The warmth of the sun was broken only by a cool breeze blowing through the Sahkoli Forest. It was an ideal day for a trip or a picnic, and some people took the opportunity. A father with his beloved little daughter packed up and went to have some off time together. For a beautiful view they decided to settle down near the edge of the forest on a cliff, where the place was more sparse from the trees, looking over the water of Raal Bay.
The father prepared the food while his daughter picked some flowers nearby, however she got easily distracted by a bigger butterfly, it was oh so intriguing and beautiful in her eyes. She couldn’t resist the urge to catch it so she started to chase it, but what could one do when they are a young child? Some butterflies truly have some beautiful patterns on their wings. While the man was taking out the plates and trays he told her, “Hoino, don’t go too far away! Food is almost ready as well, I don’t want your hands to be dirty from catching bugs again.”
Barely seconds later he heard his daughter scream loudly as she slipped while running and fell right off the cliff. Without a thought his father began toward the screaming and jumped after her. His life flashed before his eyes, knowing the possibility of his daughter dying, regardless of having water under the cliff. He knew she couldn’t swim, but neither could he. It wasn’t something that held him back, after all, what could hold back a father or a mother while their child is in danger?
They fell into the water, the child hit herself harder on the surface of the water, making her go unconscious. The father struggled in the water, trying to reach her daughter as she was sinking deeper and deeper. Due to his panicking, he swiftly went out of air and slowly everything went black for him as well. Two bodies sinking slowly down to the depths of the Bay.
It was the moment when Noxxi curiously approached them in a form of a small green fish. With a graceful quick movement she quickly shape shifted into her usual body, although much bigger than people are. In a strange sitting pose she sank along with them, observing them. Her eyes looked so mysteriously radiant in the darkness of the depths, almost like a brilliant star shining on a night sky.
“Decisions, how quick they can be. We don’t always make the best ones, nay, sometimes we make the worst ones.” She sighed softly underwater as she followed the sinking man. “Everything can be so quick, so quick to go wrong. Not so long ago they were about to eat, have a good time together, have fun, smile, laugh, enjoy some food, the sun, the view.” She moved her gaze to the sinking child. “Yet, here we are right now.”
She moved herself closer to the child, softly placing her forehead to hers for a moment before pulling away. She shook her head lightly, her lips curled into a soft compassionate smile, “Such innocence, only tried to capture a butterfly only to be feared off the cliff by a sudden lizard. She really is afraid of lizards. Backing away on a cliff isn’t the best idea, but what could one do, a child usually don’t have much awareness of their surroundings.” She looked back at the man, drifting back to him.
She leaned toward the father, softly touching his forehead with hers as well, closing her eyes, then pulling away. “What a strong burst of emotions. He went right after her, even though he knew he couldn’t swim and knowing the risk of not being able to save her at all, yet he tried anyway.” She tilted her head, looking at the man with sympathy. “He passed out with the realization that he is dying along with his own child, unable to save her. It breaks my heart.”
She slowly moved away of the two, keeping a small distance, looking at them. She tilted her head to the other side, thinking. “Am I one to decide here? Am I even one to decide? I always keep asking myself. How do I make order in this, I shall never know.” Looking away to the side, she bit on her lower lips, trying to decide. “I know I cannot watch this. I create life, I protect life, but… death is part of life as well…” Her eyes kept shifting around ever so swiftly, clearly thinking a lot and trying to make a decision that is always hard to make for her.
Her eyes stopped shifting around and looked at both of them, yet again. “I make no real rules and there is nothing and nobody that rule over me…” she softly muttered to herself. She grew in size just enough to be able to grab the man and the child in each hand and simply walked out of the water to the land, carrying both of them easily. The fox and griffon caretaker, Noi and Ihil, were already there, waiting for her.
Noxxi gently placed the two on the ground, placing her fingers on both, it almost seemed like someone playing with two dolls. After a moment she stood up, “Noi, Ihil, please take care of them and return them back to their home during the night.” The caretakers nodded at her. “They shall sleep until tomorrow morning, what happened will only remain as a little nightmare for them. I shall go now.” With another graceful movement, she shape shifted into a Sha’Kran, “See you two later.” She said, before taking off and flying away.
