Halena hid.
She pressed her back to the cold stone wall inside the closet, in the darkest corner she could find, which was, unfortunately, not especially dark. The light was still beaming down from above, cast intensely, in fact, by one long undersea critter that seemed in its own tiny-brained way to be excited to see her. It flitted about under the clear crystal, its huge eyes fixed on her face. She flashed teeth at it, but if it had any idea what a threat her mouth was, it didn’t show it.
She’d thought about running back down the tunnel. It would likely have saved her – they could follow, but would they? Would they for the entire distance out into the forest? She didn’t think so.
But what she did think they might do is to seal up the door she’d found, to close it properly and permanently this time.
That was something that she couldn’t accept in the moment. Not right then. Not when she’d just found something so notable all on her own. It was a precious treasure, and the potential that she couldn’t come back was enough to make her hesitate.
And then she’d hesitated too long. The footsteps were close by then, and then too close. So close that if she’d run, then her footsteps would be heard, would be echoing behind her, and a different problem would present itself: what if they did follow? What if they pursued her down the tunnel and found her and caught her and brought her back?
And they would bring her back – because she’d have run.
So she hid. And she stayed still. And she hissed silently at the tiny creatures who’d come down to see, to look, at the living thing invading their space for the first time in decades? Centuries? Longer?
Outside, the footfalls had stopped.
There was mutual silence for a moment.
Then a voice rang out, curious, but not scared. “Hello? Is someone there?” A woman’s voice, but not at all cracked with age. She sounded young, but not a child.
Halena pressed herself further against the wall, trying not to breathe. It was shocking how loud simple breathing was when compared to the flat silence of an empty room and a pair of listening ears.
The footsteps crossed the room.
She braced herself. She’d be found, yes. Yes, there was no question. She’d be found, but if she didn’t run, if she hadn’t run, then maybe she’d still have a chance to explain herself, to apologize, and then maybe, just maybe a chance to be set free. Maybe they’d let her be again, strange little forest-dwelling outcast that she was. Certainly they might seal up the door anyway, but the longer that time went on, the more reasonable that seemed. Maybe there were other tunnels, and maybe one of them lead to a truly deserted part of the city and not someone’s actual closet in theit actual home. Maybe maybe, not so bad.
“Hello?”
She was right outside. Halena squeaked involuntarily.
And then a face appeared in the doorway, blue eyes locked sharply on her own.
Halena’s breath caught. In all of her struggle, she hadn’t been able to silence it, but under the gaze of those eyes…
“Who in the world are you?”
Halena licked her lips, unable to speak for a long moment.
Then she muttered out her name.
At once, the both of them realized exactly how little it meant, and how much nothing her name explained at all. The young woman frowned, her look of annoyance turning slowly into one of perplexity. What to do? “Right, then. I think you should come out.”
Halena nodded vigorously.
The creatures above swam to track her movements, to follow her as she headed for the door and out into the light of the room once more. She hung there at the edge, though, unsure.
“Halena,” said the young woman, looking her over as she emerged. “Um. I suppose you came through the tunnel. Was it… was it always there?”
“I just found it,” Halena said quietly, watching nervously as the woman circled her. “I live on the other side.”
“In the woods? No one lives in the woods.”
“I do.”
“Oh.”
She circled all the way around, coming back to face her. In the light, it was apparent that she was truly striking. Her fur was gorgeous, patterened with patches of white and shades of green like the shadows in the forest. Her hair was set in a smooth coif and held in place with long thin pins and baubles. Her dress was something Halena had never seen before. Long stripes along her hips shimmered when she moved.
She was beautiful. She was absolutely beautiful.
And then, to Halena’s surprise, she extended a hand.
“I’m Sarestra. We live near here. Are you hungry?”
Halena jumped, startled, and then, recovering, but still uncertain, she touched the fingertips of the offered hand. She knew little about Tieke ways, but her father had taught her how to say hello.
And her stomach then taught her how to say “Yes. Yes, please.”