[Open]Running from Lies [Matilda/Kiami]

Kiami followed silently still behind Matilda her tears finally subdued. Her mind was starting to push back the pain once more, and racing thoughts slowed. She felt terrible about Sarah, about Matilda, about the whole thing. She hadn't lied, Kiami knew the truth, but how could she get Matilda to understand that? She wasn't sure, but she knew she needed to try.
Hearing loud crying Kiami stops, seeing Matilda uphead she runs the rest of the way to her, crouching down Kiami looks at the scratch on her knee, she didn't know a lot of magic and she still wasn't allowed to use it, but she knew enough about plants that she was confident she could find an herb or two to stop the bleeding. After looking at Matilda's knee she looks up into Matilda's tear stained eyes, and instinctivly gives the girl a hug, before pulling back and speaking.
"I'm sorry. Are you alright? Do you think you can walk? I can hear water up ahead. I can stop the bleeding and the pain, if you want me too..." Kiami stopped, and looked around examining the foliage around them, she recognized most of the things but didn't see exactly what she needed, and she wasn't sure Matilda even wanted her help, but she would wait and see.

Kiami groaned as Matilda shoved her away, stood up, and took off in the direction that she had just come. Should Kiami follow her? Matilda obviously hated her, was positive Kiami was lying, and didn't even wait for an explanation. Kiami leaned against the tree Matilda had just left and dropped her head to her knees. Confused, angry, and upset Kiami didn't know what to do or what to think, or what to say, she was already wishing she was back home alone in her room, rather than alone in the woods, wondering about things that she had nothing to do with. Why did she have to know Sarah, or about the explosion, or the truth about what happened? Why hadn't she stayed at home that day like she should have. All these things swirled in her mind, and again she had no answers for herself or Matilda.
Kiami sighed not for the first time since meeting Matilda, and she was sure it wouldn't be the last. Standing she brushed herself off and continued to walk to the lake. If Matilda didn't want to believe the truth fine, if she didn't want help fine. Kiami wouldn't bring it up again, and she wouldn't force the girl to take Kiami's help, but she would get it. Set with resolve Kiami explored around the edges of the lake, looking for an orange flower, one native to Europe and this was the perfect weather for it to grow in. It took a little while to find the flower as the lake was large, but Kiami was determined. Than, at the far end of the lake she found them, a vibrant bunch of beautiful orange comfreies just waiting to be picked. Kiami knew the comfrey flower was one of the best for abrasions and wounds on the skin, taking a handful she carried them like a boquet back to the cabin.
She didn't stop to look for Matilda, didn't look around for her, and didn't try to find her. She instead walked quietly back to the cabin and set the flowers on her bed. Than she dug through her bag until she found a paper and pencil to write with. Sitting on the floor in the empty cabin, she scribbles a quick note, not stopping the tears that stained the paper.
Dear Matilda,
I'm sorry I upset you, and caused you to get hurt.
If you say Sarah has moved away than I believe you. After all, you lived with her, not I and I'm sure you have a strong friendship. Forgive me, I must have thought you were a different girl and didn't realize we were talking of two different Sarah's. That aside, please take this flower, it us called a comfrey, it is used for healing. My mother grows them back home. If you crush it up enough you can use it as a paste on your knee and it will help heal it.
Signed, Kiami.
Kiami took one of the flowers and placed it on Matilda's things, than pulling out a phone and headphones she turned her music on full blast, drowning out the world around her as she began to unpack and sort through her things. the world. I don't need some silly girl that can't see the truth as a friend anyway Kiami thought to herself as the music drowned her thoughts out, and helped her get lost in her unpacking.

Kiami sighed as she put the last of her things away, and turned her music off, the world around her faded back into focus. She was still fuming over Matilda, and decided to go find her, heading back outside the cabin and in search of stupid girl. Why did she even want to make this girl see the truth? Matilda could think what she wanted, it shouldn't bother Kiami but it did and Kiami wouldn't be settled for being called a liar.

She saw her, sitting off in the distance, even as she got closer she could see the stress that bunched Matilda's shoulders. Coming up next to her Kiami didn't say a word, though she prayed to whoever would listen that Matilda wouldn't run away again, that she would at least sit here with her in silence, even just to watch the sunset together.

Kiami said nothing as Matilda glanced her way. She wasn't sure what to say. Sitting down beside Matilda, Kiami followed her gaze out over the campsite, and stared out, as her thoughts jumbled around inside her head. How could she help a girl she had only just met? Why would Matilda want to believe her anyway? How do you help someone who doesn't want it?

Kiami didn't have any answers to her own questions, just like she didn't have any words for the girl she barely knew sitting beside her. She decided maybe this was best, maybe in the silence Matilda would want to start over and be friends with. So she sat, staring out over the still empty camp and waited.

Kiami looked back at Matilda, both girls staring at eachother in silence. Kiami desperately wanted Matilda to know the truth, to know that Sarah was their Sarah, that she hadn't survived. As Kiami looked into her soft brown eyes, she could almost feel Matilda's hidden pain, so she decided that it was best to let Matilda believe what she wanted too, and when the truth came out, at least the child would be ready for it.

Kiami blinked, taking her eyes away from Matilda's, she stared out at the empty camp, focusing on everything and nothing at the same time, her words coming out in a soft whisper.

