10 Stay or go?

We'd walked for a few days and I knew Min and Haiyang had had enough. 

Xin Yi, however was full of energy and wanted to learn. She was fascinated by how I could live well with no more than a knife, a wash stone and a comb. She wanted to learn and discarding all her belongings she decided to copy me, shadow me, asked questions and try to do things herself. She asked for help and took instruction. She was a quick learner and soon we were both hunting and fishing, collecting wild vegetables and cooking them together. She swore she was going to be as good as me one day. 

We used three cooking pots, mine and two of theirs. It meant there was enough to go round. Haiyang was always hungry and ate twice as much as us. When food was scarce I fed them and went without, something I had grown used to over the years.

"I don't want to rely on others," Xin Yi said to Min at the fire one night. "I want to be independant. I want to be able to travel wherever I wish and do as I wish like Niao. She is fitter than us, cleverer than us and kinder too. She could have dumped us one night and taken off into the forest, but she didn't. She knew we couldn't follow, she's too good at covering her tracks, but she stayed and you belly-ached. No, she chose to honour what she promised,  to get us to the next village or town. You just complained. Was it beneath you to help in some way?" 

Xin Yi stared at her sister, she knew what Min had been saying and it was wrong of her. Min had never made an effort to try to do anything for herself and relied on her brother to 'protect' her. She expected food to be caught and cooked and then complained if it was rabbit again. She collected minimal firewood and never suggested she cleaned the pots and bowls. She was spoilt and not willing to change. At the end of the day she looked down on Niao.

"Oh, XinYi, stop making such a fuss, I was just saying how wild she is and couldn't be shown in public. She's more like the animals than a girl her age. I don't think its right." Min humphed, and folding her arms looking away. I watched as the two girls argued about me, and in front of me, but spoke as if I was unable to hear.

I gave up and opening my mouth strung more words together than I had in years. 

"I said I would take you to next town. I will. Then I go back to the forests and be the wild girl." I looked at Min menacingly, "I have kept you safe, fed you, and given you beds to sleep on. I have walked at your pace and listened to your words. You hurt me but I do not care. Each day passes and new experiences happen. Like water in a fast flowing stream, I sense the bank and its pulling on me but ignore it. I know I will wear away a path for me and no person can stop me. I made beds for you and they are ready. Perhaps you sleep now, ready to walk in the morning." I gave her a threatening stare that sent the dogs away, "the sooner we get there, the sooner you can leave." With that I got up and retired to the edge of the forest. I could see them but at least I didn't need to hear them. The next town couldn't come soon enough and from what I was smelling on the wind, it was no more than a days walk away.

Xin Yi came over and sat next to me. "When we get to the town and those two leave, can I stay with you? Please? You have so much to teach me and we could become friends?"

I looked at her and smiled, "I'd like that."

With unexpected speed, she leant forward and hugged me. I was shocked. I'd not been hugged since the forge and my dad. I wanted to pull away but didn't dare move. I froze.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. You probably haven't learned much about how people show affection have you. I'm sorry, please don't get upset. I mean it with honesty and yes, I can be impulsive, sorry, I will try not to do it again...." Her voice trailed off and a hurt look clouded her eyes.

"No it's me," I replied, feeling wrongness inside me, "I don't understand, you're right. Teach me but take it slow, I'm not used to sudden movements." With that I chuckled. No, in the world of the forest everything was measured, every gesture analysed every relationship handled with care. Xin Yi was more like a butterfly, flitting about, flashing the brilliance of her natural spirit.

She carefully linked her arm through mine and leaning her head on my shoulder, she hugged me. "Can I sleep with you tonight? Sleep here, next to you? I'll bring my bedding. I really don't like being around those two any more."

I nodded and she gathered her belongings and walked back toward me. Haiyang and Min just watched saying nothing. Lines had been drawn and they could not be rubbed out.

I was right, and by late afternoon the town came into view. I sensed Min speed up and Haiyang accompanied her. They strode ahead without a backwards gesture, a thank you or even a farewell.

"Let's go," Xin Yi whispered, and with that we left the road and walked into the safety of the forest, out of sight, out of mind.