And So Did The Pursuer

"The portal led me to a cold region, there were thousands of wolves in that place. Just when the portal was closing, the pursuer appeared out of it, in the nick of time," Lili shifted a bit from her place. " The portal closed, but I was relentlessly attacked by the man in a black hood. With all my strength, I began to run in hopes of getting rid of the hooded man. I got wounded during my escape," she faced Leila, " it was you who helped and cared for me, I am thankful."

Leila felt hot gazes directed at her, " I had no idea she was mortally wounded." A red flush appeared on her cheeks.

"I hid for days in that cold. when I finally felt that I was safe, a large number of wolves began to hunt me down. It seemed like they were tamed by the hooded man. I was relentlessly pursued for several days." a shock appeared at the mention of this. 

Lili heard gulping sounds from the listeners. She gave a light smile and continued, "When I was extremely exhausted, and all hope was lost, I thought of activating the portal key once more."

Everyone held their breaths at what would happen.

"It was a success, right?" interjected Turan.

"Well...." Lili paused. "It failed. Tears began to well up in my eyes, and the way in front got blurrier and blurrier until I could not make the path anymore. Finally, after mustering all my courage, I rushed to the location where I came out of that Gateway."

Danish found his heart began to pound harder and harder.

Kaito felt adrenaline rush in his body. He could not sit anymore, so stood up. Whereas Turan began to crackle his knuckles.

With a light chuckle on her face, Lili began once again, after a brief pause. "Although I knew that I would be taken back to my own plane, at least with temporary respite. Once I got to the location, I activated the key, and it responded this time. The portal appeared so did the hooded man, who was waiting there for me, all this while."

Lili stood up she moved closer to the edge of the cliff. Her back was facing her friends, "My mind was blank, I jumped in the portal. The man let me do it. He had planned it all out. He was taking me home, so casually. My eyes welled up with tears, I saw my father, the purge, and my family. I closed my eyes and...." her voice carried pain.

Facing the sea from the cliff edge, her hair fluttered. She opened her arms, welcoming the wind that blew her clothes. "I decided at that moment that I had to close the tunnel. Rather die there and then, then go through all the torture that awaited me."

Lili turned around and faced her friends. She saw concern, care, and love for her in their eyes. " When I woke up, I found myself high on a tree branch, the portal was still open albeit much smaller in comparison. With the little consciousness that I had mustered, I closed the portal. The last thing I remember was that the wolves began to rush back in the portal, only a few got left behind."

"Then I found her whimpering in her sleep. She looked scared and exhausted." Leila added.

"I wasn't sure that you would help me, but then I saw in your eyes what I had long ago forgotten, concern and love," Lili interjected.

"Then you let me take you home and apply a few medicines on your wounds," Leila let Lili hold her little finger.

The group exhaled heavily, taking sighs of relief. Silently, they began to observe the sea, shimmering in the distance; the boats, navigating through the tumultuous waves; the seagulls, diving to hunt. The wind blew past them, enveloping them in its embrace, providing them a temporary respite.

"Now, that I have healed," Lili broke the silence, "I have to go."

silence prevailed for a few moments, nobody said a word.

"Can't you just stay?" Leila inquired with a pained expression.

"I must go," said Lili.

"I wish, we could help," Danish added a long while later.

"There is nothing you can do, he is extremely strong," Lili said with a long sigh. She stood up and began to walk back to her cottage. "I have to live in hiding, for the rest of my life," she paused. "Until...," she did not finish her sentence.

The island bustled with activities all day long until the sun began to descend. The birds began to return to their nests, and so did the people. The chimneys puffed white and black smoke that wafted and scattered in the atmosphere. 

Cold chilling breeze stung hard on the faces of a small group that sat on the cliff top. The sunset cast red glints from the clouds high up in the sky, flashing in their gloomy eyes. They sat in silence, without moving or speaking a word for a long period of time.

The return journey, from the island, was marked by even deeper silence, nobody spoke a word.

The sun was already high in the sky. The cottage chimneys smoked and a sweet, tantalizing aroma of diverse culinary delights gently drifted through the air, creating an enchanting symphony of flavors on the breeze. The seagulls chooed in the distance. 

Lili's cottage was empty, she was gone, leaving behind a letter held by Malik. 

I am very grateful to all of you, especially Leila, for taking care of me, befriending me, and showing me the love that I had long ago forgotten about. My going is a must. If destiny wills we will meet again. For now, I am looking for a way to get rid of this hooded man for the better and then maybe return or find a new purpose to live. 

thank you, all of you!

They sighed, once Malik finished the letter.

Hot tears silently flowed down Leila's cheeks. She began to sob. She felt a warm hand on her shoulder soothing her. Her sobs deepened, and she embraced Turan for comfort. 

"We are also very thankful for what you have done for us," Malik sighed. 

The group sat in the cottage for a long while. The cottage was absent of the previous joys air and happiness, now only gloominess was its turf.

//////////

There was a pin-drop silence in the room despite such a large gathering. A total of thirteen people sat in the guestroom of Chief Kamal's house. Danish and his friend had told them about the departure of Lili, and the course that she had suggested needed to be taken for the bigger picture.

"Starting tomorrow, we should begin to work on the blueprint laid out by our savior, Miss Lili," Chief Kamal said in a very serious tone. "Elders, I hope you agree with what Miss Lili has foreshadowed for our village," he added. "The times are turbulent and we must protect this land at all costs."

The elders responded in the affirmative, indicating that they stood with the Chief.

The meeting stretched long in the dark of the night under the lights of lanterns and tantalizing dishes. The clattering of the cutlery died down as the night hours progressed until only Chief Kamal and the five friends remained.

Malik waited for the right moment and then gave a detailed account of all that happened that day and the day before. He revealed that Lili was from another plane and was currently pursued by an enemy, a very strong one.

The new revelation was very concerning to Kamal Khan. He had furrowed brows all the while listening to the Malik's account. 

They talked a while more, drank some more tea, and when they were tired and exhausted each took leave to their beds, prepared for them in Chief Kamal Khan's house.

The father and son sat in silence for a long while. "Don't worry, dear. Things will get better," Kamal Khan offered his son a few comforting words to ease his distress.

"I am fine, dad. I am just worried for Leila. She is once again alone," replied Danish.

The night's starry sky was enshrouded by a stillness, not detectable. Stars glimmered in the distant fabric of space, like little diamonds, and the moon shone bright, casting long shadowy shadows inside the forest. The owls hooted in the forest, breaking the stillness from time to time.