7 Chapter 6: Crossing Paths in the Dark

Vincent awaits for Ryanah to return listening to the sounds of the forest around him. The sounds soothe him, for he has never been in the forest nor heard its sounds. The humming of insects, the sound of critters scurrying across the ground and bark, the call of wild song birds feels his ears and feeds his desire to explore. Ryanah's return is announced by her approaching footsteps. At the sound of them Vincent rises and makes his way to the entrance. He spots her caring three fish and a pheasant. His eyes widen in awe at her haul and immediately finds her impressive.

"I hope this will be enough.", she says when she sees him. "You must be famished.", she continues putting down her catch. Vincent puts a hand to his stomach. The last time he had eaten was last night. He, Selena, and Mother Margaret were supposed to have return to the convent with a special breakfasts to prepare. It seems it was not meant to be though; at least not for him. He nods his head in agreement with Ryanah.

"Why don't you try to find some wood for the fire while I start preparing this, hmm?", she suggests to Vincent.

"Okay!", he says brightening at her words. He dashes off into the woods. Thanks to Ryanah's poultice he has enough energy even without having eaten.

"Don't go too far!", he hears Ryanah yell from behind. He raises a hand in acknowledgment as he continues on.

"Okay, firewood. Got to find firewood.", he breaths out when he stops a couple feet from the clearing. "What would be good wood for a fire?", he asks himself as he looks around the ground and trees for loose or broken branches. As he finds pieces that look good to use he hears a rustle nearby.

He looks up in the direction in which the sound originated. He thinks he sees something. Something white? Was it an animal? He looks around for a way to escape in case he has to. When he looks back to where the supposed animal is it isn't there. No trace of the creature is left. He decides to move closer. Parting the foliage aside he looks around, but sees nothing. The moment baffles Vincent. What could it have been? He turns back to the clearing when he hears Ryanah calls his name. Being left to wonder about the mysterious creature.

Ryanah shows Vincent how to start a fire and cook the pheasant and fish. As she does so she even shows him some herbs and berries that could be used as well.

"How do you know so much about nature and these things?", Vincent asks her as they wait for their meal to finish. Ryanah raises her eyes to Vincent. For a moment Vincent thinks he has done something wrong, for she does not answer right away and she looks at him with a neutral look, but he didn't as far as he knew.

"Nature is my life. I live among it and always have. I must know about it.", she finally answers calmly.

"Oh, so you're not a traveler.", Vincent assumes.

"No young one. This forest is my home. Just like my mother and father I am a child of nature.", Ryanah responds with a smile. Suddenly, Vincent remembers something he once read. A book about a kind of people who described themselves as children of nature. They used herbs and certain plants as medicine for healing and everything they got came from nature. He gasps with remembrance.

"You're a wiccan!", he exclaims with excitement. Ryanah tilts her head to one side.

"Oh, so you have heard of us.", she says.

"Yes. In a book read.", Vincent explains. Ryanah is checking the meat and looks up at Vincent's words.

"You can read?", she inquires.

"Yes I can. The nuns taught me at the convent.", Vincent goes on.

"Hmm... I sensed you were a spiritually attuned person. I knew you would either have to be the child of a wiccan or christian.", Ryanah says to him. Vincent remembers those at the convent and how they taught him so much. "Alright, looks like the food is ready.", Ryanah's words interrupt his thoughts. She hands him his share on a woven plate. Vincent's attention goes from the arrangement of the food to the makeshift plate it was on.

"You're just so talented. Were you taught all you know?", he asks Ryanah.

"Oh yes. My mother was born a wiccan. She met my father one day in the woods and as they grew close she taught him.", Ryanah answers.

"Are they still alive?", Vincent asks carefully as he eat.

"No.", Ryanah says simply taking her meal. "My mother was accused of witchcraft back in our old home.", Ryanah shares. Vincent raises his head as the final light of the sun fades and the crackling fire set the mood. "My father tried to save her from these group of villagers that became wary of them. He was accused of being her possessed servant. It wasn't long ago. I was ten that night. The night they were both killed.", Ryanah pauses as she tells her tale and takes a breath.

"I'm sorry about your family. I didn't mean to make you relive a painful memories.", Vincent says to her.

"Nonsense. My mother and father were victims of people's fear of something or someone they cannot understand or control. The people of that village made no attempt to get to know my family. They didn't understand them. So they feared them and once a person fears something they want it gone. I don't blame them though. At first I did, but that only filled me with rage. I had to learn that only knowledge can ease a person's fears. That is why I try to do good when I can and make sure people know who I am when they start to thank and praise me for my good deeds. I love who I am.", she speaks to Vincent. Vincent suddenly develops a new level of respect for Ryanah. He sees her as a strong and wise person who didn't let her troubles get the best of her.

