The Orginal Ashes

The Beginning

As Allegra walked through the woods, the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees casted a warm glow on her surroundings. She felt a sense of peace wash over her as she listened to the gentle rustle of leaves and the cheerful chirping of birds.

The chipmunk she spotted made her grin widen. Its chubby cheeks stuffed with nuts, scurring along a fallen log, seemingly carefree in its movements.

But then, the tranquility was shattered by the sound of a distant whimper. At first, Allegra thought it was her imagination, but the noise persisted, growing louder with each step she took.

"Hello?" she called out tentatively, her voice barely louder than a whisper as she scanned the area.

A response came, weak but audible. "Please, please I need help."

Determined, Allegra followed the sound until she found a boy lying on the ground, his ankle twisted and bruised. His fair hair tousled, and his eyes wide with pain, he looked up at her with a mixture of relief and uncertainty.

"What happened?" Allegra asked, concern evident in her voice as she knelt beside him.

The boy, introducing himself as Niklaus Mikaelson, explained how he had tripped over a tree root while playing in the woods.

"I'm sorry that happened to you, Niklaus," Allegra said sympathetically, offering him a reassuring smile. "But do not worry, I will help you."

She gathered some sticks and tore a strip of fabric from her dress to fashion a makeshift splint for his ankle. With gentle care, she secured it in place, ensuring he wouldn't aggravate the injury further.

"There, it is not permanent, but it should help," Allegra said, satisfied with her handiwork as she tied off the makeshift splint.

As she helped Niklaus to his feet, she couldn't help but notice his embarrassment. She reassured him with a light-hearted comment before assisting him in walking back to the village.

With his arm around her shoulder for support, they made slow progress through the forest, each step carefully taken to avoid causing Niklaus any more pain.

"By the way, I never asked for your name," Niklaus said after a while, his gaze fixed on the ground to maintain his balance.

"It's Allegra. Allegra Willows," she replied with a smile, grateful to have been able to help him.

As Allegra and Niklaus approached the village, the sight of the small wooden houses brought a sense of relief. Allegra paused, glancing at Niklaus as she asked, "Which one is yours, Niklaus?"

Klaus pointed towards an average-sized house, its walls made of wood and its roof covered in twigs. Outside, a young blonde girl played with her rag dolls, her face lighting up as she saw her brother returning home, but quickly dissolving into one of horror as she saw his ankle.

"Niklaus! What happened?!" she exclaimed, rushing to his side to offer support.

"I tripped over a root in the woods and sprained my ankle, Allegra here helped me." Klaus explained as they made their way inside. The house was modest but cozy, with the windows open to invite the spring breeze.

Inside, Allegra spotted four other people. A woman was busy chopping herbs and vegetables, her movements practiced and efficient. Next to her, a man sorted piles of wood, his expression focused and hard. In the corner, two boys sat reading, seemingly lost in their books.

The woman, who Allegra assumed was Klaus's mother, looked up from her work as they entered. "Niklaus! What happened?" she asked, concern evident in her voice.