*Trigger Warning I guess? I don't know, just want to be safe. This chapter mentions being abused by a parent. It doesn't have anything violent, just a bit upsetting.*

Mother put me down here ages ago, said we were going to play a game, she hasn't come back yet. Did she forget about me? I hope not. I love her.

I heard footsteps come near. I thought of banging on the door, but the first time I did that, nobody came. Maybe my hands are too small so they can't hear me? Either way, it wasn't worth wasting the small amount of energy I had, to bang in the door.

Maybe if I had eaten I would have more energy. But I haven't eaten in a while.

The sound of a door opening startled me out of my thoughts. More foot steps came closer, and I was blinded by the lights of the outside world. Well, the outside of this damp, dark room anyways.

There was a figure coming close to me, I couldn't tell who it was until I felt ice cold hands tightening around my wrist. It was my mother.

She usually handled my like this when she was mad or upset. She pushed me into walls, and onto the floor, but she told me it was because she loved me, and all mothers do it. I've never seen her do it to my sibling before, so it must mean that she loved me the most! I'm her favourite!

...right?

"You're five now." She stated, as she pulled me out of the room and up the stairs. Five? Last time she told me how many numbers I was, I was three. That means... I was kept in that room for two days!? Hmmm, no. She brought me a lot of food for two days. Maybe two weeks? Yeah, that's it.

"We're going to send you to work for the lord now. Then you're his problem to deal with." I tilted my head. Problem?

She dragged me through the house to the front door. When she opened it, I was surprised by how much brighter it could get. Everything was blurry, and my eyes couldn't focus on anything far away from me.

I was taken through what I assumed to be the market place. It was noisy, and lively, like how I remembered it from a while ago.

My eyes soon adjusted to the light. I looked at myself, I looked dirty, and I was wearing an oversized shirt. I looked around to see people staring at me with... Love? My mother looked a me like that, so I thought it must be love.

We walked through a field of neatly trimmed grass, and flowers. They were very pretty, I'd have to come back and pick some for my sisters.

We stopped outside of an animal paddock. These are the big creatures that are ridden by the warriors.

"We are here, sir." My mother spoke. A man with long, light brown hair, and light gleen eyes. He smiled softly at me, then looked at my mother. She pushed my roughly over to him, and walked away. The man shook his head.

"Hello, little one," he said, "you will be working here with the animals from now on. We will keep you fed and clothed, and you can pick someone to share a room with. I'd also like to give you the opportunity to go to school." My eyes widened. Peasants never really got to go to school. We were taught to read and write by our parents. The man chuckled. "Archer?" He called out. A young boy came out of the paddock with a brush.. He had brown hair up to his shoulders, and he had very pretty eyes. He looked a few years older than me, maybe two.

"Yes, sir?"

"I'd like you to teach, young Robin, how to do his job after your training today."

"Alright, sir. Is there anything else?"

"Introduce him to the animals, let them get comfortable around each other." He replied.

The boy nodded, and reached out his hand. I grabbed it, and he held onto me softly while he took me to see the beasts.

I saw a big, black horse with purple flames for its mane and tale. It had purple eyes too, well, not exactly like that purple, more like tiny purple . It leaned down it's heard and nuzzled my cheek. In the stall next to it, I saw a HUGE half cat half deer thing. It had a cats body, with antlers and a very long tail. The tail almost looked like a very thick, wooly cape.

I couldn't wait to work with the animals, and hopefully show my family. I'm sure they would love them!