Chosen

Chapter 2

From the moment she opened her eyes she was immediately on edge thinking about what the day would bring. Three days had passed in what felt like a hazy dream, and Isadora could barely remember what her daily routines had looked like.

It was like she had been on autopilot while she did her chores, combing down Rolf the horse, cooking a stew for herself and the cat for dinner, and brushing through her long hair at the end of the day, which always became tangled from a day of work. Most of what she had done was a hazy memory at best and she knew the people of the town felt the same way.

How could anyone focus on what they had to do when in just a short while the Fae could be tearing through the town coming to collect their tithe of four girls. Isadora shuddered at the thought, and said a quick prayer that her town would once again be looked over this year.

She could tell it was on everybody's mind. In the last few days she had stopped by the town center several times and on each visit she passed villagers, some friends, others strangers, who's faces were all creased with worry as they went about their days. It felt like everyone was holding their breath.

On the day before the reaping Isadora headed into town again to pick up some meat from the butcher's shop for a stew. She usually hunted for her own meat but lately she had only been able to score small game. Tonight she wanted to cook something more hearty that would last for the next few days. Game had been scarce lately as if even the animals in the forest knew what was coming, and were hiding away in their burrows until the storm had passed.

While she was perusing the store she ran into Freya, a friend of hers from town. Freya's usual bright and bubbly demeanor was dimmed considerably, the worry as apparent on her face as her beauty. Her friends' normally pink, rosy cheeks seemed dull, and her slender arching eyebrows had a distinctive crease of worry, puckering her face.

"Hi Freya" Isadora said gently to her friend, while she picked up some yams and put them into her basket for later "How are you?"

Freya smiled but it didn't quite reach her eyes.

"I'm fine" she said, finally making eye contact with Isadora "Just picking up some things for dinner, Mother sent me here" Freya said absentmindedly

Isadora and Freya had been friends ever since she could remember, and Freya always had her back. They had shared countless whispered stories while braiding each other's hair on secret sleepovers at Freya's house. Isadora always had to climb in through the window at night because Freya's mother was so strict about who she was allowed to hang out with.

Freya's mother had always disapproved of Isadora because of her family's standing. Freya's family were wealthy merchants obsessed with social climbing, and Isadora's parents were cobblers with no money. Not much social climbing to be done there. And so Freya's mother had always disapproved of their close friendship. Then Isadora's parents died making her not only poor, but an orphan as well. Obviously this did not improve things in the eyes of Freya's mother. At this thought, Isadora chuckled.

She turned to Freya and saw her friend tugging on her hair, lost in thought.

"How are you really?" Isadora asked. She knew all of Freya's tells and it was obvious to her that Freya was worried. It was painted across her face for anybody to see. Freya sighed and her face crumpled

"I can't stop thinking about tomorrow'' She whispered.

The reaping was on Isadora's mind as well, like a constant pestering crow cawing in her ear. Spiraling thoughts about the possibility of their town being chosen, and if so who would be picked. There was usually only one girl taken per village... But looking at her friend she realized she had been selfish for not checking in on her earlier. Her friend was absolutely in danger of being picked