Earthbound

I ran through the woods with my brother, chasing. . . something. Everything inside of me screamed to turn around, to just go back where I came from, and that only pushed me further. All my life, me, my brother, and Sumin have heard the same racist line, ‘Go back to where you came from,’ even though all of us were born in the U.S. Where am I supposed to go? To a home I never had?

“Soonie, slow down!” Yongbok screamed at me, and I again couldn't help but run. I won’t slow down, I want to see, I have to see what’s out here.

“Soonie, please! It’s freezing out here!” He once again argues.

“I can't, I have to see it, I have to! Please, I need this.” I counter, not wanting to let this. . . thing. Go. With our agility and lithe we easily dodge, step, and jump over any roots, rocks, or breaks in the not-so-clear-path we’re currently on. We run in silence, the only noise being our laboured breaths and the crunching of the path. That is until I hear a loud thud and then, and only then, do I slow down the tiniest bit to look behind me and see that my brother isn’t there. I come to a quick stop, our only light source left behind and now forgotten.

“Yongbok!” I yell out and hear an echo, but I get no response. I start my way to where I heard the thud and I see nothing. There was no sign that he was even here, running along this path with me. It’s like he vanished.

I look around and take in my surroundings, the dense leaves have turned an enchanting green, despite the fact that it was starting to snow. I’m surrounded by flowers and suddenly, the too-dark-forest isn’t too dark, it’s lit up with the lights of fireflies and lanterns. I no longer have that feeling I should turn around and run back ‘home,’ this feels like home, I feel safe and secure. The unnaturally cold air that was once snipping at my skin is gone and has been replaced with a sort of warmth, and I can’t help but stand there and bask in it.

“Hello?” I question, hoping someone has an answer for this sudden change.

“Is this your relative?” A voice says, soft and gentle, smooth and silky, sweet like honey. I’m so distracted by the voice that I didn't notice Yongbok lying on the ground unconscious for a second.

“Oh shit!” I yelp, rushing over to him. Once I reach him I kneel beside him and check for any wounds. There are none. I checked his pulse and it was there, but it felt slower than normal, as did his breathing. I still let out a sigh knowing he was okay, though if he hit his head during the fall I wouldn’t be able to check if he had a concussion or some other brain injury until he woke up.

“You’re yet to answer my question,” that sweet voice spoke one more.

“Y-yes,” I mentally swear at myself for stuttering. “He is my brother.”

“He spoke your name. ‘Soonie’ was it?”

“Yes. My name is Soonie.”

“And this is Yongbok?”

“Correct.”

“Okay then.” Something began to feel off. The fireflies were no longer flying around all lit up and happy. Eerie, almost out of place-but not quite-whispers sounded. The feeling of dread pooled in my stomach and it took hold.

“What brings you two here? This place is not for you.” The voice went from being so sweet to so cold. The air felt like ice again, it’s like any form of warmth that was once there disappeared, never to be seen again.

“We saw something and followed it.”

“Why? What does it do for you?”

“It gives us a purpose.”

“A ‘purpose’?”

“Yes,” I nod in response.

“Do you not have one?” The voice turns quizzical, but still has a hint of danger in it. Maybe it did all along and I just didn’t catch it.

“No, I don’t. Neither does he.” The air gets colder, and I didn’t know that was even possible. The forest is silent for what feels like hours but in reality is probably only 30 or so seconds. I feel a cool blade pressed against the side of my neck and it takes everything in me to not jump away from it.

“Don’t turn around, just stand up.” The voice was directly behind me and it was low, and all dangerous and all intimidating. I stand up and put my hands up without-him, her, it?-asking. I hear a grunt of approval from behind me.

“What did you see that made you come here?”

“I’m not sure what or who it was, but I saw wings. Two pairs. They were big and black, and I saw someone trailing behind them. They had wings made of water and a tail I think it was. They emitted this light of some kind, so we followed it.”

‘Wings of water.’ Do you think. . .? "

"They have to have Kin blood in them. Phil and Korra are smart enough to use conceal spells whilst flying."

"Hush. Not now." My own voices argue in my head and they don’t know when to shut up. It’s annoying.

“Uhm. If you don’t mind, can you get your knife away from my neck?” The girl–Soonie–asks.

“.”

“. .”

“. . . No.”

“Okay…” She mummers. Her brother is still unconscious and I can see the tension in her body, she’s all rigid. I assume she cares less about the sword I have to her throat than she does about her sleeping brother.

“Wake him up. But stay facing forward,” I snarl, making sure she gets the point. Soonie drops back to her knees and shakes him. No luck. She checks his pulse again just to be sure it’s still there, turns her head to the side as she dips down towards his face, presumably listening for something.

“He’s okay, though he's not waking up." She sighs. Relieved, but also scared.

“That's fine.”

“Who are you?” The girl questions me.

“Who I am doesn’t concern you. I was never here, you two didn’t see what you saw, and you two never came here. Got it?”

“But I can’t just ignore it. Now that I know supernaturals exist, I have to know more. I have to. Please, let this be my–our–new purpose.” My heart aches for this girl and her brother. Knowing that neither of them have a reason to be here, just like I did.

“Fine. Come with me.”

“Thank you! Thank you so much!”

“Stop.”

“Yeah, okay. Sorry.”

“Mhm.” I mentally sigh and hope I’m not making a mistake by letting my emotions make a decision for me for the first time.

I sheath my sword and haul her brother over my shoulder as we walk home.

Soonie is shaking and shivering as she walks next to me, so I take my cape off and drape it around her.

“Thank you. But what about you?” The girl looks up at me with worry painted across her features. I once again think she is less worried about me and more so for her brother. Which is completely reasonable.

“He’ll be fine,” I say, disregarding the ‘you’ that indicated she was speaking to me. Something that looks like shock flashes across her features but it’s gone before I can say anything.

“Thank you.” She says, thanking me once again.

“Don’t thank me yet.” That puts her on edge, I see all her weight shift to the balls of her feet, ready to fight. Or flee.

“You think Phil and Korra are back at the cabin yet?" One voice starts with a question. I know this is going to end poorly. This question is bound to strike an argument of some kind.

"It’s likely."

"Who do you think made it first?"

"I’m placing bets on Phil!"

"Korra is so much faster than Phil when flying!"

"The girl said that Korra was trailing behind Phil though." How did I know it was going to come to this?

"He probably got a head start."

"You’re in denial."

"Hush."

"No." The voices are back to their trivial debates. Fun.

Even once we make it to the cabin they’re still arguing about who made it first. That is a 30 minute trek through the snow listening to what sounds like children bickering.

“We’re here,” I notify Soonie, who has managed to get uncomfortably close to me during the walk. I assume it’s because the cape I had given her wasn’t warm enough for her liking.

“Okay…” Her response is slightly delayed as she shivers.

“Still cold?” I question, wondering if it’s possible. The cape is extremely warm, plus my body heat. As a creature that comes from Hell, I radiate more than enough heat to keep her warm. Let alone her brother, that is still okay. He’s cold to the touch but not so cold it’s life threatening. Getting him by a fire will help though, apparently for both of them.

We walk in the door to be greeted by the smell of beef stew and the sound of music and laughter. Phil, Wilbur, and Korra are in the kitchen dancing and laughing like a bunch of idiots.

“What are you lot’ doing?”