Memoir of Xayah - The lost sparrow and the lonley fox

[21]; [22]

« So you fell from a temple? » asked Ahri, walking quickly on some tangled branches.
She tried to climb on the natural path where the Vastaya was, but it was impossible with a broken arm. She could dig her claws on the wood as much as she wanted, but she had not enough strength to lift her body.
At least, she did not have to answer to Ahri; she had to focus on something else.
She did not like that sudden mood shift; it was too strange. She did not mind the Vastaya opened herself. She had liked it when she had given her that dress and had combed her air.
But that moment felt natural. Now she was afraid that Ahri was faking. And she had seen her behaviour with the three hunters; the Vastaya could be a great actress if she wanted to achieve her goals.
But she did not understand what she wanted from her.
A hand entered in her sight, and she puffed; she had to accept her help. So she reached the natural path, a long trail of tangled branches, born from the proximity of some huge trees.
They had emerged in the middle of that coniferous forest. They were secular and silent inhabitants and with time had united with each other, creating those aerial paths.
She had already seen that phenomenon in Ionia, but not inside a forest full of young and delicate trees. They looked as old guardians, the last on that land.
« Yes, » she finally answered to Ahri, noticing her sincere smile.
It would have been rude not to answer to a person that was being kind with her.
« Not the one on the top of the hill, right? » the Vastaya asked.
« Yes, that one. It is a long story, » she said, moving ahead.
The conversation had to stop at that moment. She did not want to tell Ahri about her plans and be judged for them. She had heard the tone of that question; the woman was worried and not a little.
She did not care about the dangerousness of humans, but she seemed to know about the reputation of the Temple of Whispers.
Maybe she had underestimated the rumours about that place.
« And where have you learned to throw your feathers? » Ahri asked, coming near.
Another question, another she did not want to face. The Vastaya seemed to choose them carefully.
« My father taught me. It is a tradition of my tribe, » she said, moving a branch full of large leaves.
« And... »
« And you? What is your tribe? » she asked.
Ahri stopped and lowered her sight, playing nervously with her hair.
She felt cruel to shut her in that way, making her sad, but she had to. Her curiosity was touching some sensible points, some memories she was not ready to share.
She did not mind to talk, but the subjects were uncomfortable.
« It is a long story... »
Ahri had played the same card; she had preferred to omit than to speak. She could not blame her; she understood her reasons.
« Maybe we should start with something more simple, » the Vastaya said, jumping on some lower branches.
She finally heard a wise sentence, after too many annoying. Her question had got an unexpected impact. Probably it had put Ahri on her same perspective, and she had understood her feelings.
She accepted her offer, even if she still did not trust her spontaneity. She reached the Vastaya with a quick jump, landing next to her.
« Like what? »
« Do you like water lilies? »
It was a better question, but she did not get the context. Water lilies were a gorgeous flower, but that statement was useless at that moment.
« Yes, they are pretty, » she replied.
« Perfect! Follow me. »

[22] Ahri led her on that tangled path, helping her when she had some difficulties.
She did not understand her behaviour. The Vastaya was too kind to her, too open, especially after her last words: she could not stay by her side.
Maybe some sense of guilt had haunted Ahri while she was sleeping? Maybe meeting some humans had enlightened her?
It was a mystery, one of the many about her.
She did not make any question, and the Vastaya also did not break the silence. It was not as heavy as when they were inside the cave. It was lighter and became a pleasant break. She was able to hear the sounds of that forest, from the low chirping of cicadas to the singing birds. She could also sense the soft steps of some tiny animals, agile and snappy.
The trees were silence, proved by that windless day. They looked old and tired, weakened by the weight of their ages. Their knots covered their wood as wrinkles, but the leaves grew lush, green and shiny.
Ahri crawled through some dense branches. She tried to follow her, but she had some difficulties. They were too much to move using only one arm.
The Vastaya helped her and led her at the end of that aerial path.
Now the question about the water lilies made sense. Under them, there was a small lake, painted with crystalline colours ad covered with those flowers.
They were gliding quietly on its surface, like clouds in the sky. They were pastel spots inside an intense green and bright turquoise.
It was a pretty sight, not the best she had seen, but after her long period inside the cave, it had a pleasant shade.
« I found it by chance, walking inside the forest. Sometimes I came here to relax and then I have found this picturesque spot, » Ahri explained.
« I like it, » she answered, sitting on the branches.
« That is good. » the Vastaya replied, settling down next to her.
She seemed relieved by those simple words. Maybe Ahri was trying to build a relationship with her, despite her problems.
And she had to accept it and not remain inside her forced isolation.
She could have found support, an aid after all that time alone. It was unexpected, but that did not mean it was terrible.
They were both far from their tribes, and they had to count only on themselves. They had more things in common than differences, like being afraid to build a relationship.
It was the truth: she wanted to communicate with Ahri, but she feared they could bond. She knew one day she had to leave the Vastaya behind. She had to follow a path too impervious for someone that lived peacefully inside a cave. She had already lost too much and did not want to get lost in an illusion.
She looked at the crystalline waters for a long time. She watched some long colourful fishes swimming between the water lilies, lulled by the sound of the forest.
Ahri did not speak. She was also enjoying the peace and the tranquillity of that place.
It had been a long time since she got a moment to relax, a break from her obsessive research. She had never thought of stopping, neither for one minute.
And in front of those blue waters, she did not regret that. She felt her mind more light and free. She had to broke an arm to understand that taking a breath could help to regain strength.
« You are not that bad,» she said to Ahri.
She was not good at saying "thanks", especially to strangers. But the Vastaya deserved that, even if she did not say it directly. She hoped she understood. It was too embarrassing to pronounce that word.
« Thank you, » replied the woman.
She smiled a little bit, looking at the small lake. Ahri had understood.