"Can you teach me somethings about nature?", Vincent asks suddenly. Ryanah looks at Vincent with surprise.

"Really?", she says. Vincent nods his head in agreement.

"Why not? I would love to know. You're so amazing Ryanah and gifted. I want to be just as knowledgeable as you.", Vincent persist. Ryanah eyes swell with joy and a beautiful smile comes across her face.

"You know what? I don't see why not. I'll teach you.", she finally agrees.

"Great! Thank you!", Vincent exclaims with bright eyes.

The two finish their meals and prepare to wash up. As Vincent goes in the direction that leads to a stream Ryanah tells him about she stops him.

"Vincent wait.", she says. He turns around to her.

"Yes?", he answers.

"Come here before you go. I want to show you something.", she says taking out a bundle of plants. Vincent watches as she throws the bundle into the dying flames of the fire. With a puff of fire the embers come back to life, but the light that comes from it is of different colors that causes the clearing to glow. Vincent is amazed by the sight and turns to Ryanah. "My mother would sometimes do this kind of things with me. The plants used usually are grind into a dust. That is what causes the colors.", she explains. Vincent becomes anxious to start learning and even start to consider making a home in the forest like Ryanah.

.......

The next morning Vincent wakes he goes with Ryanah to find something for breakfast. The day is bright and warm, but summer will be turning to fall soon. Even now the wind that blows occasionally from the mountains is cooler.

"Go see if you can find some wild strawberries and blueberries. Do you know what those look like?", Ryanah says to him. Vincent looks to Ryanah shaking his head.

"Well, blueberries.", he adds. Ryanah gives off a sigh.

"Okay. Wild strawberries kind of looks like regular strawberries, but are smaller. The plant that they grow on will be on the ground and won't be that big. It's alright if you can't find them though. They are uncommon in this part of the forest compared to the southern part, but just try for me okay.", Ryanah says to him.

"Alright.", Vincent replies.

"I'm going to go collect some honey and apples.", Ryanah says. She pulls out her knife and marks a nearby tree. "Let's meet back here afterwards. Don't take too long alright.", she says after.

"Okay.", Vincent agrees. Ryanah nods her head and heads off in one direction while Vincent goes in another.

As he walks he keeps his eyes on the ground for the wild strawberries. Ryanah told him that their breakfast will be made up of plants and vegetables while their dinners will feature meat. Lunch meanwhile would be just made up as they go. Vincent ends up finding a few strawberries, but mostly blueberries. He guests Ryanah could make a jam with what they have left over.

The two of them meet up without a problem and take their gatherings back to the tree. Ryanah prepares breakfast by cutting the apples into slices and arranging them on another makeshift plate along with the blueberries and strawberries. The honeycomb, she places in a bowl and lets the honey ooze into it.

"There. Now we can dip the apple slices into the honey.", Ryanah announces when she is done.

"Thank you.", Vincent says. He never had breakfast quite like this. The ones at the monastery were usually made up of bread and or porridge. Before he starts eating Vincent is careful to say his grace or prayer of thanks before eating. He didn't do it at dinner last night and actually ended up waking up in the middle of the night to repent when he remembered. Only after he is done does he start eating. Ryanah notices and smiles.

"You are very faithful to your belief.", she comments. Vincent looks up to her.

"I heard you last night as well.", she says as she dips an apple slice.

"Oh... Thank you.", Vincent becomes embarrassed at not noticing Ryanah heard him. Then it occurs to him.

"Are you a christian?", he asks Ryanah.

"Believe it or not yes. My father was one. My mother was not, but I was taught to pray just as you were and I do. It's just when I do I thank God for nature's bounty and for bringing me success.", Ryanah says.

Vincent is partly surprised to learn that Ryanah believed in God and the powers of nature that were, on the surface, close to witchcraft. Not making a fuss of it though, they finish their meal and proceed to clean up. Vincent and Ryanah head down to the river to clean their hands and have a drink. While there Ryanah also cleans out her stone bowls of which she has five.

"Now then. As for today I suppose we can start by taking a walk through the forest. That way I can show you some animals and plants and you can learn what you can find here.", Ryanah speaks after she is done washing the bowls. "You already have seen blueberries and wild strawberries. So let's just learn it as we see it and we can see what we have at the end of the day. Okay?", she continues.

"Sounds like a good plan.", Vincent agrees.

