Chapter 5 - Natacha

SMACK

Why?
“Don’t get smart with me! Who do you think you are?!”
Why did he hit me?
“I brought you into this world! I can take you out of it!”
Smart… I shouldn’t be smart…
“Oleander! No!”
“Let go of me Ilex!”

SMACK

Mom too… if I wasn’t smart he wouldn’t hit Mom…
“Stupid weed! If you were just an innocent little bud, I wouldn’t have to do this! Who do you think you are?!”
If I’m innocent… he won’t hit me or mom…

I shouldn’t be smart… I should just be innocent and happy…
I want to be smart…
It’s okay if no one knows… right?

---

Holly’s eyes cracked open, the exhaustion hitting her like a sack of potatoes. Though… she was comfy?

It took a moment for her to process what was going on, but she was in a bed. A thick, warm comforter covered her body… which was clothed in loose, unfamiliar attire. Her face flushed as she realized someone must have changed her out of her clothes, even going as far as to remove her green leggings.

At the realization that someone had so thoroughly stripped her down, she sat up with alarm. She needed as much information as she could gather now. Where she woke was a log cabin. The windows were open. A gentle, warm breeze circulated throughout the space. A fireplace held a timid fire, wafting gentle warmth into the home.

Her eyes remained fixed on the modest hearth longer than she intended. Her heart rate steadily increased the more she stared. Between each blink, she saw the visage of that fire Resonator’s wrathful gaze and the fire that was aimed to… kill her.

Her panic spiral was only halted by a more physical sensation – her stomach growling. A certain scent had hit her nose and reminded her how long she had been deprived of sustenance. She closed her eyes and sniffed the air. It was unlike anything to ever grace her nose before. It was a savory scent, coming from the cauldron hanging above the open flames.

It smelled really good. She was hungry but also wary. Her clothes were missing, meaning the possibility of her being defenseless. She never had a chance to check herself for her seed satchel before she passed out. She ran her hands through her hair, she had one holly berry on each side of her head, so that was something. Not out long enough to get her full four back though.

Another growl of protest from her stomach quieted her rumination. “Hungry,” she whimpered. Whatever was cooking smelled so very good, her mouth watered with desire. She wanted it badly.

But, she couldn’t, not without figuring out what happened to her first.

And the first place Holly started her investigation was the pot.

“Damn it, no!” she hissed to herself, smacking her face with both hands. Something was enrapturing about the boiling stew. Her stomach growled so loudly it almost hurt.

“Uhg… So hungry…” whined the little zalavan. She looked around for utensils of some kind. Surely this place had a bowl and some spoons. Maybe just the spoon. She could just eat right from the pot.

“Focus, Holly! Focus!” she berated herself.
“Oh, so your name is Holly, is it?”

The little nature element froze, her heart falling into the pit of her stomach as the hunger was replaced by crippling dread. A cold sweat quickly coated her body as she shakily turned to face the owner of the mystery voice.

“Y-yes! That’s me! Holly! How are you Miiiiiiss?” The mask went back on, but it was a mental scramble to swap back.

“Better than you. ” The larger woman stepped around Holly, tending to the boiling food. “Mind telling me why you were tied up in a river? Piss off your Maestro?” she questioned.

Holly studied the back of the older woman. She bore large wings, feathered in black and yellow. Her hair seemed sharp and spikey, almost slicked back, matching her feathers in hue. The yellow accompanied a feeling Holly had yet to experience in this intensity. There was a buzz about the larger Resonator, a sort of static that tickled the young zalavan – this must have been what a real lightning element felt like.

Remembering the elemental affinities, lightning and nature did not interact – a neutral matchup. She needed more information before fully judging the situation.

“Some bad men took me from home but I ran away while they weren’t looking!” Some detail was obfuscated under the veil of her mask. She thought it better to appear as harmless as possible until she could piece together her present predicament.

The bird woman continued tending to the stew. “And the river?” she questioned again.

“I fell in!” Holly giggled. “I was running too fast and slipped. Mom always told me I should watch where I was going!” Her upbeat lilt and playful laughter may have been a bit too much considering the situation. Dial it back. Her outward expression clouded. “Am I gonna be able to go home, miss?”

She earned a snort in response. The lightning element turned, towering over the zalavan. “Doubt it. Don’t see many of your kind out in the wild.” The bird sized up what little of Holly there was. “Cute thing like you will probably get snatched up real quick,” she scoffed.

“No way!” Holly gasped in (false) astonishment. While she figured her people’s rarity worked against them, the confirmation of zalavan scarcity in wider Riterra was interesting. As was the woman’s specific wording: “many of your kind,” which implied that zalavan were of a known quantity. It did track given she was specifically snatched off the streets of Inverna by a Maestro who was there on some kind of nebulous business.

