‘’Yes, as I told you, I am not Eriane.”
“Are you in a lot of pain? You’re bleeding everywhere …”
“I'll be fine. But I will try to stop the bleeding.”
My suit is torn in multiple places. I rip off a piece of it on my stomach and wipe the blood that sticks to my forearms and hands. The pain in my shoulder seems mild, there's nothing cracked or dislocated, I'm just going to have a big bruise.
On the other hand, I hardly ate more than a few fruits since I left our camp and I hardly slept either, since the last events (especially, near this man who disturbs me more than reason). Added to the stress of the fall and my wounds, I start to stagger.
I observe Loony. Her little chocolate wings are still fluffy. Her hair is slightly curled and hung in a mini ponytail placed high on her head. A few curls fall around her little round face. Her big chocolate milk eyes look at me seriously.
“You know, my best friend's name is Babako” she says.
“Ha, that's cool. My best friend is called Eva. Tell me about Babako!” I say.
Keeping the conversation going is the best way for me to keep the dizziness at bay and keep Loony's attention on something other than the chasm at our feet.
“Babako, is so cute. He has nice little round ears. He looks like a stuffed animal. He is gray with lighter stripes. And he loves to cuddle me.”
“Is Babako your little pet? Please describe him to me. I've never seen one. I'm new around here you know.”
“No, Babako is not mine. He is a babakotia. He lives with his family in the forest. But he likes to come and play with me, or when I give him little pieces of fruit. He comes every day. Sometimes he falls asleep in my arms while I pet him. But when his family comes to pick him up, he goes quickly with them.’’
“Will you introduce me to him?”
“Oh yes, of course. I would explain to him that you caught me when I fell. He can be your friend too.”
“Hmmm technically you didn't really fall, you threw yourself . . .”
“We say it was our secret! I fell.”
“That's okay with me. We both fell!” I say with a smile.
This little girl is adorable and very endearing and her way of talking about everything and asking questions without waiting for the answers reminds me of Eva. What a pity if I hadn't seen her in time! But we are not out of the woods yet.
I'm crossing my fingers that one of her people will find us quickly and get us out of this mess. I also hope that no one will hold me responsible for this accident. It was just the two of us and I am a complete stranger.
I hope they don't jump to conclusions. Let's hope they hurry up and leave this damn meeting and go out to stretch their wings. Let's hope that one Erian in particular, brings back his sublime black wings and his eyes of liquid gold . . .
When I think back to the scene at the lake, I'm all about it. I didn't dream of the interest he showed me, even though I turned my gaze immediately.
Come on my daughter, this is not the time to dream, focus on this little girl whose life you hold in your hands.
Alas, my thoughts are darkening. Numbness overwhelms me.
“Loony, maybe I'll take a little nap.” I say in a small voice. “Promise me you won't move even if I'm sleeping. Come and hold me.”
“Of course!” she answers me, while nestling back to my chest, her small wings wedged between us two.
I try to breathe deeply and slow down my breathing and fight against fainting. The black spots multiply in the back of my eyes and I can no longer fight the darkness that is invading me.
Nixx
