"Is she coming back?"
Dusk slowly crept closer, and only a little fire chased the shadows away. Without speaking, Nida literally dragged me out of the cave, and eventually, she let out a deep sigh and started collecting firewood. This was the first time I dared to speak after what happened, and for a long time, I expected Huldra to come rushing back through the bushes. However, it's been hours now, and still, there is nothing. Nida still threw long glances toward the bushes where she had disappeared.
"I don't know."
Again, I was surprised by Nida's change in demeanor. She seemed defeated or deflated. It's different, but somehow, it's still closed down. Hugging myself, I tried to warm myself up as the sun descended. The magical forest filled with bright colors and dancing sunrays quickly turned cold and hostile. Beautiful sounds of chirping birds had died down, insects' songs and crawling noises had faded.
"How do you two know each other?"
"None of your business."
Her answers were short and dismissive, and they started getting irritating. It wasn't my fault we were standing here, alone and cold! It was hers! Nida and Huldra! They disrupted everything, and Huldra lost all control. She seemed to take Nida's good mood when she ran. Standing outside the cave entrance, I didn't understand why we had to stay out here. The cave would provide shelter and allow the fire's warmth to linger longer and protect us from the cold night winds that increased in strength with each breath I took.
"Okay, so why is she here?"
"This is her home; where else would she be?"
"So, why are you here?"
This snapped her out, and her head snapped in my direction. Her eyes ignited, and she hissed when she answered, quickly walking right up to me.
"The right question is, what are you doing here? And why this new death wish!?"
I swallowed hard and stared at the ground in front of me. Nida was standing so close to me that I could feel her warm and ragged breath on my skin. I realized I had more fear towards Nida than necessary, and why? Because she was what she was, a mythical and strange creature I knew nothing about. Incredibly beautiful, Nida looked like a million dollars. Perfect skin, perfect features, big open eyes, and long curled lashes. Her hair was thick and shiny and always fell perfectly over her shoulders and bounced down her back. Nida was the kind of woman everyone would be jealous of back home. Long slender fingers, feminine hands with perfectly round shaped nails, always perfectly colored.
Maybe I am jealous? Taking deep breaths, I tried to clear my thoughts and tried to calm down. Had I really stooped this low? That I was here arguing with a woman because I felt jealous of her? Clenching my fists, I lifted my chin and met Nida's lightning eyes. A wave of courage washed over me, and my lips tightened as I did my best to push away the desperate need to have Drifta here with me right now. For a long second, the air between us felt heavy and tick, vibrating with anticipation and overwhelming emotions.
"No, the right question is, how is that any of your business Nida? What on earth made you believe you have any say in what I do and why?"
I needed to stand up for myself, I am my own responsibility, and I refuse to go back to a time where I would avoid everyone because I felt less. I am not. I am not worthless. I am not weak, and I will stand my own ground! Filled with defiance, I straightened up, leaving me looking a little down on Nida.
Her eyes narrowed, and a deep furrow appeared between her brows. I felt like she was sizing me up. Doing her best to stare right through me and find my hidden secrets, find the child that was afraid of her scolding. But I surprised myself, and I held my composure. Because I knew I was right, I didn't even know Nida. I never knew her, never really spoke that much to her. I owed her nothing, and she owed me nothing. We were strangers passing, new faces that saw each other long ago. Nothing more, nothing less.
"How are your shadows, Eir?"
"And how are yours, Nida?"
"Stop playing with me! And for once, answer the question!"
"Why? What's in it for you?"
I paused and took a step closer, invading the last of her personal space and more so before adding in a sarcastically sweet voice;
"Nida, darling...?"
"Shut up! You know nothing! You have no idea what you are doing or where you are! How can you be so careless? So incredibly stupid and childish all at once?"
She huffed and rolled her eyes. But she lowered her gaze, looked down to the side, and took a couple of steps back.
"I know where I am going and what I am doing. However, I fail to see how any of it is any of your business. Don't you have some lost souls to torture or some phony gods to help out for your own personal gain?"
"Again, you have no idea what you are talking about!"
"Same as you then..."
Slowly, she turned away, turned her back to me, and walked a couple of steps towards the forest. Her back and shoulders rose and sank again as she took deep breaths. For a second, I felt bad for her. She looked so lonely like she was left behind and abandoned.
Despite their intense and strange encounter earlier, she seemed well too eager to have her come back. I let out a deep sigh before I walked over to the burning fire. I slumped down right next to it and stared into the dancing flames, letting the flames pull my attention away, allowing myself to space out by the sight of the bright flames stretching towards the star-filled sky.
"I am leaving first thing in the morning, and so should you. I do me, and you do you. Find Huldra, and I find what I need. You don't owe me anything, and I don't owe you anything. It doesn't have to be more complicated than that."
"I can't believe you are to be a queen."
Nida muttered, walking over, finally turning her back to the unfriendly forest. With a huff, she sat down right across from me. As darkness grew dense around us, the bright and warm flames brightened up the night between us.
Irritated, not only by her statement but also by how I felt she had just ruined my little spaced-out break I opened my mouth to answer, but she rudely cut me off;
"I never do anything without checking my facts first! I know this might be a new concept for you, little human, but never assume I am like you! You really think you are queen material in this state?"
"So we are going to get up and personal? So, how do you know Huldra? What is the deal between you two?"