Demonstar: Das Erwachen

Chapter 28 Die Vergangenheit ist die Vergangenheit PT. 4

I traveled from country to country on foot, taking in all the cultures and environments. I knew by this time that several years had passed since I had left the little girl with the new family. She would be an adult by now and possibly have her own family.

I continued my walk, wanting to make it to the next country. I was walking through a forest area when I heard a whimper up ahead of me. There was a giant, winged, green wolf caught in some kind of animal trap. Her front paw was stuck in a device that looked like a metal Venus fly trap which pierced through the skin and held her in place.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

She stopped pulling at the trap and bared her fangs at me.

I wasn't sure why I was asking an animal if it was okay. It wasn't like she understood me. I held my hands up to show I wasn't armed—well, besides my sheathed swords. I approached her, watching carefully. She lowered her ears and continued to growl. I bent down, grabbed each side of the trap, and pulled it open till she was able to slide her paw out. Once she was free, she jumped away, putting distance between us.

"Well, you're free now. Go live your life," I said as I continued on my way.

"Thank you," she responded.

I looked toward her, but she had taken off into the sky.

I came to an inn just outside the forest and pulled up my hood and face covering as I entered. It wasn't anything special, featuring wooden tables and a counter for the bar. I looked around until I noticed a familiar face. I stopped breathing for a moment at the surprise of seeing him. Taka sat at one of tables. He had a cape covering most of his body, and I could just barely see his face under the hood he had pulled over his head.

"Taka," I said out loud, without meaning to.

He looked up from the stew he was eating. We stared at each other, and he gave me a confused look.

"Do I know you?" he asked.

Tears filled my eyes before I realized my face was covered, so of course he wouldn't know me. I removed the cover from my face and head. His eyes widened with realization.

"Demonstar!"

He jumped up, and we wrapped each other into a tight hug. I began to cry on his shoulder as we hugged. I couldn't believe I had finally found someone—that I wouldn't have to be alone anymore. He pulled away and placed his hands on my face. I, in turn, placed my hands on his hands.

"I can't believe I found you," I told him.

I threw myself into him, holding on tight and not ever wanting to let go.

"Come, let's sit down," he told me, pulling me to his table. "You look like you haven't eaten in years."

He pushed his bowl of food toward me and instructed me to eat it. I did. He ordered us a couple of more bowls—I ate about three of them. I hadn't realized how long it had been since I had last eaten. I thanked him.

"No need to thank me; I'm just glad you're okay," he said sincerely as he grabbed my hand and rubbed it with his thumb. "I've wondered all these years if you were okay."

I told him about the family that helped me, then was killed. I told him about leaving Gracia with a nice family.

"I'm hoping to go back and see her in a couple of years. She should be an adult now, and she might even have kids of her own."

Taka gave me a somber look, gently explaining, "Star, you know humans aren't like us, in that they grow old and die, right? And that's if they even make it to old age. Most end up dying from sickness due to their poor living conditions."