I run, with no care for where I end up. As long as I escape that's all that matters. The air feels like fire in my chest, but no matter how much it burns I won't stop. I trip once, but that doesnt stop me. I roll on the ground back onto my legs and continue. The sound of pursuit has ceased, but I don't slow down. Whether it's the adrenaline or my own will keeping me going I can't say for sure. My bare feet are numb from the running and the coldness of the ground. Finally I see a forest ahead of me, I run for it with only one thought in mind. If I could only pass that line of trees then I will be safe. Without knowing where the energy came from I run even faster.
Finally I pass the first line of trees, though I don't stop. I want to make sure I'm safe. As I come up to a spot among the trees where it looks like I can easily hide myself, I stop. With the last of my energy I climb up the tree and try to look around, though nothing but trees can be spotted in all directions around me. I decide this spot is as good as any to stay for the night. I can't see the sky but I know the moon and stars are watching me. I curl up on a little indent in the tree and wisper "Mother I made it, I only wish you were here with me." Finally the stress and lack of energy catches up with me. I just barely remember holding my tail and thinking of mom as I fall into a cold and restless sleep.
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Beep...beep...beep...beep...beep...beep...
I wake up to the usual dreaded sound. My eyes make contact with the dreaded device and if looks could kill... well if they could "kill" an inatimate object that is, then that device would most surely be dead many times over. I sigh and turn off my alarm to get ready for another day. After choosing my clothes and washing up, I make some toast for a simple breakfast. Though I wake up plenty early to make a nice breakfast and I have the skill; I almost never make more than just toast. I contemplate whether or not I am just lazy or if I just lack the motivation to cook a full breakfast as I finish my toast and grab my bag.
As I start my long walk to school I pause and look at my watch. Realizing what day it is I decide not to go to school today. Yes, how could I forget. Today exactly six years ago my grandfather died, or to be more precise, the day he was killed. My grandfather was an amazing guy.
When I was about two years old my dad left my mother and me. My mother was a sweet lady always taking care of her only son, she never remarried and tried her best no matter how hard times were. Yes, my mother always found a way for us to survive. When we lost our house she asked her dad if he would help us. My grandfather told her that if she ever needed help, to never be afraid to ask. My mother, as sweet and loving as she was, had one main flaw, she was stubborn. She hated to ask for help almost to the point of self ruin. None the less she knew when she had no other alternative. So we lived with my grandfather for about 4 years when my mother confided in us, albiet too late, that she was diagnosed with a disease and would have to be hospitalized soon.
When we went to the local hospital they told us that she had only a couple months to live, and that if she would only have taken the surgery when they told her to then she would have had a better chance of survival. When we went to her room I was prepared for my grandfather to yell at her for not letting him know about the surgery, because while he isn't rich he would have easily had the money for the surgery to help her. When we walked in the room my mother looked at me with a smile like she would normally give me, as if all will be well no matter how hard it is. This time I knew though, that her stubbornness had just cost her. I couldn't hold my tears back as I hugged her and stood back waiting for my silent grandfather to complain to my mother, but I was shocked he just stood there and stared at her finally nodding like he accepted that she will pay the price for being stubborn. I realized he knew that he could yell all he wanted but it would have made no difference, even had he found out before I'm sure that she wouldn't have accepted his help. She survived longer than the doctors expected but she could not have fought it forever.
Six months later I had a visit like any other, and I thought nothing of it at first. I went in and brought her favorite flower to her. As I watched her now thin body struggling to keep herself upright in bed, I told her how my day was and played card games with her to pass the time. Before I left with some unknown strength she grabbed my arm and told me to wait. After a few minutes of quietness she finally started talking. "Nils, I have made many mistakes in my life, and I have made many treasures. You will always be my most precious treasure, and I know that no matter what life may bring you, that you will survive it. Someday you will meet a girl and fall in love, and I want you to promise me that when that time comes you protect that girl. No matter if things get hard, that is just part of life. Do your best and don't make the same mistake as me, let others help if you need it but don't be too trustful. Also, when going left looks like the best option, don't be afraid to deviate from the path and go right. I love you, and I regret nothing." With that she hugged me and gave me a kiss on the forehead. I left the hospital thinking on the words my mother told me. That night my mother passed away. I wondered if she knew that was her last day. So for the next seven years I lived with my grandfather.
My grandfather was never a really outspoken person, but he always had some sort of rightous thinking. On that day six years ago that thinking is what got him killed. Though I could not say what he did was wrong, it cost me the last family member I had. He was on his way back from one of his daily walks in the morning. While walking he sees a little girl about my age run into the street chasing what appeared to be a small kitten. He then sees a bus heading right at the girl with the driver talking to his passenger and not watching the road. So without thought for himself he runs and pushed the girl who had just caught the kitten out of the way and gets hit head on by the still oblivious driver. He died instantly.
