A Short Story: Raksha Green Peaks

Winter had left and now was the time of spring. The scent of jasmine and rose faintly scented the air. Raksha followed the sweet fragrance to the base of the Wahala Alps and then set off down a path in the grasslands in search of the flowers responsible for the sweet fragrance. Raksha ventured deep within the grasslands and did not stop until her nose rested against the flower carrying the sweet fragrance. As Raksha was savoring the scent of the flower she heard the crackling of a twig breaking underfoot and knew someone was near. Swiftly yet quietly Raksha hid amongst the brush and peered out to see who was coming. A few trices later, to Raksha's surprise, a young boy who was around her age, perhaps a year or two older appeared.

Raksha stared and watched the boy as he moved through the grasslands. "How long do you intend to hide?" The boy asked, sensing Raksha's presence. "I am not hiding, I am watching," Raksha said indignantly as she was slightly perturbed that she had been made. "Well how long do you intend to watch?" the boy asked and then Raksha pushed herself up from under the brush. Flowers and petals broke off and ensnared themselves in Raksha's curls as she stood up. The moment the boy locked eyes with Raksha he was taken aback by her umber brown eyes.

"Who are you?" Raksha asked breaking the silence, "who are you?" the boy asked and then Raksha sighed as she rolled her eyes annoyed. "I am Raksha, daughter of Shami and Raya of the Mammoth Tribe" "I am Zuber, son of Vihaan of the Saber Tribe" "… and who is your mother" "I never met my mother, my father found me in the grasslands" "so you are an orphan?" "No, an orphan is a child without a home, I have a home" "Where is your home?" "My home is to the west deep in the grasslands, where is your home?" "Wahala Alps, you passed it on your way if you came from the west" "The green peaks up above the grasslands are your home?" "Yes, the green peaks are my home," Raksha said with pride. "What are you doing out here?" Zuber asked curiously, "I guess the same thing you're doing," Raksha said with a playful laugh and shrug then moved past Zuber to continue her exploration of the land.

Zuber paused for a moment to admire Raksha's childlike brazenness and then ran to catch up to her. "I knew you'd follow me," Raksha said as Zuber slowed his pace and walked beside her, "only because you wanted me to," Zuber said teasingly. Raksha and Zuber walked through the grasslands together and when they came to a clear spot with space to move and play, they began to romp around and enjoy the heat of the sun and the occasional cool breeze of the wind. Every game they played was a competition to see who could climb the tallest tree the fastest, who could jump the highest, and other high-spirited competitive folly. Raksha had never met anyone in all her years of venturing beyond the bounds of Wahala Alps nor had Zuber ever met anyone from the mountain range. The two were an unlikely pair and fell captivated by one another instantly.

As the sun began to recede Raksha and Zuber sat down under a tree to rest their limbs. Zuber leaned forward to rub his knees and the hand-carved necklace around his neck dangled catching Raksha's eye. "What is that around your neck?" Raksha asked as she pointed to the necklace. "It's a necklace, carved out of a saber tooth tigers fangs, my father made it for me as a gift," Zuber said as he moved closer to Raksha so she could take a closer look. Raksha inspected the necklace closely, as she found it incredibly beautiful. "Do you like it?" Zuber asked softly, "I do, it's very pretty," Raksha said as she gently touched the necklace with her index finger, it felt just as smooth as it looked. Zuber took note of the sun and mentioned to Raksha that she should be off less her parents worry. Raksha asked if she would see him again, and he promised to meet her at the base of Wahala Alps at sunrise. Swiftly Raksha made her way back home and crept through a secret passageway to the inner quarters of her home so none of the tribespeople, especially the elders, would know how late into the evening she had returned.

~ To Be Continued