The Body Hesitates

The Body Hesitates

Several knocks landed against the door, loud enough to cut through the growing bustle of the village outside.

“Zio!”

No answer.

A few seconds passed. The faint rustle of fabric came from behind the door before the latch slowly turned.

Martha pushed the door open with her elbow. She carried a wooden bowl of warm soup, a piece of coarse bread still giving off steam, and a neatly folded cloth in both hands.

“It's almost noon,” she said evenly, though her eyes immediately swept across the room.

Zio stepped out of his bedroom and stopped in the doorway, one hand resting on the doorframe. His hair was still messy, and his gaze remained lowered to the floor.

“You're usually gone long before the sun gets this high,” Martha continued as she walked inside. She set the bowl on the small table. “I thought you'd already be in the forest.”

Zio gave a small shake of his head.

“Sleep in?”

Martha didn't wait for an answer. She unfolded the cloth covering the basket she had brought.

“Go wash your face first. Then eat.”

Zio walked to the back of the house, where a wooden barrel filled with water stood. He splashed water over his face with both hands. Cold water dripped from his chin back into the barrel.

He scooped another handful over his face. A few drops slipped between his fingers before he wiped them away. He remained bent over the barrel for a heartbeat longer than usual.

In the main room, Martha quietly wiped down a corner of the house with the cloth.

Zio returned a moment later. Martha glanced at him, then flicked her eyes toward the bowl, silently telling him to eat.

Zio sat down and reached for it. His hand paused halfway before finally wrapping around the bowl.

He blew gently across the surface of the soup, though the steam had already begun to fade.

“It's still warm.”

“I reheated it a little while ago,” Martha replied with a faint smile.

Zio began eating slowly. He lifted another spoonful. The spoon slowed halfway to his mouth. He chewed quietly before resting it against the rim of the bowl.

“Are you feeling sick?” Martha asked as she sat down beside him. Her tone remained gentle.

“No.” The word left his mouth before Martha had fully finished speaking. He picked up the spoon again and continued eating.

Martha simply nodded. But her eyes narrowed slightly. She stood.

“Lately,” she said as she folded the cloth that had wrapped the bread, “the village has been busier than usual every morning.”

She paused before looking at him.

“Don't think too much about it. People are usually quicker to judge than they are to learn the truth.”

Zio didn't lift his head. He took a few more spoonfuls before stopping, even though the bowl was only half empty.

He rested both hands on the edge of the table. A slow breath escaped through his nose. The bowl remained half full.

“You don't have to finish it,” Martha said softly. “You can save the rest.”

Zio nodded. Without a word, he wrapped up the remaining bread.

When he stood, one foot searched for the floor a fraction too late. His hand caught the edge of the table. A heartbeat later, he let go.

Martha rose as well. Her lips parted, then closed again. One hand lifted slightly before falling back to her side.

“Don't stay out too late."

“I won't go far.”

“Hm.” Martha walked out first.

At the doorway, she paused and looked back one last time.

“If you oversleep again tomorrow...” A faint smile appeared on her face. “...I'll knock even louder.”

The corner of Zio's mouth lifted into a small smile.

After Martha left, the house fell silent once more. Zio stood motionless in the doorway for several seconds. Then he slowly closed the door behind him and stepped outside.

The sunlight spilled across the yard. Zio narrowed his eyes, then kept walking.

Without looking back, he left the house behind.

***

The sounds of the village gradually faded behind Zio.

The ground beneath his boots grew softer. The cool air of the forest replaced the scent of wood smoke drifting from the village.

The trees became denser. The rooftops were no longer visible between the trunks.

Zio took a deep breath. He slowly let it out. He kept walking.

Then...

His arm stopped swinging. A sudden tightness gripped his chest. He came to a halt. The leaves overhead swayed gently.

A moment later, he took another breath. He drew another breath. The tightness in his chest was gone. He walked on.

The sharp snap of a branch broke the silence of the forest.

Zio turned at once. His eyes swept through the gaps between the trees.

Nothing.

Only a few leaves still swayed.

He continued forward. Farther. Deeper into the forest. The bushes ahead rustled softly. Then fell still.

Zio stopped as well. His hand reached over his shoulder. His fingers closed on empty air.

Only then did he remember. He hadn't brought his bow. Instead, he drew the dagger at his waist.

A moment later...

A tiger stepped out from behind the foliage. Its broad shoulders were covered in dull brown fur. Its head remained low. A pair of yellow eyes stared straight at Zio. Warm breath drifted from its muzzle into the cool air.

The tiger came to a stop. Its tail swayed slowly. Its front claws dug into the earth.

Behind it stood another tiger. One of its eyes was clouded and blind.

Zio shifted one foot to the side. His dagger slid free from its sheath. The tip of the blade remained low beside his thigh.

A low growl rumbled from the tiger's throat. Dry leaves trembled.

