The day was colder than usual; tell-tale signs winter was closing in. Rilmdra was busy fussing over the day's soup. I’m going to be sick of potatoes before winter is even over. In a way, it was comforting listening to the bustle of the kitchens, but it leaves you to your thoughts. It was on everyone’s minds today. The Rangers should be back by now. At the very least we should have heard something.

I didn’t want to think about what could have happened. It only brought back memories of that painful day. I was only seven years old when it happened; just a child.

It was a warm summer day; not a cloud in the sky. My parents decided to take me with them to the fields that day. They were digging a new irrigation route through the area. I had wondered a good ways from them. Being a child anything and everything that caught my eye was far more interesting than digging a hole. It was also my first time being outside the village gates, and it was an opportunity for very few of my age to experience. It was a butterfly that captivated my attention. The little creature had wings bluer than the sky and was bigger than any I had ever seen. I followed this enchanting creature through the tall grass of the meadow. It fluttered to a flower just barely big enough to support its abnormally large size. Slowly I tiptoed closer towards it with my arm outstretched to touch the creature. Only when I was about to brush its delicate wings with my fingertips, a blood-curdling scream tore my attention back towards where everyone was working.

Mommy! My heartbeat quickened as I looked toward the direction of the woman’s scream. I left the beautiful butterfly and dashed back across the meadow. Someone must have gotten hurt. I slowed my pace as I got closer, I could hear more screaming of both men and women like something was hurting them. I need to find mommy!

The closer I got, the more noises I heard that did not seem natural to me. Then the vibrations of hooves and an unusual cry from the men on horseback stormed past me. Not wanting to catch their unwanted attention, I crouched low into the tall grass. It wasn’t enough to hide me; for suddenly, I was scooped up. I nearly screamed, but my father covered my mouth before I could, “Draia, don’t scream.” He was panting heavily and covered in blood.

With me, in his arms, I could see more of the scene. Men were attacking those working in the field; slaughtering them. Others were running after those fleeing for the village gates.

My father made his way through the blood-soaked field with me in his arms until he found her. My mother, armed with nothing but a shovel, swung at her attacker, landing a blow to his head and knocking him to the ground. She looked up and smiled with relief at the sight of us. Her relief was short-lived, “NO!” My father shouted. That's when I noticed the blood spilling from her mouth. Her lips mouthed something I could not make out. Her eyes and head rolled back as the spear pushed through her midsection, raising her body in the air.

At that point, my father did not try to stop me from screaming in terror. I didn’t even notice anyone around us, just that my father was moving for the tree line. My father put me down once we were under cover of the trees, “ Draia! Listen to me!” he exclaimed, grabbing my shoulders, “you need to hide. The Rangers will be here soon, and you will be safe.” I continued to whimper as the shock began to wear off. I understood the gravity of his words. I hugged him, “Be safe, Draia.” He pushed me away too soon. “NOW GO!” I ran for an old oak tree a few feet away. It was the only one with low enough branches for me to reach. I climbed high; hidden well in the treetop I could still perceive everything around me. My father was below me when five of them surrounded him. They didn’t waste time with their curved hook-like blades I had never seen before. I covered my mouth to stifle my screams. I waited until I couldn’t hear the hoofbeats anymore. With tears streaming down my face as I climbed my way down, slipping as I went, I then crawled to my father’s crumpled body. I let out one sob after another. It was dark when they found me.

“Draia! Draia!” Rilmdra snapped me out of my trance. “Child, you were thinking about that day?” I wiped my tear stained cheeks before replying “yes, that was the first organized wild man attack.” With that realization, I quickly left the kitchen. I must speak to my uncle.