07 Step One

I looked away from the setting sun and saw mother standing in the doorway. She had a blank look an her face, but her eyes glistened. She's going to get mad.

I was surprised when she rushed to me and held me. I squirmed, worried that I'd get her clothes dirty, but she just held me. I stopped and wrapped my arms around her. I tightened my embrace as my tears fell. I trembled as the yellow eyes stared back at me from the darkness. I was running again, and yellow eyes followed me.

"You're okay now," she soothed.

I sobbed into her. I'm not sure how long I cried but she just held me and told me everything would be alright; that I was safe. I later found myself on my palette, under my blanket, staring blankly into the darkness as yellow eyes stared back.

I felt strong hands on my shoulder as I lay in bed. Warmth radiated from him and I snuggled close. I almost fell asleep but I heard someone cry, soft, reedy, gentle. It was muffled after a while, and the sobbing lulled me to sleep.I'm not sure when the warm presence left but, no yellow eyes followed as sorrow filled my dreams.

Mooing called to me. I opened my eyes and listened to make sure it was real. There it was again. I sat up and ran outside.

Mother caught me at the doorway and smiled as she looked into my eyes. "It's real. Go change first before you go out." She kissed my cheek and nudged me back inside.

I looked around before going in. I was smiling and couldn't help myself. Father got a cow. I changed and hurried out then stopped as Seed blocked the door. He tossed something at me and I caught it as the soft material hit my face. I heard a thump by my feet right after. I pulled it away and looked at it.

"Clothes?"

He nodded.

I looked at the white tunic that was cut very short and the black trousers. They were thick but light. I took off my shift and threw it on my bed, then put on both. I looked at my feet and saw a belt and a pair of shoes. I looked at him, "For me?"

He nodded again.

I laughed and wore the leather. I ran my hands across the soft material. Everything was soft and I just ran my hand though the various materials over and over again.

Seed knelt before me. "Watch. I'll only do this once."

I stopped playing with the clothes and looked at what he was doing. It was a knot for the shoes. He did it slowly then untied it.

"Your turn."

I copied what he did and grinned. Not perfect but close.

Seed pulled the knot apart and I blinked.

"Again."

I tied it again. It looked better this time, I did it faster too.

Seed pulled it apart once more.

I pursed my lips and did it again, faster, better, tighter.

"Now you won't forget." Seed stood and went back to the well.

I looked at him and tilted my head. I really don't understand him, but I guess he's right.

I ran out feeling better with my new clothes. I turned a corner and saw the black cow and shouted my amazement.

Mother saw me and hugged me again. She pulled me away and looked at what I was wearing. "Your father?"

"Seed." I said. "Can I go now? The cow is waiting."

She smiled, and nodded.

I ran to it and stopped a few steps away. It was bigger than I was. I tipped toed close and touched its side with a finger then skipped back laughing.

"Is she really ours?"

Mother was looking away but she smiled as she nodded. "She is. Your father bought her yesterday."

"Can I touch her?"

"Sure, just be gentle, okay?"

I giggled and tipped toe closer. It watched me approach with its dark eyes. I waved my hand and it just looked at me so I hugged it's neck. Its black fur was soft and warm. I closed my eyes and sighed. It mooed and the sound hummed along my arms and the cheek I had against it's neck.

I stepped back and looked at it. It looked at me too.

I nodded, "I'm Ash." I gestured at mother drawing water from the well, "She's my mother, Chrysa."

I felt a gentle hand on my head, "I'm not sure she understands dear."

I looked at mother. "You sure? She's been looking at me this whole time. Like she knows something."

She smiled at me and caressed my cheek, "I'm sure we're very lucky to get such a smart cow."

I nodded as I leaned into her side and wrapped an arm around her waist. "So what should we call her?"

"I think it's best if you gave her a name."

"Really?" I jumped and hugged her neck. I kissed her cheek before letting go and approaching the cow once more. I skipped to it and gingerly placed a hand on it's muzzle. "Hi."

It mooed.

I giggled. "Maybe I can call you Momo."

It mooed again.

"I"m glad you liked it." I looked at mother for approval.

She smiled, "Hi Momo."

Mother left to wash clothes. I continued to play with Momo until she had to graze farther. I watched the cow move farther away then looked at Seed.

I took a step towards him, and saw it again. Yellow eyes stared me down. My heart raced and my breath quickened. I reached out for support as darkness surrounded me. There was none and I was falling.

Cold held my limp form up.

"You're a warrior right?" Darkness held me in it's safe embrace. "I don't want to be afraid anymore."

"The trick is to open your eyes."

I did. I stood on my own, my hands on his arms for support. There was grass and the sun. I looked up at the blue sky and let the warmth touch my face.

