Selene and Naelie - Chapter 2

I busied myself thinking of that girl for the rest of the morning. My stomach was making sharp noises and my vision blurred out, but that was my reward for lazily oversleeping. I couldn't possibly survive a trip to the city in broad daylight, let alone manage a successful food hunt. “Hunt”. Why was I even thinking in these terms? It was obvious to me it was never anything but plain robbery.

The three shapes in the distance had long turned into a side way, and the road to the city was clear, but I was not sure it was safe yet. I would wait a bit longer and move out. Hunger betrayed my caution; I did not manage to obtain very much yesterday, and I felt I would not make it through the day if I could not make up for it.

I waited a few more minutes, as long as I could endure, and leaped down from the tree, landing as silently as my bare feet allowed. I felt the impact of landing much stronger then usual; perhaps malnutrition had finally left its permanent mark on my bones. Or perhaps I wasn't paying enough attention to my own movements, failing to set my feet the right way to land from such a tall height. Whichever it was, it seemed to have caused me to twist an ankle.

I looked at all directions, making sure there were no Humans anywhere in sight before I started running. It hurt a lot; but hunger hurt more. I dashed out forward, doing my best to avoid making sound. I felt I was limping gracelessly, instead of my usual swift way of running. Still, I was faster than most Human beings, which was a good sign, but if I were to rob the bakery on this lazy afternoon to the eyes of the lot, I would have to keep on running to the next town ahead.

If I am to be seen, I am to be searched for. I did not wish to be hunted down.

The grove I had just left was serving me as my home for a few years; It saddened me to think I would have to leave. Well, not that my life was very good as for now – it was pretty much getting up, stealing food, laying awake on guard or sleeping with one eye open and waiting for the next day, in which I would do  much the same. But despite how it sounds, it became a routine to me, and routine meant security. Years ago, when I was young and cocky, I was still on the look for peril and adventures, but now it seems all I wanted was to know I have a safe place to lay my aching bones at.

I passed the crowded streets with light steps, leaving a trail of stares and whispers behind me. I felt very awkward to be here at such an hour, my foolish morning snooze became a first-degree sin in my mind. The whispers became vivid chattering as I sped up, the people clearly sure that I am too far ahead to  overhear that I am the topic of their gossip. The main street emerged from behind the corner, the market shortly after. Since I were to run without looking back, I could afford myself to carry off as much as my arms could bear. Before, I had a limit as to how much I allowed myself to take from a single merchant; Kind of funny for a thief like me to have an ethical code. But today I could take all I wanted, my heart light with the realization that I would never rob them again. I pounced forward speeding to my maximum, grabbing buns, pastries, sweet fruits and even a random cheese. I hadn't had much time to choose what I wanted, and I hoped whatever I took would be worth eating. And besides, the Hungry can consume anything.

Right before turning away from the market, accompanied by the shouts of protest from the angered men and women whose goods I have taken, A pair of light blue eyes had stolen my attention. The girl from this morning was a few steps away from me, shock filling her delicate features. She said something to me, which I obviously didn't understand, but guessed it was not a friendly greeting. Only when I felt the sweating hand of the rotund man from the fruit stand trying to grasp my arm, had I realized I stopped running. I was caught up by staring at the child.