Tomohina
Tomo was no longer interested in following the others. Actually she felt a bit depressed. Her clumsy mouth had gone and screwed up a possible friendship, again. It was the first time. Back home most people her age ended up disliking her too. She really just didn't know what the 'right things to say' were.
Instead of going to any cabin she might find her things in, she headed past them and into the forest. She needed to clear her head. Walking, or stumbling rather, on and on she kept going till she was too far away for anyone to really hear her. Was it far into the forest? She didn't think so, but how could she know? What was far for her was too far for some and not far enough for others.
Finding a good smooth rock to sit on, she was finally able to relax. Peeling off her shoes, she pushed her feet to the soft ground. The forest was thrumming with gentle sound waves. It was easier to concentrate when there was no pressure to talk and play to social norms. Instead, she just let herself melt into the sounds.
Sound bounced about in the forest, hitting tree after tree, branch after branch, leaf after leaf. It painted a vivid detail image in her mind. She could see everything. The subtle after images of moving squirrels and flying birds. The rippling water that gave off a more steady stream of waves than any creature. Even the wind painted the picture in her mind with more detail than any cityscape could give her.
The tranquillity of it was what made it all so clear. Those 'colors' that people spoke of, she didn't need. Not when she could see every leaf and branch and blade of grass in the so-called 'still' forest. Smiling to herself, Tomohina continued to listen.
A deer and its young peacefully ate in a small clearing. A few moles burrowed deep under the fertile soil. A hummingbird's wings showed shapes of flowers as it flew from blossom to blossom for nectar.
This was how she 'saw'. Now if only she could figure out how to do this all the time... Then she wouldn't need her white cane or anyone's help getting to places. She could just be...normal.