The Spirit of a Star

A girl's attention was caught by the sound of the large village gates creaking open, then closing again. She looked to be 12 years old, when really she was 16. The teen had dark brown hair that hung to the middle of her back, with eyes only a shade lighter. Her thin frame gave the illusion of fragility, yet she was as strong as any other Jonin in the village. Her endurance was that of the wolf when she went out on the trail. Her outfit consisted of a simple lightly tanned sundress, black flip-flops, and a dark gray pouch. The pouch hung around her neck from a sinew cord. Obviously, she was of native descent. A blonde haired boy waved as soon as he saw her. "Hey Naruto; you hungry?" she called.  "As long as we have ramen!" the boy grinned. She rolled her eyes as they walked to a nearby noodle shop. While they ate, the girl told the boy named Naruto about her mission assigned for the next morning. It was her fifth year as a Jonin; naturally, the mission was long term.  “What’s so important about your mission that you‘ve gotta do it all alone?” Naruto asked in between slurps of ramen, “Seems like Grandma’s piling a lot of tough ones on ya, huh Stella?” "Some of those Akaasii have been slinking around the village. I have to go study or capture them if I can," she explained. Naruto chuckled and said, "I think you mean 'Akatsuki' Stel. You still got a bit of an accent. How many are there?" It's only a pair of them. They'll be easy to track," she shrugged. "I know you can track them easy enough; just...be careful, okay? Those guys are no joke," Naruto said, suddenly serious. Stella nodded, "I know. You don't have to worry though. My people are known best for their caution on the trail." "How long are you gonna be gone? I could stop by to take care of Caramel and Twiggy for you," he offered. "I'll be gone for a while. I'm thinking a few months at least. Miigwetch (thank you) Naruto," she smiled. When they were done, they decided to take a walk around the village before it got too dark. As they passed the training field, Kiba and Akamaru came up to them. "Heard you were assigned a solo mission to go after the Akatsuki," Kiba said, somewhat nervously Stella noted. The girl nodded, crouching down to pet the little white dog. "Yeah, and Granny won't let anyone go with her!" Naruto chipped in. She didn't look up from rubbing Akamaru's ears when Kiba said, "With that loud mouth of yours, can you blame her? Still... Stella, are you sure you can handle this by yourself? We're talking about guys who are S-class criminals. If you get caught, we won't be able to get to you in time to help." Straightening, she looked him in the eye. "The chief of this village gave this task to me alone. I have been five winters a Jonin; that is proof enough I can do this." He looked away from her offended gaze pointedly as he mumbled, "Okay, but don't say I didn't warn ya..." Stella put a hand on Kiba's shoulder and said in a gentler tone, "I will come back alive; I promise." Giving her dog loving friend a hug, she bade him goodbye. The sun was only a red half disk in the west and it was dropping rapidly. She and Naruto waved as they followed the road until Kiba and Akamaru were out of sight. "I think I'm gonna go home. It's getting late and I have to get up early," Stella said. "Okay; let me walk you there though. Like you said, it's getting dark," Naruto suggested. She nodded, but remained quiet the rest of the walk. Naruto braced himself as he brought her up to her family’s district. “You know better than that; back up more,” she urged with a smile. The blonde sighed, but complied. Stella ran toward him and jumped, successfully glomping him. “Bye Stel. Good luck on your mission,” he chuckled. “Miigwetch, Naru. I’ll see you when I get back. You’ll hear from me in about a week,” the girl said. She waved to him then, not knowing it would be the last time she saw him for a long time...
