7 Curse

"How did this happen?"

"The magical accumulation in Azra" she replied simply

"When lost ones arrive in Azra....the magic affects them. To some it alters their characteristics while for others, it kills them. You were lucky Daryn"

"But i got mutated. My knowledge on mutations has always been if you were, you were unlucky in the society. Unless its different here?"

"Its the same here" she said

Daryn gave an exasperated sigh. By now he was already on his feet pacing.

"Look at the bright side. There are mutants with far worse mutations. You got blood mutation. No one would know you were a mutant unless you told them....its also helpful you know" she tried to console him.

"Yeah the healing aspect obviously but how would i know i won't die from something that a normal person won't die from. Like mosquitoes there are alot in the jungle"

Darla frowned at him

"Now your just being paranoid. I can assure you mosquitoes can't kill you...immediately but we'll find out anyway"

"Yes when I'm dead right" Daryn countered

"True. Though i can tell you as a fellow mutant. You can't die from a mosquito bite" she said dryly

"Wait_you are a mutant? But you are from here"

"Yes i am from Azra. Lost ones are not the only mutant in this world. Some people from Azra are also mutants though, unlike lost ones who atimes die from it, we don't. Though the criticism from people is the same" Darla said the last part a bit quietly.

Daryn felt like he was punched in the gut "Wow....i did not know that". He said. Calmer now.

Darla flaped her hand in dismissal "I know. Dont bother its ok"

Daryn sat down back on the stool. Looking in her direction.

"So what is this mutated blood thing exactly"

Darla sighed

"Well apart from quick healing from normal illnesses, we are quite normal. Though the mutation of blood is different for different people and thats where the uncertainty lies. You won't know what actually affects you...until it happens" she said

Daryn ran a hand through his hair. "Thats unfortunate"

"Yes it is"

The conversations went silent for the minute. Both musing over the situation.

"Is that why your eyes are....different?" He asked carefully

"Yes. My eyes have been like this since i was born. My parents expected changes as i grew but....it never happened. Thats how they knew i was a mutant" she said distantly.

Then it hit Daryn. It must be the reason she ran away when he had awoken in her tent the first time and was staring.

He wanted to punch himself for being so stupid and making her uncomfortable.

He gave her an apologetic look. "I'm sorry i made you uncomfortable when i first woke up in your tent"

Darla shook her head and turned to continue steaming the meat. "It was not your fault. Stop apologizing"

"It was just that i hadn't seen green eyes like yours on a human before. It was....beautiful" Daryn said.

She got up from the chair she was sitting on and fidgeted with the plates. Trying to hide her nervousness. "Its ok. I understood later on and came back. It was stupid of me to have left in the first place"

Daryn wanted to say otherwise but then he let it be. He didn't want to make her more uncomfortable.

She removed the pot from the fireplace and dished the steamed meat all spiced up. Daryn hurriedly took his plate already grabbing a piece. Darla put the remaining uncooked meat on fire to dry part by part. This would be enough to feed them for five days. Three days least.

She could understand why Daryn saw mutation as though it was a bad thing. It was something no one could control. Some mutations were actually helpful to the person others not so much. But it was who they were and they could not change it. Some people looked at them as though they were plagued though not always outspoken, but you can't miss the pity in their eyes when they look at a mutant others might be awed by them the rest just didn't seem bothered. Actually they shouldn't be bothered at all its just who they were. But people just felt different towards people who were not like them. It could be reverence or discomfort. They can only love you or hate you if they show you anything in the middle, it means they see you as relatable other than that nothing works.

Lest people are fickle. Their emotions towards you can change any second, at any slight impulse. Any wrong movement. She never put her hopes on them. She had to learn that after her parents death. She had learnt not to stress over what she could not change and just live with it.

Daryn assisted in drying the meat so it would get done faster. It got dark slowly. Daryn offered to fetch water from the stream before it got dark. Darla was against it at first eventually after enough persistence she gave in.

"Take your knife with you. Incase you come across trouble"

"I have it with me don't worry" he said. Then he left the shed using the same route they had used earlier in the day then walked in the direction to the stream.

The jungle was not totally dark but it was quiet. At some point he had rustles in the bushes but apart from the occational buzzing of insects, the jungle was quiet. He stayed at alert anyway taking long strides towards the stream bucket in hand.

He reached the stream and didn't waste any necessary time. He needed to do this quickly. When he had filled his bucket. He prepared himself to go back to the shed. He memorised the trail and started in the direction. But from the corner of his eye something glowed. He stopped to see the image properly.

When he turned, he was surprised by what ha saw. A woman stood next to the stream watching him as he carried his bucket of water. The woman wasn't armed and she did not look dangerous. She just watched him without saying anything. He shook his head and continued on the path. She must be lost or maybe she has men in the bushes watching incase he did something to her. Then she spoke.

"Don't go; not even a hello to your own mother"

Daryn froze. He knew that voice. She was the woman that spoke to him in his dream. Wait did she say mother. He hasn't even met her before. He turned immediately to look at the woman. Then he took a step to take a better look at the woman.

"I'm sorry do i know you. We haven't met before so how are you my mother?"

The woman's made a hurt expression. It made him hurting to. Then she gave a small laugh.

"Yes we haven't met in your current life...i forgot. But i guarantee you that you know me else you wouldn't be walking to me right now"

It was then Daryn discovered he had left his bucket already two feet away and was walking to the woman. He became confused and a little scared. He raised his head to look at the woman questioning her with his eyes. But she only gave him a motherly smile.

"Its ok. Just as a mother can pick her child in a crowd of children. The child can do the same. Your body is only reacting to the same rule my dear." She said

"How? We have not met before"

"Oh we have just not physically but you still remember the encounter"

Daryn was confused. She was right but how does she know that he did . He had not said so. His body must be giving him away. He has already made two feet to were she stood involuntarily.

"Come on stop doubting it son" she touched his face. Rubbing his cheek. "My boy. Its been so long."

The touch was comforting. It made him feel at home and that scared him. He stepped back making a distance between himself and the mystry woman. The woman sighed

"Come i will explain better but you have to follow me" she said

Daryn could have said no. Refused her and ran to his bucket to take it and dart for the shed. But he did not want to. His instincts refused it. Everything in him wanted to follow this woman and hear what she wanted to say. Could this be a mistake. Was he reacting like this because he lost his family and was in need of motherly care. He felt cautious.

"You are right to be cautious. I understand but i won't hurt you. You know it...you feel it don't you? Its my connection to you. You can trust that" she said

"Are you reading my mind or something?"

She smiled. "No its the connection...the bond that lets me know your emotions...what you feel."

Daryn looked at her. Examining her carefully still cautious. She wore a white tunic. The ancient type for women. She had slender arms. Smooth and lightly tanned but toned. The arms of an archer. Her skin seemed to shimmer at angles. As if the moonlight complemented her. She dark flowing hair blended with the night. She had no makeup. That he noticed but she was damned beautiful it was impossible. Matching feminine beauty with an athletic stature. He couldn't see the rest of her lower body because of the tunic but he was sure of her stable build. She wore a black roped necklace with a moonstone as the pendant other than that nothing else. No earings, no chains...no restraints.

Just her simple pendant and a curved white ivory accessory. Cresent shaped that sat on her head like a diadem.