Raiona’s Journal: Catching Hearts

Summer day 5

Hi. Today, I woke up early. It is still dark. I am hungry. There was food laid out for me on the table right outside my room. But after I remembered how awful I felt yesterday, I forgot my hunger. My anger is washed away with just one glance at Pan horsie who was sleeping outside my room. I kissed its bandaged forehead without waking it up. There seems to be lions sleeping all over the place too.

I wonder why my father still had to put up a lot of security when I overheard the threat is no longer there. Writing here in case I do not come back. I want to run away. Maybe I will come back. But I want to go somewhere that I can be free. I can see in the window that there are still some nightstars. See you.

Summer night or day?

Good evening. Or morning. Something VERY important happened. I just got back from sneaking out and I do not know the time. I have to write it all or I might forget some details. I went out earlier through my emergency exit and was surprised that there were no guards assigned outside my window. If there was, they were patrolling and I snuck my head out in time. 

I snuck out through the garden roof area without guide fire, through the east clinic, round the lecture rooms and out the front gate. Well not exactly the front gate but a small hole beside it that lions don’t fit through but a nice little me can. 

I was starting to regret my choices when I saw that the moons, all three, dimmed by the clouds. Plus the nightstars wasn't enough to illuminate my path. Maybe that’s also how I managed to escape. It’s quite dark.

Then it happened. Millions of nightstars shoot through the skies. The rocky road surrounding the skies is highlighted by the shower of rocks that is going almost parallel to it. No blinking or I will miss it.

 One of the nightstars seems to have fallen towards the forest in front me and I did not think twice. I ran as fast as my feet took me and before I knew it, of course, I was lost. I kept going though since I have already made it this far, I won't come back empty handed. And push through I did. Just like that, like I forgot to feel fear.

The shower was still going on, illuminating the scenery. I thought more of them fell a bit further, and in all directions. My best choice was to collect the one that fell closest to me. Though as I further pushed, it wasn't seeming to be as close as I thought it would be. I didn’t know where I was and for the first time since running, I looked back. 

The village light wasn't visible anymore. I started to regret sneaking out. But the falling of nightstars kept going and I can’t miss this opportunity. I kept going till I arrived on a clearing. I thought it was a normal clearing but there was an hollow spot in the middle. Jackpot.

It looks like the rest of the immediate area got blown off by the impact of what’s on the center. I did not want to check it out. I was afraid. First time that I felt fear since being out, and this much, in my life. I still approached it slowly though. I was very scared but I was more curious. 

There was some smoke, or mist? It didn’t look very clear until I was touching it. What I picked up was a normal looking stone the size of a small plate.

There I was running for what I thought was one of the shiny things in the sky….I thought it would also be boiling hot but it was just warm. In my pocket it went. The warmth kept me company at least. I roughly knew the direction I came from but I heard rustling and frantic flapping of maybe wings coming from there so I ran further to where I thought I saw one of the other stones fell. I knew it wasn’t anything to be feared anymore. 

Maybe the rest are shiny gems. Maybe only this one was a normal rock? I might as well go. Is what I was thinking. I ran and ran until I came to another clearing. Bigger than the first one I saw, and this one somehow is having a glitter party rain in the middle? SO PRETTY! Is that because of another falling rock?

All moons came out finally and illuminated the whole area, giving the glitters in the air a magical touch. It is like I was inside a snow globe. Why do I even have memories of a snow globe when I have never seen one. But glitter. Glitter dome. 

Took me a while to notice the shivering boy in the middle of the clearing. He looks a bit smaller than me but something tells me not to approach him. But, I also had the same feeling with the stone and it turned out to be fine. So I walked towards the boy. 

When he looked up, I saw that he had a tiny face! Is his family feeding him? He was holding a red gem… I KNEW IT!!! I wanted to take it from him but seeing that he looks hungry and frail, he must need it more than me. He must be a poor boy. Not everyone is a princess like me so I thought I should spare him some pity. I’m so kind. 

His presence made me feel safe enough to sit down. I asked his name and he won’t tell me or did not hear me. Whatever. I did not want to miss the chance to dance under the glitter rain like I am inside a snow globe so I thought I would do that first. 

I got so into it, just doing the usual movements I show to mother while singing as silently as I can. Imagining a plucking instrument playing for me, as I hummed. Not sure how long I did it for. I caught a glimpse of the little boy and saw that he was swaying side to side as if about to faint. Caught him before he hit the ground.

He eventually spoke and he sounded much younger than his tiny but defined face showed. He was also bleeding from the head. Good thing I brought this magical cloth wipe. I don’t know where mother got it but she says it has special healing powers.

What could he be doing out there in the open? Then again what was I doing there too. He asked my name and I panicked. I can’t tell him I am Raiona. I am a princess after all. I can be smart sometimes hehe. I said my name was Ina, and that I am a princess. Well, maybe not that smart. 

He said he was also a prince and that he was looking for a magical stone. I looked at his hand and said that I liked the one he found. He said he wasn't sure if that one was what he’s searching for. But he’s collected a few so far. Wow. He’s got a handful of gems already. Red, blue and a green one that looked like it broke apart on impact.

As I was gonna ask for one, a lion roared from a distance and the prince boy disappeared when I looked back. Not before throwing a small fragment of green gem to my forehead. Why thank you prince. The boy was long gone though. I cannot remember his name anymore.

A juvenile guardian lion came bursting out of the thicket and transformed just as quick to hug me. Riye. HE HUGGED ME! We got thrown into the glittered ground from the impact.

I thought I was in trouble. He said that I made him worry and that he didn’t want to marry me out of obligation… Out of nowhere. Tsk tsk tsk….

Did he actually say no? I can’t remember if he did…. Did I even ask him? Anyways, I fell asleep on his shoulders as he carried me piggyback to the village. The sun eventually came up just as we arrived at the gate. Riye made me sneak through the same gate I passed by and he met me on the other side. 

I am happy that I don’t have to tell him to make excuses for me. He just solves the problem. Once he dropped me off at my mothers doorstep, that was an issue for me to deal with however. I looked up at him and he just smiled and left. His smile for me was the VERY important thing that happened of them all. Though, I wonder how he knew that I left. And which direction I went. Oh well. Love finds a way <3

Summer day 7

Today, the warm stone I picked up moved. Well something inside it did.