed to be holding her breath.

I smiled and moved my head in agreement. "Yes."

A full grin stretched across her face. "Okay. Perfect." The grin turned into a softer smile. "Your English is getting better."

"Thank you," I said, willing my tongue to pronounce all the letters correctly. The "th" in most words would sound like a harsh f but it came out surprisingly well this time.

Emara raised her arm gesturing inside with a grin, "Food is done too, so come inside and eat. I'll help you grab your stuff from the hunting shack after."

I nodded and took a step up the stairs.

I feel so guilty. I have been itching to get back to writing but kept putting it off because the inspirtation wasn't quite there. I have resolved myself to push through it and continue with the story. 

Hope this chapter isn't too disapointing :') but I already have the next couple of moments planned out so they should be coming soon.

Thank you so so so much to all my readers for sticking around even when I ghosted you for so long. Love you guys!

Until the next chapter~

🖤