You Are Not Alone

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It was as if the weather gods were unleashed: the rain came pouring down and thunder roared nearby. Soaked, wet to the bone, Yaira found her shelter in something that looked like a cave. It was dark inside and she couldn’t see how large the cave was, or if anything was inside, but she needed to take cover as the thunder drew close quickly.

The wind stormed through the nigh trees, the rain drummed on the boulders surrounding the cave’s entrance. Yaira collapsed again the cave’s wall, she rested her head back against it. This wasn’t the shelter she was hoping for, but it would do. For now.

For a short moment, her eyes fluttered close and she drifted off into a light sleep, only to wake when it was pitch-dark outside. For all Yaira knew, it could still be day: the weather hadn’t changed a bit since she’d fallen asleep. A sigh escaped her lips. She was a patient person, normally, but in a strange land, all by herself, in a dark cave.. It made her uneasy.

She decided to open her bag and rummaged around. She took out a candle and, although it was wet, after a while, she managed to light it. The gentle flame and the little light it provided calmed her, until a soft sound from the other end of the cave drew her attention. Her eyes widened as she nearly jumped to her feet. “W-who’s there?” she called out, but it remained silent then.

With the candle in her hand, she stepped forward a little, into the darkness. In her other hand, she carried her bag. She wasn’t a very good fighter, but at least, she could swing at someone with a heavy pouch.

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Talia was leaving the forest. Not of good of course, but ever since that encounter in the woods it got her thinking. She was a capable girl that basically had all the freedom in the world. Talia had never been to the city before (at least not that she could remember), but why wait till later when she could go now? Bringing only a couple coins, a few pairs of clothes, and some food and water, Talia was basically good for a few days. The trip to the city couldn't be that long, and even so common sense would keep her alive.

Talia had been half walking half flying on her journey so far. She hadn't gotten that far but far enough to not see the forest anymore. Or maybe she had traveled farther then she thought! Getting giddy with excitement Talia sharted jumping up and down, flying a bit up in the air, until she felt a raindrop on her head. Wings weren't nessicarily the best when soaked. Talia only took a few more steps when it felt like the whole cloud was rushing down upon her. Hugging her belongings close Talia started to run. Being chilled to the bone should've been the least of her troubles. Trying to look up through the water in her eyes she spotted a cave in the distance.

Not even thinking about the fact there could be some sort of a bear or monster in the cave, Talia made a run for it. Each rain drop seemed to weigh her down, water and a bit of sweat dripped between her eyelashes making it hard to see her goal. As sad as it was it almost felt as though her legs would give out seeing as she preferred hovering over walking. A couple seconds later and Talia topped into the cave exhausted and cold. She wasn't dripping water but still pretty damp to feel a shiver. Wringing out her hair and wet parts of her clothes Talia noticed a small flicker from the end of the tunnel and decided to follow it.

"Hello?" Talia called out. “W-who’s there?” A voice replied. Talia's eyes lit up, someone else was here.

"A friend!" Talia called back basically running towards the voice. Walking a bit farther Talia came up across a woman looking pretty wet herself, holding a candle that illuminated her face. "Hi I'm Talia!" she introduced herself.

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Yaira’s muscles tensed when she heard a sound coming from the other end of the cave. She couldn’t exactly made out who, or what, made the sound and the little light the candle was providing wasn’t very useful either. She held it out in front of her and tried narrowing her eyes to see better, when a shape came into view and she staggered back a little.

There was a girl standing across from her, still in her teen years, with a broad smile on her face. Abundantly, the girl introduced herself and honestly, Yaira was a little taken aback by her excited nature. “Uhm.. Hello there.” Her lips curled up into a slightly awkward smile. “My name is..” She was about to introduce herself as well, when the small flame she carried reflected onto something; she spotted a pair of wings on the girl’s shoulders that drew her attention completely. “Holy..” She nearly dropped the candle to the ground as she rushed over to Talia’s side. “Are those wings? You have wings? Are they real?” She spilled all her questions at once, some of them probably being incomprehensible and obvious, but she’d never seen a person with wings. Not outside of the fairytale books she’d read, that is.

And then, she realised how rude she was behaving and took a step back. “I’m sorry. You’re not a caged animal to look at.” She rubbed the back of her neck shyly. “My name is Yaira.” She held out her hand, for Talia to shake it.

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Smiling, Talia introduced herself. “Uhm.. Hello there.” the woman said letting her lips turn into a small smile, somewhat awkwardly. “My name is..” she started before looking to what seemed right over Talia's shoulder. “Holy..” She exclaimed and the candle in her hand seemed to shake a bit. Talia gave her a confused look as she basically ran over to Talia.

"You're name is Holy?" Talia cocked her head to the side and smiled jokingly but the lady didn't seem to be in a joking mood. "Are those wings? You have wings? Are they real?” she asked in awe.

Oh so that's what she was surprised about. Talia didn't mind her intrest but it seemed weird, you'd think people would know fairy wings when they saw them... Maybe it was just Talia since she always seemed to be around fairies.

"Yes they are wings, yes I have wings, and yes they're real!" Talia replied laughing. The lady stepped back as if embarassed. “I’m sorry. You’re not a caged animal to look at.” she apologized rubbing the back of her neck. Talia just laughed. "It's fine. But you haven't seen a fairy before?" She asked her. Talia fluttered her wings slightly trying to shake some water out.

“My name is Yaira.” Yaria introduced herself reaching out a hand. Talia placed her hand and shook Yaria's. "Nice to meet you!