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When she opened the door, she was greeted by a cream Abyssinian cat. The cat, a female, had light beige tabby markings on both her face and tail. “Hi, Wabishka (White One),” she said, bending down to scratch the bat-like ears. The cat closed her blue eyes, leaning into the massage with a rumbling purr. “Meoooooowww!!” she complained. “I know, you’re hungry. Hold on,” she rolled her eyes. The girl poured out a bowl of dry cat food and set the dish down on the tile in the kitchen.  Wabishka rubbed against her owner’s legs gratefully before eating. Seeing that her cat had enough food and fresh water, she went up to the fourth floor to her room and called, “Carmal; Twiggy!” Two excited barks. Feet scrambling. And two fully grown Dachshunds barreling toward her at top speed. Stella sat down on the floor, waiting for them with a smile. They knocked her over, fighting each other to lick her face. Caramel won, not only because he was the elder dog, but also because he was larger. He was red with a touch of gold running through his fur. Hence the name Caramel. His fur type had always peaked Stella’s curiosity. He was neither a smooth coat nor a longhair; he was a mixture of both. In general, his coat was short. But along his tail, legs, paws, and ears, the fur was long. The long fur was dark gold, particularly on his flag of a tail and between his toes. As for his personality, Stella could only describe him as an over grown pup. Carmal was four years old and fiercely protective of her. If any stranger came within a yard of her, he went hysterical and attacked. She already had gotten warnings from the police force about his rampages. When they were relaxing, though, he was starving for attention and loyal. She couldn’t get away from him at home. Not that she wanted to. At night, he took his place beside her and slept. If he wasn’t curled directly against her though, he was miserable. Sometimes, Stella would wake in the middle of the night to find Caramel sitting up, staring out the window. On guard against anyone who might be lurking amongst the shadows. Twiggy....was just the opposite. She was a black and tan longhaired Dachshund. Her temper was very mellow. It was hard to get her to so much as growl. The fur on her ears was heavy and constantly held her ears down, giving her a saddened look. She was lighter than Carmal, but for some reason her legs were a little longer. Twiggy was only two years old. She was social and loved people. The only time she snarled was when people with mental issues approached Stella. “Hey guys. Naruto’s gonna come take care of you while I’m gone. But I don’t leave til morning,” she said, petting both of the dogs. Reluctantly, the girl started packing her bag. She knew that if she waited until she woke up, she would be scrambling in the morning. Forget essentials. Curse herself for it. And begin her mission in a foul mood. A traveling cloak. Two blankets. Multiple knives, varying in size. Paper bombs. Summoning scrolls. Clothes. Prepared medicines. An extra pair of makazins. A large fur pouch. All of these things were put into a drawstring bag. “There; all done,” she sighed, putting the pack at the side of her bed. The weary Ojibway was too tired to even slip out of her dress. She dropped back to her bed, flicked off her lamp, gave each dog a final pat, and curled up in her blanket. Twiggy stretched out along her legs, while Caramel settled back to back with Stella. Before she let sleep overtake her, she looked out the window she faced. A dozen fireflies lit up the night. She sighed, thinking of how lucky she was to live in the house she was born in...
