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Hejira: Crystalline Hall

By Mantrid Brizon

Episode 13: Temptation

As the day wears on, Gareth and Kahlera both spend it away from the camp, and each other. Kahlera wanders the west end of the camp, looking back towards the woods in the distance. She collects her thoughts and feelings, reflecting on Gareth, and their time together. Every thought of him brings a smile to her lips. Gareth makes her feel wanted, but she knows that she can’t pursue it. They are heading back to her village, and she worries that if she returns with two humans, and smelling like she has spent the whole journey consorting with Gareth, none of them might be welcome there.

Her fears are palpable. She sighs and hangs her head. Her bangs dangle before her eyes, swaying gently with the slow breeze. She wishes she had been born in a village further south, then she could just be with him, and not have to worry so much. She just wants Gareth to sit with her, to tell her that everything will be fine. Gareth stands beside a yurt, watching Kahlera as she seems to sulk in the distance. He looks around, as though making sure that no one is watching him. He wants to speak to her so badly, but he doesn’t know how she feels. He sighs, turns, and walks away.

“Hello Gareth.” Sarvah’s voice calls out to him.

“Hi.” He replies.

He turns to her. She stands between two yurts, smiling at him as she steps closer. His head hangs low but his eyes look up, past his brow and towards her. She notices the melancholy expression on his face and is taken back by it. She feels genuinely sorry for him; it doesn’t deter her. She frowns and walks up to him, resting a hand on his shoulder. She gently squeezes his shoulder reassuringly. She won’t stop her selfish pursuit.

“Where did you come from?” He asks.

“Oh, around.” She winks.

“Yeah, that answers my question.” He jests.

“I like to check up on the members of my tribe every so often. I just happened to see you standing there in a daze, and thought you could use a friend.” She says softly.

“How thoughtful of you.” He smiles.

“I have my moments.” She smiles back.

She pulls him close and guides him through the camp. They walk around and pass several yurts, until they are on the far east side of the camp. She sits down on the grass and looks towards the horizon. Gareth hesitantly sits beside her.

“Kahlera came to see me, earlier.” She begins.

“What? When?” He asks in shock.

“Not long after we… Talked.” She smiles.

“I got the strange feeling that she wasn’t too fond of you… … What did she want to talk to you about?” Gareth asks.

“You.” She blurts out.

“Oh…” Gareth looks down at the grass.

“She was born in the north, and she is still very young. The fact of the matter is that she should not be consorting with humans; it is taboo for her tribe, and she risks being shunned or mistreated if she returns home with you, especially if she smells as though she has been mating with you. She both wants and needs to distance herself from you.” She begins.

“I didn’t realize it was so much trouble…” Gareth says.

“You are an attractive human…” Sarvah continues.

“Thanks for finally noticing.” He jokes.

“And charming.” She giggles. “She knows that you two are dangerously close, and she cannot have that. After your night of impulsive mating, she came to her senses.”

“She said that?” He asks in shock

“Yes. It was just tension that had built up. You told me that you had encountered raiders, twice. I imagine that you helped her both of those times. A handsome stranger saves a young and impressionable girl; you can only imagine what happens to her body when she sees you…” She winks.

“I suppose.” He blushes.

“There was tension, but you released it for her. You did her quite the favor. I hear she greatly enjoyed getting rid of all that energy.” Sarvah gently strokes his arm with her claws.

Gareth’s face grows even more red as he shies away.

“But now she needs to move on. She simply doesn’t know how to tell you that she does not care about you the way that you care about her. I am sorry.” Sarvah finishes, sliding an arm behind Gareth’s back and resting her hand on his shoulder.

Gareth’s expression is solemn, and the pain in his chest grows more prominent. His eyes begin to burn, he clenches his teeth, balls a fist, and forces the pain down into the back of his mind, where it belongs. He takes a deep breath and sighs.

“I just wish that she could have told me this herself.” He looks to her.

“She is still a young girl…” She says.

“She’s nineteen.” Gareth interjects.

“Still, a few years ago, she was a juvenile with a curfew. She does not know how to properly express herself. Only women like myself have learned that skill.” She smirks as she squeezes his shoulder.

“If you don’t mind my asking, how young are you?” He smiles.

“I am all of twenty-three.” Sarvah smiles back.

“That’s not much older… You’re still a girl yourself.” Gareth point out.

“Maybe, but I am a big girl.” She coos.

She leans closer to him as her bust brushes against his arm.

