05 Seeds

I opened my eyes and listened. I heard quick footsteps and the rustle of a skirt fading away. The door creaked open and let in the songs of birds. I sat up in my pallet and looked at the empty pallet my parents used. I guess father’s already left. I swung my legs over the edges, the straw that made up my pallet tickled as I did. I slipped off the shift I wore and put on my white tunic and brown trousers. I stood and stretched. I curled my toes on the cold wooden floor.

I rubbed my eyes with the back of my hands and looked out the doorway and saw the well and Seed sitting right beside it. His armor gleamed in the sunlight. It’s amazing how there aren’t any gaps or apparent joints but he still moved without problems. He actually looked more like an iron statue than a man in armor. I blinked my eyes and slowly made my way to Seed.

"Drink."

I stopped as the words appeared in my mind. I looked at Seed, "Drink?"

"Yes."

I went to the well and reeled the bucket up and drank from it. I kept on drinking until the bucket was empty and then drew more. I continued drinking, but no matter how much I drank, I could still drink more.

I jumped and dropped the bucket when I felt something cold on my shoulder. I looked at it tumble into the darkness of the well, the clatter of the bucket falling echoed. I turned to look at Seed.

"Enough."

I turned to face him completely. I raised a hand to shade my eyes from the light reflecting from his armor.

"What are you planning today?"

I scratched my head to think. "Play I guess."

The armored man nodded. "Enjoy."

My face stretched as I grinned. I spun and ran away from the well, towards the sun that's barely risen, golden warmth called me. My arms were wings keeping me balanced as the grass beneath me flew past. I stumbled on the dewy grass at the sudden burst of speed I had, but I rolled, crawled a bit and just kept on running. I felt the sting of scratches from the falls but running numbed the pain.

The sun climbed up the sky and I chased it, never really catching it, but I came closer. I saw the fence and a stream across. I looked up and saw the sun halfway to its peak. I laughed having run all this time but not tiring one bit. The closer I came to the fence, the harder it was to see above it, and I had to resort to peeking through the gaps in the wood. I leapt after a few more strides and sailed above the fence.  I landed and rolled ended up face up, lying in the grass and mud, the stream gurgling to my left. I sat and brushed at a few blades of grass.

Dry. My throat was dry and the stream called to me. I crawled to it and drank. It was funny but when I drank this time, it was just wet. My throat wasn’t dry anymore but I was still thirsty. I cupped my hands to drink more, but nothing changed. I jumped in the water and drank from there, but nothing. I just felt sick and bloated.

I walked on the opposite bank and looked up. The sun stared back, warming me. I smiled, irgnoring the dull ache of thirst, and continued walking. The plains were vast, but I started seeing more and more trees to my right. I looked at the endless seas of grass to my left and walked towards the woods.

Laughter. I heard play and walked towards it. When I broke through the bush I saw children staring at me. They wore a motley of browns, and greens; they were part of farming families, like me. I looked at a few more kids run into view as they investigated what was happening. The biggest kid looked at me and grinned.

“Probably ran from his chores to play too,” he told the others.

“Yeah,” I said scratching my head.

“Probably played already,” a girl giggled. “He’s a mess.”

I looked at my muddy clothes and the grass, leaves and twigs that stuck to it.

“Your eyes are pretty,” another girl mentioned.

Warmth flooded my face.

The other kids crowded to look. I took a step back as they voiced their agreements.

“We’re playing hide and seek.” The big kid said. “You can be the one to find us since you’re new.”

I nodded. “20?”

“Yeah,” the kid said. “You can start now.”

I closed my eyes and counted down from 20. The giggles around me faded into rustling leaves and snapping twigs.

After the count I looked around and started looking for everyone. I found some in bushes, and behind trees and a few atop trees. I laughed as they did when I found them. It was easy as they all stayed in sparsely wooded areas.

“Did I miss anyone?”

“Yeah, one more.” The big kid said.

I looked at the areas I’ve already searched, then towards the more wooded area that I didn’t search.

A high pitched scream filled the air.

The children looked around, and came closer together.

I looked around then followed the sound. I saw a girl on the ground crawling towards me. “Help,” she cried out.
   
Yellow eyes emerged from the depths of the foliage followed by black fur, yellow teeth and sharp claws. A low growl coated the area with it's intent. Thick drool dripped from it's maw. It pounced at the girl.

I screamed and dashed towards it. I raised my arms to shield my face as I rammed it. I felt its furry mass resist my momentum with a yelp of surprise before it was thrown back. I rolled to a stop several steps away while the beast was thrown back into the foliage.

“Run,” I shouted still focused on the beast. I watched the black creature emerge, eyes glaring and yellow teeth bared.

I heard movement behind me, “Let’s go,” I heard the big kid say. The girl sobbed and their footsteps faded.

I stepped back, trembling. I clenched my fists as I watched it follow me with its eyes. It lunged at me. I pivoted and fled.

It’s growl haunted my retreat. I tore branches that got in my way and threw it at my pursuer. I crossed the stream and leapt up the fence. I heard something hit the fence,  claws scrabbled against the wood. I rolled and looked at it as it tried to break through the wood. I got up and stared at the bared teeth through the gaps in the wood. It rammed the barrier again. I flinched, stepped back and ran. A howl echoed after me.

I could no longer hear the beast chasing me, but I continued to run. I felt the fear drain from me. My heart pounded and my throat burned as I continued to run. Every part of me was heavy and my head throbbed, but I pushed on. I wasn’t sure where I was, I looked around without really seeing. I fell over and rolled to a halt as darkness took me.

Cold. It was suddenly cold and wet. My eyes opened and my arms flailed as if to ward off an attack, but all I saw was the afternoon sky. I took a deep breath and listened to the steady rhythm of my heart. I closed my eyes in relief.

"How was it?"

My eyes snapped wide open as the words appeared in my head. I turned my head to look for Seed. I saw him seated to  left. I slowly sat and looked around. I saw our house and the well. I sighed. I was home.

I pulled myself to sit against the well. I looked at my hands and remembered how helpless I was earlier. I looked towards the horizon, and hoped they got away.

Cold water was poured on me again. I looked at Seed holding the empty bucket. He set the bucket on the lip of the well and extended his hand.

I stared at his hand and looked back at the horizon. If there were more than one, They'd all be dead now. I wallowed in the tragic possibilities that might have happened because of what I did.