Vincent and Ryanah walk around the forest. As they do Vincent is shown different plants both dangerous and helpful and told how to identify them by Ryanah. He is also shown some of the animals that share the forest with them. As he learns more and more Vincent's new home becomes more beautiful and wonderful to him. At some points Vincent considers pulling a joke on Ryanah, but every time he does he thinks of Sir Marvin's last words to him back in Gordowe and chooses not to.

"Let's rest here for a moment.", Ryanah suggests. It is nearing sun high or noon now. The forest is large Vincent knows. He always heard it took a day to cross by which time you would reach the outskirts of the capital. Vincent looks at his feet. Ryanah had put a poultice on them yesterday and last night to help them heal. It is doing the trick, but thanks to his trick through the woods they are starting to look bad again. Ryanah seems to have noticed too.

"We will have to return to the tree soon so you can rest. We can find something to eat on the way. I'll take care of dinner later.", she says to him. Vincent looks up and agrees. He turns husband head to one side of him.

"What part of the forest are we in?", Vincent asks.

"We are near the western edge.", she answers. "Through the trees are the grasslands that extend to the mountains far past the forest. It is a beautiful site in all the seasons to me.", Ryanah informs him. "You may go and see it if you like. Just don't leave the tree line.", she offers him. Vincent looks to her than to the direction of the grasslands. He has never seen that before either and gives into impulse and curiosity.

"Okay. I'll be back quickly.", he says to Ryanah. She nods to him simply as he gets to his feet and go on his way.

Vincent makes his way to the tree line in no time. When he does he looks upon a landscape clear of trees, but rich in grass that covers gentle rolling hills near the forest. The scene takes Vincent's breath away. He has had so many new and wonderful things happen to him since that horrific day that it almost seems like a blessing. Vincent decides to climb up a tree to see more of the land.

He finds a tree a little way away from him and climbs to the first branch. When he reaches it he gazes out to the open land. As he does he sees something in the distance coming towards the forest. He squints his eyes to see and makes it out to be a horse, but he also notices someone on the horse. With a jolt Vincent realizes that the person is in trouble. He watches as the horse and the rider gets closer to the forest. Suddenly he hears a 'no' being shouted.

It's a kid on that horse he realizes. Quickly Vincent thinks what he can do, but he couldn't think of anything. When Vincent sees the horse is coming where he is he jumps without thinking and as he comes closer to the ground he grabs the horse's bridle and doesn't let go. The rash action causes the horse to stop.

Vincent looks at the situation with wide eyes. His other hand is on the horse and he is still holding the bridle. Vincent looks to one side of the horse at its rider. The rider is a boy and looks to be the age of seven. His body is shaking and his eyes filled with shock. They meet each other's eyes, but both seem unable to speak. Vincent is in shock that he had done such a thing to stop the horse and even more that it worked. The silence between them seems to last an eternity to Vincent.

"Uh...thanks.", the boy is the first to speak. "Um, who are you?", he continues. The boy's voice is kind of shaky to Vincent, but he still hears his question and thanks.

"Vincent... My name is Vincent. Are you okay? What's your name?", Vincent forces the words out calmly as he is recovering from his own shock.

"I'm fine, thank you. I'm-"

"Prince Winston!", comes a voice from the grasslands. The boy turns at the call. Vincent guesses that is his name that was called. He eyes widen with surprise as he continues to look at the boy on the horse.

<i>Prince. He's the prince.</i>

Vincent immediately lets go of the horse's bridle and starts to back away back into the woods. However, as he does the prince turns back around to him.

"Wait don't go!" he calls out to Vincent.

"You're the prince. I'm pretty sure you can't be seen with someone like me." Vincent says to him. Inside Vincent is surprised that of all the people he could have met he meets the prince. Honestly, he doesn't feel comfortable around him, not even a bit, yet there is something in the young prince's eyes that makes Vincent want to trust him.

"Nonsense, I want to thank you properly. Don't go, please.", Winston insists. Vincent is surprised by Prince Winston's plea. He never thought that the prince would insist on thanking him. Vincent can understand though, but he isn't sure he wants to be in that position. At that moment a man on a solid brown horse comes up to Prince Winston's side.

"Are you alright Prince Winston?!", he says frantically.

"I'm fine. Thanks to him.", Prince Winston says turning to Vincent. Vincent starts to feel overwhelmed as he faces the two riders. One the prince and the other either his father or teacher, yet when he looks at the prince he is able to stay calm. Maybe because he is the same age as Vincent.

"Who is this?", the man asks.

"He is the one who stopped Starracer. He helped me.", Winston explains. "His name is Vincent.", he continues.

"Vincent...? Thank you for saving Prince Winston. You did a very good thing today.", the man speaks to Vincent.

