Mix Matched

4

 Remembering... Remembering was so hard. Her mind was rushing around her with different memories, ones that happened years ago. Still, she couldn't remember the dream she had, only seconds before. She remembered the fire, and the small bit of food she ate, but why was she scared? Why didn't she want to sleep more? She knew she was hungry and that's why her body was letting her wake up but, why was she so relieved to?

Waking up was a painful experience. Why did it hurt? Why did everything hurt? No answers. Only questions. She opened her eyes painfully to see that she was on a bed of... sticks?... Was this a nest? She bolted upright looking around her to see that she was in a little shack that seemed to be built on a tree. She was in a tree house? In the corner of the house there was a little kitchen and on the other side, there was a balcony. Emma moved her legs, despite the pain she experienced because of it, and went out on the balcony. It was a spectacular view. The whole forest seemed to stretch out in front of her.

"Sweet view. Am I right?"

Emma must have jumped 3 feet because the person behind her started laughing. Turning around, she saw the person that she recognized as the figure in the river. They-she? Was lying down on a hammock that was hung on the tree house and another branch beside it.

"Good morning sleeping beauty! You must have been out for at least a day."

"Uh... W-Where am I?"

"In a tree house, I thought that would be obvious..."

Emma looked the girl? down. She had wavy amber hair and strange eyes, they seemed to have no color in them, but somehow, Emma could see the misty blue in their depths, and the wings. In the stream Emma couldn't see the color of the wings but now that she saw them in person, she observed the deep amber and blue tips of the feathers. The girl seemed to not mind being scrutinized by Emma and just let her stare on. Her hair seemed to have feathers in it too, along with 2 pairs of smooth dragon horns on her head. Finally Emma saw The stranger's tail. It was fluffy, amber, and had blue feathers spread like shiny scales throughout the tail. The stranger was dressed in a pail purple jacket, and what looked like pj pants.

The girl finally seemed to be done with being looked over and said, "Let me change into something more appropriate and then we can finally introduce ourselves. I can grab you some new clothes to change into too."

Not being able to find her voice, Emma just nodded and waited on the balcony for the person to get back. When they did, they handed Emma some folded up clothes and told them where a good place to change was. In the bundle was a light grey jacket with a light purple t-shirt. There were also pink capris, white socks, a pair of pale blue shoes. Once she finished changing, Emma walked back out onto the balcony to meet the girl that was now in a blue undershirt, grey leggings and pink shoes, she still had her jacket on.

"My name's Mist."

"E-Emma..."

"So, you're new around here, right Emma?"

Emma nodded, not wanting to use her already fading voice too much.

"I thought so. I think I should tell you about this forest and some stuff before we go on and do whatever the Universe wants us to do." Mist began, "This forest is the place I've called home for a while now. From what I can tell, there's an invincible force I call the Universe, and it's keeping both of us in. I saved you from it earlier. I know from experience that the Universe can kill someone if it wants to, and if someone fought hard enough against it for long enough. I've just learned to accept what it wants me to do, no matter what it is or who it affects. I don't want anyone else stuck here like me, and the Universe is forcing us together, so maybe the Universe will be kind to you, and let me help you out of here if we do something for it or something... And ya! That's all I've worked out so far."

Emma just stared blankly at Mist, clearly confused and wondering 'What the heck is Mist going on about?'

"..."

"It's confusing," Mist began again, "but you understand it more as time goes on. Do you, maybe, remember how you got here?"

Emma took a second to think about it. Shaking her head, she told Mist about everything that happened. She told her about her friends that she missed, and the light she saw in the forest. She told her about how she thought she woke up in a cave but was really in a dark room with speakers. She told Mist everything from how her powers don't work well in the dark to how she tried to beat the 'Universe' and leave. For some reason, Mist seemed like a trustworthy person to Emma, a friend even. It was easy to open up to her.

When Emma finished, she looked over to Mist for the first time since she started talking. Mist was pale as a ghost. Mist had shut her eyes tight as if not wanting to look at something horrible.

"Are you ok?" Emma asked, not expecting a reaction like that.

"That portal," whispered Mist.

"Yes," Emma was taken aback. The portal had only been mentioned once, and with not much detail. Why did Mist seem so fearful of a portal?

"That's the portal that should take you home, but the Universe is telling me to destroy it... But why that portal?" Mist seemed to be talking more to herself than to Emma as she stared down at her hands.

"That doesn't make any sense Mist... Are you sure it's the right portal"

Mist looked a little downcast as she said, "Yes. It has to be the right portal; it's the only one in the building that you were trapped in. It's your way home."

Emma felt a shiver of fear pass down her spine at the thought of entering that building again, but if Mist was sure, then it had to be the right one... But why destroy the portal?

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1073 words! That's like an entire picture and then some... 

Have a fabulous day/night!