Uncharted Expectations: Part 1
“Ya gotta come hear this!” Alyssa shouted on the phone. Her blond hair swayed over her rosy face with every yell. This shout made Tanya jerk the phone out at arm's reach. She slowly brought the phone back to her ear. “Calm down, Alyssa.” Tanya sighed on the phone. “You’ve been hearing a strange song when you get ready to sleep, right?” Alyssa nodded. as if Tanya could see her. “Yeah yeah, like every night at exactly 3 a.m. It’s about um…,” she paused to look at the time on her phone. “2:45 now. Ya need to come here!”
Tanya sighed as she scratched her head, pulling a few strands of her dark hair out of her braid. The hair flopped on her light brown skin. She tugged on it for a distraction. “You woke me up for this? Why?” “You are some kinda psychic, ya know!” Tanya groaned. “I shouldn’t have told you…” Her voice trailed off. “Please come over! Please!” She sounded like a child begging her parents for one more piece of candy. “Fine. I’ll come. You better not drag me into something dangerous again.” “It’s not gonna be like the last time, I promise!” After a long pause, Tanya resigned herself to go. Alyssa did keep her secret for years. She felt like she owed it to her. She grabbed her emergency kit and left.
“I’m here, so what were you shouting about?” Alyssa smiled happily as she pointed to her room. “Shh! We gotta be quiet. My parents are sleeping.” Tanya remembered that the 22-year-old still lived at home. Alyssa helps with the family logging business. They were the same age, after all. “This better be important,” Tanya whispered. “You’ll see what I mean.” Alyssa smiled.
Tanya could hear a distinct song once she entered the room. The melody was strange and foreign. “I can hear it.” Tanya held her head down in thought. “I know just how to solve this problem!” Tanya gingerly walked over to the window. She placed her fingers on the window sill. Alyssa’s eyes opened wide and as she held her breath. Tanya slammed the window closed. “Well, that takes care of that. Now go back to sleep, Alyssa!” Tanya said clasping Alyssa’s hands. “Wait! What? Why’d ya do a thing like that?!” Alyssa grabbed the window rail. She opened it as high as she could. The song resonated in Tanya’s ears like bitter tea and honey. It was beautiful, yet haunting. Her eyes winced. “I know one thing I can tell you, Alyssa. That song is definitely supernatural.” Tanya didn’t feel negativity, but she could feel something. Something that wasn’t normal. “I am not getting involved with it. It could lead to something dangerous.” “C’mon, let’s just take a look, yeah?” “I really do not want to go into that forest. Only hunters go there at night.” “C’mon, please please please!” Alyssa's eyes glistened with tears. Tanya’s shoulders slumped. “Fine, just one look.” The ladies dressed for the cold weather and headed out.
The forest was cold and menacing. Each rustling leaf scared both of them. Alyssa pointed out that flashlights may not be a good idea. Tanya agreed with her. The darkness worried Tanya. The song grew louder as they went deeper into the forest. “Alyssa, this is getting too loud. We need to go back, now!” Alyssa stomped her foot on the ground. “Ya said, a look at least, right? That’s all we’re gonna do, okay?” Tanya wished she had never agreed to this. She paused to concentrate. “Fine, we’re going to look. Let me at least tell you this. I’m sensing strong energy. There’s more than one, I think. Wait, there are three… No, two different energies are there.” “Really?” Alyssa’s eyes lit up. “If ya can feel it, it’s the real deal!” Alyssa was quite smug with herself. She had no psychic powers, yet discovered something. “Can’t wait till we see em!” Alyssa smiled as she puffed her chest up. Tanya sighed. “We’re going right back, as soon as we look, okay?” Alyssa put her hand over her heart. “Promise.” “I know you, your fingers are probably crossed behind your back. Let’s go anyway.” Tanya placed her hand on Alyssa’s shoulder. “I’m afraid, but your curiosity is contagious.” Alyssa grinned. “I won!” Alyssa yelled. “Shh. Be very quiet. We don’t want to upset them.” Tanya whispered.
