This is for Dewena; I hope you feel better soon!
I stared, dumbstruck, at the girl in front of me, my brain struggling to comprehend what has happened in the last hour. This place is called the Green Wood...We are called the 'Hood, in honor of the outlaw of Sherwood so long ago...there are both boys and girls here, but no adults, not anymore...you had to be smart to break our barriers. Would you like to join?...
"Well?" A voice broke through the mess that were my current thoughts. Would I like to join this strange group, who live in a forest with no adults, rescued and fed me, and even though they all seem wary, are still giving me the only friendly looks I've recieved since coming here?
"YES!" I yelled. Immediately, eveyone grinned, and I was bombarded with cries of welcome and slaps on the back. The girl from earlier shoved her way back to the front, looking the most welcoming of all.
"Well, if you are going to be a part of the 'Hood, you should know a little more about it. I'm Mishka, and Snoe will be here shortly." Her name fit her. She had a pretty, wide open, expressive face, and dark brown eyes. Her hair was a mass of chocolate brown almost-curls that were wild without being tangled. The kind of hair that every girl wishes for. Her skin was as pale as mine on close inspection, but glowed with an olive tone. She was short and stocky, and was clad in forest green like the rest of the people.
A clumping noise startled me, and I spun aroud to look at the girl who must be Snow. Her parents had a strange sense of humor, I decided. Snow had to be the least snowy girl I ever met. Her hair was a deep auburn, she had a tan, and freckles on top of that.
"Okay," Mishka said, "now that Snoe is here, I can tell you about leadership. After we all banded together, the founding members decided that after what the grown ups in charge had run into so much trouble, the leaders should change every full moon. We have a list we run through, and you'll be added to the end of it." Me, lead? Pish!
"This next part is very strange, though, so do you promise not to freak?" Snoe said this. I nodded mutely. "The reason we have two leaders at a time was so both groups could have a leader that understands them." I stared at them. Two groups? Understands them? Snoe saw me looking at them and rushed to explain. "Look, have you noticed anything strange about some of us?" Now that I thought about it, yes. How had they found me in the deep dark last night? "I can tell by the look on your face you have. Well, the two groups are normal people, fighters. The others are magic." Wait...what? MAGIC?? Are they crazy? Snoe sighed, muttered to herself about how all new people always acted like this, turned to Mishka and said: "Mishka, show her your gift."
Mishka took a step forward. I would've taken a step back, but I was frozen. She lookec at me, and swirled her hand though the air. All of a sudden, I was hit with the smell of wild flowers, the taste of fresh corn, and the feel of grass on my back.
I reeled back, not sure whether I could trust my senses. As soon as it started, it stopped.
"Care to take a guess at what my talent is?" Mishka inquired. I thought back, and said,
"Earth?" Mishka and Snoe looked inpressed.
"No one's ever guessed that quickly before," Mishka said. "And actually, it's plants. My gift's plants."
That. Is. So. AWESOME!!!
Fin
