Unknown Depths

Chapter 8: Separation

When Rhian somehow became a companion of sorts to her, Diane felt like she was a little more normal than she was before another's presence was around her. It was like she returned to the ground after she spent her time flying all over. She felt as if she was now the human that she was taught all her life to be.

Diane always knew that she was not a normal person ever since she could remember—at least in her way of thinking. No one likes to use their unexplainable feelings to know something or rely on them like it was the main brain dictating what they should be. It was only Diane and her parents who seemed to have this trait.

In her younger years, at the back of her mind, she thought that the phenomenon was normal, that she was like that, as she could see her parents were also a lot like her. Purposive in life and doing what the rules are telling them to survive. But upon growing up, things are really different than what she thought they were.

Though deep down she knew that they were not well accepted by society if they did act like they should be. The judgemental cannibalistic way others will be placing them in before they are brought to the lowest district has little to no idea of what awaits them and what their future will be.

So, without someone to put some eyes on her, Diane did not like the feeling of being unable to know herself despite feeling so liberated. Years of conditioning herself did the trick, but it ultimately made her feel so at a loss without acting who she should. Indistinctly deep inside her, she identified herself as the beast that wandered over anyone without the presence of anyone who knew how they should be living.

“There are those canine-like creature’s traces on here.” Diane said with narrow eyes, eyeing the foot prints with caution. “We should stay clear for now.”

She saw a trail of blood at the side. She knew there was some fighting happening nearby and it would be a fierce one too, judging from the amount of damage left by their wake. And judging from the marks left, the creatures involved should be bigger than the ones she saw the first time she regained consciousness in this strange forest.

Rhian, trusting Diane’s decisions, only nodded and left the area as fast as they could. Diane was her only safe bet, so she did as she was asked without any questions. When they were a distance away, they heard intense growling and fighting. From their noise, it can be imagined how they might end up if they insisted on going that path.

They would have been relaxed getting away, but the sound had gotten loud and was getting near their location.

Diane had experienced enough during the time she was alone to know that they should be running when hearing those sounds. Rhian paled as well, signifying that she needed to get going too. Without an exchange of words, the two tactically separated to escape their predicament.

Diane spotted a particular tree she could climb up without any problems. First thing she learned in this place is that most four-legged creatures here cannot see those above them if they are not under some special circumstances. Finding out this particular tidbit has helped her more than once to escape death again and again.

She had already climbed this particular species of tree before and knew this tree was safe to get up to. She does not have to worry about some certain tree that could potentially kill her rather than whatever creature is coming near her. So far, those were the only dangers she discovered relating to the trees and those they shared a symbiotic relationship with.

As for Rhian, Diane has no time to care for her. Seeing that she has survived this long in this wilderness, the other should have some ability other than one with the help of her guide. Handicapped or not, anyone who gets to live will have the potential to explode in the face of danger. Diane trusts the girl to live. And if fate allows it, they are going to meet again in hopefully more ideal circumstances.

At the top of the branch Diane had judged to be enough to give her disguise, she saw a huge bear-like creature that had huge saber-like fangs protruding out of its mouth. Blood was coated on its leather-like skin, claws dripping with crimson as it dragged the carcass of a long-eared creature. The sounds they were hearing were from the miniature versions of the bear-like creature, making noises and fighting among themselves to get the first bite of their prey.

It seems that Diane has some mistakes in her choices as the tree she has chosen seems to be the home of the creatures. They dined in the shade of the trees and Diane was holding her breath to make her presence as small as possible. It was a hard position as they could find her at any minute should she make some indication of her presence.

She played statue at the top like some fool. Inwardly she was cursing herself over her choices, but she was nothing but patient as a predator when it comes to her prey. Moving so miniscule to relieve the ache of her muscles as possible, Diane took the moment to observe the creatures with the curiosity of a child.

She made note of the habits they showed, and without thinking much about them, she instinctively looked for weakness, anything she could use to her advantage. It was like she was an experienced hunter despite having no idea about what one is. Traits so hidden in her were shining at this moment that if she was still in the city environment, she was sure that she had been long brought to the asylum to join her siblings.

After the creatures had their food, they took a rest under the shade. Diane took some time to see if they were indeed asleep before she stretched her limbs fully above the tree while balancing herself. Up above she considers her way out of her situation.

She certainly cannot go down arbitrarily as those creatures can snarl and kill her in a snap. Although she was a little violent in nature hidden beneath her calm and calculating image, she knew that she could fight them head on as she liked. The prospect might make her blood boil in excitement, but she knew how to pick her fights.

Standing up with some difficulty above the branch, Diane looked at the distance from the tree to the closest one she was on. Calculating her chances as she is making a report to her irritated boss, she makes a bold decision to make a move to transfer to that tree. It was a lucky thing that the species of the neighboring tree was the same as the one that she was in. Because oddly enough, in this forest, plants of the same species are rare to find so near each other.

