Katherine

"Ach-OO!"
"Hush!" Lenwe whispered violently. "Do you want her to hear us?"
"Sorry," whispered Lithelle, blushing.

They were in a wood, these two elves. Not just any wood, either; a human wood. They were crouching soundlessly behind a large log, watching, waiting. For the moment that they would get some sign and know that their time here was not wasted, in this position so uncomfortable.

This girl... Lenwe thought to himself, is undoubtedly different. She moves precisely and talks with an accent of a place unknown to her when she doesn't correct herself. She spends much time pursuing arts, sciences, and logistical challenges, a very rare combination in humans. Not only that, but she does so in the woods. Strange, indeed, for a human.

"Lenwe...are you sure of this?" Lithelle asked. He looked at her sidelong.
"Would I have dragged you here if I was not? Look, Lith, this girl--"
"Katherine." Lithelle chimed in, ever irrepressible. He glared.
"Katherine is not what she thinks.... She can't be. No human is like this, so...connected. She seems to feel the forest."
"Yes, but if you bring her back and it turns out to not to be...what you think, what will you do? You can't erase her memory."
"I'd rather let a human have a life in a different world than her rot here. Besides, she likes our sort of world, by the novels she reads, based on ancient times, and I say we do it. Tonight."
Lithelle sighed, then became peppy again. "Oooo, may I do the singing?"
"Sure." Said Lenwe tiredly, rubbing his forehead.
-----------------------
Kat was stumped. Over the past few days, she'd heard little snippets of whispers, almost like the slight sneeze of wind unless you listened closely. She'd never caught any actual words, although she'd thought she'd heard a "hush!" a few minutes ago. These seemed to come from nowhere, and always stopped the second she showed signs of hearing it.

"Katherine!" Her mother snapped from the patio. "Get in here, already! I will not pay medical bills if you get hypothermia!"
That's Mom. Thought Kat dully. Hates bills, cats, and most of all, me. Katherine's dad had passed away when she was 12, and her mother had never liked her. She kept Katherine only because she cared about what her suburban neighbors would think if she shipped her off. Kat had one friend in the world, and that was nature. No one seemed to like her, but she didn't mind. Nature was more loving than any human could ever be. She sometimes just wished...that someone would come for her and take her away. She had never felt at home anywhere with humans, corrupt as they had become. She wanted a home.
She flopped in bed, smooth white hair spreading like paintbrush bristles on her pillow as she lowered her head. The doctors called it a defect, but she liked the straight, white look, because she could have her hair short and unkempt without looking too strange. That's the way she liked it: practical and pretty.
Lids became heavy, and fell over Kat's eyes for a sleep. She thought she heard singing....
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She dreamed.
She was a bird, flying through clouds. They felt so nice. But now she settled in her nest and rested. She wanted to fly again. She lifted her wings, felt the upwards jolt that meant she was airborne--
Kat was awake. What a strange room.




******Will get better, if I ever finish it.