“You know, there is only a one-year difference between us. I’m twenty-two.” He comments casually.

“Really? I would have thought you were older. You certainly have the confidence of a more experienced male.” Sarvah says.

“Thanks. I would have guesses that you were nineteen or twenty.” He laughs.

She giggles and narrows her eyes lustfully as she gazes at him. She suddenly stands and turns back. She takes a few steps away from Gareth.

“Hey, Sarvah!” He suddenly and impulsively calls out to her.

“Yes?” She stops and turns back to him.

“I appreciate you telling me. I guess I can call you a friend after all.” Gareth says softly.

“Of course you can. If you need anything, please come and see me.” She assures him in a pleasant tone.

She turns and walks away. Her eyes shift back toward Gareth as she leaves him behind.

“It is only a matter of time now…” She thinks to herself.

Gareth sits and thinks, watching the clouds as he lies back in the grass. The hours pass by slowly; by the evening, Gareth still sits alone at the edge of the camp. He watches the sun as it begins to set in the east. He gets up and sighs. He has been thinking and sulking for too long. He begins walking back to the yurt, but stops when he realizes that he still hasn’t learned anything of real value from Sarvah. He looks at the setting sun, then toward Sarvah’s yurt. He hesitantly approaches the yurt and enters.

Kahlera returns to their own yurt and looks around. Only Naomi is inside; Gareth is nowhere to be found. She steps up to Naomi and sits beside her.

“Are you okay now?” Naomi asks her.

“No… But I think I will be.” Kahlera replies with a sigh.

“When Gareth gets back, I have something important to tell you both.” Naomi says with a pleasant smile.

“You do not want to just tell me now?” Kahlera sounds puzzled.

“No. It will be considerably more effective if you both hear it at the same time.” She replies.

The two girls sit and wait for Gareth as the sun drops behind the horizon. They maintain small talk and share their thoughts and feelings on their trip as they lounge around. They maintain this for nearly two hours. Suddenly, a strange male’s voice calls out, saying that they were sent by Sarvah. Kahlera steps out to see two guards holding a large wooden tray, with a considerable dinner arranged neatly atop it. Although she doesn’t trust them, and certainly doesn’t trust Sarvah, she accepts the food, so as not to seem rude, or arouse suspicion.

The guards leave and she enters the yurt. She sets the food down as Naomi eyes it closely. She reaches out to take a large, ripe strawberry, but Kahlera quickly smacks her hand away.

“What’s wrong?” Naomi asks as she rubs the back of her hand.

“I do not trust it…” Kahlera says as she crosses her arms, staring at the food.

Her stomach growls loudly as she looks at slabs of well-cooked beef on the wooden plate. Her hunger starts to break down her will, and her hand slowly creeps towards the plate. The flap suddenly opens and Gareth steps inside.

“Man, I am starving!” He says as he takes a seat beside Kahlera.

He reaches out and takes a dried apple slice from the plate, quickly eating it. The two girls watch on. Naomi smiles and confidently reaches for the strawberry.

“So now that you are both here I-” Naomi begins.

“Where were you?! And why are you eating this food?!” Kahlera interrupts.

“I was with Sarvah, and I’m hungry.” He replies with a raised eyebrow.

“What if that bitch poisoned it?” Kahlera growls.

“I asked her to bring it.” He laughs.

“So, you two are close now? Is that it?” She yells at him.

“Uh, what? No. She’s not all bad. Just mostly.” He defends her.

“Excuse me, I-” Naomi tries to speak.

“No, that wolf is evil.” Kahlera barks.

“Evil is a bit extreme.” He snickers.

“She cannot be trusted. What could you two possibly be doing for so long anyway? It was dusk a few hours ago; you only just came back!” She growls.

“Hello. I have something to say…” Naomi sighs.

“I was busy! I wanted to know what the terrain looked like.” Gareth replies.

“Yeah, I bet you did, you pervert.” She grumbles in an accusatory manner.

“WHAT?!” Gareth stands up.

“I have smelled her on you since she first tried to molest you earlier today, and I still smell her now, so how can I be sure?”

“Be sure of what?” He snaps.

“Be sure that you two didn’t…” Kahlera clenches her fists.

“Why do you care so much?!” He demands.

“Who said I did?!” Kahlera screams.

“You are confusing me. Why are you so angry?” Gareth whines.

“Because I! …” Kahlera stops mid-sentence.

