Random Story

When I was younger, I was often told to avoid the outdoors, my father had always told me of the horrors that lie behind our gates. But now, at night when I’m sleeping, I hear vicious noises that caused me to realize monsters can only be vicious if I choose to let them affect me. I won’t’

I decided, for the first time ever, that I, Princess Mirabel of Evergreen, would go out to explore, on some wild adventure like the heroes in my books do. I will no longer sit still and await orders, I am going to make them, and have fun with them at that!

I siddle out of bed and find my knapsack, carefully tucking away adventuring clothes and food. I wipe a rusty dagger off with the cloth from my stand and sigh, pulling on the knapsack and sneaking out my open window.

The night air felt cool against my skin, and I took in a deep breath of the freshness. I began wandering down the trail, lit by the full moon. I hear wolves in the distance- though whether they were werewolves or tame I could never know.

Instead of letting this mystery bother me, I continued to follow the path, coming across a wooden sign and turning left. I didn’t know where I was going, nor what was going to happen to me, I just knew I had to escape this place called home.

During the night, I stumbled across some travelers, who politely nodded as we passed each other by. I continued along until I came across a stream, where I bathed and sat in the moonlight, awaiting the sun’s arrival.

I heard a horse’s hooves clomping by, and decided to ask if I could catch a ride- there was no way for it to have been father’s men looking for me already, no one even knew I was gone!

I caught up to the driver, going at a very slow pace and asked to climb inside, to which he agreed. I rode with him all the way to the border of our country, Nimbensil. I thanked him and generously paid him for the ride, and set off on my journey to the new country of Byajube. I wandered around the great plains and eventually found myself in a small town.

I smiled as I watched people with feathers braided into their hair dance around a fire, singing and chanting. I sat down on a log not too far apart from them, and observed the way their feet barely hit the ground before jumping back up again as they twirled in circles. Their dancing amazed me, for it was freestyle and I had only ever known waltzing.

A boy and a girl stood next to each other awkwardly waiting for their part to jump in. The boy was quite handsome, and I couldn’t help but stare at his muscles. He was darker than I, much more darker, for I was pale as a vampire. He leaned down toward the girl as she whispered something to him, and then they were dancing, the girl casting curious glances in my direction. I was sitting in plain sight, but the girl seemed to be the only one to have noticed.

I glanced at Jirmina as she danced alongside me. We are supposed to be celebrating our engagement, but neither of us are happy. She was in love with a soldier who had returned to his homeland to fight in their dumb civil war and I wasn’t planning to marry.

We twirled together and she pulled me close to whisper, “There’s a girl.”

I had no idea what she meant so I continued dancing until she quietly added, “She’s watching you.”

I pulled away smiling, pretending she had just said something quite romantic. I quietly responded, “Where?”

Jirmina nodded off in a direction behind me, no wonder I couldn’t see the newcomer. I wonder what she looks like. I dance around the fire alongside everyone else, and suddenly I spot her. She’s so pale it’s as if she glows in the dark, the firelight barely illuminates her thin figure. She sat watching in awe as we danced.

Finally, the tribe master stopped everyone, some on one foot, others completely still. “Tis’ time to part ways.” He sighs, a heavy sigh as a sign of old age. “For good, I fear.” He looks around the fire at the small circle of Tagasaki Indians gathered around. “It is time I choose a new leader, and who better to be than him, Ishaan?” Everyone cheers and I feel self-conscious.

I step forward to accept the feathered headdress given to me by my great grandfather. He raised me, and he lived a good life. I hope to see him again one day, cheering and continuing up the dance as he jumps into the flames, chanting the song to send his soul to the great heavens.

His smoke rises up and above the trees, and Jirmina looks ashamed to be dancing alongside everyone. I stop the ritual by walking away from the fire, and the others follow suit, climbing into their teepees and relaxing for the night. Jirmina, naturally, follows me to mine.

“I’m sorry, that is such a sad way to go.” She puts a hand on my arm. She has been Indian her entire life of eighteen years, as have I, how come this bothers her now? Perhaps it’s because she finally relates to it, having lost my great-grandfather, she lost all positivity towards marrying me.

Jirmina isn’t exactly Tagasaki, she came from the Helogore Indians, our rivals, as sort of a peace treaty. Of course, nobody in power was able to marry her except me, so now I have to be forced into this arranged marriage, and she’s not happy, either.

“We should check on the girl, we still don’t know how she is.” Jirmina breaks the awkward silence that had fallen over us and I nod. She’s right, no sense in waiting around, I just hope the girl is still there- she probably wonders what she just witnessed.