The wind was blowing gently, spreading the sweet smell of spring throughout the forest in which Rayna resided alone. The river lapped gently against the smooth rocks that lined the bank and Rayna bent down and submerged her calloused hands into the cool water. She gently slurped the water, quenching her thirst.
The sun was in the middle of the sky, spreading a pleasant warmth throughout the forest. Bathing in the warmth, Rayna threw off her well-worn dress and plunged her body in the refreshing river. Humming a soft tune to herself, she filled the forest with her own voice, breaking the silence that came with the lack of civilization. Weeks had passed since Rayna had been forced into the forest, her people massacred by the wealthy who wished only to acquire more. Unlike her family, Rayna had escaped her village successfully, forced into a nearby forest.
The silence of solitude weighed heavily on Rayna; she often found herself humming or muttering to herself in order to ameliorate the suffocating feeling of loneliness. Though she loved the beauty of nature, she longed for some form of human settlement, something more sophisticated than a makeshift straw tent and a bed of soft grass. Yes, Rayna was aware that she was not bound to this forest; she could venture out into the countryside and seek refuge elsewhere. Still, she was terrified of the prospect of another Royal attack.
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Rayna began her day as per usual, bathing in the lake and eating fresh fruit and fish. Though she had explored much of the forest already, she knew there were still beautiful groves to discover. Grabbing her wooden spear, she set off on a hike.
As she walked, her long, unruly hair trapped all of the heat of a bright spring day on the back of her neck. Sweating already, she soldiered on a little longer until the unrelenting heat finally became unbearable. Still, she had decided to go on a walk, so she ventured to a well shaded portion of the forest which led to a beautiful hill.
Following the well worn path, Rayna began to contemplate leaving and seeking out a new town with new people. Yet every time she imagined herself leaving, she only saw the fires that engulfed her home; the trauma was still too near and she was not ready to get comfortable again. But as terrified as she was of the outside world, Rayna knew that she could not stay in the forest alone forever. Humans are social creatures, Rayna was aware, and thus needed company more sophisticated than an occasional friendly chipmunk.
Finally, Rayna reached the grassy, open top of a hill. Her lungs burned slightly from the heat and the ascent, but the air at the top of the hill was beautifully clear. From her vantage point, she could see the dense treetops that parted to make way for a snaking, blue river. The landscape was breathtakingly beautiful. Yet, if the Royals had their way, the land would be cleared for more settlements. Rayna’s disdain for the Royals ran deep, as they were responsible for the death of her family and the destruction of the countryside that she loved so much.
Rayna noted the sun beating down on her sweaty back and made the decision to return to the river for a refreshing swim. Filled with a childish urge, she dropped to the ground and rolled down the steep hill, picking up speed as she reached the grassy bottom. A smile blossomed on her face when she reached the ground and pushed herself to her feet. Rayna made her way back to the river with light steps. Though the threat of having to leave the forest in order to maintain her sanity loomed in the back of Rayna’s mind, she chose to ignore it for the time being in order to appreciate the forest.
The piercing sound of human voices broke Rayna out of her reverie. Her heart began to race as memories of the night of the massacre flood her mind. Paralyzed with fear and panic, Rayna stayed, shaking on the bank of the river. The voices grew nearer, a mix of authoritative commands and shrill battle calls. Rayna stumbled backwards, her feet splashing into the cool river.
A woman fell back into the clearing. She had a strong, lean build and a jagged scar that ran down her cheek. Her face was riddled with fresh scratches. Rayna could not tell if they were from the battle she was obviously fighting or from the dense foliage. After the woman came a man. He stumbled backwards, his shoulder length black hair obstructing his face. As soon as he reached the clearing, he promptly collapsed onto the soft grass.
“Shai!” The woman barked, grabbing the unconscious man by his arms and dragging him closer to the river.
Rayna watched the soldiers fall back into the clearing as if she was watching from outside her body. The smell of death and battle caught the wind, wafting through the forest, adulterating the pure, clean air. The deafening sounds of combat seemed to blur into an unintelligible wall of sound, washing over Rayna like a lazy wave.
“Retreat!” The woman commanded. She was so close to Rayna that Rayna could feel the woman’s breath on her exposed arms.
The rest of the soldiers fell into the clearing, many holding the sagging bodies of their comrades.
“Arida!” The woman barked, turning to a woman with a gentle visage and a long spear at her side. “If you’re not too injured yourself, care for Shai. Do what you can before one of our healers becomes available.”
“Yes Irene, sir,” Arida replied, kneeling by Shai’s body.
Irene turned abruptly to face Rayna, unsheathing her sword in surprise. Rayna stumbled back, tripping into the shallow bank of the river. Rayna’s breath caught in her throat. She was positive that Irene would kill her. These warriors seemed strong and not poor enough to be villagers. Rayna, on the other hand, was dressed in rags, all alone. She was obviously not noble. Perfect fodder to quench Royal blood-lust.
“What is your name, girl?” Irene implored, her voice commanding.
Rayna clenched her teeth as she pushed herself out of the cool water. “I’m not going to tell a Royal like you!” She spat. “You’ll have to kill me first!”
Irene’s stern face turned into a smile. “A Royal?” She chuckled, resheathing her sword. “Oh no, no. I’m not one of those terrible, greedy monsters! I’m Irene, commander of the village army. Now, if your fears are alleviated, can I have your name so that I may help you?”
Rayna let out a sigh of relief. “I’m Rayna,” she said, her arms still wrapped around her body.
“Would you like to come with us?” Irene offered her hand for Rayna to take. “There are many children your age back at the fort. If you’re truly alone here, I think you should come with us.”
Rayna nodded apprehensively and took Irene’s hand. Irene led her to her horse, helping her mount the massive steed. As Rayna peered behind, she saw the soldiers loading the injured and the dead onto open carts, their shoulders sagging with defeat. It was a pitiful sight.
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