She turns to Naomi and looks at her. She motions with her head for her to leave. Naomi gets up and walks out of the yurt quietly, heading a short distance away before sitting down. Sahvorai villagers appear to be listening in on the conversation as they gather around Naomi, standing and sitting quietly.

“You might as well go back to her. I do not care.” Kahlera grumbles.

“Don’t you?” Gareth asks.

“What do you mean?” She replies, a surprised look in her eyes as she feels herself flush.

“Even if I did that with Sarvah, is it really your business? We aren’t paired. In fact, for the last couple of days you’ve acted like you hate me. I never expected someone who didn’t care about me, or my personal life, to throw such a fit.” He points out.

“I do not know what you are talking about…” She says quietly, averting her eyes from him.

“Just say that you don’t care. Tell me, right now, that you do not want my companionship or affection. That’s all I need to hear from you, and I won’t bother you with it anymore.” He says.

She looks to him but doesn’t answer. She can’t make herself say the words, no matter how hard she tries. She reaches across her chest and grabs onto her own arm as her eyes tear up. He runs his fingers through his long hair and sighs, sitting back down beside her.

“I’m sorry… I just don’t like being kept in the dark. You don’t have to say anything; you can talk to me when you’re ready.” He says in a soft and gentle voice.

He reaches out for another apple slice. She scoots closer and leans against him. He turns and looks back to her, giving her a pleasant smile. A single tear rolls down her cheek. He feels horrible for yelling at her. He reaches out and gently brushes it away. He slides an arm around her back and holds her close, placing his hand on her arm and caressing her. She rests her head on his shoulder, as though in silent confirmation.

“I do…” She says softly.

“I know…” He rests his head on hers, giving her a tender kiss.

“Do you?” She asks, shifting her eyes up to him.

“Well… I do now.” He says as he squeezes her arm. “Ooh! Steak!”

He reaches for the steak when it suddenly levitates, floating through the air and gliding across the yurt. They turn in amazement as the steak floats towards the flap. Naomi stands just inside with a glowing ruby red aura over her hands as the steak hovers in front of her.

“Now that this has been resolved, can I talk now?” She asks with a smile.

The next morning the trio packs their bags; they are preparing to leave, and are determined to return to Kahlera’s village in the north. They head for the road where Sarvah stands with several guards. She looks at Kahlera with an apprehensive glare, but looks to Gareth with a pleasant and warm smile. Kahlera worries that Sarvah isn’t going to allow them to leave peacefully. Gareth steps up to Sarvah, motioning for the two girls to stay behind.

“Well, it’s been real fun.” Gareth begins.

“You can say that again.” Sarvah says with a wink.

“Well, it’s been real fun.” Gareth jokes.

Sarvah giggles.

“But it’s about time we left. We have somewhere to be, after all.” Gareth continues.

“Taking the little kitten home?” She cracks.

“Among others.” He nods.

“I hope to see you again… Very soon.” She coos.

“Who knows. You just might.” He winks.

They lean in simultaneously and give each other a relatively benign hug. Kahlera clenches a fist. Sarvah smiles smugly as she glares at her. Kahlera takes a single step forward, but Naomi reaches out and grabs onto her wrist.

“I know you lied to me last night.” He whispers into her ear.

“Yes, I did… Are you mad?” She whispers back.

“A little…”

“All things considered, was it so bad?” She asks sensually.

They end the hug and he steps back from her.

“I’ll get back to you on that.” He says as he turns back and motions to the others.

Naomi and Kahlera walk by Sarvah. Kahlera stops and glares at her. Sarvah grins sinisterly, bearing her teeth. Kahlera turns her body to face her.

“Before you go…” Sarvah motions to one of her guards. “I would like you to have this…”

The guard stands beside Sarvah. She takes the items, presenting Kahlera with an already strung yew bow, several spare strings, and a quiver with a dozen freshly made arrows.

“I though you could use it.” Sarvah says nonchalantly.

The bow is an obvious mocking dare to Kahlera, and she knows it. Kahlera hesitates, but glares at Sarvah and takes the gift. As she touches it, a guard places his hand on the handle of his sword. Kahlera slings the bow and quiver of arrows over her body, then slips the spare strings into her pack.

“Thank you for your kindness.” Kahlera says through clenched teeth.

Sarvah nods to her as she turns back to her companions, who watch the encounter with quiet anxiety. Kahlera turns back to look at Sarvah, waving politely to her as they walk away, before suddenly raising her middle finger.

“She’s stronger than I thought.” Sarvah chuckles.