A Tale of Twins Strangers

She awakens into a new world full of fresh faces and hope. Can she ignite her will to live again or will the fiery memories prevail?

It wasn’t the pain that woke her, but rather a strange wet sensation across her cheek. She tried to open her eyes but once again they were blurry and tear-filled. All she could see was a strange orange shape very near to her face. Her heart immediately leapt out of her chest when she saw the orange blur. Thoughts of dancing flames filled her mind. 

The orange blur moved away when she sat up frantically. Her vision came back into focus and she saw that the orange blur was not a fire at all. Staring at her inquisitively from a few feet away sat a small cinnamon-colored fox. Its fluffy tail danced playfully back and forth as its small dark eyes looked directly at her. 

“A fox?!” She exclaimed. The sudden exclamation caused the cautious fox to retreat a few more feet. But it still looked at her with curiosity. 

“Hey there, finally awake, huh?” A woman’s voice emerged from behind her. In a panic, she spun around on her knees causing the fresh scabs on her legs to crack open. Tears formed in the corners of her eyes but she blinked them away, unwilling to lose her sight again. 

When she turned around she saw a young woman, approximately her own age, sitting casually on the trunk of a fallen tree. She kicked her legs out freely as if she didn’t have a care in the world. On top of her head laid a curly mess of chili-pepper-red hair. Her eyes were bright green like the forest canopy itself. She possessed a light and confident air. 

“Hi there, I’m Kaya.” She said with an off-handed wave. The girl still said nothing. The shock and trauma of the past 24 hours had left her not really knowing how to be a person. Even an introduction seemed too difficult. 

“You look like you got pretty banged up there.” She gestured to the girl’s body. The red-headed Kaya spoke frankly and without a care, yet her voice was also kind. 

“Do ya have a name there stranger?” Her bright green eyes looked directly into the girl’s deep chocolate ones. She was sincere and the girl began to feel more at ease. Her body loosened up and she found her voice.

“I’m Sonya.” She paused and looked down at the burns Kaya had gestured to a moment before.  “I guess I did get pretty beat up.” As she stared at them Sonya’s injuries began to throb harder. It was like the volume was suddenly cranked all the way up and the discomfort showed on her tender face.

“They must hurt.” Kaya spoke with compassion and her brow crinkled with concern. “Would you like me to treat them?” She had a way of speaking that was innocent and sweet; it made Sonya feel that she could trust this new friend. 

“Yes please…they hurt so much.” Sonya spoke softly. 

“Coming right up. Clive, go get some more of the vera and ‘naccea. I only have enough for the first treatment.” 

“Clive?” Sonya thought to herself. She had forgotten about the furry friend that had been so curious to meet her. Sonya turned her head just in time to watch the fox scamper off into the trees. Once Clive left, Kaya jumped down from her tree landing with a small thud. She began to rummage around in a bag that was slung across her chest. 

“Here we go!” She exclaimed as she pulled a small glass jar from her bag and a few rolls of gauze.  “Thisses probably gonna hurt Sonya. But it’ll help you heal a lot faster. I made it myself.” A huge smile sprawled across Kaya’s face. Sonya couldn’t help but smile herself. 

“Ok, you can do it.” Sonya’s demeanor had changed. She had awoken frightened and fearful, like an injured animal ready to defend herself from any attacker. Kaya’s comforting presence had made her forget the horrors, and for just a moment she could enjoy the kindness of a stranger. 

The burn cream did hurt quite a lot and Sonya cried out in pain as Kaya treated each and every burn. When she was done, almost all of Sonya’s skin was covered in gauze bandages. Although the initial pain had been intense, she could already feel the ointment begin to soothe her aching body. 

“Here.” Kaya threw some fresh clothes at her. “Those rags are barely hanging together. Nights still get cold around here so you’ll want something a lil’ more…intact.” She chuckled at her own joke and turned away so Sonya could get changed. 

Sonya began to untangle the ball of cloth. She uncovered a pair of long black linen pants, a ¾ sleeve orange shirt, and a thin blue jacket. The material was worn but sturdy and much better than her tattered clothing. It was slow going for her trying to get dressed. The freshly formed scabs across her body cracked and ached as she removed the remnants of her shirt and pants. 

She was thankful for the fresh outfit and even though her wounds were throbbing she was starting to feel better, safer. The new clothes hung loosely from her thin shoulders but they fit well enough and would keep her warm when the sun disappeared on the horizon. 

From her left she heard the crunching of leaves, something was moving in the forest. She froze. Instinctively she wanted to grab a weapon, but she had none. Sonya looked to Kaya, hoping she would once again be prepared for whatever was coming towards them. But Kaya just stood in place facing away from Sonya, no concern or tenseness to be found in her body. 

The sounds grew louder until a small cinnamon head popped up from the brush. Sonya sighed with relief, she had forgotten about the fox and his mission into the forest. In his furry snout, he carried a handful – or rather a mouthful – of herbs. 

“Welcome back Clive.” Kaya bent down on her knee to take the plants from the fox, who then proceeded to dart around in circles, clearly pleased with himself. She turned around to face Sonya. “I’ll use these to make some more of that salve for you. Before long you’ll be better than ever.” 

Sonya was full of gratitude to have met someone so reliable out here in this large forest. Now that she was out of immediate discomfort and danger, thoughts of her parents and her home filled her mind and weighed on her heart. What was she to do now? There was no home to return to, and she had no idea where her parents were. Would they return to the home to find it destroyed and wonder where Sonya was? 