They found a grassy clearing just as they reached the final steps to the sound. “Many times as I played in this forest, never seen a clearing here.” Alyssa’s brows knitted as she placed her hands in her pockets. “Let’s hide behind something where we can get a better look undetected, hopefully,” Tanya whispered. They walked around the perimeter looking for something to use. They found an old log with big holes on its side. They could look through it when they crawled on the ground.
Moonlight illuminated two figures against the darkness. The lack of trees made it easier to see both of them.
The taller figure allowed waist-length pearl colored hair to fly in the wind. Hair swung against an elegant fair smiling face. Seven-inch long ears peaked out beyond flowing hair. Long blond eyelashes tried to hide eyes the color of champagne. A long nose sat above smiling full lips. Delicate fingers danced upon keys on dark braided redwood. Glowing golden threads filled the swaying overcoat. A jacket featuring peacock brocade flowed down the figure’s thin frame to stop at the thigh. The rectangular damask of white shirt fabric enclosed the figure’s neck. Regal violet trousers folded into cocoa brown boots. A foreign emblem stamped the boots.
The shorter figure restrained shoulder-length sapphire hair into a braid. Narrow loose hair framed a serious face and five inch long ears. A scar dug its way out of the left ear. Closed eyes and dark eyelashes hid the figure’s iris. Rugged fingers casually strummed a carved birch lute. Brass threads ran through a dark tan overcoat covering strong shoulders. A dark ashy green jacket hung over a tough body to stop slightly below the waist. Plain white silk made up the figure’s belted shirt. Ashy mahogany trousers hemmed to reveal off-black boots.
Alyssa and Tanya were in awe. They had never seen anyone like them. Once Tanya gained her senses, she whispered to Alyssa. “Let’s get out of here. We had our look. It’s time to go.” “How dare you! Don’t you see how pretty, they are?!” Alyssa yelled. “Shh. They’ll hear us.” Tanya pleaded. “Don’t ya try to hush me! They are so pretty! Ya know they’re prettier than anything you’ve ever seen! This is my big chance! Don’t mess it up, Tanya!” Alyssa’s voice echoed in the night. The musicians stopped playing.
“You blew our cover!” Tanya thought of escaping without Alyssa. But, she was her best friend. Meanwhile, Alyssa longed to be a fairytale princess. “Whoever is there, make your presence known!” Yelled a soft pure sounding voice. Alyssa shot up with glee. “C’mon Tanya! They’re calling for us.” Tanya slowly rose and brushed the dirt off her clothes. They both stepped away from their only protection, the log. The pearl haired one grinned at them. The sapphire haired figure slid a hand deeply into the overcoat. Chartreuse eyes darted over both of them. The two strangers whispered amongst themselves for a minute. This made Tanya nervous. Alyssa was so happy, she grinned. Tanya bowed deeply. “We didn’t mean to disturb you. We beg your forgiveness for interrupting your performance.” Tanya pleaded. “Why’d ya do that? Are ya from some old book?” Alyssa questioned in her confusion. “Can’t you tell they’re royalty by how they’re dressed?” Tanya whispered. Alysa tried to copy her and stumbled. “Too much work for me. How bout this,” she whispered to Tanya. “Sorry about messing your stuff up. Ya can go ahead and get back to playing.” Alyssa said with a curtsy. She thought this was formal and polite. “We’re so dead,” Tanya mumbled.
The pearl haired figure erupted into laughter. The sapphire haired figure did not flinch. The pearl haired figure spoke to the other in an unfamiliar language. Chartreuse eyes glared at champagne eyes. The sapphire haired figure’s hand slid away from the overcoat’s interior. “You two are hilarious! You have truly entertained me.” The pearl haired figure giggled with a soft voice. “Come closer. Let me have a look at you.” Alyssa almost ran to them. Tanya walked slowly. “Do not worry. We shall not kill you.” The pearl haired figure said with a smile. Tanya let out the breath she’d been holding for a long time.
Thank you for reading! Read Part Two here!