Their Obsession Rose

Chapter 7 Rose : Running

I am scared. Father has been in contact with the neighbouring villages to find out if they will also be in attendance at the Vicario. So far non of them will be there as not one of them was invited to attend. Our whole village has been turned up side down over night and I am afraid I am to blame for this. I cannot forget the Phoenix that fell from sky, who is healing at a radical pace in our shed.

Then there is the ferocious wild beast of a wolf that is as big as Lilly and who was ready to kill but stopped and yielded, at my touch. On top of that , I was found in the woods when I was a mere infant and not the biological child of Father and Mother. It has been a rollercoaster of a day!

People are moving in and out of our home asking Father, if he knows what is going on. As if Father, the chief of our village, is the only one who would be able to make sense of the madness that has befallen our village. I can see the desperation in Fathers eyes, as he does not have answers, not for himself, not for me and not for them. I see how his shoulders sag with helplessness.

I quietly make my way to the shed and see that Phoenix is awake in his cage. I'm totally blown away as I take small steps closer to the magnanimous, majestic bird. It's eyes never leaves me as I near its cage. It might be thirsty and hungry. I wonder what a Phoenix eats? I hurry into the house and take some left over noodles and rice to feed the bird. As I open the cage to put the food in I am scared that it will attack me as it might think I want to harm it. "Please don't hurt me. I mean you no harm beautiful Phoenix. This is just too scary , I used almost the exact same words with the wolf! Coincidence, I wonder?! "It's a miracle that you are alive, Phoenix", I sing song "You were burned to a crisp and in less than 2 days, you are back to being a majestic bird!" I say in a cooing voice. The Phoenix tjirps almost in recognition of my words.

I laugh out laud as my nerves start to settle. I soon begin to hum and take out my paint brushes and start to paint. I get so lost in my dream world that I did not realise I was painting the black wolf with my hand stroking it's fur. My best work so far , it feels like the wolf will jump out of the frame any minute.

I know I won't be able to sleep and start painting Phoenix, his beautiful vibrant orange and red colours blending into such splendid colours that it is very difficult to get the right mixture. I let him out of his cage as there is no where he can fly. He flies and lands on my arm. I gently stroke his feathers and cannot help myself to fall in love with this beautiful bird. For some reason Phoenix is as drawn to the painting of the Black Beast.

Deep in thought I murmur to myself that I don't have any other choice but to escape before the Vicario. That leaves me only with two tonight's as the Vicario is three days. I will hide in the woods before first light and wait there until the whole spectacle of a day is over. I know Father will be heartbroken if he must loose me too.

Having made up my mind, I tell Phoenix that I won't be able to take care of him tomorrow and that I am setting him free. I leave the shed door open as a hurriedly make my way to my room to pack a couple of things and take a rest before first light enters. I lie down on my bed, just for a minute to rest my eyes before I will make my way deep into the forrest and hide the day out.