Separate Souls | #1 Tainted Series

Chapter Eight

"I wasn't ready for 'im to leave."

Makaria Reed:

Makaria had found Kale, but only to say goodbye. She willed herself not to keep crying, wondering if she would develop a familial bond with someone again, or if she wanted to, for that matter. Everyone considered family left her, her mother, brother, father, and now Kale. She tried to be strong, to convince herself that it wasn't her fault, but part of her thought it was. Why must this 'appen? she thought. Why do bad thin's 'appen to good people? 'E never deserved this, I wasn't ready for 'im to leave, I wasn't—I... come back, you can't leave me. Kale. I'm not ready.

"Are you okay?" Ryder asked as he neared closer to her. His posture bent, as he glanced about, almost ready to pounce.

In any other situation, Makaria would've been tempted to open up about how much Kale meant to her and how terrible she felt. She would've, perhaps, let everything out, including her most treasured memories with him. Like when Kale forced her into a hug, or when he defended her against the rest of the elders who said she was hopeless, or the countless times where she'd never get away with hiding her feelings, not with him... He always knew.

But such wasn't the case. Ryder was no friend of hers, nor was he anyone she trusted, or even been properly acquainted with, he was a stranger of the opposing side. She remembered his crimson eyes and his pale skin as their past conversation echoed in her head:

Why're you doin' this?

For fun, woman! For fun!

She knew nothing about this man, except his thievery.

"Who was he?" he asked, softly, in the softest tone he'd ever used, afraid even. He must've known he was treading on delicate grounds.

For a moment, she considered telling him it was none of his business, but the importance of Kale was far too great. 'E deserves to be remembered, feeling a lump in her throat as she tried to use the right words. "A brave warrior, too wise for 'is'own good."

"How, um—" his feet crunched the leaves on the ground. "Was he a relative or?"

"Not blood, but 'e might as well 'ave been."

"Oh..." He cleared his throat. "I know what it's like to lose someone."

Makaria scoffed. Someone? I've lost many. Besides, she had no desire to talk of it. She didn't want to remember his white hair and wrinkled skin, or how he'd treat her without pity. He treated her normally, indifferent, by scolding her whenever she needed to hear the harsh truth of a situation or simply by being there for her, accompanying her even if she didn't want to talk. That was who she was, and he understood that, and now he was gone.

"I lost my mother and sister when I was a kid. My uncle left a few weeks ago," he said.

The similarities surprised Makaria, family, they'd both lost family, as both children and rather recently. "Why'd 'e leave?"

His hazel eyes glanced at her, a small smirk tugging on the edges of his lips. "Curious. I'll add that to the list of possible spirits..."

Makaria rolled her eyes, feeling a bit less sad.

"To be honest..." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I—uh—I'm actually not sure," he said. His hands slid from his neck to his hair, avoiding her stare.

'E's hiding something, Makaria thought, suddenly wanting to call him out, but she couldn't, not when she was doing the same. "What about your father?"

He stared ahead, still, seeming pensive before bursting into a polite laugh through gritted teeth."He—well, you see... My father's a difficult man, at best..." and the ground below Makaria fell as Ryder's voice drifted away.

She stood in front of a sweating man in a large fine bed. His fair hair clung to his skin as his drowsy eyes struggled to stay open. "Ry...der..." he groaned, and Makaria spun around to see Ryder talking with a hooded man in the corner of the large room.

"I may be too late," the hooded man said. "He'll be lucky if he survives until-"

"What do you need?" Ryder answered, quickly, cutting him short.

"A few herbs and some books from my cabin."

"Done. Anything else?"

"No," the man said. "I'll try to save him. Though on another note, I feel it is my duty to tell you..." He gave him a piece of paper, and his voice dropped to a whisper. "If you're ever curious about your mother's truth, come to me." And the man rushed out of the room.

"I don't agree with him most of the time, but he needs me," Ryder said.

Who was that man? Did that already happen? Was she seeing the future? Far too confusing, she thought, it'd be best if she set it aside for now. It wouldn't help the situation.

"Does'e know 'bout your spirit animal?"

"No." Ryder said. "I think my uncle did though. We never explicitly said it, but I was about to turn one time, and he somehow had one of the pills the herbalist made for me. He knew exactly what to do." His eyebrows furrowed together as he put his hands in his pockets.

Though they both lost family, Makaria wouldn't have lost her own if it wasn't for the Guilt. She reminded herself, trying to burn the rising pangs of sympathy. I thought the Guilt 'ad everythin', but maybe not...

"Listen, um...Would you mind giving me my Ocarina back?"

The ocarina again? "You can't 'ave it." To call your little buddies? No, she thought. She wouldn't risk it. What if some Guilt soldiers were searching for him? What if some were stationed nearby?

"It's important to me."

"No, besides, we're 'ere."

"What?" Ryder yelled.

"We're 'ere!"

A waterfall thundered nearby, forcing them to raise their voices. In front of them, a plethora of thick jade vines dangled, quite curtain-like, almost teasing their entry.

"Wait, I'll be back," Makaria said.

She could only hope her comrades were still there.

***

As I keep publishing, I keep cringing at my old writing, but IT'S FINE. I'll keep uploading for the sake of sharing SOMETHING.