Stepping back Talia sighed glad someone else was here and glad she was starting to dry off. Though, this meeting might not last long depeanding on where Yaria was traveling. Talia didn't mind switching location and following Yaria around anyway, she'd much travel with a partner. Or at least know how to get back to the forest...

"So, are you going anywhere?" Talia asked.

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“Other than in books of fairytales? No, I don’t recall ever seeing a fairy, no.” Still, Yaira couldn’t quite take her eyes off of Talia’s wings. They were beautiful, enchanting and it somehow seemed as if there was a certain glow around them, and around her. But, if she was truly a fairy, that would be normal, wouldn’t it? She could imagine it, at least.

“Oh yes, definitely, I’m going somewhere.” She smiled, hoping that answer would be enough, but the cave around her went completely silent, as if even nature itself was waiting for her to continue. She heaved a soft sigh. “I think..”

She sat back down against the cave’s wall, took out her hair band and squeezed some of the water out of her long, blonde hair. Her dress was soaked as well, so she wrenched the bottom of it too. “I’m not used to travelling on my own. Somehow, it’s hard to set a destination,” she admitted honestly. She felt a bit stupid for having to admit it, but this girl didn’t seem to be a big threat. Perhaps, she’d even understand.

“How did you get here?” she wondered. “A dark cave like this.. I never thought this to be a place where I’d find a fairy.” A soft chuckle escaped her lips.

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“Other than in books of fairytales? No, I don’t recall ever seeing a fairy, no.”

It almost seemed strangled to Talia that someone hadn't seen a fairy. Maybe it was just the fact that she lived with fairies it was just like seeing the sun rise everyday. After formalities were over Talia asked Yaira were she was going.

“Oh yes, definitely, I’m going somewhere.” She smiled. Talia smiled back somewhat confused by her answer but not really wanting to pry. “I think..” Yaira added in a whisper. “I’m not used to travelling on my own. Somehow, it’s hard to set a destination," she said leaning against the wall while wringing her hair out.

"Boy is it ever," Talia commented.

“How did you get here?” Yaira asked. “A dark cave like this.. I never thought this to be a place where I’d find a fairy.” she finished chuckling softly. Talia shrugged.

"Well I decided that I wanted to see the city, or even just to travel, seeing as I'm not all fairy..." she added the last part in a whisper letting her face fall for only but a moment. That feeling of being torn always came back when she thought of leaving. Her two halfs seemed to argue with one another for deciding whether to leave the forest or stay. "But then it started to rain and I wound up in here!" Talia finished explaining with an excited smile. It probably wasn't the smartest idea leaving without a plan, not even with a map. Though her travel gear may be enough it wouldn't last.

"You know..." Talia started trying to think of how to put her thought into words. "Maybe I could travel with you, just for a tiny bit." Though she would probably admit it Talia didn't want to flat out say she didn't even know where she was or where she was going or that she was scared to travel alone. Besides Yaira had said she wasn't used to traveling on her own. Whether she wanted Talia's bubbly company was up to her and not the end of the world if she didn't, it was worth asking...

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Yaira seemed taken aback by Talia’s sudden proposition. She wasn’t used to anyone wanting to be in her presence and it was hard for her to imagine Talia had already enough trust in her to ask her such a thing. But she didn’t instantly decline her offer either, because she could also see the good sides of it. It might not have seemed so, but Yaira loved to chat. She could be as bubbly as Talia, if only she knew a person well enough.

“You’d want to travel with me?” was the first thing she managed to ask. She truly was surprised. “I mean.. I don’t even know where I’m going. I don’t think I’d really be much of a help to you?”

But while the rain outside drummed heavily against the outside of the cave, she gave it some thought. “But if that’s not a problem to you,” she finally added and she showed a wider smile than before. Of course, this girl was much younger than her, but the idea of having someone to talk to was really nice.

“So.. uhm.. Tell me about yourself? Where are you from?” Yaira curiosity was suddenly very tickled.

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“You’d want to travel with me?” Yaira asked in surprise. Talia smiled and shook her head in a yes way. “I mean.. I don’t even know where I’m going. I don’t think I’d really be much of a help to you?” Talia shrugged. "I don't know where I'm going either. We can find somewhere to go together!" Talia exclaimed. It was true. Though the destination in her mind was the city Talia was open to go anywhere. “But if that’s not a problem to you,” Yaira smiled. Talia smiled as well. It was nice to know she might be traveling with someone. At least she seemed to like the idea.

“So.. uhm.. Tell me about yourself? Where are you from?” Fair enough question, or questions.

"Well I live on the outskirts of the Pine Forest. My mom is a fairy so I like to be nearby," Talia started. Yaira had told Talia to tell about herself but she almost didn't know what to say. Wracking her mind she finally thought of a few starters. "I can do a bit of magic, I know how to shoot an arrow," she added deciding to list of some skills. "Also, I'm only half fairy," she said shyly. "so sometimes," as if to finish her sentence some fairy dust flew off her arms and landed on the floor. Not even bothering to finish her sentence Talia just grinned sheepishly. If she traveled with Yaira she'd find out eventually that Talia was only part fairy. Plus it might make things a little easier then trying to have to explain the random fairy dust from time to time.

"So now it's your turn!" Talia told her smiling. Information for information only seemed fair. Beside, Talia had let her know one of the things she found most disappointing about herself. Yaira didn't have to tell her something as important but still some general knowledge would be nice.