Leading them was a taller girl carrying two large sacks, her thin fingers slipping across their surface before putting them down. She had long, dark brown hair and rich brown skin and her sunset orange and blue eyes shone from her face, catching the light of the setting sun. Her tunic was covered in seams and patches from its long life, and she herself gave off the appearance of being battered and worn by the constant struggle to feed her family.

The two boys rested their wagon onto the brittle soil and slowly ran to their older sister, who was loosening a tattered flask filled with water. She handed it to her brothers, but they silently insisted she drink first.

She raised the flask to her dry lips and drank two sips, handing it to her brothers, who did the same. She scratched her neck, her unkempt, messy hair brushing her sensitive skin.

They then returned to their tasks and continued on their journey, heading towards a field with loosely put together fences, holding a measly flock of sheep, with two resting ominously still on the grass.

A deer-like creature grazed at the edge of the field, picking at grass with its beak while watching the humans warily.

The girl hurled both sacks into the field, and her brothers let go of the wagon to try to climb over the fence feebly, their thin frames unable to pull themselves over the dry wood.

The older sister grabbed the smaller of the two by the waist and gently placed him over the fence, before doing the same with the other.

"Be careful now, don't mess with the Falcyr. You remember how Carnen got his scar." She warned as she climbed over the fence.

"Don't mess with a Falcyr or you may well learn to fly." Repeated the youngest of the three.

"Right. Herlon, Erlun, remember to keep an eye out for Arisers who might come for the fresh carrion I'm about to start moving. Stay safe."

Herlon and Erlun nodded and sat on the grass next to some grazing sheep.

"Got it, Salmu." They replied.

Salmu sighed. There was no safe way to go about this world. Sitting next to sheep, who may be targets, was dangerous. But being a lone target was just as risky. Helping her carry the corpses would be dangerous as well, hence why she did it alone.

Her sunset orange-blue eyes caught the sun, which was setting. Better hurry up, she thought.

She carried the sheep onto the wagon, hastily flung upon the battered wood, and emptied the sacks of wheat for the sheep.

She then shoved the bodies into the sacks to try híde the smell, and called her brothers.

They hastily ran towards her, requiring a lift over the fence, and followed her as she pulled the wagon under waning light.

A flash of iron caught in the light caught her eye. Four iron-clad soldiers blocked her path.

Crap. Curfew.

Swallowing her disgust, Salmu continued onwards towards them.

One stepped forward.

"Name, age and occupation?"

"Salmu Naorni, sixteen, eldest child, only daughter of sheep herders."

She prodded her little brother, who gulped nervously.

"Herlon Leicon, seven, fifth child and fourth son of sheep herders."

Her other brother stepped forward.

"Erlun Naorni, twelve, third child and second son of sheep herders."

The soldiers grunted.

"Hold out your hands." One soldier commanded.

Salmu, Erlun and Herlon hesitantly stretched out their hands. The soldier took out a belt and whipped their hands.

"Next time, be back before curfew." They said in a toxic, sweet voice.

Salmu began to resume her progress, before the soldiers stopped them again.

"What useless little boys! Your sister should not be doing this sort of work - she should be doing the laundry at home. What do you think you're doing?"

Erlun flinched and grabbed one handle on the wagon. Herlon followed, and they continued to haul the load on the wagon, staggering as they did so.

Their short, frayed tops displayed their ribs and weakened frame all too clearly, allowing the soldiers to mock and harass them for being weak.

Salmu had a stronger constitution, and carried herself well, despite her hunger. She took most of the hard work in her brothers place - despite her lack of muscle, she had strong willpower and determination to achieve her goals, and could be hardheaded at times.

All her brothers shared green eyes - however, hers were a blue-orange that resembled a sunset. Her mother had green-blue eyes, and she couldn't remember the colour of her father's. She resembled her mother strongly in other aspects, such as her dark brown hair and gently determined expression.

Erlun and Salmu had always gotten along well. While Salmu's eldest brother was the only sibling who knew how to read, and thus buried his nose in books, Erlun was willing to help out and learn from his older sister. When Herlon was born and seemed determined to join their tight duo, they welcomed him with open arms, despite his weakness.

Salmu and her two brothers went home, greeted by a hug from their worried mother, who ushered them inside their small mud hut.

Herlon was the first to get his healing kisses and doting from their mother, while Erlun and Salmu leaned on either side of the empty doorway, watching on with fondness.

Erlun got his more mature treatment, another hug and a fuss, and then it was Salmu's turn.

"I can't believe you got yourself in trouble! Salmu, you know when to be back and need to keep it that way. You got your little brothers - your responsibility - hurt, as well as yourself!

Who knows what will happen someday?"

Salmu stood with her head down.

"Sorry, mother."

Erlun and Herlon both stood to the side with guilty looks, but they knew better than stand up to their mother.

Their mother - Daerji Pjalni Naorni Leicon - was a force to be reckoned with. Just as hardheaded as Salmu - if not more - she was a protective mother duck, accustomed to herding her little ducklings. Talking back would result in a sharp retort, and she was especially harsh with her eldest child, Salmu, perhaps because she was her only daughter.

Salmu, being the tallest girl in their small town of Silban, standing at around 5"6, often helped locals with their tasks, much to her mother's disapproval.

"Be kind, but be selfish. Being too kind puts you in danger, and being too selfish makes you seem like a jerk. There's a fine line, but learn to say no." Were her mother's words to Salmu when she was eleven.

After Salmu's mother was done telling her off, she waved her hands and pointed to the straw bed lined with the sleeping forms of her brothers. Salmu lay on her side and gazed at the empty spots to the edge as she dozed off.

Those two empty spots were where two of her brothers used to sleep - the sixth and seventh children of the eight. 

Drein Leicon, the sixth child, was a stronger child. However, he fell in a well when he was three and drowned. He would be seven, should he still be alive, being Herlon's twin.

Jendrik Leicon, the seventh child, starved to death in a famine when he was four. He would be five, should he still be alive to this day.

Salmu's mother had insisted they be burned, but unfortunately they weren't even permitted a coffin. They were both buried under a tree outside their home.

Sometimes Salmu could hear children laughing by the tree when she was on her own.