The tiger stared.

Zio stared back.

Only the leaves moved between them.

The tiger's right shoulder dipped slightly.

Zio shifted half a step.

The ground burst beneath the tiger's paws. Its massive body shot forward.

The claws reached him first.

Zio twisted away.

Its claws swept across the front of his chest.

His jacket tore open. A thin scratch appeared across his skin. The force turned Zio sideways.

His right fist came back across the tiger's jaw.

Its head snapped to the side. Its heavy body staggered half a step.

A thunderous roar shattered the silence.

The one-eyed tiger lunged as well.

Dry leaves scattered into the air as its massive body skimmed low across the ground.

Zio leaped to the side.

Its claws passed only inches from his shoulder.

The moment his feet touched the ground again, his left fist drove into the underside of the tiger's neck.

The tiger's body tilted as it landed.

A short roar escaped its throat. It spun around and charged again.

This time, Zio stepped back. He lowered his stance.

The claws swept just above his head.

His dagger flashed. The blade cut across the one-eyed tiger's abdomen.

Dark drops fell onto the forest floor.

As it landed, one of its front legs slipped.

Its body lurched. Its next roar echoed even louder.

Zio jumped back several steps.

The other tiger charged once more. Using the trunk of a nearby tree as a foothold, Zio launched himself upward.

He flipped cleanly over the tiger. His dagger thrust downward. The blade disappeared into the tiger's eye.

The roar came instantly. Dark streaks ran down the side of its face.

Zio pulled the dagger free and sprang backward again.

The two tigers let out low growls. They stood side by side once more. Both tigers faced him again. Each kept one eye closed.

Zio didn't step back.

His fingers tightened around the knife. The tip of the blade settled between the two tigers.

***

Inside the house, Martha was putting away the dishes she had just finished washing.

One by one, she stacked the wooden bowls neatly on the shelf. The plates followed.

She wiped a clay cup dry with a cloth before placing it on the highest shelf. The soft scrape of wood and the faint clink of dishes filled the quiet room.

A knock at the door made her pause.

She set the cup on the shelf, wiped both hands on her apron, and walked to the door.

When she opened it, a man was already waiting outside.

“We're leaving tomorrow.”

“Alright.” Martha gave a small nod.

The man turned as if to leave.

“Wait,” Martha called. He looked back.

She hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“Is there still room for one more person?”

“Hm...” The man considered it briefly. “I think so.”

A faint smile appeared on Martha's face.

“Then thank you.”

He gave a short nod.

“See you tomorrow.” With that, he walked away across the yard.

Martha watched him until he disappeared from view.

Then she quietly closed the door and returned to her work.

***

One of the tigers lunged again.

Zio twisted his body to the side.

Razor-sharp claws tore through empty air.

The tiger crashed into a nearby tree, splintering bark across the forest floor.

Zio had barely turned back when the second tiger burst in from the opposite side.

His foot caught on a protruding root.

The tiger was already upon him.

Both forearms snapped up across his chest.

The impact slammed into him like a charging log. The air burst from his lungs.

His body was hurled backward, rolling several times before crashing into a patch of shrubs.

Branches snapped. Grass flattened beneath him.

Zio pushed himself back to his feet.

The moment both boots found solid ground, he slipped around one tiger's flank.

His dagger flashed. The blade bit deep beneath its ribs.

His wrist twisted. The wound ripped wider.

A thunderous roar shook the forest.

The other tiger was already charging.

Zio wrenched his dagger free. He sprang backward.

Its claws swept past only inches from his chest.

Crash!

Instead, the two tigers collided head-on.

Their massive bodies tumbled across the grass. Dirt and fallen leaves erupted into the air.

Zio retreated several more steps. The trunk of a large tree stopped his back. He raised his dagger once more.

The two tigers slowly climbed to their feet. Thin white mist drifted from their muzzles with every breath. Neither tiger looked away.

Then...

One of them turned its head toward the deeper forest. The other followed.

The two tigers turned around. Shrubs swayed gently as they disappeared between the trees.

Zio didn't move. His gaze followed them until even the last trembling branch became still.

A long breath escaped his lips.

The surrounding grass lay flattened. The ground was scarred with claw marks. Broken shrubs were scattered across the clearing.

Zio rolled one shoulder. He drew a slow, deep breath. Then leaned his back against the tree once more. Tilting his head upward, he looked through the gaps between the branches.

Above the swaying branches, the blue sky stretched undisturbed. He closed his eyes.

A moment later, his dagger slid back into its sheath. Zio left the forest.

Minutes later, the rooftops of Greyhollow began to emerge through the trees.

***

The sun hung lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the ground. By the time Zio reached the house, the afternoon had begun to fade into evening.

He glanced around.

No one.

Quietly, he pulled the torn edges of his jacket together, hiding the long slash across the fabric.

He slipped inside.

The door closed softly behind him.