Short Stories

Branches of Ash

Water gurgled down the stream, sending petals and leaves and blood down under a bridge, out the other side, and through fields of golden grain.
Such a beautiful place disturbed by the retching of a young girl, who stretched up, dazed by the light of the sun in the small clearing.
Eira Tsunoki wiped her mouth on her hand, and her hand on the floor. Flecks of blood decorated the foliage beneath her.
At least she as safe here.
Crack.
Fumbling for the crude ash staff concealed in the piles of leaves around her, Eira dove for cover, hoping the stench of fear would cover the tang of blood.
Black eyes met her own.
These particular eyes weren't really black, but a beautifully deep brown, glittering with joy.
"I told you not to creep up on me."
The black eyes blinked, then burst like rainclouds into peals of laughter.
"Sorry, but it was funny," Matlia helped Eira to her feet, "it's good to get out of the house."
Her hair was a perfect sandstone, easy to mimic but never replicate the way it shone golden in the light, a warm tone so different from the cool blonde it was when the stars shone.