"Maybe it was a different Sarah, after all we both lived in separate parts of town. It wasn't fair of me to push my anger on you Matilda. I guess I just got jealous that your Sarah is still alive, and mine isn't."

Kiami stopped, and took a deep breathe, the pain of lying hurt almost as much as knowing the truth, but Kiami could see no other way, whomever was keeping the truth hidden, maybe they had a good reason. Kiami looked back at Matilda, her eyes glistening with tears that she didn't want to fall.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you, and made you mad. I should be the one asking for forgiveness not you, after all I was the one that started it.."

Kiami's voice trailed off with her words, she wasn't good with this kind of thing, after all it wasn't like she'd had other girls back home that she got into fights with.

Calista had lost the girls for a moment since they had raced past her at the cabins. Slightly out of breath, she slowed her pace, picking up the sounds of voices. Shifting her head about swiftly, she spotted the two of the girls engaged in conversation. Hesitating to gather herself, she walked closer, trying not to startle the girls.

"Hey, is everything ok?" She asked softly, trying not to sound too aggressive. This camp thing was going to be the ultimate test to polishing up her social skills and tact.

Kiami looked at the journal Matilda showed her. Letting the whole Sarah thing go for now. She knew they both knew the same Sarah but Matilda was dead set on them knowing two different ones. She saw the place blow, heard her parents talk about only one person surviving. She didn't care what the papers had said, she knew the truth. She would just have to keep it to herself. Who ever didn't want Matilda to know must have a good reason, right?

"I like your drawings Matilda." She smiled and was impressed with what she did. When the lady came over Kiami smiled and adjusted her glasses. "I think we are okay. Um. What she said?" She looked at Matilda and felt a ping of sadness for what she had said. Some day Kiami would tell her the truth. She just wasn't sure when.

Matilda watched Kiami speak than looked back to Calista. "The cabins are right over there." She pointed past the woman to the trees. "I am Matilda by the way Ms. Redthistle." She smiled "It is sorted I think. We know it is two different Sarah's. I sent mine a letter a few weeks ago. I hope Mr. Benny got it to her and that she is able to reply. That would be nice. Though Dristan told me that I can't tell her about the whole magic thing, but that would of been awesome."

She closed her journal and held it close to her. "Are you a teacher at one of the schools? I heard there are a bunch of them. We are going to be going to Ilvermoury." She asked the camp counselor.

Kiami looked back and forth between Matilda and the camp counselor, at first she said nothing, only listening to the interactions. Even at her age Kiami had a knack for reading people, her mother always scolded her for never leaving well enough alone. Kiami could see the counselor was troubled, for her smile never fully reached her eyes, but after the mornings events Kiami didn't say anything or ask any questions prodding the counselor for whatever she seemed to be bothered by. It was a moment her mother would have been proud of had she been at the camp with Kiami.

"Nice to meet you Ms. Redthistle, I am Kiami." Kiami smiled up at the teacher as she glanced between both Matilda and the adult. "We are okay. It's just as Matilda said, we had a misunderstanding, but we figured it out."

Kiami hated lying, she wanted so bad to tell the truth, of what she had seen and heard, she wanted this adult to ask around and confirm the truth, if for nothing more than Matilda's sake, but Kiami knew that letting her emotions show would only cause Matilda to become angry again, so instead she musturaed as much courage as she could and made herself agree with what Matilda had already told her.

"Sorry we worried you Ms. Redthistle, can you please tell us when the camp activities start again? That way we don't miss them, and don't worry Matilda and I will make this the best summer we've had yet. Won't we Matilda?"

Calista looked around then back to the girls, a chuckle escaping her. So much for that act.

"Actually, I dont know myself. I was just trying to sound official. Apparently that didn't work so well." Calista shrugged.

"Just be careful out here and make sure you get settled in nicely. You dont want to lose your choice bunk. Please let someone know before you wander as well, it is a strange world we live in these days." She raised her brows a touch. At least she said her part. Children tended to get into mischief regardless of what they were told by adults. It was just the natural way of things.

Kiami stood with Matilda, her eyes bright with relief and joy, her excited smile reached her dark eyes and caused dimples on both of her cheeks. She was so happy that Matilda had forgiven her that she decided right than to tuck her secrets away and not worry about them. Having a friend felt way important to her. Kiami glanced between Matilda and the adult, and took Matilda's hand as she spoke.

"Don't worry Ms. Redthistle, we'll behave from now on! Come on Matilda, let's go claim our bunks before someone else does."

Kiami smiled again at the adult, and squeezed Matilda's hand, showing her all was forgiven.

Calista smiled and nodded, watching the two girls walk off towards the cabins. Turning around and walking a bit deeper into the trees, she waited until she felt nobody was around. She needed a stroll.

It was then that the black panther replaced the human form and slipped into the deep green of the forest.

*exit thread*

Matilda laughed at Kiami's expression. "Thank you." Morticia took it upon herself and licked Kiami's fingers and purred. "I think she likes you also. She is only three months old. I only got her last weekend. She is part kneazle, which means she can understand what we say almost perfectly." Morticia rubbed her head against Matilda's neck and meowed again. "I think she would be excited to meet Gomez. Though I am not sure how she got out of the cabin without meeting him to begin with."

Matilda headed towards the kitten and hoped that Kiami was following her. "Let us go meet him and unpack then."

*Exit Thread*