Thiefess

Chapter 4-Imilia

I sat down cross legged on the hard early and took a deep breath. I took one last survey of my surroundings, and closed my eyes.
Listen.
I listened. I listened to the trickle of a stream nearby, the call of a bird through the dense green surrounding me.
Listen harder.
The crackle of twigs under the hooves of a distant doe, the splash of a fish in the water, the snap of branches underfoot-

Someone was in the forest. And close.

I slowly stood up and creeped towards the sound. Years of living in the forest had taught me how to move without a sound, and as I edged closer not even the animals sensitive hearing could have picked up my presence. There, I saw the figure of a woman. I breathed a sigh of relief. It couldn't be a guard. But could it be...?

She laughed, and I would know that sound anywhere. Tessa.

I ran forward and leaped, but instead of crushing her like I would an enemy, I wrapped my arms around her, and she hugged me back. She laughed even more.
"Imilia! Good to see you too!"
"Tessa! I thought you were a guard for a second there..."
She laughed, and threw her head back so the sunlight caught her golden hair. She grabbed my hand and tugged me along. "Come on, we have to get back! Mothers waiting for you."

*8 years earlier*
So close...
The bird hopped closer to my hand and the food in my palm. Finally, after weeks, she was almost going to trust me enough to do it...
CRACK
The snap of a nearby branch caused her to fly away in alarm. Oh god, what now? Is it a guard, come to take me away? A monster, waiting to eat me...

It was another little girl. But she wasn't like me. She was wearing a dress and she had a pretty bow in her hair.
"I'm Tessa. I'm 11 years old. Who are you?"
She was very confident. Unlike me.
"I-I'm... Imilia. What are you doing in my forest..."
"I ran away from home. My mother said I have to be fancy like a princess, and I don't want to. I want to play in the garden with George."
"Who's George?"
"My pet bird."
"What's wrong with being a princess?"

By this time we were sat down face to face. She looked at me weirdly.
"Where's your mother?"

Oh no. I can't tell her the truth.

"I-I ran away too. But that's okay. I'm okay here alone."
Suddenly we heard a shout in the distance.
Tessa stood up quickly.
"I have to go..."
"W-wait... promise you won't tell anyone about me?"
"Fine. But you have to come see George one day."
"Deal."

That one time turned in to one time a year, and that's how our meetings began.