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Carmal had been growling on and off all night. Stella woke up the first two times, then ignored it. There was nothing outside; it was probably just an animal. The wiener dog was growling when she woke up too. So was Twiggy. "Guys, what the hell?..." she grumbled, putting a hand on Carmal's head. He didn't stop, but began barking. Half a minute later, he stopped. Shrugging, she put on a new dress, this one tan, hemmed with sinew tassels. Caramel bit down on the dress as Stella was walking out of the room; Twiggy barked sharply. "Don't go!!" they seemed to be saying. "I'm sorry guys, I have to. I'll see you when I get back. Bamaapii (see you later). I love you," she said, hugging both dogs close. Then she grabbed her bag and left the house. She glanced back only once at the tall, white house. The lawn had multiple lilac bushes, as well as other shrubs bearing fruit. The lawn also contained weeping willow, paper birches, crab apple trees, and silver maples. She drank in the scene of her home for a few minutes. The sun spread its rays over the tree line, reminding her of the time. With reluctance, she hurried out of the village. Only when she reached the solitude of the surrounding forest did she slow to an easy walk. Silence, peace, and....a loud grumbling. "Damnit...I forgot breakfast," she sighed, putting a hand over her stomach to quiet it. Scarcely had the words left her mouth when a presence made itself clear to her. Wait; there were two people. Both male. "Yeah, it's her alright. Just look at that-" "Don't finish that! You're still such a child, Deidara..." "I was going to say 'rabbit pouch thing' hmm." "Yeah right, I saw where you were looking, brat." Two voices, only a dozen feet away, drifted toward her. She narrowed her eyes angrily. So, they were following her, huh? They wouldn't be able to keep on her trail for long. Stella slipped off the path into the forest, her movements quiet enough to have been the breeze. "Hey, where is she?" the first male, named Deidara, questioned. Stella couldn't help but chuckle at his confused tone. "You idiot, I told you to keep an eye on her! You know what she is," a deeper, more gravelly voice said. Stella lay hidden beneath a low growing thicket of pine tree saplings. The needles were dense, masking her scent as well as her body. The voices faded away; they were gone. Smiling in triumph, she crept out from her hiding place and went back to the trail, combing pine needles out of her hair. "This is the last place they'll think to look. They'll be wandering the deep forest for hours," she laughed to herself. Suddenly, she was pinned to the ground with a person pressing a knife under her chin. The cold tip touched her neck, drawing blood as she trembled. "Come with us quietly, Miss Nagareboshi hmm." Her immediate reaction was anger; she fought to keep her flared temper down. “...I-I was just gathering herbs for my family," she whimpered. "Isn't that sweet? What do you think, Sasori my man hmm?" her captor asked, looking over his shoulder. He was wearing a black cloak with red clouds on it and a conical hat with ribbons hiding his face. An Akatsuki member. "I think she's a lying little snot. Her family was wiped out over ten years ago," came an irritable response. "Good. That means the little princess here can stay with us for a while hmm," Deidara said. Since she was staying still and not resisting, he decided to let her up. Turned his back on the seething Indian for only a second. And found himself on the ground. She had charged into him, jamming her elbow into the small of his back. "You have alot of nerve, talking to me like that!" she snarled, "What do you want with me anyway?” “You are being recruited to the Akatsuki organization. If you try to run, we’ll kill you,” Sasori stated. Stella feigned confusion. This was the perfect opportunity to slip into their hideout. She better play along. “Oh, I would just hate to die by the hands of a white man. *please*Daga, I beg you not to hurt me,” she said as sarcastically as she could. Deidara got up, scowled in her direction, and growled, “So much for cooperation. Maybe you need to be tied up hmm.” “Try it; I fucking dare you to lay a hand on me!” Stella snapped. Instead of answering, he signaled to something above. A large, white bird landed in a clearing a few feet away. “Alright, kitten. Be a good girl and get on hmm,” he motioned to the bird. “Make. Me,” she said, crossing her arms defiantly. Irritated, the man grabbed her from behind, held her arms, and teleported both of them onto the animal. “Good luck with that one, Deidara. I have a feeling you’re going to need it,” Sasori chuckled. Deidara glared at him as the bird rose up into the sky.
