Forest Angel [part 2]

Bretton had watched the girl for a long time. She was sitting with the priest, making fish faces. He had studied her every detail. He wanted to touch her again. He wanted the priest to go away, so he could be alone and in peace with the mysterious, angelic like girl. The girl’s eyes had not moved from the priest’s face for a very long time. She nodded a few times. The priest patted her on the shoulder and waved her goodbye. The girl started to walk towards to the beach. Her head was high, and her clean scent floated over to Bretton. He was crouched in the shadows of a house, hidden from view. The girl walked passed him without a glance. Bretton stood up tall, his figure sort of bent from crouching all these years, but tall none the less. Sensing someone was there the girl turned and met Bretton’s eyes. She frowned at him, then she recognised him. She smiled and turned back to walking, glancing over her shoulder. Bretton was very glad, and he let out a high scream of glee. Passing villagers ran to their houses, scared of him. Bretton didn’t care; he ran towards the stream and danced by the river.

The small cottage was nearly in pieces. A lot of work would have to be done to make it better again. The garden was over run by weeds and not one single flower in sight. The path to the house was now just a dusty area with patches of grass poking up. She sighed at the mess. The priest had said that the house was bad, but he had failed to say how badly. She went inside the cottage and looked around. It was very dusty and cramped, but cosy all the same. The fireplace was still in piece and that was the one main important thing. The young woman opened the basket, which the priest had given to her, and took out some firewood, meat and a loaf of bread. She sent it out on the dusty table, and then went to get the fire going.

Soon the little cottage was warm and the girl was full. It had gotten very quiet, and the girl had nothing to do. It was dark outside, but she decided to go for a walk and look around.

A cold wind blew her long hair, and sent shivers through her body. She hugged herself tight.

She tried to stay on the path, but eventually, the path wore away, and the girl realised she was lost. Panic flooded her mind. Surely she would die out here if she couldn’t find her way back.

‘I came from the forest, so I can survive out here,’ she told herself. Turning around she started walking back.

She walked for quite awhile, but she didn’t recognise anything. She was lost. She tried to calm herself, but failed. She sat slowly. He tired legs could take no more. The wind became colder. She would die.

Suddenly a twig snapped behind her. She quickly turned her head and saw the boy stepping into the clearing. She was surprised to see him.

Hello?’ she asked. The boy didn’t answer, ‘Hello?’ she asked again. A grunt came out of the boy’s mouth. He held out his hand. Confused and a little scared, she took it. He led her out of the forest and back to her house beside the beach. A huge smile appeared on her face when she saw her house.

‘Thank you! Oh, thank you!’ she hugged Bretton. He gasped and whimpered. A horrifying yell came from him. The girl released him and Bretton ran away from her, ‘Come back! Wait!’ She yelled after him, but he didn’t come back. Sighing and shaking her head, she walked back to her house. It was very late by now, and she was very tired. She took the blanket that the priest had given her and fell asleep.

Bretton was still hiding. How long had it been? Was the sun up yet? It was very dark in the cave, and very cold. Why had he run from her, yet again? He closed his eyes and forced himself to check outside. The sun was barely passed the mountain. The grass was wet with dew and birds were singing their songs. Bretton took a step outside and felt the wet grass stick to his cold feet. The air was fresh. Bretton looked up. It was going to rain today. He looked over to the beach and to the cottage. Was the girl living there now? He had hoped so, she was so close to him, but now, he felt nervous about her being so close. He hated it when people touched him, and when she had embraced him last night he was frightened. He didn’t know she was trying to be kind, but he did regret it so. Bretton smacked his head with his hand. ‘How stupid!’ he thought.

Bretton started walking down the grassy hill and towards the girl’s cottage. On the way, he picked some flowers. He arranged them neatly in a bundle, all different bright colours. He ran the rest of the way down.

He placed the flowers on the girl’s doorstep. As he bent down though, he lost his balance and hit his head on the girl’s door. Bretton grunted. The door opened suddenly, and the girl stood there. When she saw Bretton, a huge smile came upon her face.

‘Hello again,’ she beamed. Bretton was very nervous. Should he run away again?

‘Why was he on my doorstep?’ she wondered to herself. The fire seemed to fascinate him. The heat had warmed up the tiny cottage instantly. The girl was tidying up the kitchen area, when she suddenly dropped two dishes. They fell to the floor, smashing and making a loud bang. The girl sighed and without thinking turned to the boy. He was still sitting with his back to her, as if he hadn’t heard a thing. The girl frowned. He was very fidgety, so why was he not frightened of the loud noise. The girl picked up another plate and dropped it. It fell and smashed on the floor, causing a loud noise too. Still the mysterious boy didn’t notice. The girl went slowly behind the boy and tapped his shoulder. He shrieked in terror and jumped to his feet, backing away to the door. The girl stuck out her hands in a stop motion, but didn’t say anything. The boy seemed to relax, but he turned and threw open the girl’s door and ran out.

‘He’s deaf…’ the girl whispered.

Walking happily in the village centre, the girl swung her basket by her side. She was looking at all the exotic foods in the stalls. She hadn’t failed to notice the whispers as she walked pass but she ignored them. She was mainly looking for the priest, but the foods amazed her. Her golden, brown hair blew in the breeze and the sunshine made her eyes twinkle. Many of the locals gazed at her in wonder and mystery, whilst the travellers watched her, amazed by her beauty.

She could not see the priest, but she wasn’t only looking for him. She wanted to see the boy again, and help him. As she walked farther and farther into the centre, she heard cheers and chants. She snapped out of her dream world and went to see what all the fuss was about.

The crowds had surrounded the town centre. She managed to push her way to the front. Horror flooded her face. She felt as if someone had slapped her. There, stood before her, was the deaf boy, spread out on a wooden table, his back to the sky, being whipped till he bled. Tears fell from the girl’s eyes. She had to do something. Where was the priest? She searched but could not find him. She forced her feet to move and she ran to the boy’s side. The man with the whip was about to whip again, but the girl grabbed his wrist and held it there just in time. The crowds fell silent. Anger stirred inside the girl; that was what had powered her strength. The look in her eyes made the man dropped the whip and back away. The girl untied the boy and helped him up. His face was red and tears fell from his eyes. The girl smiled at him sympathetically. Suddenly a loud yell sounded from the crowd and the priest ran to the centre. His face was also red and filled with rage.

‘What in the name of The Almighty are you people doing???’ he yelled to the crowds. The girl turned back to the boy and stroked, carefully and gently, his tears away. A smile twitched on his face, but it was gone as soon as it was there. The girl turned back to the priest, who was still yelling at the crowds. Some people had left, but some remained to hear what the priest had to say.

The priest’s words comforted the girl and the boy seemed to relax into her. She smiled friendly towards him and helped him stand up. She nodded a thank you to the priest and he smiled in return, and then returned to his speech.

She led the boy back to her cottage. How would she get him to communicate with her? It seemed that God, sent her to this village to help this young man, but maybe the boy could help her. He could help her find a name for herself, and find out where she came from…