Same Planet but Different Worlds

Chapter 24 Nature

Flynn's POV

I start sinking us into the water and further under this tree root hanging over the water. The water is up to the bottom of our lips as we try to stay still and quiet. I can't see them, but I can still hear them wandering nearby, but it doesn't sound like they have noticed us yet. Luckily, I am able to hold Kaya up because she can't reach the ground since I barely can. I keep looking to the side, trying to keep my eyes on the men around, but when I look at Kaya, she is smiling at me.

I don't know why she is always in such good spirits, because our lives are on the line right now, and yet she is paying attention to me, smiling at me. "We could die and you're smiling?" I whisper as she smiles bigger. "I just love this day.. it's the best I have ever had.. so even if I die then this will be the peak of my life.. right here right now with you." I love every word that effortlessly left her lips, singing to my ears being just what I wanted and needed to hear. My body takes over as I instantly crash my lips to hers before my hands rub over her thighs, then over her back as we hear a splashing sound over to the side of us. It's not loud but enough to get our attention.

"I'm just taking a piss real fast then we can finish our shift." we hear loudly above us as I scoot us a little further away from where the pee is landing, splashing in the water. My nose scrunches up, as does hers while we wait for him to be done and hopefully leave us be. We hear him finish as he continues to talk to his partner, but we cannot hear what he is saying. We sit in silence listening for the talking to try to determine the distance between us and the men, as I see movement off to the side. I look over to see a water snake coming out of the tree and slinking down over Kaya's shoulder.

Her eyes widen as she almost screams out, but I quickly cover her mouth, splashing slightly, muffling any noise coming out of her. But this splash gets the guard's attention as they comment on it. "Did you hear that? What was that?" She looks worried, as do I. I can feel her shaking in my hold, but we stay as still as we can while watching the snake sway through the water and away from us. "Just a water snake, nothing to worry about. Unless the water snakes scare you." One says in a teasing tone as the other scoffs before we hear them talking and leaving once again.

We wait for a moment until I can see them in the distance walking away casually, showing they never saw us. I push us back and out from under the tree as I hold her tight to me while we coast back over to the edge of the water to grab the fishing rod we made. I let her go and stand up, inching closer to the edge of the water, but I don't let her get out of the water. "What are you doing?" she asks looking around as I grab the rod then come back into the water, pulling her with me to take us to the other side of the water.

Once our feet reach the soft mud underneath, we start to slowly stand and get out in hopes not to make too much noise. "Sorry for not saying much, I just didn't want to bring anymore attention to us to give them any other reason to come back.. Now let's get out before something bad happens." I state as she instantly replies. "Or something good."

I do a double take looking back at her as she smiles even bigger looking mischievous after that comment. "Yes.. or something amazing that could get us killed." I agree as she nods and says, "Yea.. I don't know why we were swimming in the first place." I look back at her again as she giggles then looks away. "I was doing fishing of my own apparently.. Caught something not worth throwing back, might be my best catch yet." I state as she glances back at me with that same face-splitting smile as before.

"Well, as good at fishing as you may be.. I think I might be better. So let me try and give this line and new river a chance. Hopefully none of the fish we catch will have parasites, but I'm sure you will show me how to check since you seem to be incredibly smart when it comes to things like this." she declares as I watched her cast the line into the water. I didn't feel smart when talking with her yesterday because she knew so much that I didn't, but I guess there are many things I can teach her as well.

That's a confidence booster that I needed, especially when I have felt like such a pariah in my own community. She makes me feel special when I talk with her, as if she is actually listening to everything that comes out of my mouth. I can't stop my smile from growing exponentially massive across my features. I don't think I have ever smiled this big in the entirety of my life. She sees this as she sends me a happy look before looking back at the water. She props up the fishing pole within some big rocks beside her before she turns to look at me.

"Don't you love that sound?" she hums out in a soothing tone as she closes her eyes, as if she is trying to enjoy this 'sound' she hears, but I have no idea what she is talking about as I look around and straining my ears trying to figure out what she is talking about.

