Lost in this world

Start of an adventure

One day, when Leora woke up, everything changed. The morning greeted her with an unusual hot breeze that swept through the open doors and creaking wooden windows. As she sat on the edge of her bed, a peculiar weight settled on her chest, making each breath a struggle as if the very air conspired to press down on her lungs. Alarmed, she stood up and rushed out of the house, only to be met with a scene of utter devastation.

The flames roared, licking the walls and dancing through the windows. The familiar surroundings of her home were now consumed by an unrelenting fire. Panic and worry overwhelmed Leora. In her distress, she scanned the surrounding for any sign of her mother but found only the relentless advance of the fire, devouring not only her shelter but also the precious forest that cradled her childhood memories.

Fueled by desperation, Leora darted back inside, a whirlwind of fear and determination. Amidst the chaos, she stumbled upon a note. Rushing outside to read it, she was confronted with Latin words: 'Scimus te puerum nobis surripuisse. Reporta eam et alias mulieres reporta. Scis eam non humanam esse et periculosam. Reporta eam.' The foreign words heightened her anxiety, leaving her perplexed and frightened.

As the distant sound of water reached her ears, a feeble cry from within the house drew her attention. Braving the heat and smoke, she reentered the crumbling home to discover a mysterious box, untouched by the flames. The haunting cries of distress emanating from within added to the enigma of the situation. Back outside, she carefully placed the box on a small picnic table, an island of stability in the middle of the chaos.

Her heartache intensified as she witnessed her cherished home succumb to the relentless flames, the walls crumbling and the roof collapsing. Tears streamed down her face, blurring her vision as she knelt in front of what was once her home. The loss continued to burn, leaving an irremovable mark on her soul.

Minutes passed, each moment a painful reminder of the irrevocable changes. Trying to get the strength within, Leora finally mustered the courage to open the box. Inside, surrounded by dirt and tears on rosy cheeks, lay a unique baby with cat ears and a tail—a creature defying the bounds of ordinary existence. Another note accompanied the mysterious infant, 'Zola, nata die tertio mensis Iunii, felis femina - humana.' The Latin inscription stirred a mix of emotions in Leora, bringing forth memories of a language she had never understood while being home schooled. She did recall that the villagers would maybe know a little Latin.

Leora faced a daunting dilemma: leaving the safety of her familiar forest for the first time. Terrified but driven by an unwavering determination to find her missing mother, she recalled a piece of advice that resonated in her mind: 'Follow the pink ribbons on the tree, if ever you are lost.' Clutching the box and putting the notes in her pockets, she embarked on a journey beyond the boundaries of the woods that had sheltered her for so long. The unknown lay ahead, a daunting path filled with uncertainty and the promise of answers. Her walk was going to be long, but she was going to help this child and find her mother.