Sacred Decision

They ran towards the makeshift pier. A cow blocked their way.

“Touch the holy one,” said her twin Elena, looking enchanted at the cow.

Caily hesitated. If you touch a cow, you will be attached to it for life.

“I'm not ready to find my cow yet,” she said gruffly. Were cows really sacred?

Elena gave her a disdainful look. “You are as cowardly as my mother said. You can't fly like this."

“I just need wings,” Caily said, though she hadn't had wings yet. It was like an ordinary person entering puberty. When people like her stepped into adulthood, they took off their wings, but that wouldn't mean anything unless they were blessed. Only the blessed could fly, but it was still a big decision. You would be tied to the cow you were blessed with for life. That meant terrible. Its illness was your illness, its death was your death.

Elena broke the silence.

“Anyway, then this cow is mine.” Caily tried to restrain her, but Elena was as alert as ever. She touched the cow. The cow's black speck landed on Elena's hand. Now her hand was pitch black.

“What did you do?” Caily asked in panic. It wasn't normal for her to be like this, but Elena seemed content.

“I am stigmatized. Do you want too?" she asked, holding outherhand.

Caily took a step back. "Never. I don't want to be stigmatized."

"Don't be coward. Here's a nice speck in the middle of your face. It would be nice though.”

"No, I said."

Her back steps ended in the water. Elena screamed. Caily started striking out in the water in a panic. She saw the cow jump into the water. No, it couldn't be now. They were strange creatures that emitted hideous dyes and brought only bad luck.

She tried to swim backwards. Fortunately the cow wasn't too fast. Its huge body was floating slowly on the water.

She suddenly felt something touch her ankle. It was a soft but uncomfortable feeling. She was trying to slowly pull her down.

The cow seemed to see the excitement in her eyes. She held out her arm to help, but for some reason Caily couldn't trust her, but she didn't know what had touched her wrist.