The family of the little girl showed up at his funeral and said how thankful they were and later moved out of the town. I who was only 12 was all alone. After the funeral some people showed up at my house and told me they were my aunt and uncle and that for some reason my grandfather left everything he owned to me. They told me that if I wanted I could come and live with them until I felt better on my own or they would let me stay in this house and have a caretaker watch over me. I, of course, chose to stay.
As I recal the past I decide to walk into the woods behind my house, I used to play all the time in these woods when I just wanted to get away. I walked the familiar path to the small opening I found when I was younger, but as I go to turn left It almost apears as if there is some sort of path to my right. I just wanted to go to my little opening and lay down but for some reason I decide to go right. I follow what looks like a path till I get to a spot where it stops in front of a tree. I go to turn around but I stop because I hear something that doesn't match the surrounding area's wildlife. "....achoo..." I look around but I see nothing but trees all around so then I look up and to my surprise what looks like a body is lying in the tree above me. I call out, but it doesn't move. I then decide to try and climb up the tree. Which was a lot harder than I thought, I'm not a major athlete but I am pretty fit.
Finally, after what seems like forever I make it to the center of the tree where all the branches come out from a single spot and what appears to be a young lady, with barely any clothes on seems to be sleeping. I move closer and inspect her. She has golden blond hair that runs down her back to her waist and had beautiful white skin. If she wasn't so dirty looking she would be a very beautiful girl. As I continue to stare at the girl it appears she has what could possibly be a stick in her hand? I take one more step to try for a closer look and break a branch on accident. Suddenly the girl jumps up and stares at me. But, the main thing I noticed besides her shining blue eyes is the fact that the thing she was holding in her hand fell down and was now behind the girl and appears to be a tail.
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I hear a sudden "SNAP" and I wake up fully alert. I jump up and see that someone has found me. Though it's not my persuers so I relax just a little. I yell at the intruder. "What do you want? Why are you in my tree?" The intruder stops and looks me in the eyes now. "What do you mean? This tree is mine I own this property, you are the one who is trespassing." I stop realizing that I may actually be in the wrong here. "Well I needed a place to sleep and I just happened across this tree." It appears that one makes him hesitate. "Are you homeless?" he asked. Not knowing how much I can tell this person I decide to lie, "No, I'm on a journey and just happened to stop here to sleep last night." he pauses again, I'm not sure if he buys it but if I need to I can push him out of the tree to try and make my escape. He goes to say something, stops looks me over and says, "Well, if you are leaving I won't stop you but if you would like a place to get clean and get some food I won't mind letting you use my house for a bit. I don't know how much I can trust him and the temptation of actual food sounds amazing. "Alright, I will allow you to serve me food and get cleaned but if you try anything funny I won't be afraid to hurt you." He nods like he understands. "Ok, it's a deal then. For now we need to figure out how to get out of this tree." He laughs and looks down. I follow his gaze. "This is nothing, just jump." After saying so I do as I say and jump, but as soon as I hit the ground I collapse. I forgot how worn out I was last night and my legs feel very week. I hear him shout down to me, then the next thing I see is him landing near me and falling against a tree and landing on his face.
When he gets up I see blood on his face, but instead of worrying about that he looks at me and asks if I am all right. I look away and say, "Yes, I'm alright but it appears I cannot walk very far because my legs are weak, if you would bring me food I will--.." He cuts me off and yells "No! I wont leave you here." After saying that he then bends in front of me with his back to me and says "I can carry you just climb onto my back." My face burns up but I do as he said and climbed onto his back.
He then followed a path that even with my good eyes could not see, till we came out behind a decent sized house. He then carried me into the house and set me down on a sofa and said he will be right back with a drink for me.
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I head for the kitchen to make some tea. My mind is still realing on what has happened in the last hour. I start the tea and head to the bathroom. As soon as I enter I see my reflection in the mirror and saw blood all over my face. I hurredly wash the wound and clean my face up. Then I head back to the kitchen and grab the tea. When I go back into the living room I see the girl I just met and brought into my house staring right at me. I set the tea down in front of her and take my own and sit across from her.
She just continues to stare at me. So as to try and break the silence I say "My name is Yamato Nils, but you can call me by my first name Nils" Finally She blinks and stops staring and looks away, "Well my name is Esther." After saying that I see her cheeks turn orange and she just continues to look away. "Well I will go make you something to eat. You can choose any of the rooms in this house except the first one on the left over there, because that is my room. Please make yourself at home. If you need it the bathroom is straight down that hall"
I pause, then I head to the kitchen to make some food. As I start to make a simple dish I wonder if this is some sort of turning point in my life or just a passing faze. Either way there is a girl with a tail staying in my house and she is very pretty. I start to think of different conversations I can talk with her about (mostly about her tail and where she is from) as I make the food. All thoughts of dead relatives are gone and replaced with the wierd girl who is roaming my house. Some thoughts, that I hope, don't get her mad at me.
