The artwork used is “Hello There” by Stefan Koidl, found here: https://cdnb.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/020/509/207/small/stefan-koidl-hello-there8.jpg?1568055765
“Strange,” said the spirit, “a creature that does not run.”
The cat continued to stare at the spirit, its eyes showing no hint of fear. In their reflection, the spirit saw itself, much clearer than it had seen before in any pool of water. Slowly it reached out to touch this strange beast.
“It does not see my cold eyes,” said the spirit, “nor my long talons. Not my hair like the dark, nor even the roots upon my back – it does not see the Curse I must bear.“
The spirit touched the cat with as gentle a touch as its sharp talon would allow. It scratched the cat behind one ear, and it seemed to appreciate this; it purred and moved closer.
“Do you not speak?” said the spirit. “Long I have spent in these woods; I know the speech of all creatures – except yours.”
The cat stared up at the spirit. It blinked.
“Hmm,” said the spirit, “speech you lack, but not understanding?”
The cat meowed, and it startled the spirit. The roots on its back rattled as it flinched.
“This is good. You may make a good companion yet.”
The spirit chuckled partly to itself.
“And since you do not speak, I will not know what awful things you must think of me.”
The cat jumped onto the spirit’s shoulder and perched on it. It nuzzled its face, and for the first time in ages, the spirit felt warmth.
Something within the spirit’s chest appeared then, a sensation it struggled to remember the words for. It stood up and the dry leaves felt different on its bare feet – they felt more real.
The spirit smiled and pet the cat a bit more as it began to follow the path back to its home, deeper in the forest.
“A sign from the gods?” it wondered. “My Curse may yet be ended – and by a simple beast no less.”
It chuckled again at the idea.
“Countless trees I have seen grow,” it said, “rivers I have seen swell and dry up, and rise again – many times I have drank of them. Yet my Curse may be lifted by you?”
It wondered briefly if perhaps it was wrong.
“This creature does not run,” it decided, “and so it is a sign. And a sign from the gods is not to be ignored.”
The cat purred more and sprawled out on the roots on the spirit’s back as if they were a hammock.
“You will hunger soon,” said the spirit, “as will I. The river will feed us both.”
Together they made their way deeper into the forest. In the distance the roar of the source of the river itself called to them. And for the first time, the spirit could smell the very waters of it as they drew ever closer.
This prompt was found on the subreddit r/writingprompts here: https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/gmjtbs/ip_yourenot_afraid_of_me/
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