The Stolen Stars- 2

‘You wish to hunt the tiger.’ the woman in black robes said coldly, looking from head to toe at the disheveled appearance of the princess. Bruises lined her arms and one of her diamond earrings, which were given as a gift from the star itself was missing. The scarf which protected the princess was gone, perhaps buried underneath the hordes of snow that had piled up the previous night. It was a miracle that the princess had not frozen in the long hours of the storm which occurred last night. Having the blood of a star does help, the woman mused. 

Kala had woken up that morning with only a vague memory of what happened the day before. She had found the woman in the black robes staring intently at her at the foot of the tree with unblinking eyes and a penetrating gaze. It was early morning then, with traces of lingering warmth starting to rise and the crescent moon starting to dip down the horizon for another new day. ‘I think it is the cure for the virus.’ Kala replied, her hand slipping into her midnight blue skirt, reaching for the jade dagger. She took a step back and gazed into the blue eyes of the woman, like the flowing glass waterfalls. Such a color was uncommon, no, nonexistent in that region. ‘Definitely not human. But at least not an asura or a devil.

They wouldn’t be so beautiful. Or talkative. I would have been monster meat by now.’ she thought as she mentally calculated how much time she would have to kill the woman. Maybe run away. ‘I need a favor from you, Princess. This forest is a hungry maze. Don’t expect to get out-Oh and lower that dagger- without my help.’ the woman said with an arrogant nod of her head. Kala gulped down the chilly air and shook off the unease creeping up her spine. She lowered the dagger into her robes. It couldn’t be her, Kala thought, Who else would have eyes as blue as the sky? Who else would be residing in the Gupht Forests? Her mind reprimanded. Hollowed breathing filled her lungs as Kala stumbled back, across the twisted vines.

Her heart thumped in her ears as she clutched her skirt, ready to run. ‘You recognize me, I see. I don't wish to harm you, Kala. I just need a favor.’ ‘Stay away from me.’ Kala said as she bolted the dagger towards the woman with trembling hands. The woman frowned, ‘If a fight is what you want then-’ She spread her hands wide open, her locks of hair spun around her head, in a majestic mane. The woman’s pale face shuddered and twisted as her fists clenched and pulled at invisible ropes of air. Kala ran. She knew what the woman was going to do. The leaves rustled to the sound of the breeze as Kala felt her body dying to the cold. The frost crunched on her shoes as she ran over the woods. Kala knew she couldn’t escape. Not this time.