“Mr. Noel.”

Whoever he was had enough power or influence to request people to work on his behalf. Someone to avoid for sure.

“But what about you? Are you all alone?” asked Holly.

Another huff. “It’s easier this way.”

So, no Maestro to her Resonator, easy enough. At least she didn’t have to worry about spells being shouted at her. Though Holly’s understanding of Resonator's self-defense capabilities extended to exactly what her own species could do. She cursed her knowledge gap, but decided to play it safe for now.

“What if that scary man comes back?!” Holly exclaimed.

The winged woman smirked. Sparks of electricity arced down her body. “He’d meet his maker sooner rather than later.”

It took everything in Holly’s power not to be intimidated by the threatening display. Even with her limited experience, she knew whoever this lightning element was could back up that promise.

“Are you really strong, miss?” instead the little zalavan played up her adoration of the older Resonator.
“It’s not miss,” said the gruff bird. “Natacha,” she said.
“Okay, Miss Natacha!” Holly beamed.

The bird narrowed her gaze in annoyance. “Just… whatever,” she went back to tending to the food.

Holly let out a short breath in relief. At least she’d have time to probe for more worldly knowledge and take her leave once she had gotten what she could out of this Natacha character. For the time being, she needed to figure out how to get in on some of that food simmering over the open flames.

As it turned out, Holly was wasting brain power, as a steaming bowl was suddenly thrust into her face.

“It’s hot,” advised Natacha.
“Thank you, Miss Natacha,” Holly mumbled, blowing on the steaming soup.

As Holly plopped herself back onto the bed, the bird took her leave of the home to destinations unknown.

“Hrm…” Holly’s innocent façade faded as her eyes lingered on the door. “Wonder what her story is,” said the zalavan in her true voice. “Oh well, food is food I suppose.” Truth be told, it smelled even better right in her face. The young girl’s mouth watered fiercely as she repeatedly blew on the fresh meal.

Her hands trembled. Why was that? Was she just that hungry?

No, she was excited. Really excited. It was just soup.

“Oh.”

She lifted her head. The realization hit her as her lips turned up. “I’m free.”

---

Natacha returned to her humble little cabin and found the zalavan she rescued to be content on her bed, a polished bowl sitting on the nightstand.

“I suppose you enjoyed it.” The bird allowed a small smirk on her lips.

Holly perked up. “Yes, Miss Natacha! It was really tasty!” she beamed with joy. She didn’t need to wear the mask for that one – it truly was a divine meal.

“If I could eat food like that every day, I’d be so happy!” Again, Holly’s true feelings slipped out, but under the air of her bubbly mask.

“Did they not feed you back home?” Natacha asked, brow raised. It was clear to Holly the bird didn’t think her cooking to be anything special.

“Mom says food is really expensive, and we can eat the sunlight,” said the zalavan. “I like tasty food though, so Mom makes sure to get me yummy snacks for when I’m good little berry tree!” Holly felt perhaps she laid it on a little thick there, but she was in a good mood, so she let it pass.

As did Natacha, who grunted in acknowledgment. “Plenty of good food out there. Though it’s probably better if you find your way back to that home of yours.”

Holly’s innocent mien cracked, her head reflexively jerking away to hide the growing disgust that leaked out of her mind. There wasn’t any way in hell she was going back there. Especially not after only one meal. If this was what average cooking tasted like, then what did the top of the culinary world offer? She had to know – her curiosity would allow nothing less.

After allowing a second for her composure to return, Holly spoke once more. “I don’t know where my home is,” she admitted. It was the truth. The most she knew was that it was in a hollow mountain somewhere. But none of the maps she had read in the past pointed out where Inverna was. Had she left of her own accord as planned perhaps she could have charted it out and retraced her steps as needed.

Getting thrown in a truck, knocked out, and falling into a river spun her around so much it was dizzying even thinking about it.

No, there wasn’t any way she was getting home on her own. If she wanted to get home the only way was through him.

That Mr. Noel character knew where Inverna was located. After all, he hired thugs to steal apple seeds and a zalavan to go with them. Why? Perhaps if she felt like pursuing that thread she'd find out. Perhaps was doing a lot of heavy lifting in that thought, however. For now, she cared not.

Natacha meanwhile wore a complicated expression. Something between pity and annoyance. Holly figured she could mooch off of the bird’s kindness, however, it was clear to her that her welcome would wear thin quickly.

That was fine. As soon as Holly figured out what her seed situation looked like, she could start her plans fresh.