Twin-peak Mountains: Rise of Home

Chapter 1: The Village

A young lady sat up, she looked around at her surroundings. She looked no more than 20 and she had pretty plain clothes on, so it was hard for anyone to tell what lands she came from. Yet, one thing was sure and visible, a blossom like mark on her forehead connected to lines that ran down then around each eye in perfect symmetry.

A swirl on each palm of her hands, they were all black and seemed to be tattoos, however she had no clue why they were there. She got up and looked around her for any sign of people, she saw smoke in the air so she began to walk in that direction. As she walked she could hear some guards walking towards her, she stopped and looked around for them.

The two walked up and stopped, they were shocked that they would find a girl out in the middle of the woods. "Miss? What are you doing out here? These woods are dangerous." the lead guard said concerningly.

She turned and looked at him a bit confused, "I'm not sure, I don't know how I got here." The guards looked at one another and whispered a bit before turning back to her, "You should come with us, these woods are too dangerous for an innocent to be in alone." She agreed and followed them along through the woods to a very small village.

She looked around at the decimated village, the crops were burned and houses torn down, the children were huddled together for warmth and the mothers begging the guards to find food for the little ones.

"What happened to this place?" The lead guard sighed, "The thorn king happened, we haven't turned over our land to him and he sent his guards to destroy our homes and food. He wants anyone who doesn't bow to him to suffer, he keeps the kings from knowing of his evil deeds so nobody knows we need help." She looked around at everything, "That's horrible, why would he do this to your people?"

"We wish we knew, but we can all agree he's selfish and hateful." She looked at the people, they were sad and needed freedom from the evil king, but how could she help them? She was just a girl, and the king was, well, a king.

The lead guard led her to a woman who was talking with a guard over the food problem, "Milady, this young lady was found alone in the woods, she doesn't know much about herself either. May you help her?" The lady turned and smiled, "Oh, of course, I'm happy to help her." She was led inside the house, which looked like a sea breeze could blow it down.

The house was old looking, yet the woman claimed it was very new, "So deary, what's your name?" The girl thought for a moment, "Elly, that's what I can remember of my name at least." The woman smiled some, "What a lovely name, don't fret Miss Elly, you won't have to worry about remembering who you are right now. You need to be cleaned up, come follow me, I'll get you all prettied up."

The woman soon introduced herself as Rena, she had goldish hair and a sweet face, she didn't like the King's rule and wished only for the village to prosper despite his influence. Rena showed her around town, Elly wished she could help the tiny place, but how?

Agor, the lead guard of the village was talking about a way they could better their defences against the King's army, yet they couldn't make an agreement on anything. "Our lead guardsmen, Agor, has not a clue on how to raise a village. Without our village lord we are helpless, and that evil king knows it." Elly shook her head some, "I wish I could help, but I'm not sure a girl could help."

Rena smiled a bit, "Well, there is no law saying a lady can't lead. You may not know your past at the moment deary, but if you feel like you wish to help then do so. There is no harm in trying for more good." Elly smiled a little back, "Yes, well I'm sure I won't make any difference to the situation." "How will you know until you try?"