"I do good deeds whenever I can and for whoever I can sir. But thank you just the same.", Vincent replies bowing his head. "If you would excuse me I must be off.", he continues wanting to get back to Ryanah. Vincent turns to go, but is stopped by the sound of Prince Winston's voice.

"Wait! I feel like I should reward you somehow. Will you allow me that?", he says. Vincent turns back to them.

"You don't have to do that.", Vincent insists.

"I want to.", the prince says simply. Vincent looks uncertain for a moment. This is the last thing Vincent wanted. He isn't the kind of person to accept rewards or to be made a big deal over. Honestly, he never been in that position.

"Think about it. If you change your mind come back here tomorrow. If you don't then..."

"I understand. Thank you.", Vincent finishes the prince's thought when he pauses. Vincent turns parting from the prince understandably. Once out of the sight line of the two riders Vincent looks back. He can't believe he had met of all people the prince of the kingdom.

"Vincent!", the sound of his name being called causes Vincent to turn around to see Ryanah approaching. He hurries over to her as she gets ready to call his name again.

"What happened to you?", she asks as he arrives to her.

"I...uh... I met someone.", Vincent starts not quite sure what to say to Ryanah. "Well, saved someone.", he corrects. Ryanah looks at him curiously.

"Really? Who?", she asks. Vincent shakes his head.

"Can I talk to you later about it?", he says instead wanting to forget what had happened for now.

"Oh...okay. If that is what you want.", Ryanah concedes. "Let's get home then.", she suggests. Vincent follows her grateful for her understanding.

.......

They go about the rest of the day as they planned, but Prince Winston's proposal is never too far from Vincent's mind, yet he doesn't know why. Is it because it is the first time he has been offered something like this? Is it really the proposal he is thinking about? Maybe it is how he met the prince. Vincent couldn't tell. However, while waiting for Ryanah to return with dinner another thought comes to Vincent's mind. Could it not be the opportunity to get something that he's thinking about, but the opportunity to make a new friend?

In all his time at the orphanage Vincent never really had a true friend. Let alone a best friend. Therefore the feeling is foreign to him, just like the others. Personally he doesn't understand it as a result. He tosses and turns with the thought. Is that the push or pull feeling he is feeling deep within himself?

While he and Ryanah are eating dinner Vincent doesn't make much of an effort to talk, which makes Ryanah question him.

"What is the matter Vincent? You haven't said much since this afternoon? Actually since you came back from the edge of the woods.", Ryanah questions him. Vincent looks at Ryanah as the light from the fire causes her face to glow. He hesitates whether to tell Ryanah or not about what is on his mind.

"Sorry, it's nothing really.", he says to her. She stares at him for a moment.

"I don't believe you. If it was really nothing you wouldn't be affected the way you are.", she counters. "Why don't you tell me?"

"I...", Vincent starts then sighs before starting again. "Something happened. At the forest edge I mean.", he relents. Ryanah becomes intrigued at Vincent's words.

"What?", she pries.

"I ended up saving someone who was in trouble on a horse. They were headed to the forest. I stopped the horse.", Vincent tells her recalling what happened. Ryanah listens in silence.

"Oh...well that was good and they thanked you?", she says.

"Yes, but the person I saved was the prince of the kingdom.", Vincent goes on hesitantly. Ryanah's eyes widened.

"So what's the problem? What you did was good.", she says not understanding Vincent's weird mood.

"Well...he offered me a proper thanks. An award I guess, but that's not what I was thinking about. When I met him I-I got this feeling. I don't know how to describe it really. It was like a push or a pull.", Vincent struggles to find the words he wishes to speak, but Ryanah seems to get the situation now.

"Have you ever had a friend, Vincent?", she asks him. Vincent looks at her with surprise.

"Why you ask?", he says. Ryanah shifts where she seats before going on.

"You are an interesting child Vincent. I can see your past in your eyes. You never knew your parents...enough to remember them at least. You have been a loner up to this moment of your life and the only place you knew as home was ripped away from you. No...it betrayed you and drove you away.", she explains. Vincent has never heard these things said out loud to him though they are true, and to hear someone read him in such a way took him by surprise.

"Are you sure you're not a witch? What does any of those thing have to do with anything?", he says defensively. Ryanah looks at him gently.

"I assure you I am not a witch. As for your second question; all those things show you have been denied any meaningful relationships in life so far. Thus, you have not been subjected to emotions, emotional connections, and healthy social development.", Ryanah explains. Vincent looks at her with a look of pure confusion. "Oh. Sorry, I forget you're still a child despite your independent nature. Simply you have become or becoming socially disconnected with others and yourself. This also means you're emotionally and socially alone and have been for a long time.", Ryanah tells him in a sympathetic voice.

