Goldie and Red

Chapter 2 - The Bears

I woke up under the shade of my tree. It wasn't actually my tree, but it was my favourite. The branches hung beautifully above me with blossoms falling down occasionally onto my cheek. The roots hugged around my body on the ground and I felt safe. I always felt safe here.

My mother says it was where they found me, curled up inside the low branches, almost intentionally shielded from the world. The tree was small then. It grew so fast, all the trees grow fast here. 

I sat up. The sun was setting. I brushed some blossoms out of my long blonde hair and stood up. My legs were a bit stiff so I jumped up and down a couple of times. I looked around. She should be here by now. She usually wakes me up. I walked slowly around my tree to check if she was hiding. As I circled back I saw a red cape swaying ahead. I smiled.

As she got closer, I saw her bow and quiver hanging behind her. She smirked at me. I rolled my eyes. What has she done now?

"You're late. I thought your patrol ended at five." I smiled as she hugged me. She's a lot taller than me, everyone is. Her hood hung over her face but I could still see her grinning. "What?" I asked. She took down her hood and a jet black bob bounced around her neck. My eyes widened. "Ro what have you done...Your grandma will kill you!". She chuckled. "I don't care." I reached up and felt her hair. Air Riders traditionally have long hair, regardless of gender. Rowan's family had lived in Terra, in the Forest of Pine with me, but they were not descendants of the Earth. 

"Suits me though right?" She bent down slightly so I could get a better look at her. "It looks great, I like it, but what will your grandmother-", she wafted my hand away, "Oh whatever, I don't care, are we in the sky Amber?" She looks around sarcastically, "No, so it's fine." I rolled my eyes again. She patted the tree affectionally, "Are you sure you don't use some weird fertiliser on this thing?" She looked up at it, it was very different from the other trees in this part of the forest, another reason why it was my favourite.

"I just sit under it." 

"You mean snore under it?" She smirked at me again. "I don't snore." I turned away and started walking. "You do. It's cute though." Rowan caught up with me and nudged my arm. "Don't call me that. I'm not cute when I kick your ass in training am I?" I raise my eyebrows up at her. "I let you win." She whispered back. "Ha! Yeh ok." I laughed and started to run off. "I'm faster than you too!" I smiled as I ran through the remaining trees and over to a clearing where my village lied. It was so beautiful, it took my breath away everyday. Brick houses on the ground and wooden cabins built in the trees were scattered lovingly around, smoke rose up through the chimneys creating dancing patterns in the air. Fairy lights draped over the surrounding trees as they brightened in the evening light. Some houses, hidden in the shadows were hugged into the forest with roots wrapping themselves around the walls. Even the houses in the centre of the clearing were covered in flowers and moss. A stream ran through the middle of the village and birds chirped in the sky. This was Terra after all, nature flourished here.

I smirked to myself as I reached the clearing and rested my hand on a tree trunk when an arrow suddenly whooshed past my hair and struck the bark, a mere centimetre from my hand. I flinched and turned. Rowan stood far back in the trees, lowering her bow. Her red cape was obvious, without it, it would have taken me a minute to spot her. 

I glared slightly as she walked over. "Mind how you go there." She said cheekily as she walked right past me. "Why would you do that, it's dangerous you could have hit me Ro." She chuckled, "No I wouldn't. But it's not about running faster, it's about being smarter Amber." She turned to me and smiled. She's right. So annoying. She winked and headed left. "I've got dumplings waiting for me. See you tomorrow." I watched her leave. She was four years older, I didn't notice most of the time. We grew up together and trained together, us and Jack. But times like this reminded me, she was so smart. She always knew what to say. Not me. I'm more of a do-er not a thinker. My instincts speak loudly to me. They're usually right, but I do need to work on my mental strength. That's why I go to the tree. It helps me think. My mind isn't as steady as Rowan's, I have trauma in my past but my memory betrayed me and I only remember bits and pieces. Just my father mostly. He's gone now though. All but his blue eyes, I see those every time I look in a mirror.

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I got to my front door, which was always open and smelled something good. I headed inside and was immediately struck by the reflection on the window next to me. The low sun sparkled through colours of blue, green and rich purple. I turned to the source. The large sword on the mantlepiece. With the fire burning underneath, it looked even more golden. It was with me when my parents found me, so they kept it with me. It was a beautiful weapon, but too big for me to use. In training, a sword is my weapon of choice, always has been. They say your skill calls to you, your companion in defence chooses you not the other way around. I don't know if that's true, but I remember my father using that sword. So now I use one too.

We don't train for battle. We train for defence. Terra isn't a peaceful kingdom like it used to be. The Forest is safe, but Solis, our capital is a fortress of greed and violence. The King is a cruel man, the youngest of his siblings but despite this, became a fearsome ruler. He conquered RedRock when I was young, many Fire Breathers flocked to the Forest either in fear or in protest. It was a wise place to turn to, The Forest of Pine has always been a safe haven for those who are different. It's magic and mystery accepts all, including my family. The Bears. 

My mother appeared from the kitchen doorway. She walked on two legs making her gigantic. She headed over and lowered herself on all fours, before looking me up and down. "You slept under the tree again didn't you?" She smiles warmly and nods to a single blossom still caught in my hair. When they first found me and brought me to their home, their speaking startled me. It scared me actually. But they are not enchanted or magical animals, they were humans once. They are the Turned. The Turned suffer from an ancient curse originating from the Divine that dooms one to transform into an animal when they reach adulthood. My adopted parents both suffered from it. It was tragic but I knew no different. Besides, they never spoke to me of their lives before they turned, probably because it was too painful. I often wanted to ask, but couldn't find the right words.

She stood back up on two legs and brushed my hair with her paw. "Soup's in the pot. Your father made it." I gleamed. He was an amazing cook. I rushed into the kitchen to find my father lying next to the back door, whilst a huge pot of hot soup sat on the stove. A wooden spoon stirred the liquid slowly - a witch's enchantment.

I rolled my eyes and grabbed the spoon, stirring it myself. "Papa, you must stop paying those women, I can cook whatever you want, you just need to direct me." Papa sniffed from his relaxed position and lifted his head. He could never actually prepare the food himself, not the way he was now. "They have no morals, charging for their magic. It's cruel." I said as I got a bowl from a cupboard. Papa stood up properly and made his way back into the kitchen. He was a huge bear. If people outside my village saw him, they'd be terrified. "It's just business Amber. That's how they make a living." He patted my shoulder and slumped back onto all fours. He watched me pour some soup into my bowl, I grabbed a spoon and immediately tried some. "How is it?" he asked. I closed my eyes, satisfied. "Perfect." He really was an exceptional chef. "Do you want some?" I asked innocently, even though I already knew the answer. "Your mother and I have eaten already Goldie, but thank you." He turned away from me and headed into the living room. He always called me that - Goldie. It was the nickname everyone gave me. As for my real name, Amber, well I have no idea if it is my name or not, since I couldn't remember anything after I was found. They tried everything to jog my memory, I was even hypnotised by witches once. But nothing.

I could only remember my father's eyes. Because they were mine too.