"Nida?"
Of course, I recognized her, but my head still scrambled to grasp reality. I remembered her and knew she was real, but still, a part of my head worked overtime to shuffle the pieces together.
Like I was staring at a cartoon figure suddenly becoming real.
"Oh, so it speaks! Good! I worried for a second that your little trip down under scarred the few working brain cells you had left."
Her laughter echoed between threes and rolled like pearls all around me. It sounded so cheerful and light, so very out of place here in the middle of abounding greenery.
"Oh, come on! I watched you all day, and you finally reached a place where I can reach you and now you forgot how to be human?"
I'm still not sure about anything here. Am I in danger? Is she mocking me, playing with me, or right out taunting me?
Nida rolled her eyes and slumped down with a huff. Her long slender legs stretched out then crossed over and she leaned back against a moss-covered rock. Her eyes were glued to me, and I felt frozen, glued to the earth.
"Fine. Breathe in and out, repeat that motion. When you feel like that is something you can handle, then let us try forming words in your mouth."
I scoffed and sat down right over her. I leaned back, trying as casually as possible to look comfortable against the thick and moist tree trunk.
Nida grinned. A wide grin, brightening up that way to perfect face of hers. For a couple of minutes, we just sat there. I am catching my breath, and Nida just smiling. A smile, grin, grimace I didn't manage to read. Is she entertained, happy?
Is it a good happy? Or evil, mischief Loke kind of happy? The long period of silence didn't seem to bother Nida at all, on the other hand. I am still exhausted, and I don't have it in me to play this game. So, with a sigh of defeat, I broke the silence.
"What do you want?"
Nida's smile fell and turned to a grimace of disappointment.
"What? Did I ruin your game?"
"Yes, you did. I had so much planned for this meeting!"
I arched a brow, a bit taken aback by her screeching and whiny voice. For a moment I thought Nida had transformed into a spoiled teenager and I partly expected her to start stomping her feet.
She didn't do that, but her entire body looked like it was fighting the urge to do just that!
"Okay. So, should we reschedule?"
I got up and brushed my clothes, avoiding eye contact and when she didn't answer; I shrugged and pretended to walk off.
To my surprise, she didn't stop me, so I kept going.
"Damned, fine! Stop!"
Light as a feather, she jogged up next to me and with a gentle nudge, she forced me to change direction.
"Continue that way and it will cost you at least a couple of hours extra."
So, I let it be and walked the way she pointed out. Then her words echoed in my head, or they bounced back in a moment I had enough brain cells to make sense of it.
Still trying my best to keep on my feet, my head snapped in her direction,
"What did you mean about the forbidden jungle? And wait! You watched me all day? What the hell?"
"No, if this was hell, I could approach you where and whenever I wanted!"
She huffed like this was an annoyance that made her life hard while she studied one of her long black nails. But then she turned in my direction and flashed a bright smile!
"The forbidden jungle! Ha-ha, yeah! I know! I have my moments, and this was one of my better nicknames!"
She almost giggled, and her joke went straight over my head. Didn't catch it, didn't want to try either, much to Nida's disappointment. This was the only thing that almost made me laugh. Watching her beautiful features switch between sulking, anger, and uncontrollable laughter, giggling outbursts. I have to admit, this little personality quirk, I would never have imagined.
Her little tantrum calmed down. Slowly her body changed, rolled her shoulder and neck. Her transition from one state of mind to another was astonishing. So smoothly, but strangely quickly. Only by the way she carried herself, she changed from a grumpy teen with an interramal to a proud and cold woman. Nadi looked taller next to me now, her back straight and her shoulders were squared. Looking straight forward her eyes felt distanced, her chin sharp and held high.
I waited. And waited. Anytime now, but no. She didn't utter a word. Just took long strides and looked straight forward. With a dramatic eye roll, even for me, and a theatrical sigh I decided I had to push this dead conversation forward.
"Why did you call it the forbidden jungle? As far as I know, Maura Forest is open to everyone. Not exactly forbidden in any way."
"And who are you seeking here?"
Nida coughed, in a very poor attempt at hiding her laughter. Throwing me a sly grin knowing it didn't hide a thing.
"Nobody? I'm just passing."
"Hah... Just passing, yeah right!"
"And what is that supposed to mean? It is much faster walking straight through than around!"
"Oh, sure because you are in such a hurry!"
Nida laughed,
"Hm... you are in a hurry, aren't you? Why ?"
"Does it matter? I have no time to waste."
Annoyed I almost spat the answer at her before I composed myself and managed to continue a little calmer.
"What do you want Nida? Why are you here? To taunt me with false claims of forbidden places and other tricks? Is this what Loke taught you?"
Within seconds the atmosphere changed, and I didn't even have time to take a breath before an incredible force slammed my back into it. A nearby three. Confused I stared right into Nida's raging eyes. The sharp and rough surface of the three trunks scraped the sweaty skin on my back. I couldn't breathe or even think clearly. My nails broke the skin around her wrist, but she didn't even notice. Nida's raging glare pierced me and pinned me up against the three trunks. My feet dangled above ground, aimlessly kicking, and my entire body fought for control. For control and air while her hand locked around my throat.
"Loke and I are not the same! There is nothing in that trickster goods body or mind I would degrade myself to use! You! You!"
She snarled, spitting on my face but I didn't even dare to flinch. I couldn't move, my body was drained. Right now, in this world, I am a mere human. A helpless sac of skin and bones. Breathing heavily, it looked like she gained control of herself. At least enough to lighten her grip, so I could slide down and my feet finally touch the ground. Her eyes scanned mine, and her green eyes rummaged around in my soul,
"How are the shadows?"