"What sound?" I ask as she waves me over to her side and I go without hesitation because she doesn't need to ask me twice, that's exactly where I want to be. Her hand lightly pats the ground beside her as I nervously take a seat with my head still on a swivel, just hoping there won't be anyone to get us while our attention is distracted by one another.

"Close your eyes." she softly says, which causes me to instantly give her a look after that comment that shows shock and astonishment that she would think I would be doing that when we have enemies all around. Her hand reaches over gently touching my arm as she asks again. "Please, Flynn.. just close your eyes." I keep looking all around us, not wanting to turn her down but knowing I might have to since we are not in a safe area to talk our eyes off of anything.

"We will be fine for one second without our eyes on anything around.. It's ok.. please indulge me.. just close your eyes." I reluctantly do so as I let out a deep breath. "What now?" I ask as she hums out as I hear she is scooting closer. "Ok now don't think about anything, just relax.. Clear your mind, and tell me about the songs of nature that you hear." she says as I feel my eyebrows touching at that comment.. Songs of nature.. what does that even mean?

I feel her gentle touch as her hand caresses across my arm, making me want to give into this even if I think it is silly. I let out another deep breath as I calm and try to hear these 'songs'. The sounds of the water drifting by along with the birds calling as the bugs chirp and buzz along, but no songs. "I don't hear anything Kaya.. just the normal sounds of nature." I declare feeling frustrated about not knowing what she is talking about once again. It makes me feel like an i***t, when I don't understand.

That is until I feel her hands caressing gently on both sides of my arms now as her soft songbird voice sings in my ear from behind. "You hear the songs not knowing what they are. The water cascading over the rocks and down the large stream is the song of strength to me, knowing how strong the waters really are, but knowing how soft and relaxing their touch can be is a different type of strength." Her breath feathers off of my neck making me nervous about her sensual touch.

I let out a wavering breath as she asks. "Can you hear the birds and the insects chirping or buzzing?" I slowly nod, keeping my eyes shut just loving this moment with her, trying to enjoy it as long as I can. "That is how they talk to one another, hear as they communicate the song of family and love, this is a strength that is quite essential for the survival of anything. I do not know one being on this earth that can survive on its own. Anything, no matter what it may be, will be stronger in numbers."

I can hear her moving as she plops down beside me before wrapping her arm around mine and leaning on my shoulder. I glance down at her, seeing she is staring out at the water and birds before closing her eyes. "I love these songs, they are relaxing and give me an internal strength that I never knew I needed. It's good to see the beauty of nature in many ways, so you can learn to appreciate it the way we all deserve to be appreciated." she says to me as I nod in understanding as I close my eyes again.

The sounds of the stream flowing by as it pats over the rocks is something I have never taken the time to actually listen to ever. Let alone the chirping of the birds and buzzing of the bugs, but when you put them all together, it does sound as if they are singing together as one. I never would have looked at things like this without her, but I can see the importance of appreciating not only yourself but everything around. This was something I would never have done without her instructions.

She is a special breed of woman, someone open-minded that sees the beauty in anything. It's something amazing and inspiring. I wish I could see things from her point of view, she really does add a light to anything she decides to be part of. I peaked my eyes open looking down at her as she smiles with her eyes still closed, leaning on me and looking as peaceful as ever. This seems silly, but I somehow love this peaceful quiet and spending time with one another, while not doing anything productive at the moment.

Even though in the back of my mind I can hear my leader's voice yelling at me for sitting on the job, since 'Who has time to enjoy the simple things in life when there are so many things to take care of around us?' I'm sure that's something he would say over and over again. He has said something similar to that to me along with many others multiple times, just not that exact wordage. So I would assume that without him around, maybe I could be enjoying things like that.

"This... is nice.. Thank you Kaya." I say as I watch her eyes open as she automatically looks up at me. "This is one of my favorite parts of being out and about, and I just knew you would appreciate it like I do." she states as I think about that because maybe I only enjoy it this much because she does and come to find out I love being around her. "I think I enjoy this so much.. because of you." She shyly looks away as I keep my eyes locked on her. I'm not trying to come off strong, but I just can't seem to help it, when it comes to her.