Fates Girl

Part 3

My dad had taught me to ride as a child, then presented Carrie to me on my 14th birthday. Most people had horses on Laestrygon, it was our way of travel.

I was riding back to the village... well what was left of it. Carrie had taken me to nearby lake where I'd found apple and cherry trees. I'd fed Carrie and myself on the fruit there and we'd stayed for a while. My emotions had relaxed and I no longer felt like crying every second. However I felt a deep longing to have my father back with me.

I knew now was not the time to spend all my time grieving. Our village would need to move and start again. The attack last night had destroyed the village beyond repair.

As I came through the clearing my eyes set themselves upon the destroyed town. Ethan was waiting for me by the stables, he looked tired, his pale blue eyes rimmed red no doubt with lack of sleep and stress over my fathers death. It made me think about my own appearance, I probably looked like a wreck. I fingered through my auburn curly hair trying to comb through the knots. It was useless. 

Sliding off the horse I stepped over lightly to Ethan. I noticed he was staring at me, scanning my face to make sure I was alright.

"I'm alright Ethan, you can stop staring at me like I've just died," I said.

"I'm just worried.... Come here," he said beckoning for me to hug him.

He pulled me next to him and I buried my face in his shoulder, inhaling his familiar woody scent. My persona broke at his closeness and I told him my fears and real feelings.

"I just feel guilty... He was coming to find me," I murmured into the fabric of his jumper.

Ethan pulled away and held onto my shoulders, leaning his forehead against mine.

"It's not your fault ok? It's the dragon and its riders fault." 

"Okay," I murmured, too tired to argue.

Together we walked back to the centre, a small temporary wooden shelter had been built and people were gathered beneath chatting and eating supplies. Others were shifting through the burnt rubble for belongings. The mayor had now took charge and had collected together a pile of supplies, he was a Alkonst, and a beautiful one at that. In his distress at our situation his feathers had formed, his speckled brown wings so large passers by would swerve away. As he saw me and Ethan near he nodded solemnly to me, letting me know he was sorry about my father.

 I noticed my mother sitting on the floor leaning against one of the poles strengthening the shelter. Her brown hair was straggly and unkempt. The plait holding it together previously had come out leaving her natural wispy waves to cover her face. I knelt down before her and held her chin, tilting her face towards mine. 

"Mum, it's me Dana." I said, my voice coming out surprisingly strong. "We need to gather supplies."

My mother just looked at me strangely before weeping. I realised I would have to be the strong one for now, so I set off to the ruin of my house.

I pushed through the dust and soot and kicked at left over shards of wood and moulded metal. There was little I found that was of any value, only broken pottery and wood. Our house hadn't been much just a three roomed log house. It was beautiful and had been through many attacks, often needing repair but good all the same.

 I stepped over a large metal stumb, realising it was our old kitchen stove I desperately searched the ground around it. Next to the kitchen had been the room in which my father had played the fiddle and I had sang. Suddenly I grasped at something cool and smooth. I kicked away the surrounding wood and splinters and pulled out the fiddle case.