Starla woke with a start, shooting up out of her bed. Her brother, Leaf, had been shaking her.
"About time you woke up. The cabin is going to flood again." Leaf informed her. "We have to go to the treehouse again." Starla got up without arguing. It was pouring outside, and the grass looked soaked and sodden already. She grabbed a bag that was hanging from one of many wooden hooks mounted on the wall. The packed fruit, some scrolls, a quill, and ink. She also grabbed a super-secret journal that she NEVER EVER let a certain brother see. She inconspicuously stuffed the leather-cover book (That she had stitched together herself) into the bag. Leaf was already at the door. "Slowpoke." He muttered.
"You got ready to leave and THEN woke me up." Starla pointed out.
"Still slow." Her brother objected. Starla and her brother lived in a small village within a lush and overgrown forest. Starla loved living in the village, although the rainy season was annoying. The one other thing she didn't like, and almost DESPISED, was how the rest of the villagers viewed mythical creatures. In their eyes, dragons were like demons. 'They destroy everything!' They would say. In their eyes, fairies were walking, flying piles of treasure. PREY that was meant to be hunted. The entire village called themselves 'Fairy Hunters.' Starla loved the fairies and dragons. She hated how people would pin fairy wings on their walls, or display fake dragon horns, claiming to have slayed one. As she followed Leaf down the winding gravel path of the village, she daydreamed about meeting a fairy and having a conversation with it and taming dragons. Maybe even finding a super-rare kitsune. Starla, where are you going?" Leaf asked skeptically. While she was daydreaming, she had walked right past the ladder that led up to the treehouse. Starla quickly turned around and jogged over to where her brother was standing, beside the ladder. "Are you good-?" Leaf asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Fine." His sister assured him. "You can go first." Starla gestured to the ladder. Leaf didn't protest, and when he was about halfway to the top, Starla started to climb as well.
"Be careful!" Leaf called down. "It's slippery." The ladder was slick with the rain that was falling in thick sheets. Starla was skipping at LEAST two rungs with every leap she made, launching herself up with her strong legs. "Starla! Slow DOWN!" Her brother sounded panicked. Then, moments later, one of her hands slipped and she fell over the side. She tried to grab at something with her hand that was still on the ladder, but she slipped again and began to fall to the ground. Starla screamed.