"I wish it could be like this forever. I wish I never have to run again."

"Then stop."

"Stop and do what?"

"Fight."

"I don't know how to."

"I can help."

I faced him, "Please."

He reached behind him and presented a dagger. It was gray, as wide and as long as my forearm.

I took the hefty knife, and held the rough leather grip.

"It's very sharp," A sheath followed, leather and thick. "And this is very hard"

I took the sheath and poked the ground with it. It didn't give or bend. "It is."

Cold hands guided mine as I held the dagger.

"Follow," he walked into the forest with a similar dagger in hand.

I did. When he ran and I gave chase. It was a challenge at first, trying to balance with the weapon in my hand and avoiding getting stuck as I ran, but I managed. I stopped when I saw him in a large area in between the trees. It was dim as barely any light passed through the thick canopy above. I broke through the bushes and stood beside him.

"Follow" He placed one foot forward and raised the dagger.

I did. He moved my feet and arms to correctly mimic his and went back to his stance. It was going to be the day's pattern. I would copy what he did and he would correct me. I felt incompetent, but if I continued this, I wouldn't be.

I'm not sure how long we went through the slashes and thrusts and lunging and rolling and everything, but I slowly felt the burn from each movement. I winced after a slash as my arm burned. I was breathing heavily. I should stop. A yellow eye and blood snapped me out of the fatigue. I can't be like that again. I can't be helpless.

I looked at Seed and saw him looking at me. He wasn't moving. If you didn't know that he could move, you'd think he was a statue. I couldn't maintain the pose and sheathed the blade, then let my arms fall to my sides. I closed my eyes and sighed.

He wasn't there when I opened my eyes again. I looked around and saw nothing. Leaves rustled behind me and I faced the source of the sound. My smile faltered as yellow eyes met mine.

"Seed," I screamed. Nothing. I looked for him again before my attention was pulled back to the beast emerging from the brush. I stepped back.

I prepared myself to fight. I'm not helpless anymore. I ran at it slashing. I drove it back but none of my attacks hit. Each slash burned now and when I stopped, I could hardly breathe. Yellow eyes stared, black body close to the ground. It pounced and I swung. It was too soon, I missed and pain exploded from my arm as it latched on. I fell back and it was on top of me. I pushed and kicked at it, but it just bit down harder. I screamed as I lost control over my left arm. I stabbed it but my hand was empty. I found its throat and pushed, screaming as I felt my flesh tear. I squeezed. It shook its head to loosen my grip, but I tightened my grip even more. Yellow eyes stared into mine before it leapt back.

I held my bleeding arm close, pain radiating from the bite as I stared at the beast. I inched back, fear pushing me away. I heard something thud to my right and a metallic glint caught my eye. I grabbed the leather handle, drawing it from the sheath as I did. I still crawled back, but now I had this to hide behind.

It stepped forward, yellow eyes glaring from across my blade.

"I'll kill you!" I screamed at it, but it just kept coming closer. "I mean it."

It leapt teeth bared, yellow eyes never breaking from mine. I put my injured arm before its jaws to block it. I screamed. I brought my arm close and stared deep into the yellow eyes that wanted me dead. I thrust the dagger into it, over and over until the jaw slackened, then fell away. I stood and kept hacking at it even as it lay motionless, even as its warm blood and gore covered me.

"I am not helpless," I shouted despite the rawness of my throat.

A cold had held mine, and stopped my rampage. "It's over,"

I wept, letting my arms fall to my sides.

Cold arms swept me up and I continued to cry. I cradled my throbbing arm closer, and looked at my empty hand. The gentle rocking lulled me; the pain, fear and anger faded.

Cold water startled me awake. The sight of Seed bent over me, slowly setting me down, curbed my urge to panic. I felt smooth rocks beneath me as water rushed around me. I breathed deeply and slowly.I felt the dirt, blood, gore, fear and anger wash away as I lay there.

After a while, Seed helped me sit. He took my left arm and looked at the deep gouges that teeth tore. I remembered the pain, the panic, but I just stared at it. It didn't feel like anything now. He slowly ran his hand slowly across the wound and it vanished. I looked into the metal mask and it's shadows and saw nothing. Yellow eyes opened and I flinched back. When I looked back at Seed, there was nothing.

"You'll no longer see it, but you'll fell it still. You have to fight."

I blinked at him. I looked at my arm and moved my hand. There was no pain, or trace, but I knew what he meant.

Seed stood and walked back into the forest. I stood up and took a few steps. Yellow eyes stared at me from nowhere and I froze. I tried to take another step but could not. I willed my feet to move, but nothing happened.

Something thudded just in front of me. It was a leather sheath and dagger. I lunged for it and held it, then took a step forward.