Title: A Melody
Author: Angelique
Prompt: Child's Play Challenge - Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Genre: Friendship
AU/CU: AU
Rating: G
Warnings:
Word Count: 712
A/N: Part One of the Child's Play Challenge Collection
Summary: In which a leaf is more than just a leaf and a well is more than just a well
The chirping of birds filtered through the trees along with sunlight from the high noon sun. The rustle of leaves and wings, the gentle rushing sound of the river, the sounds of forest animals such as deer, rabbits and boars joined the chorus on the warm late summer day. Peace echoed through out the forest almost in celebration of such a beautiful day. But with in the forest all was not as peaceful as it seemed. Moonlight kissed silver flashed through the trees, stopping occasionally. As it stilled a small boy, looking no older than the human age of five came into view. Silvery hair fell to mid back, bright citrine amber eyes flickered back and forth surveying the forestscape. Clothed in dark brown hakama and a matching haori he tilted his head into the air and inhailed deeply. Eyes closing revealing red marking along his eyelids mirroring the two red slash marks along his cheeks. Elven ears twitched as the sounds for the forest filtered towards him.
He was focused on everything around him, yet nothing at all. He could smell his prey, a boar, grazing in a clearing not far away. This was the first time he was alone on his hunt, he would do his father proud. Slowly he stalked towards his prey, tiny sharp claws poised into the perfect striking position as his father had taught him. Suddenly the boar froze from it's meal and looked up. Its snout pointing towards the little stream not far from them. And as the boar froze so did the boy. Everything about him becoming perfectly still.
A sound began to penetrate the forest, a soft childish sound. It jolted the boar into leaving it's peaceful clearing. It also caused a frown to mar the boys features.
"Row row row your boat"
The boy slowly moved toward the sound around trees towards the stream. Slowly the trees thinned out into a small glade at the side of the river. Not far from where he peaked, no he scouted, because brave boys never peak around anything, from around the tree was a small human girl.
Her wavy midnight black hair was pulled up into two tails on either side of her small head and she was wearing a strange brightly colored short kimono with no sleaves. It ended at her knees and had an odd pattern of what looked like cherries on a white back ground. She had strange tabi and her feet where in closed in a shiney black material.
She was kneeling at the edge of the river, a pile of various leaves and sticks beside her. She lent towards the water and let of go a leaf with a small peice of stick ontop.
"Go! Go! Little boat!" She giggled as she watched the leaf float its way down the brook. She did a small salute to the leaf boat as it meandered away. Looking down at the sun she made a soft humming sound and got up brushing off her knees. As she turned around the boy caught sight of gleaming saphire eyes. A small gasp left his mouth, not even the demons at his fathers royal court had that shade of eye color. A giggle left her lips as she ran towards the small trail.
Slowly he followed the girl as she made her way through the forest blissfully unaware she was being stalked. As she skipped the girl began to sing again.
"Row row row your boat,
Gently down the stream,
Merrily Merrily"
Here she came into a clearing around an old well. Running over to it she began to climb up the side and onto the lip. Humming the tune from the song she swung her legs back and forth slowly inching towards the dark inside of the well. Taking a deep breath the boy began to move forward to stop the strange silly human from jumping to her death.
"Life is but a dream."
With the last verse completed she jumped falling into the wells depths. The boy rushed forwards hoping to save her but as he looked down into the well the girl had vanished. All that remaind of her was the odd ringing echo of the last line.
"Life is but a dream."