Nature should make their species keep the saying because the saying ‘the apple doesn't fall from the tree’ is not baseless to make sure at least some numbers of their trees are clustered in a certain area. Curiously, this place almost makes a clear separation of this rule and a variety of plant species are scattered about the forest for some distance away to not hinder their growth.

Like some monkey, Diane relied on her arm muscles to move around. It was fortunate that the wind had picked up so that her actions were hidden by the rustle of the branches. And with that, Diane was able to leave the place in relative safety.

Jumping from the branch she was on after her, she walked some distance away from the dwelling of those bear-like creatures.

Eyes glistening with alertness, Diane examined her landing spot with caution. From above the tree she could judge this place as safe from the bareness it shows. But something feels so off that she cannot stop herself from being paranoid at all.

And she was not disappointed at all. Beneath the sand she was standing on was some rumble. Out of instinct, she jumped around until she found a place that made her unable to land on the sandy soil. She could practically hear the snarls from below and she was not taking any chances to once again step down from the boulder rock she had stationed herself.

In a minute the rumbles and snarls quietened, but once again Diane was struck in a hard place. Unlike the one before back in the tree, she literally has no other place to escape from now. The rock was in the center of the sandy clearing, there were no tree branches to swing herself out of her predicament.

“What the hell is this place?” Diane murmured as she thought of what she should do now. She had encountered a few weird creatures and their particular habitats, but she never saw a likeness to those that lived beneath the soil like it was water.

And like fighting a water creature on their home ground, Diane knew how hard it would be if she fought them on. One is that she does not know anything about them. And second, she does not know how many she is against.

Still on the principle of not giving up until she tried something, she tried her best to make use of her situation. But she spent a few moments and still found nothing to get away from her dilemma. It was simply unlucky for her.

Sighing in resignation, Diane sat on the rock. "Unlucky circumstances."

Thankfully, her supplies were still with her and could sustain her for a while. Diane knew it was not ideal, but she could make do with one she had. She might have to stay there for a while and shelter was her greatest concern at the moment. After all, the night is often accompanied with rain.

Open spaces like where she is do not give her any luxury to build a fire, nor can she ignite one. If it does not rain, the wind is guaranteed to be strong and unforgiving. And most of all, she had nothing that could cause fire to her.

Suppose she could wrap herself with the badly made pelts she made. She did not have the time to fully dry them and she is sure to have made some mistakes in the process with how weird the texture was. Never did she make an actual one, but she knew how to spot a failure when it was in front of her.

There were a total of three pelts she had on her person. They were small and would not provide much warmth for her individually, but thankfully she had sewed them when she was waiting for Rhian to wake up back then and for dinner to be cooked. It could barely pass off as a blanket, but better than nothing.

Eating some of the smoked jerky she made a few days ago, her hunger was temporarily satiated. she has to lament that the lack of condiments, especially of salt, has made the meat spoil faster than anticipated. It tasted quite odd too. If she wished not to waste her precious pills, she would not eat them at all. With so many uncertainties in her life, Aila does not want to wager everything she has on one basket.

Suddenly-a not-so brilliant thought came to her mind. Cutting a piece of her jerky, Aila threw it on the sand to test the waters. She wanted to know if whatever creature was below would react to them. If it would, perhaps she could make do and finally could leave this place.

But sadly, it did not attract the creatures at all. After watching for a few minutes, there were no movements on the soil, much less a noise to indicate anything was under the calm soil. Diane could only sigh in disappointment as she watched the orange-tinted skies in a daze. This was the first time she had seen the sky so freely without thinking of how to survive tomorrow. Strangely, it made her relax and free in ways she never found herself to be.

She noticed how clear it was and how its tinted colors brought a strange beauty she had never seen before. And with some strange realization, she found herself questioning all that she knew of and what was the reality in between everything she did all her life.

She is not a fool despite calling herself not the brightest child in the room. She enlightened herself about a few truths she would have been happy to discover earlier. It would have made her much happier than the empty existence she had been for so long.

But what has passed cannot be returned.

Diane knew this earlier on in life and was pretty much taking it to the heart than anyone else she knew of. Telling herself that she has to get going regardless of her own opinion. If she could not, then for her institutionalized siblings. She cannot die here for their comfort and lives.

Even if it meant she had to live in an empty shell for years.

Feeling the wind picking up, Diane began preparing for her sleep as early as she could. She needed all the energy she could. And being in a daze is tiring in itself too, so it is better to sleep at this moment than wait for the rain to keep her awake for the duration of the rare time of tranquility.

Maybe her body was just too tired from the strain it had been under for so long. Diane fell asleep quite fast. And when morning came, the red sun peeked out of the horizon as birds flew and about in the sky looking for the early worm to feed themselves and their nest.