She Is Free

two

Crap.crap.crap.crap!
The only word repeated in my brain at the moment.
Recap of the past six months:
Upon moving to France, i met some people. They taught me how to find edible plants in the forest, taught me how to live in peace with animals, speak french, and then they left on a buisness relocation. Soon after i moved to a place in the forest called Forêt domaniale de Compiègne. I payed for a small house almost unreachable if you didn't know where you were going. But i had a great memory, and managed to make it work.
I started out as a trail blazer and then would make money showing tourists 'the wondrous land of the forests of france' and that gave me a steady income.
So my dog, Otto, and i live somewhat off the grid. We dont have to pay for electricity or water because i use oil lamps for light and drink well water. Otto scavenges for things and occasionly gets a rabbit or a squirrel. As far as i could tell, i was safe. But oh hiw wrong i was. I came to find that after i left America in search of a new life, Alexander went on a rampage to find me. I just couldn't contemplate why. The new was heard from when i traveled to town to sell wood and berries. The newspapers read 'king Alexander in search of his runaway mate'. It couldn't be farther from the truth. And i looked hardly alike to the girl in the photo, i was tan now, my hair chopped off, scars on my arms but now, i presume, i look older. Maybe more mature, i had gotten a sleeve of tatoos, all nature related, but i didn't look remotely close to the 15 year old who left. He could never find me and i would never let him, i was free now, i was wild now, and i called myself a new name. The name only people who lived in town knew me by, Elise Keane. And it was better that way. So, the chances he had of having someone to love are lost, the chances he has now are slim.

"Bonjour Elise, je paierai 25 dollars pour vos baies." I will pay twenty five dollars for your berries. Ms. Camille offered. "Wi." Yes. I echanged the money for the small bag of berries.

I walked out of the small shop and Otto followed happily behind me as i walked to the main road. It was 10 mile walk, something i was used to, something that left me in my haunting reverie of King Alexander.

I had nightmares of him frequently, many were of him finding me, even more of him rejecting me. A scene i knew all to well, one i would forget if i had one wish. If i had another, that one would make sure it stayed gone for good.

I walk along the trail by road that i call the small way. It was barely known, many couldnt see it. The thick brush made sure of it. I wonder what possessed the man who i wouldn't dare call a mate, to come in search of me.

And while is my walking meditation, i realized that, maybe just maybe, i was affraid. Was i hiding? Maybe i wasn't being the free and wild woman that i am. But i knew that any sort of recklessness would cause for me to found.
And then i came to a revelation, one that was churning inside me for many moons, i needed to stay wild. I needed to learn more, i needed to live freely, how we all should live.
"est otto affamé?" Is otto hungry? And he looks at me sideways.
We have made it home, the tiny cabin. I open the door and Otto rushes in to lay on his blanket. The red one that i got for him when i found him. I was sure he was Coyote at first, but then again, he didn't bark like one.

I chuckled as he chewed on an antler that we found a week ago. I lay on the small couch that i managed to aquire and Otto brought his blanket with him while he lay next to me.
I soon fall into a restless sleep.

'You cant be my mate, a human!' He scoffs almost mad at the world.
The only sense of hope i had vanished, but i wouldn't let him see that. "Who would have thought that i would end up with a coward." I mumble, but he hears it, and this only darkens the atmosphere. "I king Alexander III reject you as my mate." He spits. What starts as a chuckle, turns out sounding like a diabolical laugh.
"Took the words right out of my mouth." I say then flip him off, leaving him stunned.
Silent tears fall down my face. But i wipe them away, i would never be seen crying over him again. The dull ache was noticeable from the moment he said his name.

I sit up, or try to anyway, but my dog blocks me from any such thing. "mouvement d'otto." I command and he whines, flopping off the couch.
"bon loup." Good wolfy.
He plods over to his bowl and drinks some water while i go to the well and bring the bucket inside, pouring myself a bowl and drinking it like soup. An unsettling feeling was present but i just can't quite place it.