The Tale of Tara and Emiko

XXX. Emiko

Tara was ghosting me.

She wouldn't answer my calls, left me on read with every text, and pretended like I didn't exist when I saw her in school, even begging a teacher to not pair her up with me during partner work in class. It was just like the week after the capture the flag game, except this time Tara was the one avoiding me.

Thankfully, Zia wasn't mad at me anymore. "You sure put that Tara Grey in her place!" she cried after we left the arena.

Selene was a little less blunt. "You did great," she said. "And Lenora! Oh, who knew you were learning how to fight like a Letap so fast? And that shadow technique? Perfection, I say!" Lenora purred proudly at Selene's compliments.

And then Tara sent me a letter, hidden in my locker. How she knew my combination, I don't know. But it was the first contact she'd made in the time after our first battle.

I waited until after school to open the note, which was folded into a paper origami crane. Tara always had a creative streak. Selene and Zia hovered, reading over my shoulder.

Emiko,

Long time no see, eh? Well, I haven't got much time to write this, so I gotta be quick, and you should too. Meet me tomorrow after school (praying this doesn't get to you late!) in the forest with a lake and a rock formation in the large clearing, about a ten minute flight east from the place where you hid your flag in my backyard. I'd like a rematch, a friendly revenge for that fateful first battle. I can do better.

-Tara

"Don't go."

I was shocked by Zia's instantaneous response.

"Why?" I asked.

"She'll kill you."

Selene was appalled. "Zia! Don't say things like that!"

"Okay, maybe not kill you. But still. Don't trust her. Don't go." Zia crossed her arms defiantly.

"She'll think I'm a coward if I don't go," I protested.

"But you'll get hurt if you do," Zia retorted.

"You don't know that for sure!" I cried.

"We don't want you to get-"

I cut Selene off. "I know what you don't want! But I also know what I want, and it's to see Tara again! When will you guys just let me live my life without trying to tell me what to do every step of the way? I can protect myself, so stop acting like you know what's best for me, because you don't!"

Selene took a step back, hurt. "Look, Emi-"

"Leave me alone."

I ran.

It didn't matter where, or in what direction. I knew the layout of this place like the back of my hand, so getting lost was practically impossible. I just ran.

Eventually I got away from the biggest part of the small town, in a small forest, where I collapsed against the trunk of a tree, legs and lungs burning. Lenora plopped down beside me, resting her snout on top of her front claws.

I wasn't mad at my friends at all. I just...needed some time. And space. And-

"Emiko???"

I turned around...and saw Tara, looking as shocked as I was.

"You're early," was all she could think to say.

"Why are you here?"

"I could ask you the same thing. Anyways, since we're both here because of some strange mystical force working in tandem with the gods of coincidences, wanna have that rematch?"