The girl struggled to keep her balance on the unnatural round shape of the bird. “Careful; we can’t have you falling off and escaping hmm,” he said, pulling her away from the edge. The bitterness had left his voice. This confused Stella. Something about him surprised her too as she sat down.  A rich, earthy scent surrounded him. A memory floated to the surface of her mind. “Have you ever been inside the village?” The question was unexpected. “Several years ago, yes hmm.” Stella reached up, plucking the hat off his head. That unforgettable bright, blonde hair. It had to be him. She smiled and the initial fear left her eyes. “To think that you would join the Akaasii....” she muttered thoughtfully. “What are you talking about?” he asked. “What, you don't remember the little girl from the Star festival?" she questioned with a smile.  “You’re that girl I met on the east side. I didn’t recognize you, Angel face hmm,” he chuckled. Stella let her bag slide off her shoulders, setting it down carefully against her legs. She dug through it and pulled out a small, wooden carving. Recognition entered the blonde man's gaze. "You...kept that hmm?" "Of coarse. I couldn't just throw it out when you left," she replied. She turned the wood over in her hands, admiring the detail that had gone into it. It was a flute that imitated the call of a loon. The instrument was cleverly crafted, with the head of the loon at the far end. Its beak was opened slightly; the small hole that allowed the music to flow out was hidden inside the loon's mouth. Various swirling patterns were engraved in the sides. Deidara groaned lightly as he sat down next to her. Using a hand to rub a bruise on his back from where Stella had elbowed him, he asked, "You used to be so quiet and gentle...what happened hmm?" She shrugged carelessly, "I can still be kind...just to certain people. It takes a while for me trust someone completely." A silence grew between them. Stella was brooding over the fact that she'd let herself get caught. How many members were there of this organization? Eight? Nine? The man broke the quietude by saying, "Listen, Stella...If I'd known it was you we were after, I never would've accepted this mission hmm." She looked up hopefully. "Does that mean you'll let me go?" He dropped his gaze apologetically as he shook his head, "No, it's too dangerous. If I land, Sasori will see you. We have to wait until everyone leaves. Then I'll help you get back home." She sighed, "How long will it be?" "Two months at least hmm." "I might as well just take my chances now and jump. Your friend doesn't look that fast." "No," he said, giving her a stern look, "Just because he's white, it doesn't mean he can't catch you." Slightly offended, she stood up and crossed her arms. "I don't think you understand what my people are capable of. We can disappear into the trees like the spirits themselves." "That doesn't change the fact that he's way more experienced than you. He's waiting for you to pull something like that hmm," he answered. Peering curiously over the edge, Stella asked, "What would he do? IF he was able to catch me?..." "Poison you and hollow you out to use as a puppet hmm," he replied, closing a hand around her arm to steady her. She raised an eyebrow at him. "He uses bodies for puppets?" The blonde nodded. "That's so stupid!" she laughed. The blonde grinned, "Not only that, he thinks he can call it art hmm." Stella laughed harder at this, sitting pretzel legged on the bird. "Aiyaa...art is drawings or sculptures, or even writing...not playing with corpses," she said, "That's more like pedophilia." He chuckled and took the instrument from her, "Art can even be music hmm." He began playing the flute, his thin fingers seeking out even the farthest holes with ease. Stella closed her eyes, enjoying the notes. He played the instrument as if he'd practiced all his life... The flute had a higher pitch due to the loon like cackles it was adjusted for. They didn't watch where the bird was taking them until it began to descend. "Just like at the Star fest, huh?" Deidara chuckled. "Yeah," Stella smiled. They braced themselves as the bird landed. "I want you to stick close to me until you get settled. The others won't leave you alone for the first few days hmm," he muttered, carefully toning his voice so Sasori wouldn't hear. The girl gave him a short nod, watching the other Akatsuki member suspiciously. What would they do? The bird crouched low and let its' passengers off. Instead of leaving the animal as Stella thought they would, Deidara nudged her and faced it. He brought both hands together in a sign, interlacing the last two fingers and pointing the rest skyward. The creature rose into the air...and exploded. The loud sound echoed over the tree line. Stella looked up in admiration. Ashes left over from the explosion were colored- green, red, and yellow. Deidara glanced over at her expectantly. He wasn't disappointed. Her reaction was what he'd anticipated; wonder. "Beautiful, isn't it?" he prodded, a little impatiently. Stella nodded, "Eya, it is...how can you do this?" Taking the opportunity to crow over his talent, he boasted, "I can control the temperature and intensity of my explosions. By adjusting both, the colors change hmm." "Quit bragging, Deidara!" It was Sasori. The short puppeteer was glaring at the ashes that fell slowly to the ground. He shuffled forward, pushing Stella ahead of him. "Hey!" Deidara frowned, "C'mon, that's my new toy!" The girl shot an offended glance back at him, quickening her pace. She refused to talk with him as he caught up to them entering a cavern. "Get used to it, brat. They're all the same," Sasori grunted. In response to this, he received a blow to his side. "Next time, it will be your throat!" she seethed. The puppeteer glared over at her dangerously, but just mumbled, "Great, another disrespectful brat to worry about..."