Mystique woods

4》Children of Ifra.

Emily's POV:

The lady was looking at me expectantly for a reply, while I stood there looking at her with confusion and uncertainty.

"But how did you come here in Dieennyx?"

How did I???

The question was ransacking my mind for an explanation or something to say while my eyes took the time to study the woman in front of me.

Hey skin was of pale purple colour with green, long feathers erupting from her forehead, close to the hairline. Fiery, orange coloured thick hair dangled until her waist, with soft curls that were tucked with multiple white coloured tiny flowers.

Her dress consisted of a knee-length skirt and a loose blouse that snaked around her upper torso in a very complicated fashion, leaving the skin of her stomach on display. There were glistening golden and silver patterns etched on her skin making some sort of an intricate tattoo. Similar pattern circled her neck, wrists and ankles.

She looks so much like my, Ira. If Ira could ever transform in human form, this is what she would look like.

While I was studying her, she patiently stood there, an understanding glint in her eyes. A silence surrounded us in that moment.

My stomach chose the exact moment and disturbed the silence with a feral, rage filled growl, complaining about not being filled. My face was painted the colour of the sun here. A bright red. The lady laughed like chiming bells and I tried to ignore the embarrassment.

"Seems like you haven't eaten in a while. How long have you been here, honey? "She enquired with worry etching on her face, when I was taming my reddened cheeks.

"Uhh... I am not very sure but the sun was... somewhere up there when I landed here, madam." I said pointing towards the sky.

At my last word, the lady snapped her attention from the gleaming sky to an untidy me. Her saddened eyes stared at me as she took my hand in a soft grasp of hers. A sad smile graced her lips as she said, "you didn't recognise me, did you? "

Looking at her sad face, I wasn't even able to speak. So I just settled for shaking my head to say no.

Giving me a smile, she started whisteling a tune that I knew by my heart. As she went on, tears started pooling in our eyes and I squeezed her hand in recognition. By the time she was done, a tear ran down my face and a name of someone beloved tumbled out of my mouth in a cracked voice.

"Ira!"

Shock, happiness, wondering, awe, confusion and many other expressions were splayed on my dazed face as I uttered her name.

She nodded her head and captured me in her warm, welcoming arms to whisper in my ear, "yes, Emily it's me."

A sob escaped my mouth as I cried, huddled in the arms of a bird-lady, whom I considered a mother since I was a little girl. " But, how are you not a bird? What is this place? What did you mean by Dieennyx? And what-"

I was cut off as Ira pulled back saying, "Emily, dear I'll answer your every question. I will explain you everything that you must know. But you haven't eaten anything for most likely, thirteen hours now. Why don't you eat something first? "

My stomach grumbled in approval of her suggestion and she giggled in amusement.

Walking at the border of the forest she extended her hand towards
the tree with a purple mist swirling on her palm and I watched in astonishment as the dried, slender branch of the tree grew lush with leaves and a delicious looking star shaped fruit hung from it. She reached ahead and plucked the fruit and returned back to me.