Princess Warrior [ON HOLD]

09

"Friendship is the only cement that would ever
hold the world together."
     -Woodrow Wilson.

After wandering in one of the least dangerous  parts of the nearest wilderness according to Lemuel who was some what concerned about my safety and finding a pasture for the flock, we sat and watched them eat.

We both sat in silence. We were both lost in thoughts. I glanced sideways and noticed that Lemuel was staring at me with an expression and a look in his eyes that I didn't recognise. I said, "Why are you staring at me that way?"

Lemuel smiled and said, "Your skin, it's beautiful." I stared at Lemuel dumbfounded. Never in my entire life had I thought my skin beautiful. Instead, I had always wished I had Mother's fair skin.

Lemuel laughed and said, "Your facial expression is so funny." Lemuel continued. He said, "Your skin reminds me of a dark, exotic jewel. One that intoxicates with its beauty."

I couldn't stop myself as I said, "No, you're the one with beautiful skin."

Lemuel looked at the flock thoughtful before saying,"You don't need the sun or any other thing to make you look properly sun kissed. Unlike me, without the sun, there really is nothing special about my skin. But yours is different."

We were both quiet before Lemuel added, "Your skin is beautiful in its own uniqueness. I guess you need to learn how to appreciate it and be confident in it only then will others truly learn to appreciate it."

I stared at Lemuel unable to qualify what I was feeling towards him at that moment. My mind was swirling with a lot of emotions and I didn't recognise anyone of them. I smiled and said, "Thank you Lemmie."

Lemuel cocked his eyebrow at me and I laughed. I said, "I guess we're even with the nicknames then."

Lemuel shook his head good-natured. I couldn't help staring deep into Lemuel's eyes. They were filled with an emotion that I still couldn't identity.

Just then, we heard a noise in the bushes behind us. Lemuel and I stood up at alert. We noticed brownish orange fur in the undergrowth scurrying. I took a steps towards where the animal with the beautiful fur ran off to. Lemuel said, "What are you doing?"

I said in a whisper, "Don't speak so loud. I want to see whatever animal that was."

I heard the lack of belief and worry  in Lemuel voice as he said, "Are you joking? That is definitely some wild animal. We are lucky it didn't attack us in the first place and still you want to go after it."

I was still searching for the animal in the undergrowth and still walking towards where I had seen it last. I said, "Don't be such a bad sport Lemmie." I noticed his footsteps had halted meaning he wasn't behind me anymore. So, I turned and looked him in the eye. I said, "Aren't you curious about the animal? I mean you said it yourself that it ought to have attacked us but it didn't. The more reason for me to be curious and for us to follow this animal. So come along." I turned and continued walking. I threw a glance behind me over my shoulders and noticed that Lemuel was still behind me. I didn't know why but a small smile played on my lips at that moment.

We walked a little distance and I still noticed the fur scampering here and there in the undergrowth. When the fur finally stopped and I was close to it, I heard a yelp and turned sharply to face Lemuel. He cradled his left arm with his hand and his face was etched in pain.

I rushed over to him and said, "What happened? Are you hurt?"

Lemuel must have noticed the worried expression on my face because he chuckled nervously. He said, "It's nothing. I scratched my arm against some thorns nothing more."