The Non-Human Society

Chapter One Hundred and Ninety Five - Renn - Reatti's Conclusion

      The road to Lumen felt like the longest road I've ever traveled... or that anyone's ever traveled, likely.

And it wasn't just because Reatti and I were on foot, and not on the horse. Nor was it because it's been very long either.

Walking next to Reatti, as she walked next to the horse and guided it with its reigns, I wondered if the two of us would walk the whole way in silence.

The trip from the Clothed Woman's sanctuary to the Bell Church hadn't been silent... but that had been because of Fly and Wool. Reatti and I had even talked to one another then, but only because the conversation demanded it.

Yet since leaving the Bell Church... well...

Glancing up at the dark clouds in the sky, I wondered if I should just be thankful that it wasn't raining. It had rained earlier, and my clothes were still damp thanks to it. Hopefully I didn't get sick... I did feel a little cold. I wore traveling clothes, heavy duty stuff made of wool and leather... but they weren't as nice as the stuff Vim had prepared me long ago, or the stuff Lellip had made. Plus some of my bandages were now itchy. They had dried out already, thankfully, yet now felt different than they had before. A little less comfortable, which was saying something since they hadn't been comfortable at all beforehand.

The horse's hooves made persistent sounds as it trotted behind us. It didn't breathe very heavily, even though it was weighed down by half a dozen bags and boxes. Its load was the reason we were on foot, since there was no room for us to sit upon it.

We had left the Bell Church in the morning... and the world was starting to grow darker, and not just because of the dark clouds. The sun would be setting soon. In a few hours, likely.

I wasn't sure how far we were from Lumen, or if we were even heading to Lumen at all. Reatti hadn't said a word since we left the village... and... well...

Our departure had not been a normal one.

We had been forced out. Or rather, I had been.

I was now banished from two locations within the Society.

Though this one didn't hurt as much, yet, it was definitely bothering me.

Just how real were that old woman's claims? I believed it to a point, since I knew how cruel and strong my ancestors were... but...

But...

No. The truth was obvious. After all, such devastation had been the exact reason that witch had found me and my family. It was why she had hunted us.

And how had she known anyway? I had never seen that woman before in my life. Yet she had recognized me instantly... either by sight or smell.

I sighed, and did my best to not start sobbing and breaking down. Not so much because we were out in the middle of some random forest, but also because I didn't want Reatti to hate me even more than she obviously already did.

Though likely nothing I did could make her hate me any more than she did.

I had gotten her brother killed. What could be worse than that?

Rounding a small bend in the trees, I noted a scent in the air. One not usually found in a forest.

Something beyond the smell of the trees, bushes and animals. A little stronger than the rain soaked forestry, or the horse walking behind me.

The smell of something burning. The smell of people. Humans. Dirty ones.

Glancing at Reatti, I wondered if I should say something. If she had also noticed she didn't show it.