In a green, luscious field far from the rush and constant motion of the city, two young Kinerikan women darted past, their feet leaving behind a streak of dust behind them. They made their way to the top of a massive hill, atop which they could see the entirety of a forest that stretched from behind the sights.
"Wow, this is incredible, Zooms," Rushina spoke as she stared out into the forest.
"You think that's amazing," said Zoomie, who stood by her side and allowed herself to fall down onto the soft grass below.
"You should see the view from down here," she said, fixed on starry skies above.
Rushina joined, lying down right next to her to witness the beauty of the night sky above them. She even caught sight of a shooting star streaking past.
"Yeah, you're right. The view is a lot better from down here," said Rushina.
Zoomie smiled at her words, having never departed to the stars before. A single breath then left her lips.
"Rushina," she spoke with a gentle weigh in her words. "Do you ever think we're moving way too fast?"
Rushina turned to her with a look of confusion etched on her. "What exactly do you mean by that?"
Zoomie took a single hollow breath before getting up.
"Everybody seems to be in a hurry. Quick to run. Quick to leave," she with her head bowed. "Every day feels like a race we never get to finish. A race we continue running the next day and the day after and …"
Zoomie let out another breath and said nothing. For a moment the world seemed to stand perfectly still, with the only form of motion around them being the bellowing winds that blew softly around them.
"Zooms," Rushina got up and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I get it; it's hard being in gear one but …"
"I didn't mean that," said Zoomie.
"What is that about then?" asked Rushina.
Zoomie turned to Rushina, who looked back at her with worry in her eyes. Her eyes then fell with a tired breath leaving her lips.
"Forget I said anything." She collapsed back onto the fields.
Rushina then joined her.
The two of them just lay there, still and silent, watching the stars above them. It was slow but calm and peaceful in a way the rush that came with running at top speeds could never compare. It was a strange feeling for a Kinerikan to feel. Peace in stillness—that was an inconceivable thought for them, and yet that was what the two of them found there as they lay on the field that night, staring at the stars.
This was a feeling that wasn't something new, Zoomie. There is only so far someone with heavy feet can run before growing tired of the trek, but instead of finding despair and misery in the stillness like most Kinerikans, she found this strange sense of peace, and she just wanted to share it with someone close to her.
Zoomie then heard a light chuckle come from Rushina.
"What's so funny?" asked Zoomie.
"Nothing. It's silly," said Rushina.
"Okay, now I have to know. Tell me," Zoomie insisted.
Rushina just sighed before saying, "Fine." She then focused her gaze on the stars above.
"Ever heard the tale of the Far Reachers?" said Rushina.
"You mean that old fairy tale almost every child in Kinerikan has been told," said Zoomie.
"Yeah," she spoke as her eyes darted down away from the stars. Recalling the stories her mother used to tell at night.
"They moved faster than the wind. Each step taken by them made the ground rock and boom. They were so fast that they glowed like the stars above. And with a single stride, they could move across continents. And in just two steps around the world. And if they leaped, they would go far above the skies, past the boundaries of their world. Reaching far beyond to the stars where no other Kinerikan can and would dare to go. They were the Far Reachers."
She sunk further down as she recalled the story.
"Hey Zoomie. Do you really believe it's a fairy tale?" asked Rushina, her tone soft and low.
Zoomie with her eyes still fixed on the stars above. "It has to be. Can you believe what would happen if Kinerikans could actually move fast enough to be able to literally leap off the world? That'd be insane."
Rushina, upon hearing her words, looked up at the night sky once more before and the raised her hand up. Seeing the limiter flashing '1' on her wrist before saying soft, "Yeah, crazy."
*Sigh*
That night was about three years ago, and now Rushina stood atop that same hill with stars looming over her and her gaze fixed on her limiter that flashed with the number '2.'
A few seconds later, Zoomie came racing in, panting and out of breath.
She then turned to meet her gaze with a soft smile crossinraisingg her lips, but Zoomie refused to meet her gaze and just looked to the side.
They just stood there across from each other. A moment of still and silence surrounded them, just like it did all those years, but this time the air around them felt thick and heavy, a silent weight they could feel.