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 his forehead gently. He tossed around but didn’t awaken.

So many lions are sleeping everywhere, even though Father said the danger is gone. Why so many guards still?

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 still see some nightstars through the window. Bye for now.

Summer Night? 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. Hehe.

I was starting to regret my choices when I saw that the moons, all three, were 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 suddenly it wasn't. 

Millions of nightstars shot through the skies. I wasn’t sure if it came from farther away in space, or from the rocky road that rings the planet skies. Or a mix of both.

No blinking or you’ll miss it. I kept repeating in my mind.

One of the nightstars seems to have fallen into the forest. I ran after it. I didn’t even feel scared. The shower went on, illuminating the scenery. More of them fell a bit further, and in all directions. The best choice was to collect the one closest to me. Though as pushed on, I realized it wasn't as close as I thought it would be.

The village light wasn't visible anymore. I started to regret sneaking out. I was lost. I kept going though since I have already made it far. I won't come back empty handed. The falling of nightstars kept going. I pushed through 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 sneaking out. And in my life too in general. I still approached it slowly though. I was more curious than scared. 

There was some smoke, or mist? The hole was fogged up. I still put my hand in. Surprise! What I picked up was a normal looking stone the size of a small plate. Boo!

There I was running for what I thought was one of the shiny things in the sky… but it was plain rock. I thought it would be boiling but it was just warm. In my pocket it went. The heat kept me company at least. 

I roughly knew the direction I came from but I heard rustling and frantic flapping of wings coming there so I ran to another direction, to where I thought I saw one of the other stones fell. At least 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 three 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.

It 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.

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, not to dance, but as if about to faint. Caught him before he hit the ground.

He eventually spoke and he sounded much older than his tiny but defined face showed. He was also bleeding from the head. Good thing I brought the 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. Oops, maybe not that smart.

We danced. He looked like he wanted to enjoy the sparkly moment as well. He said he was a prince looking for magical stones.

I said that I liked the one he found. He said he wasn't sure if those were the ones he’s searching for. But he’s collected a few so far. He already had red, blue, and broken green ones.

As I was gonna ask for one, a lion roared from a distance and the prince boy disappeared when I looked back. He threw the green gem to my forehead. Why thank you prince. I cannot remember his name anymore.

Lion Riye came bursting out of the thicket and transformed just as quick to hug me. 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?

Anyway, he carried me home piggyback. I fell asleep on his shoulder. The sun came up just as we reached the gates. He snuck me in the same way I snuck out.

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 mother’s 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. 

But actually, how did he know that I escaped? If he found out from the guards, then a search party would’ve been deployed for me. Also how did he know the direction I took? 

Oh well. Love finds a way <3

Summer day 7

Today, the warm stone I picked up moved. 

Well something inside it did.