Inside the village, the previous day, the front door had opened inside a warm, familiar hut.
It was the start of the evening, the golden hour, as the sun would begin to set.
As the scene panned across the room, an equally familiar, gentle voice could be heard as the sound of the door closing would soon be heard behind her.
"You've sure made quite the impression that day," the gentle voice said softly. "I imagine you'd be pleased to hear she was asking about you~" she said pleasefully.
The voice to have entered the hut, was clearly that of Lady Cheiro's. She had returned home.
As the scene continued to pan over, we raise upon a bed—where over the covers—was a young figure, dressed in clearly fresh garments, adorned completely in black. As we arise further, we see the boy in full view, staring out a brightly lit window positioned over bed. He was seated up, with his arm resting over his propped up knee. His black, feathered hair, an obvious trait.
As Lady Cheiro made mention of "her," the young boy steadily turned his head—his black eyes and calm expression looking back.
—Isaac.
After acknowledging Cheiro's presence, the boy turned to his gaze back through the window once again. He hadn't spoken a single word.
Shortly after, Lady Cheiro stepped into our field of view towards him from behind the scene.
"I recognize that look," Lady Cheiro stated insightfully, "You've been out to see her again haven't you?"
Isaac hadn't said a word. He just continued staring out the window, watching the golden hour, as he was stuck in his own world of wonder.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd think you'd left quite the imprint of that one..."
Lady Cheiro's voice was kind, toned with the same level of care as always. There was no disappointment, and not bite. She only spoke with pure understanding.
"Quite the pretty girl isn't she?" Cheiro asked Isaac, bearing a gentle smile on her face.
Our field of view alters, as we look upon Isaac from window pan view—and we see him staring out into the horizon.
Present day...
Back at the temple grounds, it was the day after the initial search had ended, and Alena had been called in to the dojo.
Today was one of the few days off for everyone, but for Alena, it meant a day of dedicated practice for her as Kenrir's new disciple.
With Alena, Tika and Maulana, and of course Elijah, had made their way together to the dojo entrance.
Stepping inside one after the other, all we see for a moment are their legs and feet walking in with Elijah trailing in among them—the sounds of steps clattering against a hard wood surface following them.
We see them walking through the entrance hall, and stopping just outside the training room archway.
"Are you ready Alena?" Maulana asked calmly.
"Your future is calling to you~" Tika stated, with both girls standing on either side.
"Today is a big step," Maulana added in.
"This is where your lessons really begin~" Tike spoke in agreement.
After everything that had happened, this was the moment when Alena would truly delve into her lessons. Now she had not one, but two instructors to guide her along her path—and the lessons of mastery over her inner energies could really begin.
"What if I'm not good enough?" Alena openly asked herself so the others could hear.
"Don't go in thinking like that. It's your heart and determination that defines your strength."
These were the words of encouragement which Maulana had spoken. Each word was genuine, each syllable a tribute of respect.
"That's right~ As you take this next step, remember we are here—and even if we are not, remember to take it with a smile. That's the Alena we know~"
Tika felt strongly about Alena, and she could already see within her, ambition.
"You've got a great heart Alena, and we believe in you."
There was a pause in Maulana's words, as she soon laid her hand upon Alena's shoulder in confidence.
"So what do you say? Are you ready?"
Alena felt greatful to have such wonderful friends by her side—to have those to help encourage her while she was away from her family, away from her home...
"Mm!" Alena nodded, putting on a light-eyed smile of approval. "I'm ready~" she answered softly.
Maulana nodded back to her, smiling in equal approval.
"Do good in there~"
"And when you're done for the day, you'll know right where we'll be~" Tika exclaimed.
With that, Tika and Maulana watched as Alena took her first step, and a joyous flicker of pride had lit up her eyes. Setting foot into the training hall, Alena's eyes soon locked onto her two instructors—including Kazran—and she took off toward the podium with a bright smile on her face. All the while, Elijah, matched her pace—running in behind her.
"Do you think she'll be okay?" Tika asked Maulana, recalling the troubling words of Kenrir from before.
"I don't have the slightest doubt," Maulana answered back.
The two girls who had been watching Alena enter the hall soon faced one another, and without another word, they shared a smile that came from their hearts.
Time would soon pass, and the day that would have marked a departing ceremony, had began.
Variann was now awake, fully on her feet—and The Tanzha had volunteered to stay.
Roaming throughout the forest, Variann was keeping up a keen ear, listening for any signs of a young girl's presence. As she searched, she would remember the night of the rain—a time so long ago, when she had given this same young girl the very news that had broken her heart.
"It feels like only yesterday, doesn't it?" Variann asked no one, for there wasn't anyone who would hear. "You poor girl... I can understand your pain..."
Variann wasn't moving quickly, as she was using each of her senses to her highest potential. Her eyes scoped every detail, he ears drawing in every fluctuation, and her feet below her the slightest of tremors.
As she continued roaming through the forest, she would soon stumble upon an unusual place covered in moss and tiny white flowers. She climbed down around a large, moss-covered boulder, into a sunken path surrounded by moss covered trees. As she searched deeper within this moss-filled space, she could soon hear the strong sound of water falling from a higher level of plane.
Variann followed the sound of rushing water, but it would be further off than anyone else would hear.
As the sounds of water got stronger, something else would soon caught her attention.
Variann stopped in place, not bearing a single word to interfere with her senses.
As she listened, her eyes would faintly widen, as she realized exactly what sound she had heard.
Breathing...
Variann collected herself, and soon ran off in the direction of the sound—for this wasn't just the sound of any breathing. This was the sound of an involuntarily unconscious sleep.
As our point of view shifts, we see our scene descending from the treetops, scaling over our surrounding forest of moss covered trees. As we slowly pan close towards the ground below, we see Variann coming out from around one of those trees—and on the ground below, laid a small girl with snow-white hair laying limply rolled over her side.
"A small girl..." Vari murmured from a short distance away.
The girl's hair laid jagged, furled out over the solid ground. Her ears and tail of white—which curled over her like a cover—matched her snow-white hair, all except for a single black strip—equally furled among the rest—which grew off from the side.
As Variann approached the girl, she gazed down upon her, and paused.
"She must be cold..." Variann thought to herself.
Soon, Variann scanned her surroundings—and without much hesitation, she began to undress.
Our scene pans away, and as it pans back, Variann is slipping back on the top portion of her weighted robe—all the while holding a white top in her hand.
Variann lowers the top over the small girl, dressing her just out of view, as she then lifts the girl up into her arms.
"Come on, let's get you somewhere safe..." Variann murmured softly, carrying the girl off, back through the forest.
Hours would pass, and all the while carrying her, the small girl would remain unconscious along the way...
As Variann carried off the small child, our scene pans around, moving deeper into the forest.
The point of view had once again changed, and by the falls a great distance away, our scene scales along the treetops—panning over to see the lower half of someone's face, staring off into the distance.
A wicked smile appeared upon the face, bearing razor sharps fangs. Of what hair that could be seen, it was white, and flared out while being jagged. All that could be heard were the sounds of the waterfall, as this mysterious presence silently turned and walked away...