~The Lost Soul's~

' ~ Chapter 1.

Burned.

As the scene fades in, birds can be heard chirping softly in the cool morning air. A peacefully calming yet welcome sound. Winter had ended a fortnight ago, but it was still a little cold outside. Especially with the rainstorms becoming more apparent now that it was Spring. The soft hum of bees slowly but surely emerging from their hives and scavenging for food and flowers couldn't be heard over the breeze, or the rushing tides of the large river that ran through the mountain valley. But if you tuned everything out, maybe then you could.

The creatures of the valley were all surprisingly quiet at the moment. Like they were awake and hunting, (or scavenging), but for the most part didn't make a sound. No swish of the grass, no snapping of twigs, no rustling in the trees. It made everything eerie, but peaceful. Despite the quietness at the moment. A lone girl didn't seem to notice it, or mind at all. 'For she had grown up here and this was, and forever would be her home.' As she often said to herself. If it were to ever matter in the slightest.

Currently she sat on a large flat rock overlooking the river's shore. She tilted her head, looking at the minnows swimming in the shallower waters. It was peaceful... After a moment she dropped down from the rock and carefully made her way to the banks of the river before sitting down. She slowly raised her spear above her head, her dark brown hair looking dark amber in the sunlight. Her icy blue eyes scanned the waters before she released the dagger, piercing a large trout.

She pulled the spear back and took the fish from the head of it, standing up she looked at the position of the sun in the sky. She had about four hours of daylight left... She grabbed her equipment and turned to the west, looking at a shallow hollow of sand in the distance. She let out a soft sigh before starting back to her home.

Walking down the dirt path, through the valley into the woods before coming to a small clearing on the other side, she stopped and looked at the leaves on all the trees around her. Something she had only noticed recently was how vibrant and healthy they were. Almost more than what one would consider.... Normal.. She usually shrugged it off. Chalking it up to be due to the excessive rainfall and sunlight they were getting. But today... They looked different. They looked like bright shamrock with some kind of lighter chartreuse in the veins. It was too out of place.

"What on earth.."

She muttered, more so to herself than anything. Just then she noticed a small pond, not more than a yard away from her. One she knew wasn't there before. ...maybe she had missed it somehow?... She knew that excuse was poor; given the fact she'd been down this trail thousands of times.

Stepping closer to the pond, she saw shapes moving around in the water.. And a moment later she realized they were fish. Beta fish to be exact.

"What are you little guys doing all the way out here?.... We're too far from any tropical regions... ....... Wait, how are there beta fish in the middle of a valley mountain range..?" She stared down at the fish before hesitantly lowering her hand into the water. Instantly, several of the colorful fish swam up to her hand. Just circling it before going back to swimming around the rest of the pond.

This left her.... Even more confused. "What is going on-... ... You know what? No I'm just not going to ask.."

She stood up slowly. But when she turned around, for a split second she could've sworn she saw a pair of large Emerald eyes staring at her through the darkness of the bushes and trees. But as soon as they appeared, they vanished before she could say anything. She shrugged it off and started walking back down the path.

By late afternoon she returned back to her home. Walking through the charred remains of her old village, she made her way to her house. Which stood in the middle of the old scorched town. Stopping at the doorway, she walked around to the side and climbed down a small tunnel she had made, into a large hollow space she had dug out under the foundation of the house.

She sighed softly as she leaned against the dirt wall of the space, laying her head back slightly.

She could still remember that day so clearly.... She closed her eyes and relaxed, the tension in her body slowly easing.

{9 years ago...}

"— dear! Can you please fetch some more water from the river?? we're out and I need to start making dinner soon."

I hear my mother call from the bottom of the stairs as I lie in my bed on top of my wool blanket. I open my eyes, seeing the rafters of the roofs I push myself up and stand, I call back.

"Yes, mother!"

I turned and walked over to the end of my bed and put on my shoes before turning again and looking around my room briefly for my bag. It was a small cozy space in the attic with only one circular window in a window seat. My room was mostly in shades of browns and hazel. But sometimes when the early morning sun shone through the window, it turned the whole room gold. And it looked absolutely stunning...

Walking around my space, I finally found my dark red leather bag. It was messily thrown off the end of my bed and barely hanging onto the post of the dark wooden frame. I carefully picked it up and slung it over my head onto my left shoulder. I then turned on my heel and made my way down the stairs, where I saw my mother waiting for me. I picked up the wooden pail for carrying water and made my way out the door.

"Stay safe, follow the path. Don't stay out late."

I hear her say. Her saying.

"I know mother, I'll be back before the sun sets."

I respond, looking up at her.

"And not a moment longer.."

With that, I left. Following the path that leads out of our village into the forest and beyond. It was always peaceful this time of day. Some of our people were out hunting, others were either busy or resting. But either way it was quiet now. A nice break to have every once in a while.

I walk down the dirt path, lined with throned roses and sweet juniper bushes. The trees are tall and vibrant as they always are in the Spring. I smile, enjoying the calming scenery as I carry on down the path.

I finally made it to the river and carefully made my way down to the riverbank. Filling the bucket with the fresh water, I noticed a dark shadow swimming in the water. It was far too big to be a minnow, far too small to be some kind of predator... actually. It looked like a Koi fish. .... No.. Two Koi fish. I knelt down, trying to get a closer look without falling in. But it was difficult. Suddenly lightning struck a tree across the river. An old oak tree I regularly climbed in in my free time. As fire blazed from the trunk to the tree top, I noticed when I looked back at the river that the two Koi fish had seemingly vanished without a trace. Then, I heard screams coming from the direction of my village. Worry and fear filled me as I sprung up, the bucket of water long forgotten on the riverbank. My pace quickened with each second that passed, but I was only a kid. When I exited the forest into the open space my village should've been, I stopped. My mouth slightly agape as I breathed heavily. My eyes slightly wide as I stared. All that stared back at me was fire, ash, and smoke. I took a hesitant step forward, then another. And another. As I walked through the burning remains of my home. Something akin to dread filled my heart before it was replaced by a cold numbness. Then, I felt nothing. Nothing for everything I lost, nothing for my dead family. Just.... Numb.

I turned again. Looking at my house slowly burning to the ground. And just watched.

Word count: [1428]