Alpha's Divine Commandments

Chapter 13

A light breeze washes through the valley, stealing dry colorful leaves from the forest floor. A single leaf flickers, trying to fly away but trapped as my arm falls back by my side and molds a print into the damp moss. The rest of my body followed, rolling from my side to lay on my bareback. I stir momentarily, peeking up at the shadowed canopy. No stars just thick entangled branches spread out overlapping each other. A soft hum close to the ground. Following the noise, twisting my head over to the right side. A few fireflies danced over a slow flowing stream nearby. Lighting the water in a bright golden glow as it rippled. The combined relaxing sounds drifting me off back into a slumber. 

*~*~*

Tingles, small tingles spread over my cheek. Brushing over the spot in a daze the annoying tingle ran down my neck and remained near my shoulder. Again brushing the spot with the side of my hand it quickly moved to my chest. Half asleep and half confused I part an eye open slightly. The waking light blinding at first as I lent up onto an elbow, rubbing the sleep away with the other free hand. Small pricks dug repetitively into the fat of my stomach, pinching again and again as I peered down to look.

I freeze, staring down a small green insect with large prongs. It's head bopping to either side and glaring at me with ferocity. And yet it did the worst thing imaginable, moved forward.

"No no....NO!" I mumbled into a scream.

Pushing off in a crab-like motion in the opposite direction. My eyes glued onto its green buggy bulbs blaring towards me still. A mushy substance meld around my fingers, roots sprung up as my feet flicked the mud out in front Until...

Darkness, everything pitch black and stiff. Out stretching the entirety of my body, I open my eyes and lean my head back. The air bubble rises as I start kicking my legs to propel myself up. Gasping, I break through the surface. Mouth wide as my hair stuck to the curve of my face and chopped my vision.

A burst of ringing laughter and hands clapping started from the right side bank. Tripping around toward it, hovering in the water. Swimming closer until my feet found supportive ground to stand on.  Half my body emerges out of the water,  clearing my hair to the side and looking ahead. Toppled over the backside, a woman held her gut. Loud cries aimed at the scene laid out in front of her. She rolls back up and lingers towards the bank of the stream; slowly coughing off the chuckles.

Remaining still in the water I wait until she takes the last step, her bare feet pressing deep into the mud. Inspecting the stranger from head to toe, her albino skin meeting the sunlight through the sheer translucent cotton covering her body. Choppy strands of Nordic white hair blowing with the wind as her face observed mine. She slowly kneels onto her knees. Quickly stepping back deeper into the water, distancing myself as she peered over the edge. She reaches her arms out, cupping the water before bringing them back to her front. Lifting one of her hands something crept out.

Those bulbous eyes popped out followed by the rest of its wandering body as a single finger patted its head.

"Did she scare you?" she said, bringing the mantis closer to her face. It twisted its body about, gripping its prongs to her cheek and climbing up.

Nipping my bottom lip, slightly conflicted with what I was watching. The mantis crawls it's way from the cheek to the top of her head. Tossing bits of hair and getting comfortable and lowering its body on to her crown.

"He's not dangerous you know," she said, returning her attention to me and reaching out an arm towards me.

"Not from my perspective, that thing tried to kill me," I said. Restraining my arms and crossing them over my chest.