Finding Hearts (Nanowrimo Entry)

Finding Hearts Ch.3

AN: I bet you thought something more exciting was going to happen this chapter, like i don't know, the introduction of the other main character, but no, I'm just that mean ;)

The next morning I was woken abruptly by footsteps in my cave. Shocked, I stayed frozen, hiding behind my blanket of leaves. The sound of feet grew ever closer until eventually through the dim light I could make out the face of another Kappa. Or at least, I assumed that's who it was, I had never actually seen another of my race, but the demon drawing ever closer was similar to my reflection. Except this one was bigger, much bigger than me, maybe 6' feet tall, and she exuded an aura that made me quake. Her eyes were a pale blue strangely, Kappa eyes were generally luminous, and her pupils were mere slits. Her hair was light blonde and had grown near to her but. She let it hang loose, her slight curls bouncing with every step she took. Her skin was darker than my own, a chestnut color, with patterns of some sort of plant, a flower of some sort, etched in black against it. Comparing the two of us, I also could see she was a lot bustier, my body lacking any curves at all. She was breathtakingly beautiful. I saw instantly this was what an adult was supposed to look like.

The other Kappa caught sight of me she smiled, but somehow I knew she wasn't friendly. There was something about the way she was looking at me, something akin to the way I must have looked at the koi I had eaten less than a day ago; she was eyeing me just like prey. I gulped nervously.

The kappa women came to a stop directly in front of me, and when I still didn't respond to her advance, she picked me up by the neck, dangling me several feet in the air. I squeaked completely terrified. I should have run when I first heard someone coming, or even better I should have left my territory the day I became an adult, just as Seraph had told me to, but I had been reluctant and stubborn. Now I was paying for my continued stupidity. I had no idea what to do; I could not run away in midair. Completely helpless and scared out of my mind, she had trapped me by removing my only means of escape and now I was at this gorgeous stranger's mercy.

Casually slinging me over her shoulder, paying my pleas and my squirming little heed, she rummaged through my cave, searching for anything of interest. When she finally found my collection of gems, the pride and joy of any Kappa, hidden near the back of the cave in a hole under a rock, she let me go, throwing me head first into the side of the cave wall.

My head pounding, blood trickling down my brow, I slumped to the ground in a heap. Dazed, I watched through lidded eyes as the kappa women examined the jewels closely, holding a ruby to her nose as she scrutinized it. I couldn't help but revel at her enormous strength. Though I was fairly skinny, I still weighed a good amount and she had easily carried me and then thrown me with such force. Briefly drifting in and out of consciousness, my thoughts wandered and I wondered if I would be that strong someday, it would make my life so much easier...

My brains scrambled, I didn't move from where I had fallen until the women, pleased with her findings, finally turned and addressed me, the golden rings around her wrists jangling,

"Get out of here little one. I'm so nice that I'll let you live if you leave now." She smirked down at me, knowing there was no way I could refuse her.

I nodded, of course this wasn't what I wanted, but I had no other options. Shakily, I pulled myself to my feet.

I'd made it about half way out of the cave, still dizzy and unable to walk straight, when I realized there was one thing I couldn't leave without, regardless of the consequences. I gradually made my way back to her, making sure to move cautiously so that she wouldn't attack me.

"P-please, wait..." I stopped walking when there were several feet between us, leaving enough room so that if she ran at me I still had a chance to escape. I could only stand there patiently, hoping she would hear me out.

The kappa glowered menacingly, taking several moments look me over, suspicious, before replying, her voice terse," What is it little girl? I have no time to play with children and you're on my territory now since you can't defend it. This better be quick or I'll eat you." Her hands folded over her chest, her eyes cold, I had no doubt she was serious.

In front of this terrifying Kappa another whimper escaped my lips as I spoke, "Would you please...please let me keep that white stone..." Weakly, I pointed it out from among the pile of gems. It was dangerous to ask, after all Kappa loved jewels of all kinds, but that was the first gem I had ever collected, discovered with the help and guidance of Seraph. If I had to leave the home where he had brought me up, I at least wanted to take what reminded me of him.

The Women picked the stone from the pile, trying to determine if it was anything of value. Seeming to lose interest, she dropped the hand that she'd been holding my stone in to her side.

"What a brave request, usually no one dares to try and bargain with me. The last one who disobeyed me died painfully, you're lucky I haven't done the same to you. Though skinny," She moved closer until her lips were right by my ear, "you look well made, I bet you'd be a good meal." Then suddenly her hand was sweeping back my hair and she bit my earlobe.

I screamed shrilly, I'd never met another being before besides Seraph, and everything this women did was new and scary. No one had ever touched me before, yet there she was, nibbling lightly on my ear as if this type of interaction was normal. Which even I knew wasn't true. I Jerked away from her hand and mouth, putting another few steps of distance between us. For a while she just stared at me, a genuine smile on her lips, laughing at me. I didn't think I'd done anything funny, I had no idea how to respond...so I simply stared back, wearily, rubbing my ear gingerly. The bite marks she'd left stung profusely.

Eventually, she calmed down and continued, if she was upset that I'd pulled away from her she didn't show it, "As I was saying, you'd taste wonderful, I'm sure of it, but you see, I have a thing for cute little girls, so I won't kill you," She smirked at me again, but this time with a weird look on her face, and for some odd reason I felt heat rise to my cheeks, "In fact, I'll even admit that I admire your gumption for speaking to me, so I guess I'll give this to you. It's nothing special anyway." The women tossed the stone to me and I caught it clumsily, almost dropping it in my surprise.

"Th-thank you, thank you so much mam!" She was my predator, and she'd come and taken away my home, but I could do nothing else but thank her. Under these circumstances it was hard enough to believe I was still alive, she could have easily killed me, and then to even let me keep a small part of my treasure. Though warped, it was an act of benevolence.

I bowed deeply to her, overwhelmed with relief, thanking the gods I was still alive. For a moment, the women seemed pleased with my response, but then the snarl returned to her lips, though nowhere near as severe as earlier.

"Yes, yes, I'm truly to kind for my own good. Now leave before I change my mind and rip the meat from your bones. Your eyes are so adorable when they're wide with fear." The smile returned to her face as she finished, her hand on her chin thoughtfully, as if imagining the act.

With that look I knew it would be dangerous to stick around any longer. This time, with nothing more to ask of her, not that I would have dared to ask even if I had, I scampered from the cave. Once outside, I took a moment to get a last look at the only home I had ever known, waving a quick goodbye to the koi and patting the rock I had sunned on just yesterday, knowing I would never see any of it again. I walked to the west edge of my former territory, feeling the Kappa's eyes burning into my back just as hot as the sun. Clutching the stone tightly in my right hand, I quickly looked back at the women nodding in a final acknowledgement of her kindness, before taking off, running as fast I could manage, farther and farther until my home was a spec in the distance. I stole backwards glances of it until I could no longer make it out.

As I ran over the sand, the wind roaring against my ears, I tried to figure out where I could go. Finally, having no knowledge of the land outside of my territory, I decided I would run until I could run no more and wherever I stopped would be where I would stay. After having my head nearly scrambled it seemed as good a plan as any, and I wanted to get as far away from that kind, but terrifyingly creepy women as I could. As I ran I could still feel her teeth on the shell of my ear, and I couldn't help but shudder at its unpleasantness. I never wanted anyone to put their mouth or their teeth on me again. Ever.