JIDEN

Zunte blinked and stared at the creature before her. It growled and held it’s tail up— signaling that it was on full alert.

She felt beads of sweat start to glide across her face and neck. This beast was the fastest and strongest one’s of the jungle.

There was no way that she would be able to outrun it. But hey- if she waited and stood around— it would pounce on her and bite off her head!

She waited for the right moment to strike. Clutching her spear in one hand, she leaned a bit closer to the ground and stared back at the beast of the jungle.

The creature drew it’s mouth back in a snarl and leaped into the air. As soon as the beast was airborne, Zunte raised her spear aiming it toward the beast’s chest.

Soon after that the beast fell on top of her. Zunte’s heart was beating so fast that she thought it would burst!

She felt her hands and body begin to tremble. The sound of twigs snapping nearby startled her.

Was that another creature of the jungle? Was it a pack ready to come take care of her because she had killed one of the pack’s kind?

Zunte took another sigh of relief. She recognized this creature. ‘‘Hey~ would you help get this thing off me?’’

‘‘Sure thing. Wow- how did you end up killing this beast?’’

Zunte rose to her feet and shuddered. ‘‘The gods must have been watching over me and given me strength. Where you following me, Jiden?’’ She asked with a slight grin.

Jiden shook his head gently and then cleared his throat. ‘’Of course not. I was simply out and about. It’s the bird mating season. I enjoy getting to watch the males perform for the female birds. That’s all. But then I heard the beast’s roar and came rushing to see who was in trouble.

‘‘Well...your father did also instruct me to keep an eye on you. He always worries when you wander off alone in the jungle.’’

Zunte scoffed. ‘‘Hmph. I don’t need a bodyguard to be by my side 24/7, Jiden.’’

He placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled, ‘‘He means well, okay. Besides, shouldn’t you be on your way back to the village for the meeting? Your father won’t be pleased having his daughter, one who is next in line for the throne, late for the meeting with the Chief and mages.’’

Zunte gasped. ‘‘Ah! I forgot it was today. O, the mages will surely be delighted to see me late for another meeting. This time they might end up requesting that I have my mind examined by the village medical unit.’’

Jiden laughed as he watched Zunte run as if she was being chased by a bee. The second that she was out of sight, he waved his hand over the dead body of the beast of the jungle.

It changed form from a wild cat to a dark, thick fog. Jiden took a deep breath and inhaled it. His body felt a rush of power. He placed a hand over his throat and writhed in pain.

The fog was drawing nearer to his heart. He shut his eyes and slowly blinked. Some sunlight broke through the dense forest leaves and landed near Jiden’s face. He opened his eyes and moved his hand into the sunlight, thinking about Zunte. She was his sunshine.

He coughed for a while. Then collapsed on the ground after trying to get back up. The sound of wings flapping in the breeze was the last thing he heard before he lost consciousness.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3pvSGwHgvhU

#JIDEN (C)

29.05.2021 sat’rday