“Why the long face?” Kaya’s words broke her from her reverie. 

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t realize I was zoning out there. I really appreciate you helping me. I might have died out here if it hadn’t been for you. So thank you.”

“Don’t worry bout it, I try not to let anyone die in my woods as a rule.” She smiled again. Sonya wished she could return the gesture, but the sadness that filled the pit of her stomach kept her face still and her eyes downcast. 

“I just…I don’t know what to do now…where to go….”

“Well home of course. Don’t you want to go home?”

Tears began to well in Sonya’s eyes as images of flames and ash filled her mind.

“I don’t have a home anymore. My home burned down. I can’t return there. I have no idea where my parents are, they weren’t inside…I know that much. I got all these burns trying to save them. But they weren’t there…If I could find them maybe we could rebuild our home and live together again, but…” She paused for nearly half a minute before finding the courage to continue. “But…I don’t even know if I can find them, and even if I could I can’t stay with them how I am now…” A single tear breached the edge of her eyelashes and rolled down her chin, falling to the ground.

“How you are now?” A quizzical but kind look crossed Kaya’s face, prompting her to continue. 

“Well…I never really belonged there to begin with…these are not my first burns. I am meant for the ocean, but my home, well even while it still stood tall it was full of fire. A fire that raged all the time. I was never happy there. Restlessness has always filled my spirit. I wish more than anything to be reunited with my family, rebuild our home and live peacefully with them for the remainder of my life. But…even if I could do the first two, which is uncertain, I fear I could never live in peace there. I was born wrong…I wish I could change. I wish-” The words caught in her throat and hot tears now rolled in groups down her face and a quiet sob shook her shoulders. 

“I see. So you wish for your sadness and disquiet to go away? Then you will find a home?” Kaya inquired.

“Y-y-yes.” She sniffled and ceased her crying. “Yes more than anything I wish I could change, I wish I could be content. Then surely I could be happy and live with my family for the rest of my days. But alas, how can I do something so impossible.” 

“All it takes to make the impossible possible is the will to do so and of course a little bit of knowledge.” 

“What do you mean? How can I change my fundamental nature? Please tell me!” Desperation filled Sonya’s voice and her wet eyes looked to Kaya with a plea. 

“Well it isn’t easy, but if you truly want what you say you want as badly as you say you want it, then you can make your wish come true. At the end of this forest is a mountain range. At the top of one of the peaks grows a special tree that grows nowhere else in the forest. The fruit from this tree, if one takes but a single bite, will quench the sadness and disquiet in their soul. You will no longer be restless or sad. Then you can live wherever you choose.”

“Really?! Is that true?” 

“It is. I’ve seen the tree myself. I know it exists.”

“That’s incredible! I can’t believe I met you, what are the chances? You know everything about these woods it seems. How did you learn so much? Where is your home?”

“I used to live in a place much like where you came from, but I have always been of the forest, I was born here and I belong here. The forest is my home.” 

“Wow, I can’t imagine living here. It’s so dangerous in these woods, especially off the path.”

“Dangerous is a funny word. Often danger is closer than we think yet farther away than we fear. Once you come to understand the forest you realize that danger lives anywhere.”

“Will it be dangerous to find this fruit you mentioned?” 

“The road’ll be challenging. There’ll be obstacles in your path that’s true. But I’m sure if you want it badly enough, you’ll make it to the end.” 

“I hope so…this fruit sounds like the only chance I have to return peacefully to my family. I absolutely have to try.” A steely resolve took over her voice. For a moment Kaya was surprised at the sudden determination, but after a few moments, a satisfied smile crept across her face.

“You’ve already done so much for me and I’ve no way to repay you for your kindness. But if you wouldn’t mind doing me one more favor, would you please explain to me how to get to this mountain?” 

“I’ll do better than that, I’ll take you there. I can show you the way.” 

“I can’t ask you to do that! I’m already so much in your debt. I don’t know how I could allow you to be so generous. We’re just strangers.”

“Like I said, once you know the forest you come to learn where danger resides. You are not of this forest and you have spent most of your time on the edges of a grand mystery. The forest is nothing like the plowed paths you’ve played on since childhood. Without me as your guide you’ll surely get lost and you may never find your way out again. I will be your guide. I saved your life and it would put a stain on my record to let someone in my care die on me in my own forest at that. You are free to try the journey on your own, but I’d advise you to take help when it comes in this world.”

Sonya stood facing Kaya. She knew what she said was true. She would likely die if she tried to make the journey alone. Her injuries were severe and one night alone in the woods had almost done her in. Meanwhile, the fiery girl who stood in front of her, she was capable and strong. This was her domain and Sonya knew her only chance at achieving her dream rested upon this woman. Her heart was sad at her own incompetence. Her whole life she could never do anything on her own, not even now. But, she knew what she had to do and so she swallowed her pride and insecurities. 

“I can’t say anything but thank you. I accept your help. Please lead me to the fruit you speak of so that I may eat and live in peace for the rest of my life.” 

“Well then let’s begin the journey!” It was decided. Kaya turned without another word and walked to the tree she had first been sitting on. She reached out, grabbed her bag and slung it over her shoulders and began walking deeper into the forest, Clive bouncing around her heels. Without looking back she called out, “follow me…I’ll show you the way.”