Creative Writing

Blind Trust

The forest felt different today. It was usually so calm with the sounds of leaves in a gentle breeze, small critters looking for their next snack, and angels conversing. However, the morning air was still with anticipation, as if the animals and the very trees themselves were waiting. Lei was so distracted by this new atmosphere that she didn't sense someone approaching with light feet.

"Lei, are you listening?" a rough voice jolted her from her daze and she gasped in surprise. Gentle laughter calmed her beating heart and a calloused hand was placed on her arm, accompanied by the smell of cinnamon. In that instance, her magic mapped out her brother, Ky. At the age of 24, he was a head taller than her. His dark skin and white hair, that was up in a messy bun, were family traits that they both shared. His rugged face was crooked with a smile as his hazel eyes looked at her apologetically, "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you. I would think you'd know I was coming with that weird magic of yours."

"I was distracted..." she replied, sweeping her hair out of her face unnecessarily, "You're so light on your feet, have I told you how hard it is to be blind and have a brother like you?" His hand left her arm and the image of her brother disappeared, only leaving the presence of his healing magic, "Anyway, what were you saying?"

"Mom needs you. She's having trouble finding a certain plant that she wants to research," he said.

Lei chuckled, "I thought she was researching that weird bug." She began to make her way toward the distance presence of her mother with Ky right behind her. The grass felt soft underneath her feet and with every step, a little part of the forest came shining through the darkness. Tall trees that varied in width swept past her and faded away as she walked whilst running her hands along each passing trunk, the bark feeling rough against her soft skin. Her magic occasionally gave her a glimpse of a squirrel running along a branch or the vague impression of a bird flying over her head.

"So did I, but she found a rare herb that could enhance your magical abilities and left that for another day," Ky replied. As the two of them neared her mother, Lei could make out the shape of their small hut. It was carved out of a large tree, the leaves still thriving above. Inside, it consisted of a small front room that was clean and two bedrooms, one for mother and one for Ky and herself. She liked their house because she could see everything when she stepped inside due to how it was carved. The furniture was carved out of the tree and, therefore, connected to the very floor itself.

"You still haven't found it," Ky teased and Lei sighed. Everyday, Ky would hide a coin and she had to find it. So far, she had never lost their little game.

"It's early, give me some slack. Besides, it's under your bed," she said and Ky clicked his tongue in disappointment.

"I can never beat that magic of yours, can I?"

"Never have, never will. Not being able to see has its advantages." Lei replied with a smile. Her magic was special in a way that it didn't show any attributes like the other kinds of magic. It just helped her see, nothing more. They passed the hut and the air shifted suddenly. Everything froze and Lei's steps faltered. The energy that always seemed to thrive in the forest was gone, replaced with an empty and tense silence. Deep in the forest, her magic picked out a presence that she had never felt before. The trees disappeared from her mind, leaving her in the darkness. It was only her and the newcomer who was slowly inching its way towards them.

"Hey, snap out of it," Ky said and the presence disappeared, the life of the forest returning. Her hazy surroundings once again came into view and Ky grabbed her hand. His concerned face popped into existence, "You've been spacing out a lot, is something wrong?"

Lei ran a hand along her face and nodded, "Yeah, sorry. The forest just feels weird today."

Ky's concern lifted a bit and his callused hand tightened around hers, sharpening his features from the action, "I'm sure it's nothing." He began to walk once more and she was dragged alongside him, his hand not leaving her own.