"That's not true. I had Selena and Mother Margaret.", Vincent defends.

"Hmm...this Mother Margaret. She was a teacher to you, yes? She was also your primary caretaker. Am I right?", Ryanah questions.

"Yes.", Vincent replies.

"This Selena. Was she perhaps a friend from the covent?", she goes on carefully. Vincent nods his head in agreement. Ryanah thinks for a moment. "Now was she a friend or just someone you didn't mind being around?"

"Is there a difference?", Vincent asks.

"Yes! Most definitely! Although I'm not going to tell you the difference. Because you need to find it out for yourself. Just like you need to find out what it means to love someone and to be loved.", Ryanah tells him in a matter of fact way.

"And I guess that you do?", Vincent challenges.

"Actually I do. I may have lost my parents at a young age, but as I have traveled I met people. Different people with different ways of thinking, backgrounds, and lives and along the way I met people who I was able to form relationships with. A few even romantic relationships. I kept myself open to the people of the world after I stopped not trusting them. Therefore, I was able to grow socially.", Ryanah counters. Vincent is taken back by her response. He would have never guessed that about Ryanah. He stays silent as he stares into the inner flames of the fire. Was Ryanah right?

"What does that mean for me though and want those it has to do with this feeling I'm having?", he asks aloud.

"It means that if you're to continue the way you are now that you would be alone forever and live a miserable life. Vincent, we as people thrive when we are in good, healthy relationships with others. When we care not only for ourselves, but for others who are close to us as well. You haven't had that honestly. The closest you have been to that is in relations where you were in awe or inspired by that other person. Mother Margaret and I being examples of that. You need to find a little bit more than that in a person.", Ryanah tells him. Vincent continues to look at the flames.

"Look at me.", she says. "I think that is what you are feeling. It's the possibility to make a friend of someone who you do not know. Someone new.", she says gently to him.

"You mean the prince. Don't you?", Vincent replies.

"We sometimes yearn for people who we need in our lives without knowing it. You need something from him and he needs something from you I feel.", Ryanah fixes him with an interested look. "You're an adventurist. Why don't you find out what it is?", she continues.

"How?", Vincent asks simply.

"By living?", she answers. Vincent looks at her with a mischievous look.

"You just want me gone don't you?", he says light heartedly. Ryanah chuckles.

"I don't think you're meant to be here is all. Living in a place like this would only make you worse.", she says smiling. "So how do you plan on doing it? Possibly becoming the prince's friend I mean.", she asks. Vincent leans back on his hands with his eyes to the sky.

"I'm not sure. Guess I can't just hope to meet him out here every time.", Vincent admits. He looks back to Ryanah. "Thank you though. No one ever told me something like that before. You're really wise.", he says to her. Ryanah tilts her head to one side with a smile.

"Thank you, Vincent."

That night as Vincent sleeps he also dreams. He opens his eyes to find himself in the forest, although he can't tell where. Nor can he remember how he ended up here. He looks around, but doesn't hear or see anything other than the surrounding vegetation.

He chooses to walk into the surrounding woods hoping to find out where he is. Soon he comes to a space where the sun's rays have also found its way through the trees. Vincent recognizes the space as where he had gathered firewood just this evening. He is glad and surprised to have found a place he recognized, although he still has no recollection of even waking up.

As he ponders what could be happening he hears the rustling of leaves. Something was approaching him and it was big. Before he can flee though the creature steps out into the clearing. Vincent's eyes widen in shock, for he immediately recognizes the silvery white fur, but this time the animal in its entirety stands before him. It is an elk though of a large size; about ten feet tall the creature including its antlers which lack their keratin covering that they would normally have in the summer months.

Vincent is both intimidated and captivated by the mysterious elk. Its eyes are kind and are fixed on Vincent for what seems like an eternity before it finally takes a step towards him. Vincent himself becomes lost in the animal's dark, deep eyes and is unable to react. It is only when the creature bows its head to him does Vincent comes out of his trance.

He hesitates, but then raises his hand to the creature's lowered snout. It breaths a bellow of breath as if to say it is okay. Vincent goes on to lay his hand on the elk's face. Its fur is warm to the touch and the animal seems to enjoy Vincent's touch as well as it closes its eyes. As they reopen Vincent is once again fixed by the eye's stare. However, this time everything around him seems to vanish until all that is left is darkness.

Vincent awakes to find that it was a dream and that it is morning. He sits up and looks around. What was the reason for him to have such a dream? What did it mean? He is left to wonder these things and on the day he is to meet again Prince Winston no less.

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