Chapter 8b

                                    

                                          
"You'll have to forgive him," Corin said as he watched the other man yank a tie around one pack. "His experiences with Normals have been . . . tough."
                          
"Normals?" I'd never heard this term before.
                          
He looked back at me, his brown eyes taking in my hair, my ears, my chin. He lifted a hand as if to touch my hair, then seemed to think better of it and dropped it back into his lap. "Normals. People like you."
                          
"Being normal is boring," I admitted.
                          
"Then boring is a lucky thing." His grave tone matched the sadness in his eyes, and I began to wonder what atrocities these people had gone through, simply because they looked different. "How is it you're not afraid?"
                          
"Should I be?" I looked from him, to the surly Minocken, and back again. "Wait, how did I get here, anyway?"
                          
"Fenrook carried you."
                          
"Why don't I remember that?"
                          
"You were asleep."
                          
"Right . . ." I leaned forward to watch his eyes since it was hard to see his facial reactions. "Asleep. Not comatose. What happened to me?"
                          
His nervous eyes darted away. "You should drink some water. It will help with the dizziness." He stood and retrieved a bowl of water from a nearby bucket.
                          
Why wouldn't he answer my question? And how did he know I was dizzy? Something wasn't right here.
                          
"Where did you say Fen was again?"
                          
"He scouts ahead to make sure our path is safe."
                          
"Our path to where? Where are we going? How many of you are there?" I couldn't stop the questions from bubbling out. I had come here to get answers, but I only found more questions. "Why won't you tell me anything?"
                          
"Here." He pressed the bowl of water into my hands. "You'll feel better if you drink something."
                          
"Something," I repeated. "So you can knock me out again?" I sniffed the clear liquid in the bowl, but couldn't detect anything unusual. But it wasn't like I drank anything before my nap anyway.
                          
"It's just water." Corin took the bowl, drank its contents, and refilled it. "Please. Drink."
                          
I took it and drank, thoughts swirling with unanswered questions.
                          
"That's my girl."
                          
I looked at him curiously. His warm tone had returned. Sounded almost fatherly.
                          
Before I could think more about it, I heard the rustle of bushes and the crack of twigs underfoot. I turned my head toward the noise, hoping to see Fen returning.
                          
It wasn't him.
                          
Not even close.
                          
Green. The woman was green. She emerged into the clearing clutching a sack. She wore deer hide trousers with a long-sleeved, loose-fitting shirt the same color as my dress. But her skin was as pale green as a newly unfurled leaf.
                          
Corin grinned when he saw her, his teeth parting the hair on his face. He headed over to greet her.
                          
They embraced and began speaking in hushed tones. I couldn't hear what they were saying, but her dark eyes intermittently fell on me, so it was obvious who they were talking about.
                          
Not wanting to be left out of the conversation, I set the water bowl aside and tried to stand. A dizzy spell hit me when I leaned forward, and I sat back down again. Maybe more water was a good idea. I reclaimed the bowl and sipped at it, waiting.
                          
When they finally approached me, the green woman spoke first. "Nirrin."
                          
It was one word. 
                          
One. Word. And yet it sounded so familiar. Like I already knew her voice. Which was ridiculous, because I think I'd remember a green-skinned woman if I'd ever met one.
                          
Her eyes were brown and soft as they gazed at me. "I don't suppose you remember me?"
                          
I studied her face carefully, taking in her dusky eyebrows, her perfectly proportioned nose, the delicate curve of her ears. Once you got past all the green skin, she was actually quite pretty.
                          
She sat in front of me, so her eyes were level with mine. "I can't believe you're a grown woman now." She reached out a hand, just like Corin had, only she didn't let it fall away. 
                          
I instinctively backed away from her hand, and a hurt expression crossed her face. 
                          
"Look," I said, not wanting to hurt her feelings, whoever she was, "it's not because you're . . . green. I don't know you. I don't even know your name."
                          
She pulled her hand back and looked up at Corin with an expression that might have said, Are you sure?
                          
"It's her," he affirmed. "I know it is. I could never forget that scent."
                          
I had a scent? Did I need a bath? My confused brain couldn't seem to make more sense than that.
                          
He knelt next to the green woman and took my hand. "Nirrin, I can't believe you found us." He brought my hand to his nose and inhaled. "It really is you."
                          
I reclaimed my hand and scooted back a little. "Look, I don't know either of you. I don't know who you think I am, but you're starting to freak me out."
                          
He gave me a patient smile. "Forgive me. I forget that you would have no memory of us." He took the hand of the green woman. "This is Niralessa."
                          


                          
Dun-dun-DUUUN! I hope you're not too shocked to vote. Or, if you saw this coming a mile away, I hope you vote anyway. :)