ANOTHER SPARK

Ulanni, who was still supine on the ground with her head throbbing in agony, perceived a shift in the surrounding ambiance and pondered what could be transpiring.

Gradually, she propelled her unwilling physique upwards, wincing as she felt the sharp jolts of discomfort emanating from her back, causing her to let out another ear-piercing cry.

"What fortune," Ulanni heaved a sigh, "there are stones concealed amidst the foliage!" Despite the agony coursing through her body, she persisted in her efforts to move forward.

Ulanni's cry of distress had captured Sarah's attention, causing her head to snap in Ulanni's direction.

Sarah's rage appeared to abate somewhat, as her levitating hair lost some of its sheen.

As if under some form of compulsion, Sarah abruptly altered her course and hastened towards the location where Ulanni was lying prone on the ground, with her eyes firmly shut.

Taking a deep breath, the big-nosed girl gradually regained her footing. She looked around, still feeling a little disoriented, as she endeavored to piece together the events that had just transpired.

All she was aware of at the moment was that she had been granted another opportunity at life.

Upon arriving at Ulanni's side, Sarah fell to her knees beside her head.

Ulanni's eyes snapped open as she detected the motion beside her.

"Sarah…oh Sarah, your eyes!" Ulanni exclaimed weakly, watching in awe as she observed the mesmerizing swirl of wind and water fighting to merge with each other.

However, Sarah disregarded Ulanni's comment, taking her hand and slowly slipping it beneath Ulanni's back, cradling her head with gentle care.

"Sarah?" Ulanni called out, perplexed by the look of profound reverence and adoration that Sarah was giving her.

Sarah appeared to be lost in her own world, ignoring Ulanni's repeated calls. She slowly pushed aside the stray locks of hair that had escaped the bundle atop Ulanni's head and were now scattered over her face.

"You are alright…" Sarah murmured, her words barely audible. However, Ulanni was by her side and heard what she said.

"Yes, I'm fine," Ulanni replied, attempting to move out of Sarah's embrace as she felt uncomfortable with the way Sarah was gazing at her.

"You are alright…" Sarah repeated, as if trying to reassure herself.

Ulanni asked, her eyes widening in confusion. "What's wrong?"

"You are…" Sarah began, before trailing off uncertainty.

"Sarah!" Ulanni screamed, putting all her strength into it, trying to snap Sarah out of her trance.

Ulanni's scream appeared to work, as Sarah blinked a few times, and the swirling pool of wind and water in her eyes gradually receded before vanishing completely as if it had never been there in the first place.

"Ulanni…" Sarah called out once more, her hair losing its faint glow, and the temperature of the surroundings returning to normal.

"What was that, Sarah?" Ulanni asked, still perplexed as to why Sarah had been acting so oddly.

Sarah ignored Ulanni's question and posed one of her own. "Are you hurt? Your head," she asked, reminding Ulanni of her injury.

Sarah helped Ulanni up, despite her moans of pain, and steadied her. Ulanni darted her eyes around searchingly, finally settling on the girl who had caused her misery by pushing her down.

Ulanni was jolted out of her staring contest with the girl when she felt a spike of pain behind her head.

"Ouch!" She cried out in pain as she brought her hand up to slap Sarah's hand away from her head.

"That hurts!" She said as her hand smacked against Sarah's outstretched one, causing a sharp sting to radiate up her arm.

She pulled her hand back and shook it, wincing at the throbbing pain.

"Sorry…but there is a huge bump there" Sarah stated as she looked down in guilt before her head snapped up to stare at Ulanni's forehead in astonishment.

Ulanni furrowed her brow in confusion as Sarah continued to stare at her without saying anything. "Is everything okay, Sarah?" she asked with a touch of concern in her voice.

"Your bump!" Sarah let out in surprise.

"Yeah I know. It hurts and you pressed on it" Ulanni said with a frown.

" Am not talking about that one, am talking about the other one" Sarah told her.

"I only have one." Ulanni stated in confusion.

"I mean the bump on your forehead from yesterday!" Sarah clarified.

"Oh that it vanished." Uoanni stated

Sarah murmured to herself, "It disappeared, just like the other ones you've had." She paused for a moment.

"Yeah cool right, I see what you mean, this one will also be gone by tomorrow." Ulanni said with a smile as she pointed behind her -head.

Sarah's face changed suddenly, as if the comment had triggered some memory from just a couple of minutes ago.

Sarah turned to glare at a figure who was half-crouched a few feet away. The woman had twigs in her hair, and dirt was spotting her gown.

The girl looked away, feeling a newfound hatred for Sarah. "It's all her fault that I was embarrassed," she thought, feeling her body heat up with anger, her fists clenched.

Ulanni's voice from behind brought Sarah's attention back to her. "Remember we were asked to watch the items. they will be waiting back at the gathering for us and we have wasted so much time already I think we have to hurry up"

Sarah mulled over Ulanni's words for a moment before nodding her head in agreement. Then, she took hold of Ulanni's hand and led her to where the group of girls were still standing.

Without sparing them a glance, she passed by the group of girls and picked up her and Ulanni's bowl, which they had dropped earlier. Then, she continued on her way forward.

After witnessing Sarah take the initiative to pick up the bowls, which had seemingly been forgotten by the group, the other girls quickly caught on and followed suit, retrieving their own bowls and trailing behind Sarah, with just two girls left behind.